Do You Know Me?

Do You Know

Joseph L. Williams with additional notes by Matthew S. Byrd

Copyright © 2022 by Feed the Hunger. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in mechanical or electronic form without the express permission of the copyright holder. Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. Printed in the USA.

Introduction

If you are a follower of Christ, perhaps you’ve reached a point where you believe you have familiarity with all that is contained within the Bible. Maybe you’ve followed a daily plan to read through it completely once or even multiple times. I must admit that I’ve never done this because the way my mind works, it would become a daily task to complete rather than a journey to enjoy and grow. I’d much rather dive into one of the books and park there for a few days or weeks.

The Bible is a treasure trove of stories and lessons that cannot truly be grasped in this life by mere mortals. After all, we are finite beings living under the sovereignty of an infinite God. This means His Scriptures are a deep well from which we can continually draw, and it will never run dry.

The purpose of this devotional is to challenge your knowl edge of the Bible—and make you thirst for greater understand ing. In this study, we’re going to learn about people you may have never heard of. After all, there are thousands of names in the Bible, from Er, Og, and Uz to Mahershalalhashbaz. If you can pronounce this last one, give yourself a cookie!

This devotional is all about names, some of the more obscure names in the Bible. We challenged ourselves to share about people in the Bible the majority of whom you may not recognize at first glance. As you read each day, you may quickly realize you do know some of them; you had just forgotten.

Perhaps some days you will be surprised to learn you know nothing about that particular person or persons.

Feed the Hunger is deeply committed to both stoking and feeding the spiritual hunger in everyone connected to our minis try. This is true for at-risk children globally and for the American volunteers who pack the food that our partners distribute. Therefore, if you are a new follower of Christ, I hope this study will excite you with the reality that there is much for you to read and learn as you grow in your faith. If you’re a seasoned follower, may this devotional stimulate you to further study and deepen your love for God’s Word.

An etymological note: Each day of the devotional will feature a brief etymology (the origin and/or meaning of a word) for the name(s). Before the familiar English name will be the name in Hebrew (if from the Old Testament), Greek (if from the New Testament), or both (if mentioned in the Old and New Testaments). Hebrew is read right-to-left, while Greek is read left-to-right! A phonetic pronunciation follows the name in English.

Hebrew: read right-to-left

| Abigail (AB ih gayl)

“my father is joy”; from Hebrew ab (“father”) and gil (“rejoice” or “joy”).

Greek: read left-to-right

Ναθαναήλ | Nathanael (nuh THAN ay uhl)

“gift of God”; Greek spelling of the Hebrew name Nethanel, from the verb natan (“to give”) and el, a common Semitic name for God.

A Disciple Named Thad

Jesus chose 12 specific men to be taught by Him and have close fellowship with Him over three and a half years. Several made a name for themselves. There was Peter, who is famous for his betrayal, restoration, and pivotal role in the early church. There was also Judas Iscariot, who carried out the ultimate betrayal of Christ and then took his own life. Have you heard of Thaddaeus? What do we know of him? He is listed among the Twelve in Matthew 10:3 and Mark 3:18. In the King James Version of the Matthew account, he is called “Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus.” However, in Luke 6:16, he is instead referred to as “Judas son of James.” He is also called by this name in the first chapter of Acts when the disciples are choosing a replacement for Judas Iscariot. It is speculated that Judas is his real name and the others are nicknames.

One of the early church fathers named Jerome lived in the fourth century (ca. AD 345–420). He translated the Bible from Hebrew and Greek into Latin in what is known as the Vulgate. Jerome referred to Thaddaeus as “Trinomious,” or the man with three names.

Θαδδαιος | Thaddaeus (THAD ih us

)

“large-hearted, man of heart”; although its origin is not known with certainty, Thaddaeus may be related to the Hebrew word shad , meaning “breast” or “chest.”

Is this it? Do we know anything else about him?* Thank fully, we do. There is only one instance in the entire New Testament where Thaddaeus says something, and it’s in the only Gospel we haven’t mentioned yet, John. We’ll get to the question he asks in a moment; first, we need to be reminded of the context.

In John 14, Jesus is encouraging His disciples in the Upper Room. He’s just washed the disciples’ feet and predicted Judas Iscariot’s and Peter’s betrayals. He then comforts them by telling them that He is the way to the Father and that a Helper, the Holy Spirit, will take His place.

Then Thaddaeus asks a single question, his only recorded words: “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” (verse 22). As a Jew, he is expecting Jesus to fulfill all the Messianic predictions from the Old Testament. The disciples (and Jews) didn’t understand that some of these prophecies would not be fulfilled until Christ’s Second Coming when He is seen before the whole world as the King of Kings.

Here is the beginning of Jesus’ response to Thaddaeus: “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (John 14:23). In other words, Jesus focuses on the wider message to seek and obey God. Love and obedience are crucial

to the life of believers. This directive is a good reminder for us as well.

*Extra-biblical information: According to early church tradition, Thaddaeus took the Gospel to Mesopotamia (what is now Turkey) sometime after Pentecost, where he healed a king but was eventually martyred for his faith.

A Woman Close to Jesus

The preeminent moment in human history is undoubtedly the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. No other religion claims salvation through faith in someone (The One) who defeated the grave. They are instead based on salvation through works and appeasing an angry god or gods.

The events of those fateful days are well recorded in the four gospels, with each sharing from a particular perspective. For example, Matthew presents Jesus as the Jewish Messi ah and King foretold centuries before. Luke, as a physician, pays special attention to small details throughout his writing, while John reveals Jesus as God Himself in human flesh. And Mark focuses the final third of his book on just the last week of Jesus’ life.

In today’s devotional, we are looking at one of three special ladies present at both Jesus’ death and the empty tomb just after His resurrection. Her name was Salome.

Σαλώμη | Salome (suh LOH mih) “peaceful”; Greek form of a Hebrew name derived from shalom, an all-encompassing wholeness. Not to be confused with Salome, daughter of Herodias (Mark 6:22), not mentioned by name in the New Testament (Jewish historian Josephus identifies her in Antiquities).

Much focus has rightfully been given to Mary Magdalene because of her profile in the Gospels. It was she who poured the expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet, symbolically preparing Him for a burial that was drawing near (John 12:1–8). There were two other women with her as she watched Jesus suffer on the cross: Mary, the mother of James; and Salome. Mark also mentions that these three women had followed Jesus while He was in Galilee.*

Well, who is Salome? Although Mark is the only one who refers to her by name, Matthew’s account seems to answer the question. He, too, mentions three women present at the crucifixion: Mary Magdalene; Mary, the mother of James; and “the mother of Zebedee’s sons” (that is, Salome; 27:56). Hopefully, this sounds familiar to you. The sons of Zebedee were two of the 12 disciples, James and John. Like two other brothers called by Jesus to be His disciples (Peter and Andrew), James and John were preparing their nets with Salome’s husband when Jesus called them.

We also have another account of Salome in Matthew 20:20–28. She is the one who asked on behalf of her sons if they could sit on each side of Jesus in heaven. Mothers always want the best for their children! However, Jesus points out that they don’t know what they’re asking for, because His road must first go through ultimate suffering. This was a subject that everyone around Him consistently didn’t understand until the betrayal and crucifixion had taken place.

Now, back to Salome in the larger context of Jesus’ min istry. What I love about Salome and these other women is their courage and devotion to Him. They were willing to be with Jesus in His darkest hour. What would we have done in

the same situation? Let’s pledge that in any dark days we have ahead, we will draw closer to Him.

*Extra-biblical information: Jesus challenged a con ventional cultural norm of the day by having women among His followers. While the 12 disciples were all male, there were many devoted followers of both sexes who traveled and publicly ministered with Him.

The Three

Second Samuel 23:8–39 reads like something from a Holly wood movie. It shares the names and some of the exploits of David’s mighty warriors. These soldiers were bravery personi fied. They rose above the eight hundred thousand able-bodied Israelites and the half-million more in Judah (24:9).

There were three elite soldiers of note out of thirty chiefs who were singled out by David and labeled as “The Three.” Before we look at them, there are a few others to mention here. Three other warriors went behind enemy lines just to get David a drink of water. David was longing for water from a well in his hometown of Bethlehem, but it was controlled by the Philistines at the time.* They were willing to risk their lives to please David, and successfully returned with the water.

There was one special warrior named Abishai, who was as famous as the Three and even became their commander. His most renowned exploit was killing three hundred men with his spear in battle.

Another, named Benaiah, was also as famous as and even more honored than the Three, but was not one of them. He killed a lion, a giant Egyptian, and the two strongest warriors of one of Israel’s enemies. He led David’s bodyguards and eventually became commander of Solomon’s army (1 Kings 2:35).

The names of the Three were Josheb-Basshebeth, Eleazar,

and Shammah. Josheb-Basshebeth killed eight hundred men with his spear in just one battle. Eleazar stood his ground when the Israelites retreated, turned the tide of the battle till his hand “froze to his sword,” and brought victory against the Philistines. Similarly, Shammah stood his ground against the Philistines and Israel won the day.

|

Josheb-Basshebeth (JOH sheb-bass SHEE beth)

“[one who is] sitting in the seat”; this name is difficult to translate and its meaning obscure. Most scholars identify Josheb-Basshebeth with Jashobeam in the account of David’s mighty men in 1 Chronicles 11.

It’s worth noting here that 1 Chronicles 11 is the parallel chapter to 2 Samuel 23 and contains several more names overall. The ranks of David’s mighty men probably grew over time, with some dying in battle. He had many peoples united under him, and their best warriors were represented.

|

Eleazar (EL ih AY zuhr)

“God is helper”; a popular Hebrew name, with at least a half dozen individuals named Eleazar in the Bible.

It’s worth a quick note here to recognize the last name listed in 2 Samuel 23: Uriah the Hittite. He is the one David made sure died in battle so he could then take Bathsheba as his wife (2 Samuel 11).

| Shammah (SHAM uh)

“desert”; from the Hebrew verb shamem, meaning “to make desolate” or “cause to be appalled.”

On a more positive note, when I read about warriors like

this, I am reminded of how the Apostle Paul refers to Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25) and Archippus (Philemon 1:2) as his fellow soldiers. He encourages Timothy to “fight the battle well” (1 Timothy 1:18) and to “join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:3). He tells the church at Ephesus (and all believers) to put on the armor of God, as detailed in Ephesians 6:10–17. Commit to faithful service in the Lord’s Army today!

*Extra-biblical information: The Philistines may have been part of the Sea Peoples from southern Europe who invaded the eastern Mediterranean around 1200 BC. Their kingdom included five principal cities: Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Ekron, and Gath (home of Goliath). They were a frequent and often formidable enemy of Israel.

The Gangrene-Spreader

Not every name from the Bible we look at will be someone with a positive reputation. For certain, though, there are lessons to be learned from these corrupt individuals as well, whether it be because of something they did or said.

The dangerous heresy that the Apostle Paul refers to in his two letters to Timothy was Gnosticism. This belief system was increasingly common in the first couple of centuries of the early church. For a brief definition, see the end of today’s devotional.*

In many of his letters, including those to Timothy, Paul mentions many people. We’ll look at some of them through out this study. Some were positive influences and helped the early church. Others were to be avoided at all costs. Some were spreading Gnosticism. One of these false teachers was Hymenaeus.

Ὑμεναιος | Hymenaeus (HI meh NEE uhs) “belonging to marriage, a wedding song”; a name de rived from Hymen, Greek god of weddings—ironic for someone promoting division instead of unity.

Hymenaeus is mentioned once in 1 Timothy 1:20 along with Alexander, and in 2 Timothy 2:17 with a false teacher

named Philetus. Apparently, Hymenaeus wouldn’t go away! These two letters were written several years apart.

Paul uses harsh words to describe Hymenaeus and Alexander in the first letter. Paul says their faith has “suffered shipwreck” and as a result, they have been “handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.” Paul is referring to excommunicating them from the church in hopes that they would repent.

Paul gets even more graphic in the second letter, stating that the teaching of Hymenaeus and Philetus will “spread like gangrene” and that they “destroy the faith of some.” In case you need a refresher, gangrene occurs when blood stops flowing to tissue. It rots and reeks and endangers the whole body. Get the point? This is what Paul thought of their teaching. While Gnosticism isn’t as openly practiced today, other false teachings abound. Teachers like Hymenaeus still spread lies and should be avoided at all costs. Look no further than the prosperity theology movement that reduces God to an obedient genie who showers you with blessing if you have enough faith—and if you shower the teacher with money.

The way to recognize heresy and live by the truth is through prayer, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and Bible study. Jesus tells us through John, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. . . . Remain in me, as I also remain in you. . . . When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 8:31–32; 15:4; 16:13). These spiritual resources are available to all followers of Christ; we simply need to utilize them to know the truth.

*Extra-biblical information: Gnosticism was the belief that salvation was attained through special knowledge, or gnosis, and that the resurrection of Christ was allegorical, not literal, and had thus already taken place.

One of a Kind

The next two days we are going to look at two women in the same Old Testament story. This will be a little challenging to do without naming the woman for tomorrow, but let’s give it a try.

The role of judges in the Old Testament era was two-fold: to lead the people toward a right relationship with God and to lead them to victory over their enemies. The meaning of the original Hebrew word is more akin to ruler than judge, as it has been translated in English. Some of the more notable judges you would recognize are Gideon and Samson.

The first judge of Israel was Othniel. He subdued one of their enemies and the land enjoyed peace for 40 years. After he died, however, the Israelites strayed from God and were oppressed by the Moabites under the rule of their king, Eg lon, for 18 years. The Lord raised up a deliverer in Ehud, who killed King Eglon. Then Israel enjoyed peace for 80 years after defeating the Moabites. Yet again, they strayed from God. This cycle was continually perpetuated by the Israelites throughout this era.

The Lord allowed Israel to come under the rule of a foreign king once again, this time for 20 years. He was Jabin, king of the Canaanites. The people cried out to God for help. This help came in the form of the only female judge to ever hold

the position. It was a woman who already had a reputation as a prophetess of God. Her name was Deborah.

| Deborah (DEB uh ruh)

“honeybee”; sharing a name with a creature known for order and determination, Deborah’s name is appropriate given her strong leadership abilities—not to mention her painful sting against Israel’s enemies!

Deborah directed an Israelite named Barak to gather their army and go up against Sisera, the commander of King Jabin’s army. However, Barak was afraid to do so without Deborah accompanying him. This hesitancy certainly seemed to speak of her reputation among the Israelites. “Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman” (Judges 4:9).

Barak routed Sisera’s army and his nine hundred iron chariots, a formidable collective weapon against any enemy.* However, God brought the victory to Israel as spoken through Deborah. The following chapter records a song composed by Deborah and Barak to honor the Lord for the victory. This story then closes with the simple sentence: “And the land was at rest for forty years.” But in the next chapter you read how Israel strays from God yet again.

Deborah is a great example of how the Lord uses women in leadership—in this case, when there’s a shortage of men brave enough to act. Queen Esther is certainly another example, and we’ll look at a few more from the New Testament on future days.

For now, I am reminded that “the eyes of the Lord range

throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). God is looking for men and women alike to faithfully and bravely serve Him.

*Extra-biblical information: Sisera’s army was defeated near the Kishon River, a flat plain that should have been favorable for chariots (Judges 1:19). However, the river was apparently flooded (Judges 5:21) and would have rendered the chariots ineffective.

Don’t Go in Her Tent!

Well, I succeeded in not revealing the name of our next female hero in yesterday’s look at Deborah. Today, we’re going to look at someone else crucial to the victory of Israel over the Canaanites. You will recall that Barak defeated Sisera’s army, but we haven’t yet discussed how Sisera died. If he had survived, perhaps there would have been another battle in the future. Sisera fled on foot after his entire army was routed. During his escape from Barak and the Israelite army, Sisera came to the tent of someone who offered him help. She was the wife of Heber the Kenite. This is important to know because “there was an alliance between Jabin king of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite” (Judges 4:17). Sisera should have been safe there. But Heber’s wife had other plans. Her name was Jael.

| Jael (YAY ehl) “ibex or mountain goat”; Jael’s name is shared with a graceful animal common in the rocky wilderness. Jael is a Semitic name and is unique in Scripture.

Just a quick side note here. My extended family has a con nection to the name Jael. My brother and his wife gave this as a middle name to their daughter because of this Bible story and because it looks like it would be pronounced like my dad’s

name, J.L. They spell it Yael to help people pronounce it correctly. Now back to our story.

Jael reassured Sisera and lured him into the tent to hide. She gave him milk to drink and covered him with a blanket. He asked her to stand lookout at the entrance of the tent. Sisera then fell asleep, understandably exhausted from the battle and subsequent flight.

Instead of looking for and deterring those chasing the en emy commander, Jael got a tent peg and drove it through his head and into the ground.* Pretty gruesome! Not long after, Barak approached, and Jael directed him to the body of Israel’s now-dead enemy.

Remember the song of Deborah and Barak mentioned yesterday? They sang Jael’s praises as well. Rather than summarize the lyrics, here it is from Judges 5:24–27:

Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, most blessed of tent-dwelling women.

He asked for water, and she gave him milk; in a bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk.

Her hand reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workman’s hammer.

She struck Sisera, she crushed his head, she shattered and pierced his temple.

At her feet he sank, he fell; there he lay.

At her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell—dead.

Kind of an unpleasant ending to our story, but Jael brought justice to the Israelite people. Simply put, God uses people whether they are willing or unwilling, and whether they even know it or not. Isaiah 46:11 reminds us: “From the east I sum mon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.”

*Extra-biblical information: A guest in a nomadic culture had every reason to expect full hospitality and complete safety in the home of their host. It was also normal for nomadic women to put up and take down their tents, which means they were handy with a hammer and tent pegs!

The Half-Bros

I’ll get straight to the names for today. We’re going to look at Jesus’ siblings. I previously wrote a devotional about this topic some years back in the 30-day study called Digging Deeper. We’re going to try to dig even deeper today!

In Matthew chapter 12, Jesus is traveling from place to place, addressing the crowd following Him, healing the sick, and debating the religious teachers. At one point, we learn that His mother and brothers are standing nearby, hoping to speak with Him. His response? “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to His disciples, He said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (verses 48–50).

While we can see Jesus’ spiritual point in these verses about his spiritual family, we want to learn more about His literal family. Technically, they are His half-brothers and half-sisters because their father, Joseph, was not Jesus’ biological father.

We know Jesus had at least two half-sisters, because the next chapter refers to “all his sisters” (13:56). In that same passage, we learn the names of his four half-brothers. Their names were James, Joseph (Joses in the KJV), Simon, and Judas (or Jude).

Ἰάκωβος

| James (JAYMZ)

“deceiver” or “supplanter”; English translation of the Greek form of Jacob, a Hebrew name literally meaning “heel-catcher” (i.e., one who trips up or holds back). See Genesis 25:26.

Let’s attempt to further identify this foursome. Why is this a good idea? I think it’s important to know that not only did Jesus’ disciples believe He was the Messiah, but His family did as well, even if it took some longer than others to come to faith. We know without a doubt that Mary believed from the time Gabriel visited her before Jesus was born (Luke 1:26–38). We also know that Mary and her sons traveled some with Jesus (John 2:12). They were later with the disciples after the ascen sion when they chose the replacement disciple for the traitor Judas (Acts 1:14).

Ἰωσήφ | Joseph (JOH zif)

“let him add”; from the Hebrew verb yasaph (“to add”). Named for the patriarch God “added” to Rachel when she could not conceive (Genesis 30:24).

James is the easiest to investigate, in part because Paul identifies him as the brother of Jesus in Galatians 1:19. He is prominent in the early church in Jerusalem (as an example see Acts 15:12–13). He is also accepted by most as the author of the New Testament book of James.

Σιμων | Simon (SIGH muhn)

“ one who hears” or “God has heard”; Greek form of the Hebrew name Simeon, from shema (“to hear/ obey”). Named for the son of Leah, who was heard by God when she wanted a child (Genesis 29:33).

Judas is likely Jude, the one who wrote one of the shortest books in the New Testament. He began his brief letter by stating, “Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.”*

Ἰουδας | Judas (JOO duhs) “praise”; Greek form of the Hebrew name Judah. Named for the patriarch and fourth son of Leah, who praised the Lord for answering her prayer (Genesis 29:35).

And what of Joseph and Simon? We can assume that these two (perhaps all four) didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah for part or all of Jesus’ earthly life. John chapter 7 references an occasion when the Jewish leaders were plotting to kill Jesus. His brothers encouraged Him to show Himself to the world, “for even his own brothers did not believe in him” (verse 5). As previously mentioned, though, they were later praying with the disciples after the ascension when they chose Judas Iscariot’s replacement (Acts 1:14).

This passage in Acts is the bottom line. The disciples believed Jesus was the Messiah, and by the time of His ascension, if not before, his brothers did too. We should have faith in these eyewitness accounts.

*Extra-biblical information: The Jewish historian Josephus recorded that James was martyred by order of the Jewish high priest Ananus around AD 62. Catholic tradition states Jude was beheaded in Syria in AD 65.

Yes, Mother?

Whenever you hear about Proverbs 31 in church circles, it is almost always in reference to the latter two-thirds of the chapter. This section is often labeled in Bibles as “The Wife of Noble Character,” or something similar. The author describes, in detail, the attributes of a godly woman in the form of a Hebrew acrostic poem (the structure of which we obviously can’t see in the English version).

The first nine verses of this chapter are usually ignored be cause they seem to be about a different topic. However, they pair well with the rest of the chapter because they are basically advice from a mother to her son. She is an example of a wise woman, just as the remainder of the chapter defines. We’ll look at the advice in a minute.

Whom the advice is given to is our subject for today. This son was not just any person. He was a king. So, this was the advice of the queen mother.* Her son, the king, was named Lemuel.

| Lemuel (LEM yoo uhl)

“(belonging) to God”; el is the common Semitic word for “deity” or “god,” yet it is often used in Scripture to refer specifically to Yahweh, God of Israel. Because of this, many Hebrew names contain el, like Elijah the prophet and Nathanael the disciple.

Some translations say “Lemuel king of Massa.” One explanation for this is that his kingdom was named for Ishmael’s son Massa. In Genesis, God promised to bless Ishmael with 12 sons, each of whom would become a ruler (17:20). Tradition holds that they reigned in the region of Arabia. Regardless, nothing is known about Lemuel. Therefore, speculation abounds that his name is possibly an alias for King Solomon or even King Hezekiah.

The practical nature of the queen mother’s advice is most helpful for us here. She basically gives two warnings followed by a directive. She tells Lemuel not to spend his strength (can also be translated as wealth) on women. In other words, don’t get caught up in sexual immorality and in having a large harem, which would have been common for kings in the day. Look no further than King Solomon for an example of someone who stumbled in this area.

She also warns Lemuel against wine and beer because its constant intake would greatly hinder his ability to lead. Ecclesiastes similarly warns: “Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness” (10:11–13).

The final advice in Proverbs 31:8–9 is worth quoting here and is self-explanatory. It is great advice for us all and gives us something practical to consider today:

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

*Extra-biblical information: The queen mother was often an influential figure in a particular kingdom. This was also true for Solomon’s mother, Bathsheba (see 1 Kings 1:11–13; 2:13–25).

The Purple Lady

Paul’s second missionary journey took place from approxi mately AD 49 to 52. One of the many stops he made was the city of Philippi. In Acts, Luke records this place as “a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia” (16:12). Paul would later address an entire letter, Philippians, to the believers there. More about this in a moment.

Many Roman legionnaires retired to this wealthy Roman colony, but there weren’t many Jews there. Instead of a synagogue, the few who lived there only had a place of prayer by the Gangites River outside the city.*

It was here in Philippi where Paul and Silas were thrown into prison for healing a demon-possessed slave girl who could predict the future. Sounds crazy, right?! Read or re-read that story in Acts 16 on your own. Today, we’re going to look at another episode from Paul’s time there that centers around our person for the day, the purple lady. Her name was Lydia.

Λυδία | Lydia (LID ih uh)

“[a woman] from Lydia”; the region known as Lydia may be named after Lud, one of the sons of Shem, as listed in the table of nations in Genesis 10.

Lydia was a Gentile who believed in God and was from Thyatira, a city in western Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey).

At one time, Thyatira was part of an ancient kingdom called Lydia. Therefore, “the Lydian lady” may be a better transla tion. If so, then perhaps she was Euodia or Syntyche, the ladies mentioned in Philippians 4:2–3 who were instrumental in the ministry there. For today, however, we will call her Lydia.

Lydia was “a dealer in purple cloth.” Her former home was well known for dyeing cloth in this particular color, which was synonymous with wealth. The most desirable dye, known as “sea purple,” was produced from shellfish and was extremely costly (a cheaper alternative was made from plants). Lydia had apparently brought her trade to Philippi.

One day by the river, Paul addressed this gathering of Jewish women, and Lydia came to understand the full message of the Gospel. She realized the Messiah had come, and salvation along with Him. She believed. I guess you could say she was the first convert in Europe!

Lydia and her entire household were baptized by Paul. She invited Paul, Silas, and those with him (including Luke, who wrote Acts) to stay at her house going forward. No doubt she and her household were a key catalyst in forming and growing the church at Philippi. This is the group of believers that Paul later lovingly addresses in his letter to the Philippians around a decade later.

What a great example Lydia is of someone using her resources and influence for God’s glory! We don’t have to be in full-time ministry to have an eternal impact. We can be a businesswoman, construction worker, medical technician, etc. It’s all about how we steward the time, talent, and treasure God gives us.

*Extra-biblical information: According to Jewish law, a particular location had to have at least ten male heads of household for a synagogue to be established. Philippi didn’t qualify, so they were left to gather outside near water for the purpose of ritual washing.

The Seventy(-Two)

Much attention is rightfully given to the 12 disciples. In chap ter 9 of Luke’s Gospel, Jesus “gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” These men were not only given front-row seats to Jesus’ life and ministry, but were expected to exercise the same power and share the same message.

You will read throughout this devotional of several more men and women—some mentioned by name—who connected with Jesus on more than just a casual level. They supported Him and traveled with Him. Others remained nameless except for one defining characteristic: how many there were. They were known as the “The Seventy” (or “The Seventy-Two,” depending on the manuscript).

ἑβδομήκοντα | Hebdomekonta (heb do MAY kon tah) “seventy” in Greek; derived from the words for “seven” (hepta ) and “ten” (deca )—seven times ten yields seventy. We are probably more familiar with the Latin for seven, septem .

At the end of Luke 9, Jesus sent messengers ahead of His arrival at a Samaritan village. These messengers received an unfriendly welcome there, so Jesus rerouted to another village.

Likewise, at the start of chapter 10, Jesus “appointed seventytwo others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go” (verse 1). They were to discover who would welcome Jesus and who would not.* More specifically, they were to proclaim that the kingdom of God was near.

Jesus closed His directive in the following way: If they were rejected by people from a particular town, that town was really rejecting God the Father and Jesus His Son.

While Luke’s account unfortunately doesn’t share details of the adventures of the 70, he does tell us that they returned with joy. A simple discovery that they had made: “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name” (verse 17).

Just as names often have special meaning in the Bible, numbers tend to as well. In this case, it is the number 70. For example, in the Table of Nations found in Genesis 10, there are 70 names listed. This was to demonstrate that all 70 nations in the known world descended from Noah’s three sons. (The Septuagint, an important Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, lists 72 names, likely accounting for the difference in later manuscripts. Whether 70 or 72, Luke seems to be con necting the Table of Nations with Jesus’ ministry that would grow to encompass all nations.) There were also 70 members of Jacob’s family who entered Egypt (Genesis 46:27) and 70 elders of the Israelites (Exodus 24:9).

There is speculation among theologians that the 70 (or 72) disciples were symbolic of Christ sending out His people to share the message of the Gospel, not only to the Jews as the Twelve had done (see Matthew 10:5–6), but to all the nations as well. This fits in line with the expanding geographic scope

Jesus mentions in His parting words in Acts 1:8: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

This is our calling as well until He returns.

*Extra-biblical information: In Greek and Jewish cultures, it was normal to send out messengers or heralds two by two. Likewise, in the Old and New Testament (Deuteronomy 19:15 and Matthew 18:16), the truth is established by “two or three witnesses.”

The Areopagite

Greek culture was still prevalent during the New Testament era, even though the Roman Empire ruled. Paul visited the epicenter of this culture, which was Athens. He spoke in the synagogue and in public. He tried to reason with Jews and Greeks, as well as philosophers. Some were Epicureans, who believed that the goal of life was pleasure. Some were Stoics, who taught har mony with nature and being self-sufficient. While both schools of thought had admirable qualities, they had degenerated into systems of pride and were essentially unbiblical.

Acts 17:21 gives us a further description of Paul’s diverse audiences in Athens: “All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.”

Their debate with Paul was moved to a location called the Areopagus, meaning the hill of Aries. Previously, the Council of the Areopagus governed the Athenian city-state from this hill, and it was the site where Socrates was sentenced to death in 399 BC. By Paul’s time, the Council’s function had been reduced to authority in judicial matters relating to education and religion. Standing before the Council was the perfect set ting to hear what Paul had to say about their gods—and his. At the conclusion, a few would believe. One of them was a man named Dionysius.*

Διονυσιος | Dionysius (DIGH oh NISH ih uhs) named after Dionysus, Greek god of wine, drunkenness, and lascivious behavior. His name testifies to the sinful nature from which believers are delivered when they receive their new identity in Christ.

Paul gave a speech that showed he knew his audience. Dionysius and the members of the Council heard a well-artic ulated and logical apologetic, a defense of or argument for the Christian faith. Paul referenced a nearby altar dedicated to an unknown god, then proclaimed that God is this god they didn’t know. He lost most of these so-called deep thinkers when he spoke of the resurrection of the dead. Most Greeks believed in the Platonic idea that the soul was immortal, but not the body.

Paul invited them to repent and believe. One who believed was a prominent lady named Damaris. Even more notable was that someone on the Council believed, Dionysius (we know he was a member of the Council because he is identified as Dionysius the Areopagite in Acts 17:34). This would perhaps be the equivalent of someone from the Jewish supreme religious body called the Sanhedrin believing the message of the Gospel. Mark 15:43 shares one such occasion. Who was the notable member of the Sanhedrin who had become a believer? It was Joseph of Arimathea, the man who asked Herod for Jesus’ body so He could be buried in Joseph’s tomb (also John 19:38–42).

This story is a great reminder to me of three aspects of being a witness for Christ. First, we should know our audience. Second, not everyone will be receptive. Third, we don’t know who will believe, so we must share as if everyone will. Therefore, we should “always be prepared to give an answer

to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).

*Extra-biblical information: According to the early church historian Eusebius of Caesarea (among others), Dionysius later became Bishop of Athens. There is a Catholic church and a Greek Orthodox church still bearing his name in Athens.

Three Bad Friends

Proverbs 18:24 tells us that “one who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” And aren’t we glad that in Christ Jesus we also have “a friend of tax collectors and sinners!” (Matthew 11:19). Whether or not we have family we can rely on, most of us have friends who we know will be there for us through a difficult time. The bonds of friendship forged over time and during crucial moments in our lives result in a future comfort and empathy we know we can rely on. I’m glad and relieved to say that God has put such people in my life.

Job was a man who had lost everything, including his children. Thankfully, there were some friends who heard about his troubles and came to comfort him. “When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud” (Job 2:12). Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite,* and Zophar the Naamathite.

| Eliphaz (EL ih faz)

my God is gold [i.e., shining, pure]”; as the leader of Job’s three friends, Eliphaz shares his name with one of Esau’s sons and may be a descendant. Teman was a noted center of wisdom in the ancient world.

These were good friends. After they found Job in mourning, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar “tore their robes and sprinkled

dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights” (Job 2:12–13). These were the customary practices of the day, but it also spoke of their deep friendship of Job that they were willing to do this.

| Bildad (BIL dad)

origin unknown, but may mean “the Lord has loved.” The Shuhites descended from Shuah, son of Abraham and his second wife, Keturah, and probably lived in northeast Arabia.

Throughout their time with Job, these three friends took turns giving him advice. Entire chapters of this book record their eloquent guidance: Eliphaz in chapters 4–5, 15, and 22; Bildad in 8, 18, and 25; and Zophar in 11 and 20.

| Zophar (ZOH far)

nothing is known about Zophar or Naamah, his place of origin. His name may derive from the Hebrew root sapar, meaning “to skip about” or “depart early.”

However, their advice was ultimately not God-honoring. They were not good friends after all. Why? The Lord told Elip haz (the eldest of the three) that they had not spoken the truth about Him. They claimed that these bad things happened to Job because of God’s wrath over some sin in his life. This false belief is known as the retribution principle. Basically, it means that God will cause the wicked to suffer but the righteous to prosper. Job must have done something wrong. His friends were sure of it.

As a result of their poor advice, God was going to judge them unless they offered a burnt offering to Him and Job prayed

for them. The three saw the error of their ways, sacrificed as they were instructed, and God heard Job’s prayer for them. All friends make mistakes. We’re human and sinful. However, we need to have confidence that our closest friends/ advisors have a deep understanding of God and the Bible. If they don’t, how can we have confidence in their advice? It’s another reminder of the goal of this devotional: to seek to know God and His Word more and more.

*Extra-biblical information: I’ll keep it light and just share a joke I heard growing up.

Question: Who was the shortest man in the Bible? Answer: Bildad the Shuhite (get it? “shoe height”!)

Lois’ Daughter

The first question you might be asking is, Who is Lois? We’ll get to that in a minute, because today’s devotional is about her daughter—although Lois had a pivotal role in our story as well.

As we have seen and will see on other days, women were prominent in the life and ministry of Jesus. They were also im portant in the ministry of Paul. We’ll look later at a chapter in Romans where Paul mentions many key women.

Today’s woman is also mentioned by Paul, but in a different letter. Timothy’s father was Greek and his mother was Jewish. Wives were expected to become a part of their husband’s religion, so this would explain why Timothy was not circumcised according to Jewish law. However, Timothy’s spiritual father, Paul, later had Timothy circumcised for the sake of their outreach to Jews (Acts 16:3). An uncircumcised Jew would not have been welcome or accepted.

When Paul began his first letter to Timothy, he mentioned two women in Timothy’s life who raised him to know the Scriptures (what we know as the Old Testament). They were his mother and grandmother. We’re left to assume that Timothy’s father never became a believer.

Likely during Paul’s first missionary journey, which in cluded the city of Lystra where they lived, this grandmother,

mother, and son came to accept the full message of salvation through faith in Jesus. Like Timothy, these two women had “sincere faith” (2 Timothy 1:5). One was his grandmother, Lois, and the other was his mother, or Lois’ daughter. Her name was Eunice.

Εὐνικη | Eunice (YOO niss) “good victory”; a combination of the Greek prefix eu- (good) and nike (victory, personified as Nike in Greek mythology). The name Eunice and its Latin equivalent, Victoria, remain in frequent use today.

So, what else do we know about Eunice? We know that despite her husband being Greek, she raised her son to know the Old Testament.* Eunice didn’t just teach her son the Scriptures from an age when he could read, but taught him “from infancy” (2 Timothy 3:15).

You might be wondering how it is possible to teach (what we now call) Bible verses to a baby. I can tell you the answer because I’ve practiced this myself. Perhaps you have too as the parent of a young one. From birth, my wife and I would sing spiritual songs and Scripture to our children. We would tell them stories from the Bible even before they could read. In other words, a child can hear and know about God from infancy. This is what Eunice (and Lois) did for Timothy. When God gave the Jewish people the law through Moses, He implored them: “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children . . .” (Deuteronomy 6:6–7). Eunice heeded this divine directive. So should we.

*Extra-biblical information: In Roman culture, a boy’s mother was the main educational influence in his life until the age of seven. In Jewish culture, memorizing and reciting Scripture usually began at five.

The Man behind the Man

As believers, we should be ready to share with others about Jesus through our words and our actions. We never know whose life we might touch. Much will not be known until heaven of the impact we’ve hopefully had in this life. We may have touched someone who touched the world. This is true of our person today.

There is a story in Acts chapter 5 about a couple who lied to the disciples and to God about some land they sold. Instead of donating all the proceeds as they had apparently pledged, they kept some for themselves. As a result, God struck them dead. Their names were Ananias and Sapphira. Perhaps you remember their story. However, they are not the subject for today. There was another man named Ananias who was a Jewish high priest during the time of Paul’s ministry. In fact, he was Paul’s enemy, bringing charges against him before the Roman governor. This Ananias isn’t the person for today either. There is a third Ananias in Acts chapter 9.

Ἁνανιας | Ananias (an uh NIGH uhs)

“

Yahweh has been gracious”; the Greek form of the common Hebrew name Hananiah. A shortened form of Yahweh, Yah or Jah, is present in Hebrew names ending in -iah or -jah. Indeed, for Saul, Ananias was the embodiment of his name!

As you will recall, before Saul became Paul, he greatly persecuted Christians. On his way to Damascus to target believers there, the Lord blinded him. He was basically rendered helpless and didn’t eat or drink for three days. The Lord had an inter vention planned that involved our other Ananias.

Ananias already knew who Saul was (see Acts 9:13–14 for proof). So we can imagine the shock it must have been for Ananias—first, to have a vision from God; and second, to be told that he would heal this terrible person of blindness. Despite some understandable hesitancy from Ananias, he obeyed.*

You know the rest of the story. Ananias placed his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who ap peared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9:17).

Ananias also explained that God had chosen Saul to be His witness to all people. He told Saul to believe and be baptized, which Saul did. After regaining his strength, Saul immediately began preaching about Jesus.

Later in Acts, Paul remembered Ananias fondly. He recalled, “A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there” (22:12).

Ananias was the man behind Saul who became Paul and helped launch the Gospel to the world. Without the obedience of Ananias, would there have been a Paul? Regardless, we should revisit the first paragraph for today. We never know who God might ask us to reach out to, but we need to be ready and willing regardless. Are you?

*Extra-biblical information: God told Ananias that he would find Saul at the house of a man named Judas on Straight Street. This street ran east–west, and is still one of the main streets in Damascus today!

Honorable Mention

We’re going to take a break from the normal pattern of study to look briefly at several other lesser-known people. Each may well deserve their own entry, but we are capping this devotional at 30 days! There’s only room here to share the briefest information about them to whet your appetite for further study.*

Tabitha: also known as Dorcas. She was a faithful believer in Joppa who was raised from the dead by the Apostle Peter (Acts 9:36–43).

Mephibosheth: disabled grandson of Saul who was welcomed to the king’s table by David (2 Samuel 9), but was later accused of plotting to seize the throne (chapters 19 and 21).

Demetrius: a silversmith (and idol maker) in Ephesus who was losing his livelihood because of Paul’s preaching against false gods (Acts 19:23–41).

Abigail: no woman wants to be known as the wife of a fool, but she was. Thankfully, the story has a happy ending that involves a king (1 Samuel 25).

Gaius: this particular Gaius (there are several in the New Testament) is mentioned twice, in Romans 16:23 and 1 Corinthians 1:14. He was baptized by Paul and showed him great hospitality while in Corinth.

Joanna: mentioned twice in Luke’s Gospel, she was the wife of King Herod’s steward and had been healed by Jesus (8:1–3). She was also present at Jesus’ crucifixion (24:1–9).

King Eglon: apparently the fattest person mentioned in the Bible (Judges 3). He met his end by a sword that disap peared. You’ll have to read the story to know what I mean.

Gamaliel: the Apostle Paul’s teacher before Paul was saved (Acts 22:3). He was a Pharisee who addressed the Jewish religious leaders and gave eloquent reasoning for releasing the apostles from jail (5:12–42).

Huldah: a prophetess during the reign of King Josiah in Judah (2 Chronicles 34). She conveyed a timely message from the Lord to this godly king.

There are many stories to look forward to in heaven; many other men and women who made an impact with their lives. The latter part of Hebrews 11 broadly shares their struggles and triumphs. These stories continue today in the lives of faithful believers around the world. They are willing to risk it all for God.

It is my humble opinion that God also wants to tell such stories through us. Paul told the church at Thessalonica, “Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well”

(1 Thessalonians 2:8). This is the kind of love we need to have and to share. We need to give of our very lives for the spiritual and physical well-being of others.

*Extra-biblical information: The primary sources of extra-biblical information for this devotional have been reputable commentaries as well as Greek and Hebrew lexicons. Many can be accessed for free online. Study for yourself!

Flawed but Faithful

Hebrews 11 is known as the “Hall of Faith” chapter, in which the writer names several individuals throughout the centuries who displayed lives and acts of faith. He was encouraging his first-century readers to persevere in the faith like the many well-known people he referenced. From Abel to Rahab, they did the right thing at the right moment, took a stand, endured insufferable hardships, and so on.

“These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised” (verse 39). Jesus had yet to set the world on fire with His resurrection and offer of salvation to all who believe. What had been foreshadowed in the Old Testament Scriptures had not yet come to pass.

As you read this chapter, there are probably a few names you don’t recognize. Have you ever looked up their stories? Surely, if they are mentioned in such a distinguished list of faithful people, they must have displayed significant faith. We will look at one of the lesser-known figures today. His name was Jephthah.

| Jephthah (JEF thuh) | Ἰεφθάε

“[God] will open”; from the Hebrew word pâthach (“to open”). The Aramaic command, “Ephphatha!” given by Jesus to open the ears of a deaf man in Mark 7:34 shares the same root.

Jephthah’s story in Judges 11 is an interesting one to be sure. He was an outcast among the Gileadites because his mother was a prostitute. He was also a renowned leader of a “gang of scoundrels.” Later in the chapter he made an ill-fated vow that cost him the life of his only child, a daughter. This doesn’t sound like someone who should be listed with the champions of faith in Hebrews 11, does it! But the Bible is full of flawed people who mustered faith in key moments.

Despite Jephthah’s poor status and reputation among the Gileadites, they asked him to lead them into war against the Ammonites. The king of Ammon believed the Israelites were on his land. Before entering armed conflict, Jephthah tried to reason with the king.* He gave historical evidence to back his claim that God had given them the land of Gilead to the east of the Jordan River three hundred years earlier. It was an extension of the land God had promised Abraham, who believed that promise by faith. Jephthah now exemplified that same faith.

The king would not negotiate, and so Jephthah went on the warpath. He destroyed twenty towns and the Lord granted him victory over the Ammonites. Read the remainder of his tumultuous story in Judges 11–12.

Believers today are also called to live and act by faith. In the previous chapter in Hebrews, the writer encourages boldness: “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back. But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved” (10:38–39). Let’s be flawed people who don’t shrink back but instead exercise vibrant faith in God. Then, when key moments in life come, we will be ready—by faith!

*Extra-biblical information: In his message to the king of Ammon, Jephthah mentions the pagan god Chemosh, the “detestable” (1 Kings 11:7) and “vile” (2 Kings 23:13) god of Moab. One of King Solomon’s wives convinced him to build a high place to Chemosh; King Josiah later destroyed this place of worship.

A Tale of Two Queens

Today, we’re running a two-for-one name special! As you read below, you may begin to recognize this familiar story. However, you might not recognize the names, which is the primary point of this devotional. You may not know the Bible as well as you think you do.

Fairy tales often focus on royalty. The king wins the war. The prince rescues the princess. Today, we’re going to look at two queens. The first didn’t please her king, and as a result, a search was conducted to replace her.

The king held a great banquet at the beautiful garden of his palace.* This event was the grand finale to six months of pomp and circumstance intended to display his immense wealth to the aristocracy of Persia and Media. Simultaneous with the king’s final banquet, the queen held a banquet of her own for the women. Her name was Vashti.

| Vashti (VASH tee)

“the one desired”; a Persian name fit for a queen. The Persians were one of the last empires mentioned in the Old Testament, so there are very few Persian names in Scripture.

On the final day of the banquet, the king was drunk on wine and commanded that Queen Vashti be brought before

him so that everyone could marvel at her beauty. However, she refused to come. This created a predicament for the king. He was advised by his legal counsel to replace the queen for fear that other women throughout the kingdom would summon the same amount of bravery.

Recognize the story yet? If not, you might soon, because our story takes a fairytale-like turn. Behold, there was a beautiful Jewish orphan raised by her cousin. This older cousin took her in as his own daughter after her parents died. She was selected as a candidate in the new queen search. Her name was Hadassah.

| Hadassah (huh DASS uh)

“myrtle”; from the Hebrew hadas (“myrtle tree”). Being named after a plant may not seem desirable, but the fragrant, flowering myrtle has been a symbol of hope, love, and renewal since ancient times.

Now, do you recognize the story? If not, it’s because for the rest of our tale, this beautiful young maiden named Hadassah goes by her Persian name, Esther (which means “star”). We will only summarize the rest of her journey here. She won the king’s favor and was named queen. She later saved the Jewish people from a plot by a high-ranking but deceitful member of the king’s court who intended to have them all wiped out. And the king and queen lived happily ever after. (Well, we don’t know all the future details.)

To me, this is a tale of two brave queens. They weren’t perfect people, but they took a stand. The first refused to be used as a prop by her drunk husband. The second refused to see that same man manipulated by a schemer and have her

people die as a result. These are but two of the strong women in the Bible who can be examples for our daughters. Proverbs 31 provides us with more inspiring attributes.

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

Proverbs 31:1

*Extra-biblical information: The palace at the citadel in Susa was where Persian kings reigned during the winter months, since temperatures were well over 100 degrees in the summer months.

A Friend Turned Deserter

In most cases, we have been looking at lesser-known people in the Old and New Testament who have something to admire about them. Perhaps it’s a positive character trait or an action they took. Occasionally, it is worth sharing about someone who did something wrong. The lesson we can learn from their life is just as valuable.

The Apostle Paul cited many people in his letters. Men and women. Young and old. Good and bad. Among those he frequently mentioned were his fellow travelers. We will look at one of them today because something said about this person is a warning to us all.

This mystery man is mentioned favorably in two of Paul’s letters, but unfavorably in the third. This final instance is in 2 Timothy. This is an important fact to know because it is the last letter from Paul. In this late hour of his life, someone had let him down. His name was Demas.

Δημας | Demas (DEE muhs) shortened form of the Greek name Demetrios, which means “belonging to Demeter.” In Greek mythology, Demeter was the goddess of grain and agriculture.

Paul closed his letter to the church at Colossae stating that “our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings”

(Colossians 4:14). In the short letter to Philemon, Paul shared, “Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers” (verses 23–24). Both letters were written during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome. Times were challenging. Unfortunately, by the writing of Paul’s second letter to Timothy, Demas had totally deserted Paul. He had gone to Thessalonica. Other fellow travelers had also left. One named Crescens went to Galatia, and another named Titus went to Dalmatia. However, their departure didn’t seem to be under negative circumstances.*

What made Demas different? Why did he desert Paul? Paul recorded what was wrong with Demas in 2 Timothy 4:10. It was “because he loved this world.” How disheartening this must have been for Paul to accept regarding his former fellow laborer and friend.

Surely, the things of this world tug at us all. But we have God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to steer us away from these trappings and toward our Savior. It is a constant battle that we all must fight.

May these words about Demas never be said of us, that we loved the world more than our devotion to God. Let me leave you with these words from 1 John 2:15–17 as an admonishment to focus your every heartbeat on the cause of Christ:

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes

not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

*Extra-biblical information: Some helpful geographic information: Thessalonica is in modern-day Greece, Galatia is in what is now Turkey, and Dalmatia is in Croatia. It is believed that Crescens and Titus went to Galatia and Dalmatia on missionary journeys.

Grandson of the High Priest

The Israelite men had turned away from God yet again and began worshipping Baal, the Canaanite god of fertility and rain. They were having sexually immoral relations with women from Moab who also worshipped Baal (Numbers 25). God directed Moses to put to death any men who had strayed in this manner. He also brought a plague on them.

After this clear directive from the Lord, an Israelite man named Zimri brazenly brought one of these women, Kozbi, not only into the camp but into the tent of meeting. This was another name for the tabernacle, the center of Jewish worship and where God manifested His presence in the Old Testament era. Later, God would do the same in the Jerusalem temple.

This was an incredible and unholy act by Zimri that would have been simply unthinkable to witness. Yet Zimri took her in the tent in front of Moses and the people for sexual relations.*

Was there a consequence? Indeed there was. The grandson of the high priest took action. His father was Eleazar and his grandfather was Aaron, the high priest who ministered so closely alongside Moses (Aaron’s brother) for decades. The name of Aaron’s grandson was Phinehas.

| Phinehas (FIN ih huhs) depending on the language of origin, Phinehas means “mouth of brass” (Hebrew) or “the dark-skinned one” (Egyptian). His name either reflects the physical appearance of a southern Egyptian, or is appropriate for someone with such zeal.

When Phinehas saw what Zimri was about to do in this holiest of places, he grabbed a spear and followed them into the tent. He killed them both with one thrust. As a result of his righteous indignation, God ended the plague that caused the death of 24,000 Israelites. It was a gruesome ending to this horrible period of disobedience.

God honored Phinehas for his actions (Numbers 25:10–13), and his story has been immortalized for the Jewish people and for all future Bible readers. Psalm 106:28–31 summarizes his story this way:

They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods; they aroused the Lord’s anger by their wicked deeds, and a plague broke out among them.

But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was checked. This was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come.

This story reminds me that just as the tabernacle and temple were the dwelling place of God before He sent His Son, God now dwells in us. It is incredible to think about!

The Apostle Paul reminds us of this through his rhetorical

question to the church at Ephesus: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). So, since we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, we need to strive to keep our hearts pure. Just as Phinehas sought to keep the temple holy, we also need to follow Christ’s example: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

*Extra-biblical information: It was common for pagan worship of this age to include prostitution and ritual intercourse. The government of India estimates that there are still tens of thousands of Hindu temple prostitutes known as devadasis (typically young women from lower castes), even though the practice was outlawed in 1988.

The Power Couple

It is a rare occurrence in the Bible to find a husband and wife working together in ministry. We see instances of this in the Old Testament in the stories of the Hebrew patriarchs: Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Rachel.

It is also special to find an example of a Christian “power couple” in the New Testament. They had relocated to the city of Corinth after the Roman emperor Claudius evicted all Jews from Rome around AD 49. They were tentmakers and leatherworkers by trade (Acts 18:1–2) and worked, served, and traveled alongside the Apostle Paul, even risking their lives for him.

When this couple was apart from Paul, Paul would often instruct the recipients of his letters to greet them on his behalf (Romans 16:3; 1 Corinthians 16:19; and 2 Timothy 4:19). In the majority of citations in the New Testament, the wife’s name is listed first.*

They were integral not only in the establishment of a church in their home, but also in strengthening Gentile house churches in multiple locations. Their names were Priscilla and Aquila.

Πρίσκιλλα | Priscilla (prih SIL uh)

“ancient”; the feminine of the Latin name Priscus. Priscilla was from Rome and did not have a typical slave name; she may have been a free Roman citizen. Some English Bible translations refer to her as Prisca in certain passages (in agreement with the Greek), while others call her Priscilla throughout the New Testament.

In Acts 18, Luke gives us a glimpse into the ministry of Priscilla and Aquila. They greeted Paul in Corinth, joined him on a journey to Syria, and parted ways with him in Ephesus so they could strengthen the church, while Paul soon sailed on.

During their time in Ephesus, they came to learn of a man named Apollos who was very knowledgeable of the Old Testament as well as how Jesus came to fulfill Jewish law. However, he was not “up to speed” on the full story of the Gospel (good news) of Jesus.

Ἀκυλας | Aquila (uh KWIL uh)

“eagle”; like Prisca, Aquila’s name is Latin and not a common slave name. Being a Jew originally from the Roman colony of Pontus, Aquila likely had a Hebrew name that is unknown to us.

Therefore, the power couple “explained to him the way of God more adequately” (Acts 18:26). As a result, Apollos grew wiser and was sent to Achaia where he encouraged the believers and “vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah” (18:28).

Like the disciples who went from being fishers of fish to fishers of men (Matthew 4:18–20), Priscilla and Aquila went

from being tent makers to disciple makers. We can assume they were like Paul and continued tentmaking as needed to support themselves, but their business was the Lord’s business. We don’t know if they had children or how they balanced family and ministry. But they do give us an example of a husband and wife who worked and ministered together for the Lord. I have certainly learned that it is not an easy road to balance marriage, family, and ministry, but with God all things are possible. And because of God, it is worth our very best effort.

*Extra-biblical information: Priscilla is a less formal name or nickname for Prisca. While the practice of listing the wife’s name first is unusual, it is believed that Priscilla’s name was listed first because she was from a higher social class or had a more prominent role in the ministry.

A Name Changed

Egypt was experiencing a historic famine, as recorded in Genesis 41. It would be seven years long. However, the people turned to their leaders, who were ready for it. Pharaoh’s second-in-com mand had come through with proper preparation during the previous years of plenty.

You should know this story well, and it should be obvious who I am referring to. He was a Hebrew who endured slavery and prison to be later redeemed into distinguished service under the Egyptian pharaoh. His name was Joseph.

Did you know that Joseph was given a new name by Pharaoh after he was promoted to oversee Egypt’s preparations for the prophesied famine?* He was renamed Zaphenath-Paneah.

| Zaphenath-Paneah (ZAF ee nath-pan EE uh)

Egyptian name of obscure origin, perhaps meaning “the god says, he will live” (possibly reflecting Pharaoh’s pagan view of Joseph’s deliverance) or “preserver of life” (appropriate for Joseph’s new role).

Here is an example of a name being given to Joseph to promote his acceptance by those in another culture. But the changing of names can also be meant to represent a specific characteristic of a person. Although there is no consensus on the meaning of Zaphenath-Paneah, one possible interpretation

(“preserver of life”) points to how he would provide for the Egyptians during this time of great need.

This phenomenon of names having special meaning was common across various cultures mentioned in the Old Testament, but especially among the Jewish people. Sometimes the name with special meaning was given before or at birth. For example, Isaac’s name means laughter. Read Genesis 17–18 to be reminded why. Learn about the husband of Abigail in 1 Samuel 25. His name was Nabal, which means fool. See why the name fit his behavior.

Other names were changed by God, such as Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel, Saul to Paul, and several others. In some stories, a name was changed to fit the culture where the transplanted person found themselves. This was true of Joseph.

This also happened to Daniel, whose name was changed to Belteshazzar. We know Daniel’s friends as Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego. However, the chief official of King Nebuchadnezzar gave them these names to honor Babylonian gods. Their original Hebrew names were Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

I’ve personally known Christians in different parts of the world who have changed their names after conversion. Perhaps it was because their previous name was related to their native religion. Or maybe their previous name reminded them too much of their life before Christ.

No matter what your name is, what’s far more important is the quality of your character. When people hear your name, do they think about you positively? Does thinking about you point them to Jesus?

“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold” (Proverbs 22:1). My hope and prayer for you is that you gain and retain a good name for the sake of the cause of Christ.

*Extra-biblical information: Ancient Egyptian docu ments portray a position like Joseph’s as “Overseer of the Royal Estates” or “Grand Vizier.” Egyptian tomb paintings detailed the investiture ceremony that included receiving the title, fine robes, and a signet ring (Genesis 41:41–43).

The Two Candidates

Decision-making as a Christian can be harder than for a non-Christian. Why? When it comes time to decide on something of significance, Christians shouldn’t simply weigh the pros and cons. We want to know the mind of the Lord on the matter. Both the Old and New Testaments encourage us to seek out God’s will (see Deuteronomy 4:29 and Matthew 7:7–8 as examples).

Perhaps you have heard the saying, “Pray as if everything depends on God and plan as if everything depends on you.”

I have heard two schools of thought on this matter. One says don’t move until God gives clear direction. The other says God gave you a brain, so use it! Well, which one is right?

To answer this question, let’s look at a story of two lesserknown men in the New Testament. The apostles and other believers gathered after Jesus’ ascension, and a disciple was added to replace Judas in the Twelve following his suicide. In Acts 1:12–26, Luke records how they gathered and picked a replacement.

There was an important prerequisite that had to be met by the candidates. They had to have been with the disciples for the entirety of Jesus’ ministry (specifically, the period between John’s baptism of Jesus and Christ’s ascension). There were two

candidates who met this standard. Their names were Joseph, who went by Barsabbas (and also Justus), and Matthias.*

Μαθθιας | Matthias (muh THIGH uhs)

“gift of Yahweh”; a shorter Greek form of the Hebrew name Mattathiah (mattath, “gift”; iah, “Yah[weh]”).

Matthias was chosen as Judas’ replacement. It is unfortunate that we never hear directly about either man in the rest of the New Testament. It is fair to assume they were among the 70 that Jesus sent out in Luke 10 (see “The Seventy(-Two)” on page 41). Ultimately, we are left to hope that they faithfully served God the rest of their lives, since they were eyewitnesses to much of what Christ said and did.

This process of finding a replacement for Judas can be a blueprint for making an important decision. Let’s revisit the story. First, the candidates had to be qualified. In their case, they had to have been present for all of Jesus’ ministry (Acts 1:21–22). In the case of our decision-making, understanding the important details and requirements around the decision are crucial.

Βαρσαββας | Barsabbas (bahr SAB uhs)

“ son of the Sabbath”; an Aramaic name written in Greek.The prefix bar- means “son of” (as in Barnabas, or “son of encouragement”). A disciple named Judas Barsabbas was a leader in the Jerusalem church (Acts 15:22) and is likely the brother of Joseph Barsabbas.

Second, the disciples took the matter to the Lord in prayer (Acts 1:24–25). You may have heard the saying, “Bathe it in prayer.” This is a really good idea. In other words, we need to pray A LOT about the important decisions in our lives.

Third, the disciples expected the Lord to decide (Acts 1:26). In this case, it was through the casting of lots, a practice common in ancient Israel. Proverbs 16:33 clarifies: “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” Today, we have the entirety of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to guide our decision-making. It’s wise to do our due diligence with a given situation, pray as if everything depends on God, and plan as if everything depends on God. Be prepared to act and God will give you peace (Philippians 4:6–7).

*Extra-biblical information: Biblical tradition is vague on what happened to Matthias. Among the theories are that he witnessed to cannibals in the area that is modern-day Georgia on the Black Sea. Tradition states Barsabbas died a martyr in the persecution under Emperor Vespasian in AD 68, an action recorded in Josephus’ Wars of the Jews.

The Defiant Midwives

Pharaoh, king of Egypt, saw a large threat to his population: the Israelites living in the land had become too numerous. He had succeeded the pharaoh under whom Joseph worked, so he lacked the compassion for Joseph’s people that his predecessor did.

As a result, this pharaoh believed there needed to be population control to prevent a potential uprising. Exodus 1 records that he first thought it best to make the Israelites’ lives miserable through forced labor. However, this didn’t slow the population increase. Over time they only grew in number.

The king then resorted to ordering that all newborn Israelite males be killed. Specifically, he directed two Hebrew midwives to drown the babies immediately after birth if they were boys.* Who were these two, the only midwives personally identified in the Bible? Their names were Shiphrah and Puah.

| Shiphrah (SHIF ruh) “fairness, beauty”; from the Hebrew root shâphar: “to glisten, be made fair.” Some Jewish traditions identify Shiphrah with Jochebed, mother of Moses, while another claims Shiphrah and Puah were both converts to Judaism.

These two ladies knew they couldn’t obey Pharaoh’s orders. His directive wasn’t just morally wrong, it went against their

religion. Even though the Ten Commandments didn’t exist yet, God had put morality in their hearts. And they feared God more than man, so they couldn’t commit such a deplorable act, much less on a wide scale.

So what did Shiphrah and Puah do? They defied the king and let the male newborns live. They gave him a response that seems a bit humorous: “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive” (Exodus 1:19). This is probably a true statement, since the Israelites multiplied under forced labor for many years. They were a strong people! However, this response didn’t give the full story.

| Puah (PYOO uh) “splendid”; from the Hebrew root meaning “to glitter” or “brilliancy.” One Jewish interpretation identifies Puah with Miriam, sister of Moses. Some instead view Puah, like Shiphrah, as a Jewish convert.

Pharaoh must have at least partially believed their answer, because he let Shiphrah and Puah live. God protected them for choosing the right path, and He later blessed the midwives with families of their own.

Pharaoh didn’t give up his pursuit to contain the Israelites, however. He continued to order the death of newborn males. It is under this ongoing threat that Moses was born, then hidden, soon to be found by Pharaoh’s daughter in the reeds by the Nile River.

It would be decades later that God through Moses would give the Hebrew people ten commandments to obey. The sixth commandment applies to today’s story: “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13).

Our faith in God can often put us into sticky situations. Isn’t it a blessing to have the Holy Spirit within us to direct our paths? May He continue to guide our steps as we are salt and light in the world.

*Extra-biblical information: Women in the ancient world normally gave birth in a crouching position, sometimes with stools or stones as support. Midwives not only helped during labor and delivery, but often all the way from conception to childcare.

Cause of Death: Long Sermon

Ask any follower of Christ about who was raised from the dead in the Bible (besides Jesus), and you will get one consistent answer: Lazarus. The truth is, there were several others. We’ll talk about one of them in a minute. Before we do this, let me share a quick personal story.

I was the last of my siblings to get married, only a month after my younger brother. Our father performed all four wedding ceremonies. Since mine was the last, he decided to make it count. He loved structure in his messages, so he shared ten points all starting with the letter C. I recall the first one was Commitment, but after that, all I remember was wanting him to finish the ceremony so I could go on my honeymoon!

This is the personal humorous story I compare to the humorous story found in Acts 20:7–12. It’s obviously not humorous because someone died, but because of the situation that led to the person’s death.

Here is the setting for the story. The Apostle Paul was on one of his missionary journeys and had a seven-day stay in Troas to teach and fellowship with the believers. This location was along the coast of modern-day Turkey.

On the last night of his visit, Paul must have felt the urgency of his short time there and been deeply burdened to teach certain things to those gathered. As a result, he “kept

on talking until midnight” and “talked on and on.” (See the parallel to my dad’s marathon wedding-day message?!) Many lamps were burning to brighten the room, but it had been a long day for everyone and the people were tired.

Paul’s teaching went on long enough that a young man sitting in the window of this upstairs room fell into a deep sleep. His name was Eutychus.*

Εὐτυχος | Eutychus

(YOO tih kuhs)

“fortunate”; in modern English, we might call him “Lucky,” which took on a new meaning after Paul’s sermon! The ancient Romans worshipped the god dess Fortuna (in Greek, Tyche), who they believed brought both fortune and misfortune. Paul showed that God’s will, not fortune, reigns supreme.

Whether due to a long day’s work, the stuffy and crowded room, the mesmerizing flicker of many lamps, or Paul’s incessant speaking, Eutychus couldn’t take it anymore. He fell asleep in the window, which was on the third floor, and proceeded to fall out of it to his death.

Just as Peter raised young Tabitha from the dead in Acts 9, it was now Paul’s turn to demonstrate God’s power. After Eutychus was proclaimed dead, Paul rejected the claim and raised him to life.

On a quick side note, you would think that this incredible act would bring an end to the late-night message. However, Paul not only wasn’t done, he went on “talking until daylight.” I think my dad would have done that too if given the choice!

We worship and serve the God who does the amazing. It is what differentiates Christianity from every other major religion:

“The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor” (Matthew 11:5).

*Extra-biblical information: The name Eutychus was common among the freedmen class—those who had been freed from slavery. This particular “young man” was probably between 8 and 14 years old.

The Two Magicians

I love a good mystery. Growing up, I used to watch Sherlock Holmes on PBS on Sunday nights. I love movies that are mysteries as well. I’m not one of those like my wife who tries to solve the crime before the culprit is revealed. I would rather sit back, be entertained, and enjoy the story as it unfolds. Today, we have a mystery to solve. It is rather unique, so let me explain. We are going to look at two men who are mentioned by name in the New Testament, yet they lived during the time of Moses. The problem is, they are not directly mentioned anywhere in the Old Testament. Sound interesting?

In Paul’s second letter to his spiritual son, Timothy, he is addressing the problem of the coming godless culture. He warns that people will turn themselves over to every kind of sinful behavior, with false teachers leading the way. Paul compared these charlatans to two magicians under Pharaoh during the time of Moses. Their names were Jannes and Jambres.

Ἰαννης | Jannes (JAN eez)

Ἰαμβρης

| Jambres (JAM breez)

usually mentioned as a pair, the origin of their names is unknown. Jannes may be Semitic or Egyptian, while Jambres is sometimes written as Mambres (from Aramaic, “to oppose”). Legends often connect them with Balaam, a notorious deceiver of Israel.

Before we seek to solve this mystery, here is what Paul shared with Timothy in the context of false teachers in a fallen culture: “Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected” (2 Timothy 3:8).

So, who were these two men? Do you remember when God instructed Moses and Aaron to throw down Aaron’s staff in front of Pharaoh and it turned into a snake? Pharaoh’s magicians were somehow able to perform this act as well, whether through trickery or demonic intervention (Exodus 7:8–13). It is widely accepted in both Jewish and secular history that Jannes and his brother, Jambres, were two of the main magicians under Pharaoh.* Just as they were “men of depraved minds,” so too were the false teachers that Paul was warning about.

Let me leave you with the first five verses of 2 Timothy 3, as Paul describes the godless state that seems so prevalent today. It is a sober reminder of what we are up against and should motivate us to be salt and light in this lost world (Matthew 5:13–16).

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without selfcontrol, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

*Extra-biblical information: Jewish traditions that speak of Jannes and Jambres include Pseudo-Philo, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and various rabbis. Pagan accounts include Pliny the Elder and Apuleius.

The Servant of Cenchreae

If you ever wondered about the involvement of women in New Testament ministry, look no further than Romans 16:1–16 to be encouraged. Paul mentions multiple women in this passage who were crucial to the cause of Christ. He sent greetings to them through Tertius. Who is Tertius? He transcribed the letter to the church at Rome as Paul dictated it to him.

We will focus on one of these ladies in a minute. But let’s look at some of the other women mentioned to show how deeply involved they were in the initial spread of the Gospel to the Gentile world. Rather than paraphrase, here are a few quotes from this passage in Romans 16 (female names in bold):

Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. . . .

Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord.

Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.

Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.

To summarize, Paul extends greetings to 29 people. Ten of them are women (possibly more—there is some ambiguity with the gender of one or two names). Before concluding with the bigger picture, we want to take a quick look at the name Paul mentions in verse 1 of Romans 16. It seemed he wanted to bring particular attention to what she had done for the believers. Her name was Phoebe.

Φοιβη | Phoebe (FEE be)

“bright, radiant”; the feminine of the Greek name Phoibos, likely derived from the Greek word phos (“light”). In this case, Phoebe’s name matched well the light she shone for Christ in Cenchreae.

Phoebe was “a deacon of the church in Cenchreae” (a seaport east of Corinth that was important for trade in the eastern Mediterranean). Phoebe had financially assisted Paul’s ministry, and he was now dispatching her to the church in Rome and was asking the church to joyfully accept her.*

The point today is not to delve into the debate of whether women can be given the title of deacon in a local church. What is abundantly clear regarding Phoebe is that she was greatly valued by Paul and was a faithful servant of the church. The Greek word for deacon means servant. This is what Phoebe epitomized.

The Body of Christ (the global church) is much stronger when women are integral to the ministry. Paul tried to flesh this out with his ministry. He also stressed how we are all children of God serving the Lord. “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female,

for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). So, let us men and women be unified in our service to the Lord!

*Extra-biblical information: Jewish travelers commonly carried letters of recommendation from respected individuals to aid their journey or to be utilized at their destination. This practice is also mentioned in 1 Corinthians 16:3 and 2 Corinthians 3:1.

Older Than Dirt

Before the great flood of Noah’s day, his predecessors lived a long time. The problem was, the longer they lived, the more wicked they became. As a result, God shortened the average life span of man to a maximum of 120 years (Genesis 6:3). By Moses’ day it had decreased even further to 70 years, 80 if one were fortunate (Psalm 90:10). Even then, this was perhaps more of an ideal than reality. Archaeology points toward a life span of 35 to 45 years for most of human history.

Due to advances in knowledge in general and technology and modern medicine in particular, human life expectancy has more than doubled since 1800. It is now back to the upper range of Moses’ time.

Let’s go back and look at the life spans recorded from Adam and Eve to Noah. The people lived hundreds of years. It’s hard to fathom living that long! Here in the South, we have a saying that some people are “older than dirt.” Today, we’re going to look at the oldest of them all. His name was Methuselah.

| Methuselah (mih THOOZ uh luh) “ man of the javelin”; perhaps Methuselah’s name reflected his parents’ desire for him to become a skilled hunter or mighty warrior.

I like a good challenge, so with only biblical genealogies to go on, what can we possibly learn about Methuselah? We know from the Genesis 5 account that his fifth great-grandfather was Adam and that his grandson was Noah. We also know he is in the lineage of Jesus (Luke 3:37), so that is worth noting.

Methuselah lived a total of 969 years—the oldest human being ever (Genesis 5:27). We also know he had many sons and daughters, but his first was a son named Lamech, born when he was 187 years old (verse 26). That’s a long time before having your first child!

Is there anything else? Yes. If the life spans in Genesis are to be taken literally, then Methuselah died exactly in the year of the great flood. Coincidence? Of course not. The sad reality is that anyone at the time of the flood besides Noah, his wife, and his sons and their wives, were killed in the flood. This meant all other living relatives of Noah, as well as everyone else, died.*

Regardless of what the average life span of our day is or what our individual life spans turn out to be, it is a sobering reminder that our days are numbered. Job expressed it this way: “Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble. . . . A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed” (14:1, 5).

Jesus’ brother James had the same perspective. He said, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (4:14). Through the eyes of eternity, Methuselah’s longevity is basically no different than ours. And it’s what we do with this life for God’s glory that will carry on forever. So, let’s be about His business! As Moses concluded

in Psalm 90: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (verse 12).

*Extra-biblical information: Estimates for the population of the earth prior to the great flood usually run from 10 to 100 million. The global population during the time of Jesus was estimated to be 100 to 300 million. Today, it is eight billion.

Five Noteworthy Moms

There once were five women. They didn’t know each other. They didn’t live in the same place or during the same time. At least three were Gentiles. One was a widow, one a prostitute, one a foreigner, one an adulterer, and the last one a virgin. No, this isn’t the beginning of a bad joke, and there’s no punchline. I am stating facts here, not criticism. But what could possibly tie these five women of the Bible together? It wasn’t their shortcomings. They were all ancestors of one person, one man, or specifically, The Man. All five are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1. Their names were Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary.

| Tamar (TAY mahr) | Θαμάρ “date palm”; palm trees were (and are) an important source of nutrition and shade in arid climates.

There are two genealogies of Jesus in the New Testament, one in Matthew and one in Luke. I briefly discussed this in our Christmas devotional, The Coming of Christos. Here is part of what I shared. “Luke records the family line starting with Jesus and going backward all the way through David, the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob), and Adam to God Himself, 77 names in all. Matthew’s list goes from past to present, starting with

Abraham and ending with Jesus, 41 names in all, spanning 2,000 years.”

| Rahab (RAY hab) | Ῥαχάβ

“wide”; Rahab’s hometown, Jericho, is on a wide plain west of the Jordan River.

In this case, Matthew and Luke had different purposes for their genealogies, so their lists were somewhat different.* Matthew’s audience was Jewish, so he was seeking to prove that Jesus is the prophesied Messiah descended from Abraham and David. Luke’s audience was Gentile, and so he was writing from a historical perspective to prove that Jesus is the Son of God (Luke 3:38).

| Ruth (ROOTH) | Ῥούθ

“companion”; Ruth certainly lived up to her name in her relationship with Naomi.

In Matthew, five females are also listed, along with their role as mothers. Tamar was the mother of Perez. Rahab was the mother of Boaz. Ruth was the mother of Obed. Bathsheba— listed here as Uriah’s wife—was the mother of Solomon. And Mary was “the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.”

| Bathsheba (bath-SHEE buh)

“daughter of an oath”; sheba is similar to “seven.” To “seven” oneself is a Hebrew idiom meaning to take an oath (i.e., swear seven times that something is true).

It is speculated that Matthew’s account also includes these four female predecessors of Mary because they were all either Gentiles or at least associated with Gentiles. Matthew possibly

did this to emphasize to his Jewish audience that Jesus came to save people from all ethnic groups, not just the Jews. It was a good reminder of God’s promise to Abraham that he would be a blessing to all nations.

Μαρια | Mary (MAY rih)

a common Jewish name in the first century, Mary (Maria) is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Miriam, which means “rebellion” or “bitterness.”

We need to continue Matthew’s legacy of telling the world the truth about who Jesus is. As an extension of those who witnessed Jesus’ final words prior to His ascension into heaven, we are charged with taking the message of Christ to the nations until the Lord’s return. As believers, we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit to “be [His] witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

*Extra-biblical information: Genealogies were some times intentionally inexact. They had different functions based on the purpose for which they were used. Names were sometimes omitted to emphasize a connection to a certain ancestor. Other names were added to emphasize certain relatives.

Two Wise Psalmists

Psalm 88 is a rather desperate, heartfelt plea for the Lord’s help. It seems the author was nearly at the point of death and needed God’s immediate rescue, but it doesn’t seem His help would come. While this prayer begins optimistically with a recognition of “the God who saves me,” it bleakly ends with “darkness is my closest friend.”

The next psalm (Psalm 89) is mainly a lament over the downfall of the Davidic dynasty. The psalm begins, “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever.” This might look familiar to you because of the well-known worship song “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever.” This song praises God in just over one hundred words. The Psalmist is far more thorough in elaborating on God’s greatness and His covenant with David, with a word count more than eight times as long in this psalm.

While King David wrote around half of all the psalms, there were other authors.* These included Moses, Solomon, Asaph, and the sons of Korah. Maybe these last two deserve their own study, because you may not recognize their names or know anything about them!

There are also many more psalms that are anonymous. But there are two other names worth noting, and they each contributed just one psalm: Psalm 88 and Psalm 89. Their names were Heman and Ethan.

| Heman (HEE muhn)

a Hebrew name meaning “faithful”; Heman’s Psalm 88 is an appeal to God’s faithfulness on behalf of His faithful servant.

We don’t know much at all about these two Psalmists. Some scholars believe the Heman and Ethan who wrote these psalms are the same ones mentioned in 1 Chronicles 15:17 and 19 as being priestly musicians during the time of King David. Regardless, there is another detail we do know that is rather telling. It is found in 1 Kings 4:30–31:

Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. (emphasis added)

In short, the godly wisdom of Heman and Ethan was surpassed only by the wisest of them all, King Solomon. Thus, we can trust that what God had for them to share is worth studying. This is, of course, true for the whole Bible. After all, “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

| Ethan (EE thuhn)

“firm, enduring”; from the Hebrew etan, meaning “to continue” (i.e., be strong, permanent). In his lengthy Psalm 89, Ethan uses the Hebrew word for “forever,” olam, seven times.

Let me leave you with a practical suggestion. Have you ever tried to write your own psalm to or about the Lord? It’s basically just like writing down one of your prayers. You might find this process incredibly enlightening and fulfilling.

*Extra-biblical information: The Psalms were collected over the centuries before Christ and were eventually divided into five books, perhaps to mirror the five books of Moses (Genesis–Deuteronomy). Psalms is quoted in the New Testament more than any other book.

A Faithful and Fearless Friend

The Apostle Paul went through numerous rough times. In 2 Corinthians 11, he listed many of the problems and perils he faced. This included being whipped to the point of death five times, beaten with rods three times, pelted with stones, and shipwrecked three times. He faced danger around every corner, enduring hunger, thirst, and the cold.

Paul’s conclusion was to point people to Jesus: “For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

In addition to these many challenges was desertion by those who had previously served with and cared for Paul. The reason was his imprisonment; his friends didn’t want to associate with or be known to associate with someone in chains.

In 2 Timothy 1:15, Paul wanted Timothy to know the names of two individuals who deserted him in Asia*: Phygelus and Hermogenes. Their abandonment must have particularly stung him. However, there was one notable individual who wasn’t ashamed of Paul, but frequently visited him. It is safe to assume he was one of Paul’s benefactors, supporting his ministry in practical ways. His name was Onesiphorus.

Ὀνησιφορος | Onesiphorus (OHN ih SIF oh russ)

“profit bringer”; a Greek name that proved appropriate in Paul’s situation. Instead of (or perhaps in addition to) monetary support, Onesiphorus brought Paul a gift beyond value—faithful friendship in the Lord.

Paul was so grateful for Onesiphorus. Not only had he repeatedly sought out Paul and encouraged him, he also searched for Paul during his difficult Roman imprisonment in a cold, dark dungeon. Apparently, this was a challenging quest for Onesiphorus (2 Timothy 1:17). There were many prisoners in this massive city.

In return for his kindness and devotion, Paul prayed that the Lord would show mercy to Onesiphorus and his entire household. At the end of this second letter to Timothy (4:19), he once again mentioned Onesiphorus along with Priscilla and Aquila, the power couple we looked at earlier.

When we think about betrayal and abandonment, perhaps we believe we would be better friends than Phygelus and Hermogenes. However, we need to look no further than the disciples’ abandonment of Christ on the night of His betrayal. Are we really any better?

This story of Onesiphorus gives me hope that we can rise to the occasion in the midst of ostracism, to let our light shine in the hour of trial, to be willing to pay the ultimate price for our Savior.

As he closed his second letter to Timothy, Paul reflected on his long life with its ups and downs: “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I

have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness” (4:6–8). May we all keep the faith until our life is done.

*Extra-biblical information: “Asia” during the Roman Empire referred to western Asia Minor. The capital and most prominent city was Ephesus. Paul had previously spent three years there (Acts 20:31).