The Parable of the Father’s Field
Once there was a father who had a large family and a large field. He took great care of his field, tending to it every day, and when his many children were old enough, he passed the job on to them. He instructed his children to care for the field with love, but they did not listen. They used tools and dug up the land, making divots and holes, some only small enough to trip up a foot, others large enough to fall into. In doing so, they forfeited the field and the father had to buy it back with his own blood.
The father was disappointed at the destruction his children caused. He was sad that they had decided not to follow his instruction, but he was a good and loving father, so he would not leave his children to their own destructive devices, not without offering help. So one evening he stepped out on the deck of his house and he called out to them, telling them to come into the house and see the map he had made of the field. The father had plotted out every hole the rebellious children had made and he wanted to go over the map with his children so that they may not trip or fall into any of the holes. He even had a helper he would send into the field with his children to help them avoid the holes. As he stood on the deck calling out, some answered his call and came inside the house, but others rejected his invitation. Those who went inside studied the map of the field and once they were ready, they returned with the helper at their side, but those who remained in the field only sneered at them. “We don’t need his help,” they said.
One day, a daughter who had rejected her father’s help fell into one of the large holes. Her brother nearby, who also rejected their father, tried to get her out but could not reach her. The more he tried to help her on his own, the softer the ground under his feet became until he fell in with her. Anger started to grow in both of them as they looked to their father’s house and cursed him. “Why didn’t you help,” they cried.
“I did not put the hole there,” the father replied gently. The children were shocked that he could hear them. “I bought this field back with my own blood, I offered my help, I offered the guidance of my map, and I offered a helper to walk with you in this field and you rejected me. And yet, when you fall into a hole you want to curse and blame me?”
Shame and guilt came with understanding as the daughter and son felt their father’s words. “We should have listened to you and accepted your help. We are sorry. Please forgive us.”
The father stretched out his hand and pulled them out of the hole. They returned to the house with him where he washed them clean, showed them the map of the field, and sent them back out with the helper. His children began to tell the other rebellious children in the field about their father’s love and the help he offered. Some continued to reject him and thus, continued to fall into holes. Others found that they liked the holes they fell into and decided to stay in them. Some could not get over their anger at falling into the holes and continued to blame the father, refusing any help that came their way. But more often than not, the father’s children would listen to their brothers and sisters; they realized they were in the hole because they had not accepted the father’s help, and then, every time, the father would come, get them out of the hole, wash them clean, show them the map, and give them his helper. And so it continued that the father’s children went out into the field and told all the brothers and sisters who would listen about their father’s love and his plan to save them from the holes they had created.
“When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” (Romans 5:12)
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
“I will send you the Helper from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me. And you will tell people about me too, because you have been with me from the beginning.” (John 15:26-27)
“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” (1 John 1:9)
“And then he told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.’” (Mark 16:15)
God made this world perfect and we blemished it with sin, but God did not give up on us. He sent His one and only Son to pay the penalty for our sin so that we may be allowed to enter His house and be washed clean. He gives us His book of instruction so that we may know Him better and learn how to navigate this fallen world. He gives us the Holy Spirit as a helper as we go out into this dark and fallen world to tell others about His love. Sometimes people reject God and wish to go through life on their own, and when it doesn’t work out and chaos and trouble become the norm, they look to blame God. God doesn’t create the chaos or trouble—He offers us a way out. Though free will makes evil possible, it also makes possible love. If you have fallen into a hole because you rejected God, remember that hope is not lost. Choose God and grasp the outstretched hand of your loving Father.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
—Redeemed
