God’s concern for the fatherless extends further than we imagine. When we look at pictures of children who wait to be adopted, we fall in love with an image of what we think they will be like as part of our family. After we have adopted them, we discover that they have needs and hurts and may not meet our lofty expectations.

Our God knows each child perfectly and yet promises to be a father to fatherless (Psalm 68:5). What does He mean by this? Does He wonder about their behaviors and struggles? Does He see the emotions they cause inside of us? And what about the adolescent adopted child who rebels?

This self-identifying statement about God mentions His concern for those who are not empowered to take care of themselves. It encompasses two aspects: (1) His providence, and (2) His protection.

His Providence

In the Jewish culture, the disenfranchised were totally dependent on a kinsman-redeemer. Boaz became that person for Ruth and Naomi. This means that those without a male head of the household, those who were widows and orphans did not have someone who provided their needs. What would be like for these people to never know where the next meal was going to come from? They were completely dependent on the community around them to meet their needs.

Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, was just such a person. Having been crippled after his father died, he would have had no one to provide for his basic needs. Yet David stepped in and (out of loyalty and friendship to Jonathan) fulfilled this role in providing for Mephibosheth.

This provision came with a cost. God could have chosen to supernaturally provide for them by not allowing their family member to die, or by supplying manna for their earthly needs until they were old enough to provide for themselves. However, God chose to supply their needs through the charity of the people of Israel. God directed them to allow the needy to glean from their fields and to celebrate with the Jewish community during the festivals. All of this was to demonstrate that He was a “father to the fatherless.”

God chooses to hear the prayers of the fatherless and answer them in a special way. We can lead our adopted and foster children to the Lord by humbly echoing their prayers to their heavenly Father, as well as providing for their needs. We will explore His protection in the next blog.