When it comes to Israel’s theological understanding of the Fatherhood of God, there are two key points to make, and both of these will be relevant to the context of the Gospels and Jesus’ turning to God as Father. First, Israel considered itself a “son” adopted by God, and this adoptive grace was especially associated with the exodus from Egypt where they were freed from slavery. In Exodus 4:22–23 Moses is instructed by God to tell Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD: Israel is my firstborn son. I said