The father in Jesus’ parable represents our merciful God, Jehovah. Like the lost son, some people for a time leave the security of God’s household but later return. How does Jehovah view such ones? Those who return to Jehovah with sincere repentance can be assured that “he will not for all time keep finding fault, neither will he to time indefinite keep resentful.” (Psalm 103:9) In the parable, the father ran to welcome back his son. Likewise, Jehovah is not only willing but eager to forgive repentant sinners. He is “ready to forgive,” and he does so “in a large way.”—Psalm 86:5; Isaiah 55:7; Zechariah 1:3.

In Jesus’ parable, the father’s genuine love made it easier for the son to summon the courage to return. But consider: What would have happened if the father had disowned the boy or in an angry outburst told him never to come back? Such an attitude likely would permanently have estranged the lad.—Compare 2 Corinthians 2:6, 7.

The father also showed compassion when his son returned. It did not take long for him to sense the boy’s sincere repentance. Then, instead of insisting on extracting every detail of his son’s transgressions, he went about the business of welcoming him back, and he expressed great pleasure in doing so. Christians can imitate this example. They should rejoice that a lost one has been found.—Luke 15:10.

The father’s conduct leaves no doubt that he had long anticipated the return of his wayward son. Of course, that is only a shadow of the yearning Jehovah has for all who have left his household. He “does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) Those who repent of their sins can therefore be assured that they will be blessed with “seasons of refreshing . . . from the person of Jehovah.”—Acts 3:19.