Headship​—A Hardship?

Consider, for example, the matter of family headship. In patriarchal times, men like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were undisputed “family heads.” (Acts 7:8, 9; Hebrews 7:4) The New Manners and Customs of Bible Times, by Ralph Gower, says: “The family was . . . a ‘little kingdom’ that was ruled by the father. He ruled over wife, children, grandchildren, and servants​—everyone in the household.” Indeed, the patriarchs often had authority over their sons’ families as well.​—Compare Genesis 42:37.

Did this not give men the license to oppress their wives and children? Not at all. True, God told the first woman, Eve: “Your craving will be for your husband, and he will dominate you.” (Genesis 3:16) Those words indicated how married women in general would fare, but they did not describe how things were to be among God’s true worshipers. God-fearing husbands were to keep in mind Jehovah’s original purpose. Jehovah made woman to be man’s “helper as a complement of him,” not his slave. (Genesis 2:20) Because godly men of early times recognized their own subjection and accountability to God, they did not abuse their authority. Far from treating their wives and children as mere slaves, God-fearing patriarchs showed them genuine love and affection.

A glimpse into the affection that children commonly received is given at Genesis 50:23. There it says of the great-grandsons of Joseph: “They were born upon Joseph’s knees.” While this could simply mean that Joseph acknowledged the children as his descendants, it could also indicate that he affectionately played with the children, dandling them upon his knees. Fathers today do well to show their children similar affection.

As family heads, the God-fearing patriarchs also cared for the spiritual needs of their families. Upon emerging from the ark after the global Deluge, “Noah began to build an altar to Jehovah . . . and to offer burnt offerings upon the altar.” (Genesis 8:20; compare Job 1:5.) The faithful patriarch Abraham set a good example by giving family members personal instruction. He ‘commanded his sons and his household after him so that they would keep Jehovah’s way to do righteousness and judgment.’ (Genesis 18:19) Loving headship thus contributed to the emotional and spiritual well-being of families.

Christian men today follow this pattern. They exercise headship in matters of worship by helping their families to comply with God’s requirements and by setting a good example themselves. (Matthew 28:19, 20; Hebrews 10:24, 25) Like the patriarchs, Christian husbands and fathers also take the time to give personal instruction to their family members.

Taking Decisive Action

When he finally paid off a huge debt to his father-in-law, the patriarch Jacob asked: “When am I to do something also for my own house?” (Genesis 30:30) Like all fathers, Jacob felt the pressure of meeting the material needs of his family, and he worked hard to do this. Says Genesis 30:43: “The man went on increasing more and more, and great flocks and maidservants and menservants and camels and asses came to be his.”

Some years later, however, after Jacob had moved into the land of Canaan, he apparently was unaware that his daughter Dinah had developed the dangerous habit of associating with the pagan Canaanites.a (Genesis 34:1) He also failed to act when he became aware of the presence of heathen paraphernalia in his household. At any rate, after the tragic rape of Dinah by a Canaanite, Jacob took decisive action. “Put away the foreign gods that are in the midst of you and cleanse yourselves,” he directed.​—Genesis 35:2-4.

Christian fathers must be vigilant when it comes to the spirituality of their families. If there are serious threats to the spiritual welfare of the family, such as the presence of immoral literature or unwholesome music in the home, they must take decisive action.