Jesus’ Parable of the Father and his Sons, Luke 15:11-32

The poet George Meredith wrote, “I speak of the unremarked forces that split the heart and make the pavement toss—forces concealed in quiet people and plants.” (Quoted by Eugene Peterson in his Introduction to Nahum in The Message Bible.)

We have all been amazed at the way a simple plant can force its way up through pavement, right? What all assume is the stronger force—concrete--gives way to what all assume is the weaker force—a plant. But the plant’s force isn’t weaker. It is just concealed.

Peterson follows up by noting, “If we are conditioned to respond to noise and size, we will miss God’s word and action.”

The father in Jesus’ parable shows us we are wrong to assume force means being strong as concrete, making a lot of noise, and having a sizable following. Instead, we need to remember a plant with concealed force and that the relevant definition of the father’s force is “moral strength and influence.” 

In the parable, the father’s concealed force showed in his decision to quietly let his younger son go. Letting this son go was bound to stir up disapproving noise by a sizable number of people. After all, the culture demanded that the father call the shots. Letting his son decide to take off for parts unknown--with his inheritance, no less—was to them an obvious sign of this father’s weakness. 

What those people couldn’t see was that his willingness to look bad in the eyes of his community was, in fact, force concealed. Even more indicative of his strength was his willingness to let his son go to learn what he needed to learn. It was the father’s love for his son that compelled him to put his son’s long-term welfare above his own reputation.

We also see the father’s concealed strength as he related to his older son who had not physically left him but had distanced himself in other ways. To continue loving someone who does not want our love, let alone return it, takes concealed strength.

Father God’s concealed force moves Him to give us free will. He longs for each of us to return to Him, but He refuses to coerce us to do so. Consider how persistently the “noise and size” of culture then blames Him for our choices and the troubled state of our world. 

God’s concealed force reaches out—even to those who don’t want anything to do with Him—with His invitation to The Party. You will notice Jesus’ parable leaves that invitation hanging, awaiting the older son’s reply. In the same way, God the Father’s invitation awaits the reply of each of us. 

How has our culture’s noise and size influenced you?

How has God’s word and action through quiet people with concealed force influenced you? 

Father God, we want to be influenced by You. Teach us to listen for Your word, watch for Your action, and repeatedly wholeheartedly return to You.