But his sons did not walk in his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice. 1 Samuel 7:17
What is a father to do if his son chooses a wrong path? Every son will forge his own way, but what can a father do if that path leads to the sad emptiness of a worldly life?
Samuel witnessed the sadness Eli the priest experienced when his sons didn't walk in their father's way - the ways of the Lord. Eventually, his sons died in a battle with the Philistines in which the ark of the covenant was stolen. Samuel saw all this, yet his own sons followed suit - pursuing the ways of the world.
If I am honest, I sometimes question the character of a man based upon the actions of his son. I might wonder what kind of a man he is if his son has wandered so far from the truth.
The fact is: Every man possesses a free will. The most any father can do is to reach out in love and pray for the Spirit's intervention.
Lord, my heart is heavy this morning. I have a friend whose son has not followed Your way. My friend knows mistakes were made, and now he would do anything to make amends. Unfortunately, his son is now a man who must make his own choices. And now, as a man, he refuses to hear his father's attempts to speak to love him. How do I help him? What do I need to say that will bring healing to this broken relationship? What can be done to bring this son back to You?
Holy Spirit, intervene in the lives of sons where fathers may have failed them. Entire generations have been lost because fathers haven't sought Your solution. You are the only answer. Help ours sons to see You - to turn to You - to live for You.