Tag: Biblical Characters

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Biblical People: Jonathan (3)

Jonathan

Jonathan is the son of King Saul and next in line to the throne. Though Saul’s plan is for Jonathan to succeed him, Jonathan sees God’s perspective instead. The heir apparent realizes that David is to be the next king and not him. Jonathan accepts this.

Though there could be animosity between Jonathan and David, the pair enjoy a close relationship, with Jonathan pledging his support for David’s future rule.

Another demonstration of Jonathan’s character and faith in God comes at a time when Israel’s army is outmatched and in despair. Only Saul and Jonathan have swords, while the rest of the army have makeshift weapons.

Jonathan and his armor-bearer sneak away from camp and boldly attack a Philistine outpost. Though Jonathan isn’t confident in a victory, he knows God can bring it about. 

With only one sword, Jonathan and his young armor-bearer kill twenty Philistines. God sends a panic throughout the enemy camp, and they scatter. The Israelite army pursues them and wins a great battle against a more powerful foe.

Through God, one person can make a difference.

Are we willing to accept God’s plan for our future when it opposes our families’ or friends’ expectations? Are we a person God can use to make a difference? 

[Read Jonathan’s story in 1 Samuel 13–14, 18–20, and 23. Discover more in 1 Samuel 31:2.]

Learn about more biblical characters in Old Testament Sinners and Saints, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Get your copy today.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Samuel (1)

Samuel

Some time later, we encounter Samuel. Those who grew up hearing Bible stories may remember the account of young Samuel. He is the son of Elkanah and Hannah.

His mother takes him to live at the temple and help Eli, the priest. Each year she visits him and gives him a little robe to wear. You may even recall a picture of the bright-eyed Samuel smiling as his mother gives him his new outfit.

This idyllic scene ignores the fact that Hannah commits Samuel to a lifetime of service before he is born; he has no say in the matter. This also requires him to leave his home to live with a stranger, a man who wasn’t a good father to his own sons.

How distraught young Samuel must have been over being separated from his mother and having his entire future planned for him.

Yet Samuel excels in this environment. As a young boy he can hear the voice of God, something few others can do in that day.

Though Eli is a priest, Samuel lacks the bloodline (a descendant of Aaron) to succeed him as priest. When Eli dies, however, Samuel replaces him as the leader of all Israel. The Bible also calls Samuel a prophet (a seer).

Up to this time, Israel did not have a king. God served as their king. And he used a series of judges to rescue his wayward people from their enemies and return their focus to him each time they fell away.

When Samuel grows older, he appoints his sons to take over for him. But they are corrupt, just like the sons of his mentor. Samuel must’ve learned his parenting skills from the inept Eli.

The elders go to Samuel and ask him to appoint a king to rule over the nation. This distresses Samuel, but the Almighty tells him it’s okay. The people aren’t rejecting Samuel’s leadership; they’re rejecting God’s.

Although reluctant, Samuel anoints Saul to be Israel’s first king, as directed by the Lord. When Saul later falters, God tells Samuel to anoint David to replace Saul. 

How do we react when we end up in a situation we didn’t choose? Whether our position is grand or humble, do we serve God to the best of our abilities, like Samuel?

[Read Samuel’s story in 1 Samuel 1–25. Discover more in Hebrews 11:32–34.]

Learn about more biblical characters in Old Testament Sinners and Saints, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Get your copy today.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Boaz

Boaz

Boaz is a wealthy farmer living in Judah. He was a close relative of the Elimelek we covered a few chapters ago. Boaz is also a respected man, well known for his integrity.

When Ruth goes out to glean the grain the harvesters missed, she ends up in one of Boaz’s fields. He knows her by reputation, but this is the first time he sees her.

Boaz approaches. He affirms her loyalty to Naomi, promises her safety in his fields, and gives her the same privileges as his laborers—even though she is but a poor widow scavenging for food.

Excited to learn that Ruth ended up in Boaz’s field and favorably interacted with him, Naomi later sends Ruth to the threshing floor at night to get Boaz’s attention. Ruth asks him to redeem her. In effect, she’s asking him to marry her. It’s a proposal of sorts.

Attracted to her, Boaz is willing, but he isn’t her closest relative. Another man is. Boaz can only marry Ruth if the other man declines to do so.

Boaz immediately sets out to make Ruth his wife, deftly dealing with the other relative who could thwart his intentions.

They marry and have a baby boy. Though we don’t know if Boaz has other children, this is Ruth’s first.

They name him Obed. He is the grandfather of King David and a direct ancestor of Jesus. 

One more thing. Remember Rahab, the prostitute who helped the spies? She’s Boaz’s mother.

Do people affirm us as someone with integrity? How do we treat those who are less fortunate than we are?

[Read Boaz’s story in Ruth 2–4. Discover more in Matthew 1:1–5.]

Learn about more biblical characters in Old Testament Sinners and Saints, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Get your copy today.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Elimelek

Elimelek

During the time of the judges, we come across a man named Elimelek. Scripture tells us little about him, covering his story in a scant three verses. 

He’s married to Naomi, and they have two sons. They live in Bethlehem, which is part of Judah. There’s a famine, so they head off to Moab. There Elimelek dies.

His sons both get married, one to Orpah and the other to Ruth. Then they die too.

This leaves widowed Naomi with no sons and two daughters-in-law. We’ll cover them in the next few chapters.

Elimelek’s life seems like a most unremarkable one. He marries, has two kids, and struggles to make a living. Then he dies.

It’s depressing.

But there’s more to his story. Though Elimelek dies without having done anything noteworthy in his life, he does play an essential role in Jesus’s family tree. Had he not taken his family to Moab, Jesus wouldn’t have been born. The following chapters, building up to Ruth, will explain.

Though we all want to make the most of our life and impact our world, we may not see the results we want. Yet our influence can continue after we’re gone.

Are we making the most of our life in how we live each day? Do we believe God can use the things we do now to define the future?

[Read Elimelek’s story in Ruth 1:1–3.]

Learn about more biblical characters in Old Testament Sinners and Saints, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Get your copy today.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Samson

Samson

Another judge is Samson. His story begins even before his birth. An angel appears to a childless woman and tells her she’ll become pregnant and have a son. The angel says the boy will be dedicated to God, even before he is born. 

He then gives the woman special dietary expectations. Though we may assume these only apply while she’s pregnant, the text suggests they continue after his birth. The boy, who is to be a Nazirite, also has rules to follow, such as never cutting his hair.

What a grand start to life: dedicated to God even before birth.

Yet Samson fails to live up to the Almighty’s expectations for his life. He squanders his great beginning. Though God does use him to kill some of the nation’s Philistine enemies, this isn’t because of Samson’s right behavior.

Instead, God uses Samson despite his faulty character. He disrespects his parents, disobeys God, and doesn’t control his sexual desires.

Samson touches a carcass, though God prohibits it. Samson also likes foreign women, also contrary to God’s law. He marries a Philistine woman, but the seven-day wedding celebration doesn’t go well. It’s all because he challenged thirty of the men in attendance with a riddle. 

They can’t solve it and press his bride for the solution. She doesn’t know and plies Samson for the answer. With constant tears and pleading, she wears him down and he explains it to her.

She tells the thirty men, and they answer the riddle, winning the bet Samson made with them. To pay up, Samson kills thirty other men, takes their clothes, and gives them to the men at the wedding.

Then Samson abandons his new wife, and her father gives her to another. When Samson wants her back, it’s too late. In retaliation, he burns their crops. The Philistines blame the woman and her father for this and kill them. Samson escalates the conflict further, slaying many more in revenge.

Another time Samson hires a prostitute. 

Later he falls in love with Delilah. She proves to be his undoing.

The Philistines hire Delilah to uncover the source of Samson’s strength so they can capture him and stop him from killing more of their people.

She asks him to share his secret with her and he toys with her, giving false information, but each time he edges closer to the truth. He eventually reveals that the secret to his strength is that he’s never had a haircut. 

She calls for the Philistines to shave his head. Then they capture him. They gouge his eyes and throw him in prison.

His hair begins to grow back, and he asks God for one final burst of strength. God grants his request, and Samson destroys the Philistine temple by taking out one of its main supports.

The building crumbles, killing 3,000 Philistines and Samson along with them.

Whether little or much, have we made the most of the start we’ve been given in life? When we make mistakes, do we believe God can still use us?

[Read Samson’s story in Judges 13–16. Discover more in Hebrews 11:32–34.]

Learn about more biblical characters in Old Testament Sinners and Saints, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Get your copy today.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Gideon

Gideon

Gideon is an interesting judge. The Bible gives us three chapters about key events in his life. Some of what he does inspires us and provides an example to follow. Yet he does other things we should certainly avoid. But aren’t we all like that, with both strengths and weaknesses? 

In our first story Gideon is threshing wheat in a winepress. If this seems weird, that’s because it is. But he’s afraid of having his grain stolen by the Midianites, so he’s working in an unlikely place where they may not notice him.

Then God’s angel shows up, addresses him as a mighty warrior, and tells him to go in his own strength to save his people. Gideon questions the angel, and God’s emissary must prove himself to the fearful man.

After doing so, he tells Gideon to destroy his father’s altar to Baal. Gideon does, but he does so at night for fear of the townspeople. When they find out what he did, they want to kill him, but his father intercedes and stops them.

We best know Gideon, however, for putting out a fleece to determine God’s will. Although Gideon has already marshaled an army to attack his enemy, he asks God if he will prevail, even though the Almighty has already promised he will. 

Gideon’s test is simple. He’ll lay a ball of wool—a fleece—on the ground. If the morning dew falls only on the wool and not the ground, Gideon will conclude he’ll be victorious. The next morning the wool is dripping wet. The surrounding area is dry.

Yet Gideon doubts. He repeats the test, this time requesting the opposite outcome. The next morning, the wool is dry and the ground, wet. At this second confirmation, he believes God.

Many have followed Gideon’s example of “putting out a fleece” to determine God’s will. Yet we should note that God doesn’t tell us to do this. Instead, the Bible merely describes what Gideon did, without commenting on the wisdom of doing so. 

This story shows both Gideon’s lack of confidence in God and the Almighty’s patience with his doubtful servant.

Next, God tells Gideon his army of 32,000 is too big. The people will see the victory and assume they did it on their own. God desires a smaller force to prove his hand in the outcome.

Whittling the army down to three hundred, Gideon moves forward in confident faith to victory, which God orchestrates.

After this, the people want to make Gideon their king. He declines, reminding them that God is their king.

Yet, after this wise response, Gideon foolishly collects a gold earring from each man’s plunder. He uses this to make a golden ephod (a ceremonial garment), which the people worship instead of God.

Though Gideon at times acts with bravery, faith, and wisdom, he also doubts, tests God, and makes a foolish decision, which mark his legacy.

In what ways are we like Gideon? What lessons can we learn from his life?

[Read Gideon’s story in Judges 6–8. Discover more in Hebrews 11:32–34.]

Learn about more biblical characters in Old Testament Sinners and Saints, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Get your copy today.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Barak

Barak

God gives the prophetess Deborah a message for Barak. God wants him to raise a troop of 10,000 and confront the better-equipped army led by Sisera. God promises to give Barak the victory. But Barak balks.

Barak is the son of Abinoam. He lives in Kedesh in the territory of Naphtali in Israel. That’s all we know about him. Though he might be a trained warrior or military leader, his reaction to God’s call suggests he’s anything but.

His skills may reside in growing crops or raising animals, not commanding an army and defeating the enemy. 

Given this assumption, his reluctance seems warranted. A farmer can’t lead an army and prevail against a stronger foe—at least not from a human standpoint. But with God, all things are possible. God even promises victory.

Still, Barak is unwilling to obey—unless Deborah goes with him. As you may recall in the chapter on Aaron, Moses did the same thing when God called him. And God sent him Aaron to help.

With Deborah at his side, Barak finally obeys. Their army prevails, just as God promised. Then Deborah and Barak sing a song of praise to God.

In this story, we see Deborah as brave, while Barak comes across as a coward. Yet the book of Hebrews affirms Barak for his faith and doesn’t list Deborah.

Though we may perceive Barak as a man who lacks courage, God sees him as a man of noteworthy faith.

How do we react when God calls us to do something we feel unqualified to do? Do we let our faith override logic or allow logic to control us?

[Read Barak’s story in Judges 4–5. Discover more in Hebrews 11:32–34.]

Learn about more biblical characters in Old Testament Sinners and Saints, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Get your copy today.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Balaam

Balaam

Balaam son of Beor practices divination. His work must be of some renown, for when Balak seeks a supernatural edge over the approaching Hebrew people, he sends for Balaam to proclaim curses against the Israelites.

God tells Balaam not to go and he doesn’t. We affirm him for doing what God said.

But Balak persists and sends a second delegation to fetch Balaam. The seer again seeks a word from God about what to do, even though the Almighty had already made his position clear. This time God says to go but for Balaam to watch what he says, speaking only the words God gives him to say. 

At each step of the story Balaam does exactly what God tells him to do. We can applaud him for his obedience. 

Yet not so fast.

In the end, God isn’t pleased with Balaam. We’re left to wonder why, for it seems Balaam obeyed God flawlessly and did everything as instructed.

But the hint for God’s displeasure comes from what Balaam did after the second emissary delegation arrived. Though God had already made it clear Balaam wasn’t to go, the greedy seer asked a second time. Instead of repeating his prior instruction, God relented and allowed Balaam to go. 

Though this is what the prophet desired to do all along, it wasn’t what God wanted. The rest of Scripture confirms God’s displeasure with Balaam.

When we don’t like what God tells us to do, do we keep asking anyway? Might there have ever been a time when we thought we were being obedient, yet our attitude displeased God? 

[Read Balaam’s story in Numbers 22–24. Discover more in Numbers 31:8; 2 Peter 2:15–16; Jude 1:11; and Revelation 2:14.]

Learn about more biblical characters in Old Testament Sinners and Saints, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Get your copy today.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Balak

Balak

Because of the people’s lack of faith, God turns them away from the promised land. They spend forty years in the desert, one year for each day the spies were on their mission.

We resume our story four decades later as they finally prepare to conquer the nations before them under the leadership of Moses and then Joshua.

Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sees the approaching Hebrew people and fears they will attack his land. Believing he cannot prevail with military force alone, he sends for Balaam, a practitioner of divination, to curse the encroaching horde.

Balaam refuses, but Balak persists. When Balaam agrees to appear before Balak, he repeatedly reminds the king and his emissaries that he can only say what the Lord puts in his mouth.

Balak accepts this condition. He sacrifices seven bulls and seven rams as Balaam instructs. Then, prompted by God, Balaam blesses the Hebrew people.

Frustrated that Balaam didn’t dispense curses as requested, the desperate Balak asks Balaam to try again. The outcome is the same. 

Having not learned his lesson, Balak begs Balaam a third time to spew forth curses against the danger that threatens Moab. Once again, Balaam speaks blessings instead of curses.

Balak is furious with Balaam. Yet it’s his own fault. Balaam declined to come to Balak in the first place and warned he could only say what God told him to say.

But Balak was too afraid and pushed forward when he shouldn’t have. His ill-advised actions in seeking to curse his enemies had the opposite effect.

When has our fear caused us to do the wrong thing? When have we failed to see God at work and persisted to pursue our own path?

[Read Balak’s story in Numbers 22–24. Discover more in Micah 6:5 and Revelation 2:14.]

Learn about more biblical characters in Old Testament Sinners and Saints, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Get your copy today.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Biblical People

Biblical People: Joshua (1)

Joshua

Joshua son of Nun serves Moses, first as an aide and later as his protégé, before he eventually succeeds him. Joshua is first known as Hoshea, but Moses gives him the name of Joshua. Though there’s much to examine in Joshua’s life, let’s focus on a few significant moments. 

The young apprentice witnesses his mentor’s example and is often present when Moses interacts with God. What an amazing experience this must have been. It shouldn’t surprise us that Moses selects Joshua as one of the twelve men chosen to spy out the land in preparation for conquering it. 

What seems strange is Joshua’s silence when Caleb gives his recommendation to go at once to take the land. Caleb seems to stand alone against the other spies who cower in fear.

Joshua, however, later joins Caleb to counter the majority report as the pair try to convince the people to move forward in faith, under God’s power. They continue their efforts, until the people threaten to kill them.

About forty years later, when Moses dies, Joshua succeeds him. He successfully leads the people to conquer the promised land.

Though an entire generation has died in the desert because of their grumbling and lack of faith, Joshua and Caleb are still alive. Joshua rewards Caleb’s faithfulness by assigning him a portion of the land the people conquered.

Joshua dies at 110 years old. Although Moses wisely appointed Joshua as his successor, Joshua fails to follow his mentor’s example.

He dies without having groomed anyone to replace him.

When we fail to speak up when we should, what can we do to correct our error? What are we doing to ensure that what we have started can continue when we’re gone?

[Read Joshua’s story in Exodus 17:9–14 and Numbers 13–14, as well as the entire book of Joshua. Discover more in Numbers 11:28; 27:18–23; Deuteronomy 3:21–28; and Deuteronomy 31.]

Learn about more biblical characters in Old Testament Sinners and Saints, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Get your copy today.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.