Family in the Bible is important. We often think the genealogy passages of Scripture are boring, but it is good to pause and think more deeply about why they’re there.
Family in the Bible
The Bible is the story of families. The Bible traces lineages, speaks of fathers and mothers who train up their children in righteousness, and shows the pain that happens when family relationships break down. Family is ultimately a picture of God and His Church—God is our Father, the Church our mother, Christ is our brother, and the Spirit seals each of us as adopted siblings to become co-heirs of the Kingdom with Christ (Galatians 4:6; Romans 8:17).
So every time a Father goes to work to provide for his children, this reflects how our heavenly Father always provides us with the breath in our lungs, our daily bread, and every good gift in our lives. Every time a mother leads her children in daily prayers, this reflects how the Church nurtures the faith of all who come and participate in the life of the Church. Every time a child obeys the teachings of his parents, this reflects Jesus’ perfect obedience to the Father during His earthly ministry. Our earthly families are little pictures of the fuller picture of God’s Kingdom family.
To further this point, we see biblical examples of all the above. Noah provided an ark for his family, which saved them from the flood through his obedience to God. Hannah nurtured the faith of Samuel by giving him to the Temple to become a disciple of the Priest Eli, demonstrating that the fundamental role of the mother is to instill faith in her children. Naomi imparted generational wisdom to Ruth, reflecting how God imparts wisdom into the hearts of His children through His Word.
The Biblical Design for Family
So what makes a biblical family? A biblical family begins with a marriage. Genesis 2:24 says, “This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one” (NLT). The marital union between a man and a woman is God’s design for the first building block of a family. The hope is that this union leads to procreation (we lament that this is not always the case due to health reasons and infertility, and our hearts are with all who suffer in this way), and when it does, the family grows with the blessing of children. Children, biblically, are called “a reward from the LORD” (Psalm 127:3).
Knowing how important family is, it’s essential that we strive to honor God in our homes. Each member of the family plays a role, and each role complements the others. Fathers and husbands are called to provide and protect; to lead the home with biblical wisdom; to teach the faith to their families; and to promote unity and never be excessive or cruel with discipline. Mothers and wives are called to encourage and cultivate the faith lives of their children; to bring gentleness and patience which promotes unity; and to nurture and elevate the aesthetic of the home. Children are called to respect and obey; to listen carefully to the spiritual instruction of their parents; and to learn, explore, and discover their giftings and interests.
Let’s consider a practical way all this could potentially fit together in a home. Imagine a family is seeking a new dining room table. The father works to provide money for the table, whether he shops for it or builds it with his own hands. He then brings the table into the home, where the mother beautifies it with a tablecloth, candles, flowers, and dinner. The children gather around the table to eat and be physically and emotionally nourished. The father reflects God’s provision, the mother reflects the nurture and beauty the Church brings, and the children enjoy the benefits as they live in obedience to their parents. All of this reflects our relationship with the Lord.
God gifts us our families. He is the One who chooses our families. He is the One who is sovereign over the entirety of our bloodline. So let us honor God by cherishing this gift of family, working to make family life sweet, and striving for unity and peace in our homes.
A Prayer for Families
God our Father, help us to love our families and to live under the light of Your Word in our homes. Bless our families, cover us in Your grace. Day by day, lead our families in righteous paths for Your glory and our good. In Jesus’ name, amen.
