How Fathers Can Trigger A “Domino Effect” in Their Families
Have you heard of the Domino Effect?
Where one thing sets off a chain reaction and causes a similar change in other objects.
Well, God wants YOU to be the one who will trigger a Domino Effect that not just impacts your spouse, your children but also your generations to come!
Domino Effect in the Bible
There was a man in the Bible named Obed Edom, who came from the Philistine town of Gath (2 Samuel 6:11). He hosted the presence of God for 3 months in his house and that triggered a Domino Effect – everything that he touched was blessed. Obed-Edom is blessed physically, financially, relationally, ministry-wise, so much so that the news of his blessing reaches King David! God blesses Obed Edom with sons that had great ability (1 Chronicles 26:4-6). Further his household had sixty-two strong male heirs who served the house of the Lord in different capacities.
Wow, isn’t that amazing?
What was his secret?
Obed Edom was picked up to host the ark by King David at a moment where the ark had just consumed Uzzah, and prior to that caused havoc wherever it was taken. It was the same ark that caused David, a man after God’s heart to be afraid of God that day (2 Samuel 6:9).
But Obed Edom was different. Despite being from a non- Israelite background, he had an understanding to steward the presence of God.
Wow, I can almost picture him change the entire layout of his house to give prominence to the Ark of God. I can imagine him trashing everything in his house that is not in alignment with the Ark. Every decision he now made – every colour he now picked, the quality of his curtains, his sofas – all had to match the Ark. As a father, he set the course for his family in leading by example in honouring the presence of God. And soon that grace overflowed into his children, and even their children, and they learned to do the same.
But this father had the ark for 20 years…
There was another father – Abinadab, a Levite, who had the ark for 20 long years in his house, yet nothing changed for him!
“And the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill. The Ark remained in the house of Abinadab for 20 years (1Samuel 7:2)
Abinadab could not get what Obed Edom got in 3 months.
Reason?
Indifference to the presence of God.
Sometimes we have been Christians for so long – we know the Scriptures by heart, we know the songs, we know our daily prayer time, and yet our hearts are so far from God.
Abinadab as a father never led by example. For him, the ark was just religion, just another commodity in the house and that dishonour and casual attitude flowed into his son. 20 years he walked past it, he ate before it, and nothing changed…
You know who his son was?
Uzzah.
He was the one who took hold of the ark (presence of God), when the oxen carrying it stumbled, and God stuck him down and he died beside the ark of God. Uzzah saw the ark abide with him for two decades and took that grace for granted. What we saw happen to him in the public, was a result of his private family failures.
Fathers, are you listening?
It’s time for a turnaround in your family. What God can do with Obed Edom, He can do with you.
Maybe things are not going right in your family. Maybe you see your children drifting away. It’s time we stop blaming our spouse or children and start bringing the Ark (Word of God) back to its first place in our lives.
Ah, you telling me 20 years you have been hosting the ark (God’s Word) in your house and nothing has changed? 20 years you have been a church-going-believer yet your family is in a mess?
We have taken this God and His grace for granted.
When was the last time we wept before the Lord?
When was the last time our hearts burned when we let a day pass by without spending time with Jesus?
When was the last time we were ok to fight with our boss at our workplace for our Sundays so that we don’t miss being in the house of God with our family?
When was the last time we ran into His presence with a child-like expectation?
When was the last time we demonstrated to our spouse and children that it is ok to miss our late night activities on Saturdays, but not church on Sundays?
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)
The God we serve, cannot and does not withhold Himself from those who are committed to Him. Remember commitment is not we and our families going to church every Sunday, but commitment is we hosting God every day of your lives. It’s time we humble ourselves and set our hearts right with God. The same God who brought about a turnaround in Obed Edom’s life in three months is your God. He who has ears, let him hear…
Write to us at [email protected] incase you have your doubts or queries if any. We would love to connect with you!
