Fatherless in Mozambique
View Nathan Clendenin’s pics of our trip to Mozambique in this slideshow above
It’s logically always made sense to me that God would love orphans but I had an experience recently that made me really feel why God loves the “fatherless”. He in fact calls Himself, “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” Psalm 68:5. Throughout scripture we see God’s special concern and fervent love for the fatherless… but speaking to the fatherless face to face here in Africa, God made it really hit home. These boys’ now young men seemed to have an air about them. I sensed they were His and He was their defender. It surprised me how strongly He impressed this on me and how it moved me. He really cares for these guys. Then God kept showing me the privilege and honor He bestows on you and I to be protectors and defenders of His “fatherless”.
For example-
While in Mozambique I studied Job and I wanted to know what kind of man he was that God could place full confidence in him above all others on the earth. It was surprising and relevant. Here is Job’s description of himself as a man who took on God’s righteousness and what this practically looked like;
11 Whoever heard me spoke well of me,
and those who saw me commended me,
12 because I rescued the poor who cried for help,
and the fatherless who had none to assist him.
13 The man who was dying blessed me;
I made the widow’s heart sing.
14 I put on righteousness as my clothing;
justice was my robe and my turban.
15 I was eyes to the blind
and feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the needy;
I took up the case of the stranger.
– Job 29:11-16
And then Job goes on to describe sins he did NOT commit and ends with heavy language describing what should happen to him if he were to commit these sins.
16 “If I have denied the desires of the poor
or let the eyes of the widow grow weary,
17 if I have kept my bread to myself,
not sharing it with the fatherless-
18 but from my youth I reared him as would a father,
and from my birth I guided the widow-
19 if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing,
or a needy man without a garment,
20 and his heart did not bless me
for warming him with the fleece from my sheep,
21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,
knowing that I had influence in court,
22 then let my arm fall from the shoulder;
let it be broken off at the joint.
– Job 32: 16-22
I’m not sure I have the courage to pray the same prayer. Yet I hope that some of the former things could be said of me when it’s all been said and done.
