/BitPart

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Contents Preface

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The cast, in order of appearance 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

Lot Hagar Laban Reuben and Judah Caleb Korah Rahab Achan Ehud Deborah Jephthah Boaz Eli Michal Joab Rehoboam Jeroboam Asa Jehoshaphat Gehazi Jehu Joash Amaziah Manasseh Josiah Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego Zerubbabel

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Make it Easy on Yourself A Pawn in the Game The Crafty Controller Man of Water, Man of Action A Man with a Different Spirit Trial by Fire A Life Transformed Sin in the Camp God’s Left-hand Man The Bee and the Thunderbolt A Man of His Word Doing What’s Right Effective and Ineffective Bittersweet Love The Cold-blooded Commander Lacking Wisdom Downhill to Destruction A Reign of Two Parts A Puzzling Enigma An Eye to the Main Chance The Zealous Crusader Little Boy Lost Half-hearted Spectacular Transformation Godly and Obedient No Compromise

11 23 37 49 65 75 81 89 95 99 105 113 125 137 147 161 169 181 191 203 211 219 225 231 235 241

By My Spirit

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Other bit part players also making an appearance in the following chapters are: 2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

Ishmael Eliezer Dinah, Simeon, Levi, Tamar, Benjamin Othniel Dathan, Abiram, On Eglon Barak, Sisera, Heber, Jael Jephthah’s daughter Elimelech, Mahlon, Kilion, Orpah Elkanah, Hophni, Phinehas Ish-bosheth, Abner, Paltiel Abner, Abishai, Asahel, Uriah, Nathan, Absalom, Amasa, Adonijah, Benaiah Adoniram, Shemaiah, Shishak Ahijah, Abijah Azariah, Baasha, Hanani Ahab, Athaliah, Micaiah, Zedekiah, Jehu, Jahaziel, Ahaziah Shunammite woman, Naaman Joram, Ahaziah, Jezebel, Jehonadab Athaliah, Jehosheba, Jehoiada, Zechariah Jehoash Hezekiah, Amon Hilkiah, Huldah, Nebuchadnezzar, Neco, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah Nebuchadnezzar Jeshua, Haggai, Zechariah

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Preface The Old Testament is full of ‘bit part players’: people who play only a small part on the biblical stage, and are therefore often overlooked or not paid much attention to.

In my opinion, this is a great pity, as there is much to be learnt from these people that is of relevance and help to our daily lives.

This book attempts to portray some of these characters in an interesting and exciting way that will also encourage and challenge us. Most of us could be described as ‘bit part players’, and it is my prayer that this book will stimulate us to play our parts to the full on the stage where God has placed us, for His honour and glory. After all, we never know whose life we may be influencing.

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Chapter 1

Make it Easy on Yourself Lot

Genesis 13:5–13; 14:1–16; 19:1–38

Growing up

Ur of the Chaldeans must have been an amazing place to live. It was one of the most important cities in the ancient world, and was the centre for worship of the moon god Sin, also known as Nannar. The city was full of imposing buildings, but dominating them all was a huge ziggurat, the tower of the temple dedicated to Sin. Ur was a flourishing centre of civilisation, with an enormous library. Situated on the river Euphrates in southern Iraq, Ur was also a large trading centre, and had a cosmopolitan atmosphere.

The citizens of Ur led comfortable lives, and were well educated. It was into such a culture and environment that Lot was born.

His father’s name was Haran, but nothing is known about his mother or what happened to her. Haran died when Lot was still young, which must have been very difficult for him to cope with.

However, he was fortunate enough to have a caring family around

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M A K E I T EA SY O N YO U RS E L F

him, particularly his uncle, Abram, and his grandfather, Terah.

Abram and his wife Sarai had no children at this time, so it seems that they took Lot under their wing. Lot grew up experiencing the love of a close-knit family, receiving the best education it was possible to have at the time, and living in very agreeable surroundings.

On the move

Following the call of God to Abram to leave Ur and ‘go to the land I will show you’ (Gen. 12:1), ‘Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there’ (11:31). It was only after Terah died, that Abram moved on from the city of Haran to the land of Canaan. ‘He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there’ (12:5).

What a cultural shock this must have been for all of them, including Lot. One minute he was living in a city, with all its comforts; the next minute he was living out in the countryside, with all its discomforts. The city-dweller had become a nomadic tent-dweller; his lifestyle had changed dramatically.

Abram’s family was not the only one moving across this productive land known as ‘The Fertile Crescent’ around the year 1900 BC. Many others were doing the same. But Abram’s family was the only one making this journey in response to the call of the one true God. Did Abram explain the circumstances leading up to this massive step of faith he was taking to his nephew, now a young man? And what did Lot think of his uncle’s decision?

Obviously he had to accept it, whether he agreed with it or not, but either way he must have been impressed by Abram’s faith in God, and his willingness to shoulder the consequences of such a faith.

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