ABBA

ABBA

Abba is originally . . . a word derived from baby-language. When a child is weaned, “it learns to say ’abba (daddy) and ’imma (mummy).” . . . Also used by adult sons and daughters. . . . ’abba acquired the warm, familiar ring which we may feel in such an expression as “dear father.” Nowhere in the entire wealth of devotional literature produced by ancient Judaism do we find ’abba being used as a way of addressing God. The pious Jew knew too much of the great gap between God and man to be free to address God with the familiar word used in everyday family life. . . . We find only one example of ’abba used in reference to God. It occurs in a story recorded in the Babylonian Talmud: “When the world had need of rain, our teachers used to send the schoolchildren to Rabbi Hanan ha Nehba [end of the 1st cent. B.C.], and they would seize the hem of his cloak and call out to him: ‘Dear father (’abba), dear father (’abba), give us rain.’ He said before God: ‘Sovereign of the world, do it for the sake of these who cannot distinguish between an ’abba who can give rain and an ’abba who can give no rain.’”

When Christ Jesus fell to His face and cried out, “Abba, Father,” He cried out to the Abba who can give rain. The sovereign of the world was His Daddy. Everything was possible for Him . . . including removing the cup of dread.

BETH MOORE