But you are our Father,

    though Abraham does not know us
    or Israel acknowledge us;
you, Lord, are our Father,
    our Redeemer from of old is your name. Isaiah 63:16

Yet you, Lord, are our Father.
    We are the clay, you are the potter;
    we are all the work of your hand.  Isaiah 64:8

“‘How gladly would I treat you like my children
    and give you a pleasant land,
    the most beautiful inheritance of any nation.’
I thought you would call me ‘Father’
    and not turn away from following me.”  Jeremiah 3:19

Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?  Malachi 2:10

            The idea of God as our Father is not prevalent in the Old Testament, but it’s there. God is referred to as our Father, the Father of nation of Israel and the Father of certain people.  That’s only about fifteen times.  Certain father imagery appears also.  When Jesus showed up and pushed the idea of God as our Father, there was precedent but not a lot.  It felt too familiar and personal for Jewish leadership at that time who preferred to see God in a more high, holy role.