A Modern-Day Job

In a few ways I would say my dad is comparable to Job in the Bible. For instance, they both have many children, haha! In Job 1:1-5, Job had seven sons and three daughters, while our dad had seven daughters and three sons. Coincidence? Perhaps.

Kidding aside, when I stumbled upon these verses years ago I couldn’t help but remember one of my earliest memories of my dad. Scripture says that Job would get up early in the morning to burn offerings on behalf of his children on the off chance that they may have sinned against the Lord. Job wasn’t privy to their feasts and activities during these celebrations, but he didn’t want to gamble with the chance that his children were not atoned for in the eyes of the Lord. So he would go out of his way to make sure his children were covered.

These days we don’t offer sacrifices in exchange for rightness with God. Rather, I find the modern-day equivalent of Job’s daily burnt offerings to be prayer. Prayers of forgiveness, prayers of protection, prayers of provision. It is in this particular holy habit that I especially see the resemblance between Job and our dad.

Growing up I would remember waking up to pitch darkness as the sun hadn’t even risen yet. In those moments where my consciousness became less foggy and my hearing gradually sharpened, I would hear my parents deep in prayer. My dad would lead the prayers and my mom would agree in one accord. Dad would mention all ten of us by name. He would cover not just his children in prayer but also everyone directly associated with us – spouses and children. And when any one of us was in a particularly difficult season, more fervent prayers were uttered.

For years I witnessed these intimate moments our dad had with the Lord. And when my siblings and I get together they would also confirm that dad’s holy habit was persistent all the way back from when they were children. He stood in the gap for us. He battled for us in prayer. And if any one of us is successful in any capacity ultimately, we give all glory to the Lord, but I also want to take the opportunity to honor the father and spiritual leader who gave burnt offerings on behalf of all his children no matter how far away he was from us.

Happy birthday Dad! We love, celebrate, and honor you. Thank you for modeling for us what it looks like to stand in the gap on behalf of your family. Most importantly, thank you for leading us all to Christ. Your legacy isn’t in wealth, career, or education, but in something far more eternal – families whose hearts are now dwelling places of the Holy Spirit.

Me-Shekinah and my dad, William Armea.

Happy birthday, Dad!

Me-Shekinah and my dad, William Armea.