How would your view of God change if you saw God as Grandfather?

God as Father is a difficult image in our world of sinful fathers. For some of you, this is particularly difficult. For so many of you, God is like a father you visit once a week but never has been one who sits at the kitchen table with you or shows up in the ordinary details.

So how would you view of God change if you saw God as Grandfather?

The First Nations Version is a Bible translation using an Indigenous translation created by Native North American storytellers. It uses the rhythms, imagery, and voice of Native oral tradition to tell the story of Jesus in a way that feels familiar to Indigenous cultures—simple, poetic, communal, and deeply respectful of creation. It’s not a word-for-word translation but a dynamic retelling that aims to carry the heart and meaning of Scripture in Indigenous storytelling language.

My favorite verse in the New Testament is 1 Peter 5:7 – The Great Spirit cares deeply about you, so gather all your worries into a blanket and throw them on his shoulders. He will carry them for you.

I can visualize that and feel the lift off of my soul.

The New Testament was the first to be created. Now they have created the Psalms and Proverbs.

As with all translations, language doesn’t transfer equally or easily. For example, the Hebrew word yachal is a much better descriptor than just the word hope. Hope is used in so many wishy-washy ways. We need more yachal.   

The First Nations Version for Psalms had a problem with the Hebrew name of God, YHWH. This was something that wasn’t an issue for the New Testament because the New Testament was written in Greek. In the FNV translation of the New Testament, the Greek word “God” was typically translated as “Great Spirit” or “Creator.”

But the Hebrew name of God was a new and different challenge for the FNV translation committee. Most English translations do not translate the Hebrew name of God. Instead, they use LORD in all caps. This is similar to the Jewish practice where the name is replaced with Adonai (”Lord”) or HaShem (”the Name”).

The FNV committee felt that the use of “LORD” would have been inappropriate given the egalitarianism of First Nations cultures. But the replacement needed to be term of reverence, honor, and respect.

The choice the FNV made was to use the designation “Grandfather.” In all Native cultures, grandfathers and grandmothers are highly honored. Grandfather is a name of honor, dignity, intimacy, and loving authority.

How would your view of God change if you saw God as Grandfather? That hits a warm spot in your wounded soul, right?

Here are some favorite verses of mine from Psalms using Grandfather:

Psalm 4:6-8 – Many ask, “Who will bring us the good life?” Show them, Grandfather, by shining the light of your face on us. A good harvest of corn, beans, and squash is what many want, but it is the light of your face that makes my heart glad. Even when I am alone at night, I can sleep peacefully with no fear, for you alone are Grandfather, the one who watches over me and keeps me safe.

Psalm 5:8 – Grandfather, guide me on your good road. Keep my eyes straight and my path safe from my enemies.

Psalm 11:4-5 – Grandfather, the All-Seeing One, sits on his seat of honor in his sacred lodge in the spirit-world above. Nothing human beings do can escape his eagle eyes. He knows what is in each heart. Grandfather puts both the good-hearted and bad-hearted to the test. He hates the violent deeds of those who do evil.

Psalm 17:13-15 – Rise up, Grandfather! Stand against my enemies. Throw them to the ground. Take up your bow and rescue me from these evildoers. Use your strong arm, Grandfather, to set the world free from those who live only for themselves. But for the ones you treasure, fill their bellies from your food basket, with enough for their children and grandchildren. In the end, I will know your right ways when I see your face. I will be satisfied when I awake to see you as you truly are.

And my beloved and personal Psalm 18.

Psalm 18:1-2 – Grandfather, I love you. You are the one who makes me strong. Grandfather is the rock I stand on, my strong lodge, the One Who Sets Me Free. He is the rock cliff I take shelter under, my medicine shield, and my strong power. He keeps me safe, high above my enemies.

Psalm 18:6 – In my desperation, I called out to Creator! “Help me, Grandfather!” was my cry. I sent my voice to his sacred lodge, and he heard my prayer.

Selah, the Hebrew word for pause, is replaced with “Honor beat on the drum.” I hear that as I pause.

So when you hear God called Grandfather, does something soften? Does God’s love seem more possible towards you? Not because this shrinks God’s holiness, but because it makes God’s nearness imaginable.

Grandfather wisdom has nothing left to prove. It carries dignity, but it also carries warmth. It feels like someone who has seen generations rise and fall and still pulls you close with love and wisdom.

Grandfathers also give a voice that tells the stories of where you come from and reminds you of who you are. Grandfathers have walked through enough winters to know that storms pass. His voice carries memory.

Grandfathers are unhurried. They do not flinch at your questions. Grandfathers have heard worse, seen worse, survived worse. When you sit beside him, you do not feel evaluated…you feel known.

There is a groundedness to a grandfather’s love. It is not frantic. It does not compete. It simply remains. And in that remaining, your nervous system settles, your striving quiets. You remember that you belong to a story bigger than this moment–and that you are not carrying it alone.

And maybe that is what our wounded souls need. Not a smaller God, but a Larger Story God whose greatness feels safe.

I hope more of you have such grand grandfathers. I know some of you don’t, still. This Larger Story God is still for you.