July 30th was a National Day Calendar celebration of someone that we usually don’t hear a lot about. Rarely mentioned and never joked about, this person often goes unnoticed. July 30th was National Father-in-Law Day.
Those who hold the title of mother-in-law know that the jokes and ridicule are plentiful. Since this is the Lord’s Day and I don’t want to stir strife, I won’t get into that topic. But, when was the last time you heard anything said – positive or negative – about the father-in-law? He is just hanging out on the family tree with barely a mention.
As I studied and looked for illustrations that would highlight the value of the father-in-law, I came up mostly empty handed. However, Lisa Ingrassia, writing for herviewfromhome.com, had a beautiful tribute to her father-in-law.
“God made my father-in-law.
“He knew my heart was shattered after losing my father to tongue cancer so he gave me someone who would show me how to let go of my anger by showering me with unconditional love. Someone who accepted me for me. Someone who would help me reunite with my love affair with food. Someone who would sit at the table with me and become my new recipe taste tester. Someone who would brag to all of his friends about my cooking, regardless of how bad it was. Someone who was proud of me and the love his son and I have. Someone who was beaming with pride the day I became his son’s wife.
“God said, “I need someone to help heal this fatherless woman’s broken heart, someone who is tough enough to wield a machete and gentle enough to understand his new daughter-in-law is mourning the loss of her beloved father. Someone who will treat her like his own daughter and never like an in-law.”
“So, God made my father-in-law.”1
The rest of the article is worth the read! Lisa had much more to say about her father-in-law and the way she glowed about him is a great example.
The fathers-in-law of the Bible are plentiful if you know how to go about looking for them. The father of the bride or groom is always going to be someone’s father-in-law and there are plenty of weddings in the Bible. One father-in-law stands out early in the Bible.
Exodus 18:1-9 says, “When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt; (2) Then Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, (3) And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land: (4) And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh: (5) And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God: (6) And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her. (7) And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent. (8) And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them. (9) And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.”
Later in this same chapter, Jethro is going to give Moses some sound, sage advice. The last time, though, that Jethro is mentioned by name in the Bible is in between these two events. Exodus 18:12 says, “And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses’ father in law before God.” We see Jethro leading family worship and fellowshipping with the family.
If you are a father-in-law, celebrate this great role where God has placed you. Be a Jethro in your family’s life. Hopefully, as you provide Godly leadership, your wisdom will be cherished as was the case for Jethro.
“So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.” (Exodus 18:24)
1https://herviewfromhome.com/living-so-god-made-a-father-in-law/
