Pharaohs or Fathers
Pastor David Ravenhill

Delivered at Pastor’s Breakfast, May 9, 2005 Christ Community Church, Camp Hill, PA

Pharaohs dictate; Fathers communicate.

Pharaohs command; Fathers counsel.

Pharaohs remove; Fathers restore.

Pharaohs whip; Fathers weep.

Pharaohs restrain; Fathers release.

Pharaohs manipulate; Fathers motivate.

Pharaohs emasculate; Fathers propagate.

Pharaohs demean & destroy; Fathers discipline.

Pharaohs want results; Fathers want relationships.

Pharaohs are hard-hearted; Fathers are tender-hearted.

Pharaohs are insecure with success; Fathers are secure with success.

Pharaohs use slaves to build their cities; Fathers teach sons to build cities.

Pharaohs are motivated by selfishness; Fathers are motivated by servanthood.

Pharaohs have Slaves; Fathers have Sons.

Slaves sigh; Sons sing.

Slaves escape; Sons return.

Slaves have numbers; Sons have names.

Slaves loath Pharaohs; Sons love Fathers.

Slaves are preyed upon; Sons are prayed for.

Slaves die for Pharaohs; Fathers die for Sons.

Slaves obey out of fear; Sons obey out of faith.

Slaves are discouraged; Sons are encouraged.

Slaves receive disapproval; Sons receive approval.

Slaves work out of duty; Sons work out of devotion.

Slaves will always remain slaves; Sons develop into fathers.

Slaves grow up to hurt and hate; Sons grow up to help and heal.

Slaves are taught to serve Pharaohs; Fathers teach their Sons to serve others.

Slaves rejoice when Pharaoh dies; Sons have remorse when Fathers die.