Ever since man was created Satan has been trying to thwart the incredible potential that God has purposed for man. God has designed us to have a family relationship with Him. In 2 Corinthians 6:17-18, God is described as our Father, and when we become converted we become His sons and daughters. The relationship between God and humans is a family relationship.

Hebrews 2:10 shows that God's purpose is to bring many sons (and daughters) to glory – to be a part of His family. Satan cannot do that. He is not God – He cannot beget children and have a true family relationship like God can. However, in John 8:44, the devil is called a father. Since he cannot reproduce himself, in what way is he a father? He is a father in the sense of his influence. He influences the whole world to be like him, to mimic his attitude and approach.

God created the human family as a reflection of the relationship that we can have with Him. But Satan hates the family relationship and he cannot take part in it. Through his influence the family is under attack today. He wants to hide the fact (called in the scriptures blinding the eyes or deceiving the heart) that you and I can be a part of the family of God – that God is producing children.

Satans attack on the family is seen through the deconstruction of the father. He does that by tempting fathers to act improperly, via a lack of proper love for wife and children with improper behaviour (verbal and emotional abuse, neglect of family responsibility, adultery, etc.). Satan also promotes alternatives to the family God designed, which consists of a father, mother and children. One example would be same sex "parents" – an oxymoron, since two people of the same sex cannot produce children.

The bad behaviour of fathers might be the reason why the American professional journal "The American Psychologist" published an article entitled "Deconstructing the Essential Father". The article claimed that the presence of fathers in families raising children is "not essential," and that fathers "may be detrimental to the child and mother." This article reflects a growing trend in the western world concerning fatherhood being under attack.

Satan also influences those who would like to make the Bible gender-neutral. They would like to remove all the references to God as Father. God, in their edited version, would become our divine parent or mother instead of our heavenly Father. That contradicts the revelation of the Holy Scriptures, that show that God is a Father who encourages and exhorts His family. Psalm 103:13-14 tells us the following about God: "As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust."

God the father loves His human children and sent His son into the world so we may be saved and experience eternal life with Him as His family. The first thing we acknowledge in prayer is God as our father: "Our father in heaven."

Let's be vigilant concerning Satan's attempt to discredit the family, and especially the role of the father. And those who are human fathers should be especially vigilant concerning their own personal example as a father.

With these thoughts I wish everyone a rewarding Sabbath!