It has long been recognized that Adam was nearby to Eve in Eden, yet he was absent in attention, duty, protection, and care. Adam permitted the serpent to tempt Eve, spread lies, and usurp God’s well-designed order. Adam knowingly (1 Tim 2:14) ate the fruit that was forbidden. Though he was present, he was absent in heart, head and hands.
Since the connection between Adam and the whole human race carries so much theological weight, it can be easy to ignore other illustrations of the absence of Adam. Consider the sad declension of the story of Cain and his descendent Lamech. Cain commits the first murder (Gn 4:8), while Lamech becomes the first bigamist (Gn 4:19). Adam is nowhere to be found.
We know that Adam was alive because he fathered Seth at the robust age of 130 years old (Gn 5:3). But where was he when Cain was growing in bitterness, and losing strength to fight off the sin that was “crouching at the door” (4:7). Where was Adam when Lamech mused about breaking the monogamous one-woman-man pattern and taking a second wife? Did Adam aim to influence Lamech to hold fast to God’s design? Possibly Adam had to travel to Cain’s house and send that warning down the genealogical line.
We don’t know the reason for the absence of Adam from the days of Cain and Abel to the birth of Seth. The Scriptures don’t tell us what Adam was doing. But that’s the point. Adam was not acting in any significant way to warrant inclusion in the Scriptures. Adam had abdicated his responsibility as the patriarch of the human race, and as the patriarch of his immediate family.
Absent Adamic Fathers.
The pattern of absentee fathers is evident from Adam to the present day. Although they may be present physically, they are practically absent in their head, heart and hands. This absenteeism leads to devastating consequences. The Cains and Lamechs of the world lack fathers and grandfathers and great grandfathers who provide leadership, security, instruction, and correction.
Since Adam’s responsibility, and duty to provide and protect were mandated before God’s judgement, Adam’s duty to be ‘present’ was baked into the creation’s design. This is why many people today are able to recognize the need for fathers, even if they don’t have biblical commitments (such as the author of this Walrus article). It is in the nature of human beings that families need fathers (as well as mothers).
The Adamic Abdication
When Adam was physically present but unengaged with his duty as a husband, he abdicated his God-ordained responsibilities. This abdication is the plague of fallen fathers ever since. Fathers are forsaking their proper role in their families, while also neglecting the practical leadership, correction, protection and direction which fathers must give to their children.
Again, the problem is not that a father may be merely away from home. Many jobs require the father to be physically absent for stretches of time. If such jobs keep the father away too much, then he needs to reconsider his employment. He might have to sacrifice his preferences or status in order to take a job that keeps him closer to home.
But the frequent problem is that fathers are ‘around’ but unengaged. They are always distracted by other demands. The demands may be legitimate (work), or unimportant (sports, social media, hobbies).
The absenteeism can extend to the emphasis on organized sports or other calendar-plugging activities. Often a father can give the appearance of attention given to a child by driving them to practices and games where others will direct them. This commitment can be admirable in some ways. But it can also hide the fact that a father is not engaging with their son or daughter in a way that is directly guiding them. A simple test is to see what the father and child can talk about once the sport or hobby can’t be played any longer.
New Fathers
For fathers to take ownership of their responsibilities, they need to actively guide the development of their families. Fathers need to be present in their head, heart and hands, not just their feet. Adam’s absenteeism can be reversed. Father’s need to repent of their sinful tendency to care about things that don’t matter, more than they take action in their children’s lives. But the hope of the gospel is that there is forgiveness of sins among fathers. By God’s grace, fatherless fathers can know the guiding care, instruction and correction of a loving heavenly Father.
Fathers can aim to reverse the Adamic legacy and begin a legacy of the Last Adam as they share the gospel with their families. No other responsibility compares to that duty.
