MEN OF FAITH

ISAAC
Son of promise

Isaac’s humility is remarkable in light of his privileged position as the designated heir of
Abraham, who was “very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold” (Genesis 13:2). By God’s
design, the promised son Isaac was his father’s sole heir.

Even before Isaac was born, God had promised Abraham that He would “establish My
covenant with [Isaac] for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him”
(Genesis 17:19).

God had made it clear that the covenantal promises He made to Abraham would go to
and through Isaac, the long-awaited son of his wife Sarah. During their many years of
waiting, Sarah had suggested getting around her infertility by having Abraham
impregnate her servant Hagar. But God had not endorsed their plan, and Ishmael was not
the son God had promised.

That is why the apostle Paul used Isaac, the son of promise, as a symbol representing
Christians, who are “children of promise” (Galatians 4:28).

Isaac was also a type of Jesus, the true Son of Promise. Just as Isaac was the son promised
to Abraham and Sarah, so Jesus was the Messiah promised to Israel. Isaac was the one
through whom the Abrahamic blessings to the world would come (Genesis 12:3). Chief
among those blessings is the promised Messiah.

“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau”

These promises laid the foundation for Isaac’s faith. As he was growing up, he must have
heard Abraham and Sarah talk about God’s promises to them, about how long they had
waited for a son, and about how Sarah was well beyond her childbearing years when she
conceived him (Genesis 18:11).

Isaac also must have remembered the stories about how Abraham had wanted to make
Ishmael his heir. After hearing God’s promise that Sarah would give birth to Isaac,
Abraham had asked God to bless Ishmael instead (Genesis 17:18). God declined Abraham’s
request.

Toward the end of his life, this background might have helped Isaac see some unsettling
events with eyes of faith. Though he had intended to bless Esau, his firstborn, that’s not
what happened. Jacob, Isaac’s younger son, deceived his father into giving him the
blessing (Genesis 27).

Joseph in the Old Testament

The story of Joseph in the Old Testament is an inspiring account of a faithful man who
endured many trials and went from prisoner to prime minister.

Joseph is one of the most interesting characters in the Bible, and God gives us insight into his life
from his privileged early years, through the injustices and trials of his young adulthood, to his
rise to power in the great nation of Egypt. Through it all, Joseph was growing into a man of faith
who would be highlighted in the Faith Chapter.

In his youth he may have been spoiled and lacking in wisdom. But in the end, he was noted for
his faith, his wisdom and his willingness to forgive and not seek revenge.

It can take time for men of faith to gain the maturity God desires them to have. It appears that
Joseph made some youthful mistakes in his relationship with his brothers, but as a man of faith,
he persevered. Men of faith learn their lessons, they hold fast to their faith even in difficult
circumstances, and they don’t hold grudges.

The story of Joseph

Joseph’s family situation was complicated. His father, Jacob, had children by four different
women. But Joseph’s mother, Rachel, had been Jacob’s first choice and his favorite.

Of course, Joseph’s older brothers could tell that their father loved Joseph most, even before he
gave Joseph a special coat of many colors.

And Joseph didn’t score any points with his brothers when he gave his father a bad report about
them (Genesis 37:2).

Then Joseph had some dreams, and perhaps unwisely, he told his brothers about these dreams
that seemed to imply his family would bow down to him.

His brothers’ anger and jealousy grew stronger over time.

Joseph is sold into slavery

Things came to a head when Jacob sent Joseph to see how his brothers were doing. They saw
him coming and began plotting to murder him! Reuben, the oldest brother, convinced them to
throw Joseph in a pit instead.
When a group of traders passed by, Judah said, “Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and
let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh” (verse 27). They sold Joseph
for 20 shekels of silver, and he became a slave.

The brothers decided they couldn’t tell their father the truth, so they put goat’s blood on Joseph’s
coat, and Jacob concluded Joseph was dead.

Meanwhile, Joseph was taken to Egypt and sold to “Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain
of the guard” (verse 36).

In spite of all he had been through, Joseph didn’t give up or get bitter. He continued to obey God.
He worked diligently for Potiphar, and he “found favor in his sight and served him” (Genesis
39:4). God “was with Joseph, and he was a successful man . . . The LORD blessed the
Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake” (verses 2, 5).

Joseph was faithful to God and to Potiphar. His master trusted Joseph and made him overseer of
everything he owned.

Tempted to sin

But Potiphar’s wife was not faithful, and she “cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, ‘Lie
with me’” (verse 7).

Joseph refused to break God’s law. He told her: “Look, my master does not know what is with
me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this
house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How
then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (verses 8-9).

Joseph knew about the command against adultery long before it was stated at Mount Sinai. See
our article “Were the 10 Commandments Around Before Moses?”

Day after day she tempted him. But Joseph kept refusing her because he knew it was a sin.

“But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of
the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, ‘Lie with me.’ But
he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside” (verses 11-12).

Angered by his refusal of her advances, she then accused Joseph and lied to Potiphar, claiming
that Joseph had tried to rape her.

Potiphar became very angry with Joseph and committed him to prison (verse 20).

Joseph’s unfair punishment

It was so unfair! Joseph was being punished for something he didn’t do. Instead of being
rewarded for obeying God, he was now in an even worse situation.

But Joseph was still faithful to God, and he diligently served the keeper of the prison. The keeper
of the prison trusted Joseph and put him in charge of all the prisoners.

One day Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, put his butler and his baker into the prison. And one night
both the butler and the baker had dreams.

In the morning Joseph asked Pharaoh’s butler and baker, “‘Why do you look so sad today?’ And
they said to him, ‘We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.’ So Joseph said to
them, ‘Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please’” (Genesis 40:7-8).

God revealed to Joseph the meanings of the men’s dreams. The baker would be killed, but the
butler would get his job back.

Joseph asked the butler to remember him when he was released, and to tell Pharaoh about his
unjust imprisonment (verses 14-15).

But the butler forgot. So Joseph remained in the prison for two more long years.

Pharaoh’s dreams

Then Pharaoh had two dreams. He called all the magicians and wise men of Egypt, but he
couldn’t find anyone who could tell him what his dreams meant.

The butler then remembered that Joseph could interpret the meaning of dreams.

Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who was quickly brought out of the prison, and explained that he had
heard Joseph could understand and interpret dreams.

“So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, ‘It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of
peace’” (Genesis 41:16). Joseph faithfully gave the credit to God.

Joseph then explained that both of the king’s dreams were about seven good years and seven
years of famine. During the first seven years, Egypt would grow an abundance of food. But then
there would be seven bad years when very little food would grow.

Joseph is blessed

Joseph suggested that Pharaoh should appoint a wise man to prepare for the famine and that
Egypt should stockpile food during the good years.

God blessed the whole family through Joseph, and in spite of all the intervening trials, Joseph’s
dreams came true and his faith was rewarded.The king was impressed with Joseph’s wisdom and
appointed him to the job. After years of trials, Joseph went from being a prisoner to being the
prime minister, second in charge of the great nation of Egypt in a matter of moments!

As before, God blessed Joseph’s diligent efforts. He mobilized the Egyptians to stockpile enough
food for themselves and surrounding peoples willing to pay the price.

And in the meantime, Joseph received Pharaoh’s favor and God’s blessing.

“Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-Paaneah. And he gave him as a wife Asenath, the
daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. So Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt” (verse 45).

During the seven good years, God blessed Joseph and Asenath with two sons.

It’s interesting to note that even the names Joseph gave his sons reflected his faith that God was
working in his life. He named his first son Manasseh (making forgetful), “for God has made me
forget all my toil and all my father’s house” (verse 51). He named his second son Ephraim
(fruitfulness), “for God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction” (verse 52).

His brothers bow before Joseph

When the famine came, Jacob sent Joseph’s 10 brothers to Egypt to buy food, but he kept the
youngest, Benjamin, at home. When the brothers saw the Egyptian governor, they bowed down
before him—just as Joseph’s dreams had predicted so many years before. They didn’t recognize
Joseph—he acted like a stranger and spoke through an interpreter. But he recognized them.

Joseph decided to test his brothers to see what kind of men they were now. He accused them of
being spies. His brothers denied it and told Joseph about their father and youngest brother.
Joseph still accused them of spying and put them all in prison for three days.

Afterward he let nine of them out and sold them grain to take back to their families. He told his
brothers to bring their youngest brother back with them in order to verify that they were honest
men—but until then, Simeon would remain in prison (Genesis 42:19-20).

The brothers told their father what had happened, but Jacob, who still thought Joseph was dead,
didn’t want to risk losing Benjamin as well.

However, the famine was severe, and when all the grain was used up, Jacob reluctantly allowed
Benjamin to go with them to Egypt.

Jacob said, “May God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other
brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!” (Genesis 43:14).

Tearful reunion

Again, his brothers bowed down before Joseph. They still did not know who he was.
But when they were on the way home, Joseph sent men to find his silver cup, which had been
planted in Benjamin’s belongings. The brothers were brought before Joseph again, and Joseph
announced he was going to keep Benjamin as a slave. But the brothers begged Joseph to let him
go. They worried that their father would not be able to take the loss of his youngest son.

If Joseph was testing his brothers, he got his answer. They had changed and showed real concern
for their half-brother and for their father. They were now willing to sacrifice themselves for
Benjamin and for their father.

Joseph couldn’t pretend any longer. He told his brothers, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you
sold into Egypt” (Genesis 45:4).

His brothers were understandably afraid. But instead of punishing them, Joseph comforted them.
He told them that he realized that God had worked this all out. “God sent me before you to
preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance” (verse 7).

Joseph arranged for his brothers to bring Jacob and the rest of the family down to Egypt. Then
they would have food through the remaining five years of famine.

Jacob was, of course, shocked to hear that Joseph was still alive! There was another tearful
reunion when Jacob and Joseph reunited after more than 20 years.

Through it all, Joseph faithfully obeyed God and diligently performed every task he was given.
God blessed the whole family through Joseph, and in spite of all the intervening trials, Joseph’s
dreams came true and his faith was rewarded.

Blessings for Joseph’s sons

The blessings didn’t end there. God had promised great blessings to Joseph’s great-grandfather
Abraham (see “God’s Promises to Abraham”). These blessings had been passed down to Isaac
and then Jacob. Now Jacob decided to adopt Joseph’s two sons and pass many of the material
blessings on to them.

So Jacob told Joseph, “And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you
in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall
be mine” (Genesis 48:5).

Then he put his hands on the heads of Ephraim and Manasseh and proclaimed this blessing:

“God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life
long to this day, the Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; let my name be
named upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a
multitude in the midst of the earth” (verses 15-16).

Joseph was concerned that his father put Ephraim, his younger son, before Manasseh, his
firstborn. But Jacob did it knowingly, under God’s inspiration. Jacob said: “I know, my son, I
know. He [Manasseh] also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his
younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of
nations” (verse 19).

For more about how God has fulfilled these blessings, see “How the Blessings of Abraham Came
to the United States.”

Joseph’s faith in the future

Joseph showed faith throughout his life in many ways. So it is interesting that the Faith Chapter
focuses on only one example, and not necessarily one most would think of.

“By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel,
and gave instructions concerning his bones” (Hebrews 11:22).

This refers back to what Joseph said to his family when he was drawing near death:

“I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He
swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob . . . God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up
my bones from here” (Genesis 50:24-25).

Read more about this in our article “Bones of Joseph: Lesson of Faith.”

Throughout his life, Joseph grew in faith and trusted God. He recognized that even his most
severe trials could be used by God for His purpose. Joseph learned diligence and patience and
grew in godly character that prepared him for the amazing future that God has in store for all of
His children—the men and women of faith.

Joshua in the Bible: A Faithful Servant of God

by David Baker

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After the Exodus from Egypt and the death of Moses, Joshua emerged to lead the Israelites
into the Promised Land. What can we learn from this man of faith?

At the end of Joshua’s life, the following statement is made about him: “Now it came to
pass after these things that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being
one hundred and ten years old . . . Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all
the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the LORD
which He had done for Israel” (Joshua 24:29-31).

Character of Joshua in the Bible

Joshua’s faithfulness had a great influence on those of his generation. Israel remained
faithful to God’s way of life throughout the time of Joshua. There are few points in Israel’s
history when such a statement could be made.

Notice an observation concerning this great leader: “By the faithful serving of his youth he
was taught to command as a man; as a citizen he was patriotic in the highest degree; as a
warrior, fearless and blameless; as a judge, calm and impartial . . .

“No care, no advantage, no duty was neglected by him. He ever looked up for and obeyed
divine direction with the simplicity of a child and wielded the great power given him with
calmness, unostentation, and without swerving, to the accomplishment of a high,
unselfish purpose. He earned by manly vigor a quiet, honored old age and retained his
faith and loyalty, exclaiming, in almost his dying breath, ‘As for me and my house, we will
serve the Lord’” (The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, “Joshua”).
Questions about Joshua

Yet there is so much we don’t know about Joshua. Was he married? If so, who did he
marry? Did he have children?

How did he become known to Moses? How was he selected for his unique position?

How old was he when he was selected to be one of the spies? How old was he when he
was selected to lead Israel?

The Bible doesn’t focus on his personal life, but rather on his faithfulness and leadership.

We do know that Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim (Numbers 13:8). He was the son of
Nun (Exodus 33:11). He was considered a prince or leader of his tribe (Numbers 13:2-3).

Meaning of Joshua in the Bible

His parents named him Hoshea, which means “salvation,” and Moses renamed him
Joshua meaning “YHWH saves” (Numbers 13:16).

We are not given the reason for the change in name, but Moses understood clearly that it
is the Lord who saves, not man. Perhaps he wanted Joshua to remember that fact.

Moses and Joshua

Joshua became Moses’ servant or assistant as a young man (Exodus 33:11). He was led by
God’s Spirit (Numbers 27:18; Deuteronomy 34:9). He died at age 110 (Joshua 24:29).

We are first introduced to Joshua in Exodus 17. The children of Israel were camped at
Rephidim, and Amalek attacked them. Moses instructed Joshua, “Choose us some men
and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of
God in my hand” (Exodus 17:9).

With the rod of God raised up in Moses’ hands, Joshua and Israel prevailed. When Moses
let down his hands, Amalek prevailed. Ultimately, Joshua defeated Amalek as the sun
began to set.

An important lesson for Israel and especially Joshua was that victory comes from God and
our faithfulness to Him. The Bible does not inform us of how or why Joshua was selected
to choose and lead Israel’s men of war.

Joshua and Caleb viewed the land through the eyes of faith. The other 10 spies viewed the
land without faith in God or His promises.Next, we read of Joshua accompanying Moses
up Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:13). Joshua is referred to as Moses’ assistant, faithfully serving
his leader. Apparently, Joshua accompanied Moses partway up Mount Sinai. Later we see
Joshua accompanying Moses down the mountain (Exodus 32:17).

It is interesting to note that when Joshua heard the noise coming from the camp of Israel,
he associated the noise with battle. Moses observed that it was the noise of neither
victory nor defeat, but rather the sound of singing.

After Israel’s idolatry with the golden calf, Moses “took his tent and pitched it outside the
camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting” (Exodus 33:7). Moses
would meet with God at the tabernacle of meeting, and when Moses returned to the
camp, “his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the
tabernacle” (Exodus 33:11).

Once again, we see Joshua faithfully serving in a very trusted position of attending to or
guarding the tabernacle of meeting in the absence of Moses.

Joshua and Caleb in the Bible

In Numbers 13 we read that Joshua was selected as one of the spies to survey the land of
Canaan. He represented the tribe of Ephraim. Those chosen for this mission are described
as leaders of their tribes. So Joshua was considered one of the leaders of the tribe of
Ephraim.

When Moses sent the spies to the land of Canaan, he admonished them to “be of good
courage.” After spending 40 days exploring the land of Canaan, the spies returned and
gave a report to Moses and the congregation.

Ten spies gave an evil report of the land: “The land through which we have gone as spies
is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of
great stature. There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants);
and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight” (Numbers
13:32-33).

Joshua and Caleb were of a different opinion: “The land we passed through to spy out is
an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land
and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Only do not rebel against the
LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has
departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them” (Numbers 14:7-9).

How could 12 men view the same land and the same fruit of the land and arrive at such
different conclusions? Joshua and Caleb viewed the land through the eyes of faith. The
other 10 spies viewed the land without faith in God or His promises.
All 12 men experienced God’s greatness: their deliverance from Egyptian slavery, the
parting of the Red Sea, the destruction of Pharaoh’s army, hearing the Lord’s voice at
Mount Sinai, eating manna (the bread from heaven), drinking water from a rock, to name
just a few of the incredible miracles God had performed on behalf of the Israelites.

Through faith, Joshua and Caleb knew that God would fulfill all that He had promised.
The other 10 spies and most of the congregation of Israel did not. They focused on the
obstacles rather than the greatness and faithfulness of God.

Joshua becomes leader

After 40 years of wandering, the children of Israel were camped by the Jordan River in the
plains of Moab across from Jericho. God instructed Moses, “Go up into this Mount
Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel. And when you have
seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered”
(Numbers 27:12-13).

Moses requested God to appoint a leader over the congregation of Israel, his replacement,
so that they “may not be like sheep which have no shepherd” (verse 17).

God instructed Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the
Spirit, and lay your hand on him; set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the
congregation, and inaugurate [commission] him in their sight” (verses 18-19).

So Joshua was selected to lead the children of Israel after the death of Moses. Why
Joshua? Why not Caleb or someone from the generation born in the wilderness?

Joshua was trained by God and Moses for 40 years to lead the people into the Promised
Land. He witnessed the miracles of God in Egypt and the wilderness. He led Israel into
battle against the Amalekites.

He accompanied Moses up Mount Sinai to receive the 10 Commandments. He was at the

tabernacle of meeting whenever God spoke with Moses. He was Moses’ faithful servant
and assistant. He spied out the land of Canaan and brought back a good report, and he
was led by God’s Spirit.

Joshua leads Israel into the Promised Land

After the death of Moses and 30 days of mourning, the children of Israel were
commanded to prepare to cross the Jordan River and enter the land of Canaan. God
admonished Joshua to “be strong and of good courage” and “do not be afraid, nor be
dismayed” (Joshua 1:6, 9).
When the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant stepped into the Jordan River, God
performed an incredible miracle similar to the crossing of the Red Sea (Joshua 3:15-17).
The priests stood on dry ground, and all Israel passed over the Jordan on dry ground.

God listened to the request of His faithful servant Joshua and performed an awesome
miracle. The five kings of the Amorites were defeated, and within a long day the children
of Israel had access to the land God had promised them in the hill country of southern
Canaan.God demonstrated that just as He was with Moses, so He was with Joshua.

After the children of Israel crossed the Jordan, they camped at Gilgal. Gilgal served as a
base of operations for the Israelites as they began their conquest of Canaan. Here all the
men were circumcised because those born during the 40 years in the wilderness had not
been circumcised. The Israelites observed the Passover at Gilgal, and on the day after the
Passover, they ate the produce of the land of Canaan. After that, the miracle of manna
ceased, because it was no longer needed.

Joshua and the battle of Jericho

Gilgal was located to the east of Jericho. Jericho was an ancient fortified city that guarded
the entrance into the land of Canaan from the east. It was a major obstacle in the path to
Israel’s inheritance of the Promised Land.

God appeared to Joshua near Jericho in the form of the Commander of the army of the
Lord with a sword in His hand (Joshua 5:13-15). Joshua was instructed to have the priests
take the ark along with seven priests with rams’ horns. All the men of war would join
them. They were to march around the city for seven days with the priests blowing the
rams’ horns.

On the seventh day they were to march around the city seven times. When the signal was
given, all the people were to shout with a great shout, and the walls of the city would fall
down.

It is hard to imagine how the Israelites initially received these instructions. God referred
to them as a stiff-necked, rebellious people. Perhaps this seemed like a meaningless
exercise to some of them.

Marching around the city was not required when they defeated the king of Arad, or Sihon
king of the Amorites or Og king of Bashan. Why Jericho?

The Bible does not give the reason, but we read that Joshua and the Israelites faithfully
followed God’s instructions and God fulfilled His promise. We read, “By faith the walls of
Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days” (Hebrews 11:30).
God doesn’t always give us the reason for His commands, but He does faithfully fulfill His
promises when we follow His instructions.

Battle of Ai

After the destruction of Jericho, the Israelites attacked the smaller city of Ai. Joshua sent
only about 3,000 men to attack Ai, and these men were routed and fled. Thirty-six men
were killed, and “the hearts of the people melted and became like water” (Joshua 7:5).

Joshua was discouraged and asked God why they were defeated. God revealed that Israel
had sinned at Jericho. Someone had disobeyed God’s command to destroy everything
except the silver and gold and vessels of bronze and iron, which were to be put into the
treasury of the house of the Lord.

God revealed that Achan had sinned. He had coveted and taken some of the articles from
Jericho. Joshua and the children of Israel faithfully followed God’s instruction to destroy
Achan and his household and thus remove the sin from the midst of the congregation.
(Study more about the story of Achan in our article “The Dire Consequences of Hidden
Sins.”)

Then God instructed Joshua how to conquer and destroy the city of Ai.

Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim

After the destruction of Ai, Joshua and all Israel journeyed to the area of Shechem in
fulfillment of a command given by Moses in Deuteronomy 11:29. An altar was built on
Mount Ebal, and sacrifices were offered to God. Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the Law
of Moses. Half of the congregation was in front of Mount Ebal (curses) and half in front of
Mount Gerizim (blessings).

Joshua “read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that
is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded
which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little
ones, and the strangers who were living among them” (Joshua 8:34-35).

Joshua faithfully carried out the command given by Moses before the Israelites crossed
the Jordan River.

The sun stood still

In Joshua 10 we read of an incredible miracle that God performed on behalf of Joshua and
the children of Israel.
The leaders of Israel had been deceived by the Gibeonites and had entered into a treaty of
peace with them. Then the king of Jerusalem felt threatened, and he and the kings of
Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon gathered their armies and warred against Gibeon.

The Gibeonites sent a plea for help to Joshua at Gilgal. Joshua and his men of war
marched through the night, covering a distance of approximately 25 miles and ascending
more than 3,000 feet in elevation.

Joshua came upon the enemy armies suddenly. “So the LORD routed them before Israel,
killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them along the road that goes to
Beth Horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah. And it happened, as
they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the LORD cast down
large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more
who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword” (Joshua
10:10-11).

But Joshua and Israel’s men of war needed more time to complete the battle, so Joshua
made an unusual request of God.

“Then Joshua spoke to the LORD . . . and he said in the sight of Israel: ‘Sun, stand still
over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon’ . . . So the sun stood still in the midst of
heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. And there has been no day
like that, before it or after it, that the LORD heeded the voice of a man” (verses 12-14).

God listened to the request of His faithful servant Joshua and performed an awesome
miracle. The five kings of the Amorites were defeated, and within a long day the children
of Israel had access to the land God had promised them in the hill country of southern
Canaan.

Battle of the waters of Merom

In Joshua 11 we read of Joshua leading the Israelites against the kingdoms in northern
Canaan. The battle took place near the waters of Merom and the size of the Canaanite
army is described as “the sand that is on the seashore in multitude” (verse 4). The capital
of the confederation was Hazor; a large, wealthy and fortified city along the ancient trade
route that connected Egypt, the Mediterranean coast, Syria and Babylon.

God promised to deliver this vast multitude and their cities into the hands of Joshua and
Israel. The land of Canaan was now open for Israel to settle. Joshua’s faithfulness and
success are summed up this way: “As the LORD had commanded Moses his servant, so
Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the
LORD had commanded Moses” (Joshua 11:15).
Joshua presided over the distribution of the land of Canaan to the various tribes of Israel.
Cities of refuge were established; Levitical cities were set up; and Joshua dismissed the
tribes of Gad, Reuben and the half tribe of Manasseh to return to their inheritance on the
east side of the Jordan River.

“As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD”

As Joshua was nearing the end of his life, he called for the elders of Israel, and they again
gathered at Shechem.

He encouraged them to remain faithful to God. He reminded them that God had fulfilled
every good thing He had promised them—not one word of those promises had failed.
Joshua encouraged them to be courageous and to keep and do all that is written in the
Book of the Law of Moses. He exhorted them to fear God and serve Him in sincerity and
in truth.

And then he challenged them: “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for
yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that
were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.
But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

Joshua’s example of faith and faithfulness still has much to teach us today.

Further inspiring stories of faith can be found in the “Men of Faith” and “Women of Faith”
sections.

Caleb in the Bible: Pioneer of the Promised Land

by Jim Servidio

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Joshua and Caleb faithfully spied out the land of Canaan, but little is known about Caleb. Still,
we can learn much from this faithful leader in Israel.

The leadership of Joshua and Caleb, highlighted in the account of spying out the Promised Land,
is well known to Bible students (Numbers 14). When 10 of the 12 spies commissioned to inspect
the land of Canaan came back with an evil report, they fostered fear among the people. But both
Joshua and Caleb reassured the people that God would ensure their success.

Joshua and Caleb in the Bible

Joshua was the one chosen by God to succeed Moses and lead the children of Israel into the
Promised Land. The sixth book of the Old Testament bears his name and records his leadership
and courage. Joshua’s bold declaration of steadfastness is an often-quoted scripture underscoring
his dedication to God: “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

So, Joshua’s achievements and character are well-chronicled, but what about Caleb’s? We are
familiar with the name because of the link with his better-known fellow spy, but not much is
known about him specifically.

His life is worth examining because it provides vital lessons for those desiring to enter God’s
spiritual Promised Land, the Kingdom of God. We all need to have some of Caleb’s traits.

Meaning of Caleb

Names are important to God. Abram’s name was changed to Abraham since he would be the
father of many nations. Jacob’s name, which meant “supplanter,” was changed to Israel because
he would be called a prince of God. Simon in the New Testament became Peter, which means
rock.

But what about Caleb? In Hebrew, Caleb means “dog.” Not too many of us would enjoy being
called dog. However, we should remember that dogs can be faithful, loyal, protective and
reliable, among other qualities. Since he exhibited each of these attributes, perhaps the name
Caleb is appropriate after all.

Moses chooses the 12 spies

Prior to entering the Promised Land, the Israelites came to Moses with a request:

“And every one of you came near to me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, and let them
search out the land for us, and bring back word to us of the way by which we should go up, and
of the cities into which we shall come.’ The plan pleased me well; so I took twelve of your men,
one man from each tribe. And they departed and went up into the mountains, and came to the
Valley of Eshcol, and spied it out” (Deuteronomy 1:22-24).

There really were giants. But Caleb did not allow that to nullify the power of God. Fear did not
control his life. He allowed it to motivate him to turn to God’s greater strength.We first read of
Caleb in Numbers 13. Joshua was of the tribe of Ephraim, and Caleb represented Judah (verses
6, 8). Caleb would have been 40 years of age when he was chosen to spy out the Promised Land.

The Bible also says Caleb was the son of Jephunneh who was a Kenizzite (Numbers 32:12).
According to Barnes’ Notes of the Bible: “Kenaz (Genesis 36:11) was the name of one of the
‘dukes of Edom:’ but Israel and Edom were of kindred origin, and the use of similar names by
the two peoples is not surprising.”

The 12 spies were heads of the children of Israel. They all, including Caleb, must have been
recognized as trustworthy, responsible leaders (Numbers 13:1-3, 16).
Caleb and Hebron

While exploring the land of Canaan, it seems Caleb was particularly impressed by the hilly
mountainous region of Hebron that he would inherit later (Joshua 14:12-14).

Hebron is very important in biblical history. The cave of Machpelah (also called the Cave of the
Patriarchs) is located there. It is the traditional burial place of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and
Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah. David ruled Judah from Hebron for seven years before moving
his capital to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 2:11).

Lessons from the 12 spies

As we know, the report from 10 of the spies, though glowing in some respects (Numbers 13:27),
was also full of dire foreboding (verses 28-29). They spoke of walled cities, strong warriors and
even giants.

Their report was evil because it was an exaggeration that instilled doubt and fear in the hearts of
the people. The 10 cowering spies charged that God was not able to fulfill His promise to give
them this land flowing with milk and honey.

We know that both Joshua and Caleb attempted to reassure the people of God’s power. Yet we
find in Numbers 13:30 that it was Caleb who stepped forward to calm the people: “Then Caleb
quieted the people before Moses, and said, ‘Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are
well able to overcome it.’”

Often when recounting the intervention of these two champions, the Bible will list Caleb first,
then Joshua (Numbers 14:30; 26:65; 32:12). Perhaps this is because of the boldness and courage
he showed in Numbers 13:30 and other instances.

Instead of listening to Joshua and Caleb, the people fearfully doubted God and thus were
restricted from entering the Promised Land (Numbers 14:30-33). It was a tragic moment in
Israel’s history, and they paid a terrible price.

The lesson of trusting in God is one we are to remember as Christians, so we do not repeat the
same mistake (1 Corinthians 10:11).

Caleb at 85

We next pick up the story of Caleb in the book of Joshua, when the Israelites finally conquered
much of Canaan more than 40 years later.

Because of Caleb’s faithfulness, Moses had promised he would receive the portion of land that
he spied out in the area of Hebron. Once the children of Israel had secured their claim to Canaan,
Caleb asked Joshua to grant him what Moses had promised. Moses made that promise when
Caleb was 40 years of age. He was now 85 (Joshua 14:6-10).
Despite his age, Caleb still had the zeal, strength and, most importantly, faith to drive out the
people who occupied the area around Hebron.

“Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in
that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that
the LORD will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said” (Joshua
14:12).

Joshua 15:13-17 shows how Caleb, with the help of his relative Othniel, took possession of the
land he had been promised.

Lessons of faith

Our anticipated desires in this life and God’s promises of intervention can take longer than we
would like. But, through patience and faith, we will obtain all that God promises.Some important
lessons can be learned from the life of this often-overlooked hero in Israel. Israel’s physical
Promised Land is likened to the Kingdom of God, the spiritual Promised Land (Hebrews 4:1).
Like Caleb, we must be able to stand up in faith even when the majority of those around us are
advocating for unprofitable or faithless options.

Jesus told His disciples, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that
leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it” (Matthew 7:13). Christians are to have
the strength and discernment it takes to follow what is right in God’s sight, not just what is
popular. Caleb was that kind of man.

Caleb was a man fully committed to following the God of Israel. Though the Israelites doubted,
he gave himself completely to God’s plan for His nation. As God said, the unbelieving Israelites
would not see the Promised Land, “except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him
and his children I am giving the land on which he walked, because he wholly followed the
LORD” (Deuteronomy 1:36).

Following God wholly (entirely) means we are not double-minded (James 1:8). We must not be
committed to God at one time or circumstance but committed to a different agenda at other
times.

Overcoming fear

Fear did not dictate Caleb’s actions. Fear, which is linked with disobedience in Revelation 21:7-
8, can lead to exaggeration of the circumstances, as we saw in the spies’ reports (Numbers
13:33). The report of giants in the land was not a myth. There really were giants. But Caleb did
not allow that to nullify the power of God. Fear did not control his life. He allowed it to motivate
him to turn to God’s greater strength.

Christians also encounter circumstances generating real fear, but they must not allow that
emotion to control their choices.
At age 85, Caleb was still zealous and strong in faith and in matters pertaining to God’s will.
Christians can grow weary physically, but they are to remain vibrant spiritually. “Therefore we
do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being
renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).

Faith and patience

Finally, we see that Caleb was patient to receive God’s promises of inheritance. Moses promised
Caleb that he would receive Hebron for his faithfulness, but it was not until age 85 that he had it
as his own possession.

Patience is a vital component of Christian living. “By your patience possess your souls” (Luke
21:19).

Our anticipated desires in this life and God’s promises of intervention can take longer than we
would like. But, through patience and faith, we will obtain all that God promises.

What made Caleb different?

Caleb the son of Jephunneh was indeed a pioneer of the physical Promised Land. He
demonstrated traits of character that show us the way to God’s spiritual Promised Land.
Numbers 14:24 says, “But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has
followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.”

Caleb allowed God’s Spirit to impact his life, which is the main reason he responded differently
than the other 10. God’s Spirit is the key to our going forward (Philippians 4:13) and receiving
our promised inheritance in the Kingdom of God.

For further insight into the life and faith of Caleb, read the article “Spiritual Warfare: How to
Win and How to Lose.”

The Growing Faith of Gideon

by Bill Palmer

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God delivered Israel from thousands of marauding Midianites through an unlikely young
man. What can we learn from Gideon and his growing faith?
Gideon asked God to perform two miracles with the nightly dew and a fleece of wool that he left
on the threshing floor.

Breaking the pitcher that concealed his torch, Gideon blew his trumpet. Immediately, torchlights
began to appear in a circle around the enemy encampment. At the same time, trumpet blasts and
shouts of men seemed to come from every direction (Judges 7:19-20).

This is how Gideon, with only 300 men, began his campaign against an enemy “as numerous as
locusts” (verse 12). In fact, the combined forces of Midianites, Amalekites and “people of the
East” included 135,000 troops (Judges 8:10).

Gideon did not always have the kind of faith needed to attack a numerically superior force, but
was, like his fellow Israelites, fearful. How could a previously timid young man embark on such
a hazardous task?

The book of Judges tells us about the growing faith of Gideon.

“Mighty man of valor”

The Bible introduces us to Gideon as a young man threshing wheat by a winepress. To the
ancient reader, the significance of Gideon’s choice of a place to work would be obvious, but to
us today, it may not be so evident.

A winepress in ancient Israel was generally connected to a wine vat carved into stone, allowing
the workers to collect the juice from the grapes they crushed. In essence, these vats were large
holes in the ground into which the liquid would drain.

Winnowing wheat required a more open space to take advantage of any breeze. Although wheat
could be threshed in a pit, to do so would require later moving it to an open space for
winnowing. The usual practice, therefore, was to thresh and winnow at the same place.

Looking at Gideon’s remarkable life and how God worked with him should comfort all of God’s
people today.Gideon, however, “threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the
Midianites” (Judges 6:11). This choice may have been practical under the circumstances, yet it
was anything but bold.

That’s why there is some irony in the way the “Angel of the LORD” addressed Gideon: “The
LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor” (verse 12). In the Bible, this expression is
sometimes used to describe men of wealth rather than military prowess, but even so, these words
might still seem ironic.

An offering and the growing faith of Gideon

When Gideon encountered the “Angel of the LORD,” he was skeptical and apprehensive,
disputing the message. Instead of believing that God was with him, Gideon countered, saying,
“The LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites” (verse 13).
The title “Angel of the LORD” is sometimes applied directly to God. The visitor, now identified
in the text as “the LORD,” again spoke of Gideon’s might. As He reassured Gideon, He
confirmed His own identity by saying, “Have I not sent you?” (verse 14).

Gideon tried a second time to convince his visitor that he was not qualified to save Israel,
claiming that his clan was the weakest or poorest in Manasseh, and that he was an
inconsequential member of the family (verse 15). Gideon was not poor, however. As the story
unfolds, the reader learns that he had at least 10 servants (verse 27).

Despite Gideon’s protests, the Lord did not back down, repeating His promise to be with Gideon
and assuring him that he would “defeat the Midianites as one man” (verse 16). At this point,
Gideon gave in, but asked for a sign (verse 17), something more than verbal assurances.

Gideon then left to prepare a meal for his visitor. The word translated as “offering” in verse 18
could refer to a gift of hospitality to a human visitor, or it could describe an offering to God.
According to Barnes’ Notes, this “double sense” of the word “suits the doubt in Gideon’s mind
as to who his visitor might be.”

The size of the offering, whether given as a matter of hospitality or as an offering to God, was
particularly impressive in this time of scarcity. This offering, like Gideon’s servants, tells us that
he was not as poor as he claimed to be.

The offering was consumed in a sudden blaze ignited by the Angel of the LORD when He
touched His staff to the meat and bread. At that moment, Gideon finally “perceived that He was
the Angel of the LORD” (verse 22).

Gideon’s first assignment and his growing faith

God did not throw Gideon directly into combat after providing the first sign to confirm His
identity. Instead, He gave the young man a task to perform in his own city of Ophrah—to tear
down the altar of Baal and the accompanying Asherah, a wooden image of a female goddess
associated with Baal.

Gideon fulfilled his duty on the very night God commissioned him (verse 25), demonstrating his
belief after witnessing the miracle of the offering. Even as he obeyed, though, he chose to act at
night “because he feared his father’s household and the men of the city” (verse 27).

His fear was not an unfounded one. Once the people discovered who had destroyed their altar
and image, they wanted Gideon to pay with his life (verse 30). Gideon’s father, Joash, convinced
the bloodthirsty rabble that if Baal truly were a god, he himself could take vengeance on Gideon
(verse 31).

God showed this “mighty man of valor” that He truly was with him. Gideon escaped the wrath of
the idol-worshipping people in his city.
The dew, the fleece and Gideon’s faith

On the heels of the destruction of the altar of Baal, the Midianites and their allies crossed the
Jordan River to raid Israel again (verse 33). Gideon, filled with God’s Spirit, called together the
men of his clan, the Abiezrites; his tribe, Manasseh; and the men of the neighboring tribes of
Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali (verses 34-35).

Why not all the tribes? The Midianites had encamped in the Jezreel Valley, so it was natural for
Gideon to summon the tribes closest to that fertile farmland.

Gideon was prepared to obey God and fight the invaders, but again he sought reassurance. He
asked God to perform two miracles with the nightly dew and a fleece of wool that he left on the
threshing floor (verses 36-40).

In the morning, as Gideon had asked, the fleece was saturated with moisture, but the ground was
dry. The next morning, again as Gideon had requested, the fleece was dry, but the ground was
wet. Fleece by its nature would hold moisture, so the second miracle would have had more of an
impact.

Even so, the newly formed army was not a confident one. Their choice of a location for their
encampment hints at their fear, particularly if this site was named after they had gathered there.
The well of Harod (Judges 7:1) means “fountain of trembling” (Strong’s Exhaustive
Concordance).

Gideon had determined to obey God, even with an army that was trembling at the prospect of
fighting such an intimidating force. He may still have had lingering fears of his own, but there is
no hint that he tried to avoid his God-given task.

Purging the army of the Lord

What God asked Gideon to do next seems surprising. He directed the young leader to allow all
the men who were “fearful and afraid” to leave (Judges 7:3). The result was dramatic. Two-
thirds of the army, or 22,000 men, left.
This action goes against standard military planning, but it was based on a principle God
commanded to prevent the contagion of fear from spreading throughout the ranks of the army
(Deuteronomy 20:8).

With only about 10,000 men remaining, Gideon would be outnumbered by a ratio of more than
13 to 1. To defend from a fortified position against a numerically superior force is one thing, but
to attack would seem to be an outrageous idea.

God wasn’t done, though.

Telling Gideon that “the people are still too many” (verse 4), God directed him to cull his forces
further. He was left with just 300 men (verses 7-8). We don’t know what doubts and fears may
have run through Gideon’s mind that night, but he was probably close enough to the Midianite
encampment to see thousands of flickering campfires in the valley.

The enemy’s dream and Gideon’s faith

We may not know what was in Gideon’s heart that night, but God knew. He understood the
limitations of the young leader’s courage, and He had prepared a means of bolstering it.

God commanded Gideon to travel to the Midianite camp so that he would “hear what they say;
and afterward . . . be strengthened to go down against the camp” (verse 11). From his concealed
position so close to the camp, Gideon could see an army as “numerous as locusts” and equipped
with camels (verse 12).

What was important, though, was the conversation Gideon overheard. One Midianite soldier was
telling his comrade a dream about a loaf of barley bread rolling into camp and overturning a tent
(verse 13). The comrade interpreted the dream, in Gideon’s hearing, as “the sword of Gideon”
destroying the Midianite force (verse 14).

To hear these words from the mouth of the enemy, and especially to hear his own name, gave
Gideon the assurance he needed. He acted immediately, first worshipping God, and then
assembling his 300 men for a unique battle.

The faith of Gideon in action

After dividing his force into three companies to attack the Midianites “on every side” (verse 18),
Gideon gave explicit instructions for everyone to take up a trumpet in one hand and a torch,
concealed by a pitcher, in the other (verse 16). This meant his troops didn’t have a sword or
spear in their hands when the battle began.

It seems that Gideon’s strategy was to create the impression of a much larger force attacking.
Only leaders, according to The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, “would give signals on the
trumpets; so three hundred trumpets normally represented a sizable army” (Vol. 3, p. 427).
At the same time, the sudden breaking of pitchers revealed 300 torches surrounding the enemy
encampment. And the men all shouted, “The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!” (verses 18,
20).

It’s interesting that the Midianite interpreter of his comrade’s dream had identified the loaf of
barley bread not as the army of Israel, but as “the sword of Gideon” (verse 14). Perhaps the news
of this dream had begun to spread around the camp while Gideon traveled back to his own
encampment to organize the attack.

Barnes’ Notes points out that the Midianites would have perceived that they were surrounded,
and “being in darkness, as soon as the confusion of the fight began they would mistake friends
for foes, and fleers for pursuers” (p. 435).

The strategy worked. The enemy army viciously attacked itself.

It was now clear to Gideon and his small army that God had delivered the enemy force into their
hands. Victory was theirs, not through their own power, but through God’s. All that was left was
the “mopping up” action, and for that, Gideon called for all the men of Ephraim, Manasseh,
Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali to join in the fight.

The final action of this war took place on the other side of the Jordan River. The narrative tells us
that Gideon’s force “routed the whole army” (Judges 8:12). The word translated as “routed”
comes from a Hebrew word better rendered as “terrified.”

“The entire conflict,” according to Expositor’s, “began at ‘the spring of Harod’ (7:1), where
Gideon’s men ‘trembled with fear’ . . . How fitting that it should end with a terror-stricken
Midian!” (p. 432, note on verses 11-12).

The faith of Gideon remembered

The story of Gideon is one of the longest stories in the book of Judges, and it paints a picture of
an imperfect man. The last event of his life recorded for us is not a flattering one, but that is not
within the scope of this article.

Gideon, though imperfect, is a man remembered for his faith and his courage. The defeat of the
Midianites, accomplished through Gideon, was a milestone in Israel’s history (Psalm 83:11;
Isaiah 9:4). Gideon himself is named among the faithful (Hebrews 11:32).

Looking at Gideon’s remarkable life and how God worked with him should comfort all of God’s
people today. We could undoubtedly glean a number of lessons from his story, but what seems to
stand out more than any other is that God used a flawed man.

Although God calls us to become holy (Leviticus 19:2), He knows our limitations. Stated more
poetically, He “knows our frame” (Psalm 103:14).
Since God works with imperfect humans—and we are all imperfect—we can be confident that
just as God gave Gideon time to grow in faith, He will also give us time to grow.

King Josiah, the Prophesied Faithful Reformer

by Bill Palmer

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King Josiah was named in prophecy as a great reformer three centuries before his birth. Who
was this faithful king, and what can we learn from his life?

As King Josiah listened to the horrifying words of coming judgment, he tore his clothing in an
outward sign of humbling himself before God (2 Chronicles 34:19).

The scribe had been reading from “the Book of the Law” discovered during the renovation of the
temple. This incident occurred when the king was just 26 years old.

He had already determined to remain faithful to the God of Israel and to repair the temple. More
than that, he had set out to revive worship of the true God throughout the kingdom.

What was this lost book that Josiah’s scribe read to him? One possibility is that it was the book
of Deuteronomy, particularly chapter 28, which lists national blessings for obedience and
national curses for disobedience.

The land had drifted away from God during the reigns of the two previous kings, Josiah’s
grandfather Manasseh and his father Amon. These men “did evil in the sight of the LORD” (2
Kings 21:20). They abandoned the true worship of God and drove the people into the pagan
practices of the surrounding countries.

Huldah’s message to King Josiah

After hearing the words of the book, King Josiah sent his officials to Huldah the prophetess so
they could “inquire of the LORD” on his behalf (2 Chronicles 34:21-22). It’s clear from her
response that King Josiah wanted to know whether he could do anything to avert disaster.

Huldah told these men that God would “bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants, all
the curses that are written in the book” (verse 24). This was extremely bad news.

But then she added some hopeful words. Huldah said that God would not bring these calamities
upon the nation while King Josiah lived (verse 28).
Having received this mixed response, King Josiah redoubled his efforts at reform. He was intent
on reversing the trend his father and grandfather had followed, regardless of whatever opposition
there might be. Judging from what happened after his death, we can infer that there was some
underlying resistance.

Even so, King Josiah moved forward in faith, gathering all the leaders of the land, both political
and religious, at the temple in Jerusalem. They were there to hear the words of “the Book of the
Covenant” (verse 30), undoubtedly the same book called “the Book of the Law” in verse 15.

Then King Josiah publicly committed himself to keep God’s commandments (verse 31). He also
insisted that all the leaders present “take a stand” (verse 32).

However, this pledge was not the beginning of King Josiah’s determination to serve God, or
even of his reforms. This public moment was a renewal of both.

Josiah’s reforms

King Josiah was only 8 years old when he became king (2 Kings 22:1). (Was Josiah the youngest
king in the Bible? No, according to 2 Kings 11:21, Jehoash became king at age 7.)

Josiah undoubtedly had help and guidance from godly men when he was young. In fact, it’s
likely there was “a regency, controlled by supporters of the dynasty who welcomed relief from
its misgovernment” under Josiah’s father Amon and grandfather Manasseh (Zondervan Pictorial
Encyclopedia of the Bible, Vol. 3, p. 710).

It may be that the prophet Zephaniah, who preached in the days of Josiah (Zephaniah 1:1), was
among those who influenced the young King Josiah. Whether or not this was the case, it seems
clear from Scripture that, even from the beginning of his reign, King Josiah “did what was right
in the sight of the LORD” (2 Kings 22:2).

King Josiah fulfilled the prophecy exactly as the man of God had asserted three centuries
before.The account in 2 Chronicles provides a little more detail about King Josiah’s early years
than the account in 2 Kings, which jumps straight to the 18th year of his reign. A decade prior to
that, during “the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of
his father David” (2 Chronicles 34:3). Four years later, he began his early reforms.

These reforms included the destruction of pagan altars and idols (verse 4) and the desecration of
these sites by burning the bones of pagan priests on them (verse 5). King Josiah did not restrict
his reforms to the boundaries of his kingdom of Judah, but he also carried out the same activities
in what had been the northern kingdom of Israel (verses 6-7).

King Josiah in prophecy

During Josiah’s time, the Assyrian Empire was in decline, even as a new power began its ascent.
Babylon was that power, threatening the now considerably weaker Assyrians. Locked in a
struggle for its very existence, Assyria exerted little power in the territory that had once been the
northern kingdom of Israel, a territory the empire had conquered a century earlier.

So, when King Josiah expanded his reforms to include the northern territory, he met no formal
armed resistance. Of course, it still took faith for him to move into an area the Assyrians still
considered theirs. King Josiah set aside any fears, purging the idols from much of the land that
Israel had once controlled.

Bethel was a significant part of that purge. King Jeroboam had set up a golden calf there
centuries earlier. It was part of his attempt to keep the northern tribes from going back to
Jerusalem to worship God (1 Kings 12:28-29).

Not long after Jeroboam had established the golden calf in Bethel, an unnamed prophet, simply
called “a man of God,” confronted the illegitimate priests. He declared that “a child, Josiah by
name, shall be born to the house of David” (1 Kings 13:2). The man of God declared that Josiah
would burn the bones of these priests on their own altar.

King Josiah fulfilled this prophecy exactly as the man of God had asserted three centuries before.
The altar at Bethel had continued functioning even though the kingdom of Israel had already
gone into captivity. Josiah “broke down” that altar and burned human bones from nearby tombs
(2 Kings 23:15-16).

Josiah’s Passover

King Josiah’s reforms entailed more than destruction of pagan shrines and altars. He also called
for all the people to celebrate the Passover. (Learn more about this first festival of God in our
article “What Is the Passover, and Why Is It Important?”)
The Bible does not tell us whether anyone had kept the Passover during the reigns of Manasseh
and Amon, the wicked kings who preceded Josiah. It does tell us that King Hezekiah, Josiah’s
great-grandfather, had arranged for all the people to keep the Passover during his reign (2
Chronicles 30:1).

King Josiah’s Passover must have been exceptional, though, surpassing even what Hezekiah had
celebrated. The biblical account clearly states that “there had been no Passover kept in Israel like
that since the days of Samuel the prophet, and none of the kings of Israel had kept such a
Passover as Josiah kept” (2 Chronicles 35:18).

The Bible also notes King Josiah’s great generosity. He personally gave 30,000 goats and 3,000
cattle to the people for this festival (verse 7). Other leaders followed his example, contributing
from their flocks and herds (verses 8-9).

Why did King Josiah die?

King Josiah lived only another 13 years after his sweeping reforms prompted by the discovery of
the “Book of the Law.” When he was just 39 years old, he died in battle against the Egyptian
army. He was attempting to block them on their way to support the beleaguered Assyrian army
in its struggle against the forces of Babylon (2 Kings 23:29).

Why?

We, too, need genuine humility when we approach the words of God, recorded in the Bible to
guide us in our lives.It could have been that King Josiah didn’t want one traditional enemy,
Egypt, to help another enemy, Assyria. And the Assyrian Empire desperately needed help to face
a mortal threat from the rising Babylonian Empire.

There is no indication in the biblical record that King Josiah first consulted God to learn whether
such an attempt was in line with God’s will. What the Bible does tell us is that Pharaoh Necho
sent messengers telling King Josiah, “I have not come against you this day, but against the house
with which I have war” (2 Chronicles 35:21).

The Egyptian leader also said that he was acting on God’s command. But Josiah “did not heed
the words of Necho from the mouth of God” (verse 22).

The result affected the whole nation. King Josiah was wounded and taken from the battlefield.
He died later, having failed to stop the Egyptians. Even so, Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian
king, crushed all resistance at the Battle of Carchemish in 605 B.C., four years after the death of
King Josiah.

The prophet Jeremiah, still a young man himself, composed a lament for the beloved king.
Singing that lament became “a custom in Israel” (verse 25).
Although he died at such a young age, Josiah accomplished God’s purpose for his life. He was a
man of faith, fulfilling his role as a reformer, all the while believing in the faithfulness of the true
God.

Scripture sums up his legacy this way: “There was no king like him, who turned to the LORD
with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor
after him did any arise like him” (2 Kings 23:25).

Lessons learned from King Josiah

Christians can learn a lot from King Josiah, but perhaps the most striking lesson from his life is
the importance of humility. Upon hearing the words of the Book of the Law, the 26-year-old
Josiah humbled himself before God, tearing his garments in anguish.

He could have reasoned that the judgment on the nation was not his fault. After all, it was
Manasseh and Amon who had led the nation away from God. King Josiah, on the other hand, had
begun seeking God “while he was still young” (2 Chronicles 34:3).

Yet, as king, Josiah took responsibility for the sins of the nation. He sent officials to Huldah the
prophetess to determine what could be done. And when he learned that disaster would not befall
the nation during his lifetime, he stepped out with renewed faith, zealously pursuing reform.

We, too, need genuine humility when we approach the words of God, recorded in the Bible to
guide us in our lives. And, like King Josiah, we need to pursue reform—our own individual
transformation—zealously.

The Faith of Ebed-Melech

by Bill Palmer

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Many Jews were killed or taken captive when Jerusalem fell, but God specifically chose to
deliver a foreigner. Why? And what can we learn from the faith of Ebed-Melech?

Ebed-Melech saved Jeremiah from imprisonment by pulling him out of a dungeon—a cistern
without water, only mire.

Light and sound pierced the darkness. Jeremiah lifted his head, though he was still mired in the
mud of the cistern. It was the voice of the Ethiopian servant of the king that he heard above him.
Ebed-Melech had come, together with 30 of the king’s men, to rescue Jeremiah from certain
death (Jeremiah 38:10-13). Jeremiah undoubtedly felt tremendous relief.

This rescue showcased the great faith of Ebed-Melech. Who was this God-fearing man, and what
circumstances compelled him to save Jeremiah?

Clashing empires

Two decades before this dramatic turn of events, Josiah, the last righteous king of Judah, had
been killed in battle (2 Kings 23:29). From that time forward, the tiny kingdom of Judah had
suffered under the incompetent and unrighteous rule of four other kings.

What happened to the royal household in these final years of the kingdom reflected the turmoil
of international politics. A power struggle between the declining Assyrian Empire and the rising
Babylonian Empire embroiled much of the ancient Near East in conflict. Egypt, recognizing the
threat posed by Babylon, chose to ally itself with Assyria (verse 29).

The Babylonians defeated the Assyrians at the decisive Battle of Carchemish. According to The
Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, this victory “not only finished the Assyrians, but
spelled the end of Egyptian power in Asia, though for years the rulers of Judah could not believe
this” (Vol. 3, p. 419).

It is with this power struggle in mind that we can make sense of the final days of the nation of
Judah. The wealthy and influential people disagreed about whether they should resist Babylon by
seeking the help of Egypt or accept Babylonian rule.

In this chaotic time we find the story of Ebed-Melech saving God’s prophet Jeremiah.

Who was Ebed-Melech?

The name Ebed-Melech means “servant of a king” or “royal servant.” The word servant, in this
case, means someone more like what the modern world would call a slave.

Scripture tells us that Ebed-Melech was “one of the eunuchs, who was in the king’s house”
(Jeremiah 38:7). As such, he was an official with access to the king himself.

You need not be someone influential or powerful to be protected and blessed by God. Ebed-
Melech was a eunuch, a foreigner and a slave, but God watched over him.The Bible also tells us
that Ebed-Melech was an Ethiopian. “Ethiopian” here is a translation of “Cushite”
(Strong’s H3569), which refers to an individual from south of Egypt, including what is now
southern Egypt and northern Sudan.

What all of this means is that Ebed-Melech, though serving in a high capacity and with access to
the king, had few legal rights. As a eunuch, he was excluded from “the assembly of the LORD”
(Deuteronomy 23:1). Being a foreigner, he may have been treated unfairly, as evidenced by the
fact that God’s law specifically anticipated and forbade such mistreatment (Leviticus 19:33-34).
And he was a slave, subject to his master’s will.

Jeremiah accused of treason

The mighty army of Babylon besieged Jerusalem in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign (2 Kings
25:1). The siege lasted a year and a half (verses 2, 8) before Babylonian forces entered the city
and destroyed it.

It was during this stressful and terrifying time that Jeremiah proclaimed God’s will for the people
to surrender, thus avoiding death and misery (Jeremiah 38:1-3). Four men—Shephatiah,
Gedaliah, Jucal and Pashhur (verse 1)—heard his words and viewed them as treasonous.

These individuals were men of high rank with significant political power, as attested by
Zedekiah’s statement that he couldn’t do anything against them (verse 5). The account describes
these men as “princes” (verse 4).

The superiority of the Babylonian army was evident—the forces of Judah were restricted to their
fortified position within the walls of Jerusalem. On top of that, the people were starving and
Egypt had not appeared on the scene to deliver Judah, as some of the nobles had hoped.

Anything that weakened the resolve of the soldiers defending Jerusalem was considered a crime
against the nation. That’s why these princes asked for Jeremiah to be put to death after he had
urged the people to surrender.

A weak and indecisive king

The Bible paints a picture of Zedekiah as an indecisive and ineffectual king. His actions show
that he vacillated between the idea that Egypt would come to the aid of Judah and the idea that
resisting the Babylonian juggernaut was pointless.

Zedekiah felt powerless to resist the princes of Judah, so, he allowed them to cast Jeremiah into a
cistern to face a lingering death (verse 6).

Zedekiah didn’t trust God or obey the instructions God provided through His prophet: “But
neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land gave heed to the words of the LORD which
He spoke by the prophet Jeremiah” (Jeremiah 37:2).

The faith of Ebed-Melech in context

Ebed-Melech observed all the court politics firsthand. He knew what Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jucal
and Pashhur had done to Jeremiah, and he knew Jeremiah would die without help (Jeremiah
38:7-9). Choosing to intervene on Jeremiah’s behalf was a bold and risky move.
Ebed-Melech could not have known how Zedekiah would react. Nor could he have known
whether he would face repercussions from the princes whose plans he had thwarted. He asked
the king anyway.

This remarkable individual demonstrated great faith in approaching an unpredictable king for
permission to save Jeremiah. That is the essence of faith—to choose to do the right thing,
regardless of potentially negative consequences.

Not only did this man’s actions clearly demonstrate his faith, but also his compassion. The
biblical account gives us this insight into Ebed-Melech’s heart. Rather than merely lowering a
rope to Jeremiah, this kindhearted man thoughtfully lowered “old clothes and old rags” (verse
11) so that the rope would not tear into Jeremiah’s armpits (verse 12).

God’s promise to Ebed-Melech

The faith of Ebed-Melech, as well as his compassion, did not go unnoticed. God saw and acted.

God instructed Jeremiah to “go and speak to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian” (Jeremiah 39:16).
These are God’s words to the foreign slave:

“‘Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for adversity and not for good, and they shall be
performed in that day before you. But I will deliver you in that day,’ says the LORD, ‘and you
shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. For I will surely deliver you,
and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put
your trust in Me,’ says the LORD” (verses 16-18).

When Jerusalem fell, many Jewish people died. Zedekiah was forced to watch his sons
slaughtered, and then his eyes were put out (verses 6-7). The nobles of Judah, probably including
the princes who had sought Jeremiah’s death, were put to death (verse 6). Many people were
carried off to Babylon (verse 9), and others were spared (Jeremiah 40:7).

God had chosen to tell Ebed-Melech not only His plans to deliver him, but also what would
happen to the city. Ebed-Melech, a eunuch, a foreigner and a slave, was not only spared, but also
honored by God.

Why?

God’s words make it clear: “Because you have put your trust in Me” (verse 18).

Lessons from the faith of Ebed-Melech

Though this story appears in only two chapters of the Old Testament, it is one that can inspire
Christians today. Here are a few principles that we can learn from the faith of Ebed-Melech:
  God notices. We are told, “Behold,” or pay attention, “the eye of the LORD is on those who fear
Him” (Psalm 33:18). God saw the risk Ebed-Melech took, and He saw the compassion of this
man. He also sees our efforts to obey Him and to serve Him.
 You need not be someone influential or powerful to be protected and blessed by God. Ebed-
Melech was a eunuch, a foreigner and a slave, but God watched over him. The king and the
powerful nobles, on the other hand, suffered calamity.
 God can use anyone to fulfill His plans. It was not God’s will for His prophet Jeremiah to die, and
God used Ebed-Melech to rescue him. God can use any of us who submit to Him and His will.
 Life is unpredictable. In the confusion and chaos of the Babylonian siege, Ebed-Melech did not
know that God would protect him. He simply chose to do the right thing—to rescue Jeremiah
from certain death. Our world today is becoming more confusing and chaotic, but we can choose
to do the right thing and be confident that God will notice

The Bible does not give us any more information about this little-known man of faith, but we can
learn from and be inspired by his recorded example.

Matthew the Apostle

by Mike Bennett

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Jesus called Matthew out of one of the most reviled professions: tax collector. Matthew
responded in faith to become a trusted apostle and beloved author.
There’s so much we would like to know about Matthew and all 12 apostles, but the Bible gives
us few details beyond the stories of the most famous ones, Peter and John and the notorious
Judas Iscariot.

But we can learn from the few details the Bible does give us about Matthew, the apostle and
author of the first Gospel. His example of faith and his dedication to his mission stand as an
example to us today.

Facts about Matthew

Matthew was also known as Levi, and we are told his father’s name was Alphaeus. He thus may
have been the brother of another apostle, James the son of Alphaeus. However, the Bible doesn’t
specifically tell us they were brothers as it does Peter and Andrew (Matthew 4:18) or James and
John (verse 21). Because of that, many believe Matthew and James the son of Alphaeus weren’t
brothers.

The lists of disciples usually pair Matthew with Thomas. Jesus sent His 12 apostles out “two by
two” (Mark 6:7), so Matthew likely worked closely with the one sometimes known as doubting
Thomas for his unfortunate statement recorded, not by Matthew, but by John:

“Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and
put my hand into His side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). Thomas soon regretted those words,
and he did believe when he saw Jesus.

Then Jesus said, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who
have not seen and yet have believed” (verse 29; see our article “Dealing With Doubt”).

Today we can read these eyewitness accounts, but we cannot personally see Jesus. By believing,
we can participate in that blessing Jesus gave.

Another thing we know is that, before his calling, Matthew worked as a tax collector in
Capernaum, which was Jesus’ base of operations in Galilee (Mark 2:1, 14).

Matthew the tax collector

Matthew tells us Jesus saw him “sitting at the tax office” (Matthew 9:9).

“The tax office was a toll booth set up alongside a highway to levy taxes on merchandise
transported on that road. Matthew probably worked for Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee”
(NKJV Study Bible, note on Matthew 9:9).

Why did people dislike tax collectors so much?

“Tax collectors were considered traitors by the Jews. They were despised because they generally
collected more than necessary and pocketed the difference, vastly enriching themselves” (ibid.).
But Matthew didn’t focus on what he was giving up. He focused on the fact that he was a sinner
and needed and deeply appreciated the mercy Jesus extended to him. And he believed in this
miracle-working Messiah and His mission.This system of taxation had a long history and a bad
reputation throughout the Roman Empire. “The system was very open to abuse, and
the publicani seem to have been prone to extortion and malpractice from the very beginning, so
that while the grossest excesses were restrained by the government, and cases sometimes brought
to justice, a generally bad reputation has come down to us. Cicero considered such occupations
as that of customs officer vulgar on account of the hatred they incurred” (New Bible
Dictionary, 1982, “tax collector”).

Tax collectors, called publicans in the King James Version, were often mentioned in the same
breath as sinners and harlots in the accusations of the Jewish leaders. For example, Matthew
recorded such derogatory remarks about his former profession in 9:10 and 21:31.

John the Baptist told the tax collectors who came to be baptized, “Collect no more than what is
appointed for you” (Luke 3:13). And Jesus used tax collectors as a recognized example of
selfishness in Matthew 5:46-47. But He also used the hated tax collector as a humble contrast to
the self-righteous Pharisee in His parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14).

Though most tax collectors were crooked, there were exceptions like Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10).
And likely Matthew gained some knowledge in his former profession that helped in his new
calling.

“As a civil servant of Rome, Matthew would have to be proficient in both the language of his
people (Aramaic) and of the ruling authorities. (The Romans used Greek, not Latin, in the East.)
The numerical details, parables regarding money, and the monetary terms all fit in with a tax
collector. So does the concise, orderly style” (Believer’s Bible Commentary, 1995, p. 1202).

Jesus calls Matthew

The Bible doesn’t give a lot of the background about how Jesus knew and how He chose the 12
apostles. Obviously, these men knew Jesus and His teaching before they received their call. They
clearly were already convicted and were ready to make a deep and lasting commitment. That
does not diminish the magnitude and suddenness of this change in their lives. But their decisions
were not shallow or spur-of-the-moment.

Matthew briefly records his calling: “As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named
Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ So he arose and followed
Him” (Matthew 9:9).

Luke notes that Matthew “left all, rose up, and followed Him” (Luke 5:28). Luke also gives more
details of what happened after that, some of which Matthew humbly omits.

“Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax
collectors and others who sat down with them.
“And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, ‘Why do You eat
and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’” (verses 29-30).

Jesus Himself answered: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are
sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to
call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Matthew 9:12-13).

Matthew and the other disciples recognized their sins, while the scribes and Pharisees overlooked
their own.

Matthew the disciple

Think of all that Matthew gave up to become a disciple of Jesus! Though he was probably not as
rich as Zacchaeus, who was a “chief tax collector” (Luke 19:2), Matthew had enough to throw a
“great feast” for Jesus (Luke 5:29).

So when he gave up all, what did he give up? The stability of a lucrative job. The certainty of
where his next meal would come from. The comfort of knowing he could sleep in his own bed
and control his own life.

But Matthew didn’t focus on what he was giving up. He focused on the fact that he was a sinner
and needed and deeply appreciated the mercy Jesus extended to him. And he believed in this
miracle-working Messiah and His mission.

It seems Matthew, like all the disciples, was honored and excited to join in that mission.

Matthew the author

Matthew was a skilled author who used a variety of literary techniques to get his message across.

One important tool he used was the asking of questions. “Perhaps in no other literary work do
questions function so importantly as they do in the gospel of Matthew. These questions raise
some of the most significant issues of the book. They also create an air of suspense and lead the
reader to provide his or her own answers to the questions” (A Complete Literary Guide to the
Bible, 1993, p. 384).

This is only one of the techniques Matthew used.

“The gospel does, indeed, teach about Jesus. But it does so by literary means, including
narrative, rhetorical devices, and metaphor. The story that Matthew tells, moreover, is not a
series of self-contained units but a coherent whole. The final effect is to unfold to the discerning
reader the meaning of who Jesus is and what he taught” (ibid., p. 386).
The Gospel of Matthew

The text of the first book of the New Testament does not name its author. But “the universal
testimony of the early church beginning with Papias (c. A.D. 135) is that the apostle Matthew
wrote it, and our earliest textual witnesses attribute it to him” (Zondervan NIV Bible
Commentary, Vol. 2, 1994, p. 2).

Each of the Gospels has unique elements and emphases. Commentators summarize the themes of
the book of Matthew in different ways.

“The Gospel of Matthew presents Christ as the Son of David and the son of Abraham. Because
He is portrayed as King, His genealogy is traced to King David; and the place of His birth,
Bethlehem, the home of David, is emphasized. Seven times in this Gospel Christ is spoken of as
‘the son of David’ (1:1; 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30; 21:9; 22:42). Only in Matthew does Christ
speak of ‘his glorious throne’ (19:28; cp. 25:31). Moreover, only here in the Gospels is
Jerusalem referred to as ‘the holy city’ (4:5) and ‘the city of the Great King’ (5:35).

“Since it is the Gospel of the King, Matthew is also the Gospel of the kingdom; in it the word
‘kingdom’ appears more that fifty times and the expression ‘the kingdom of heaven,’ which is
found nowhere else in the N.T., appears about thirty times” (The New Scofield Study Bible
(NIV), introduction to Matthew).

The book of Matthew serves well as a bridge from the Old Testament to the New.

“By direct quotation and indirect allusion he keeps pointing his reader to the words of the law
and the prophets that have come to fulfillment in the coming of God’s Messiah, Jesus. More than
130 different passages from the OT are cited” (The Interpreter’s One-Volume Commentary on
the Bible, 1971, p. 610).

“[Matthew] shows how Jesus came to fulfil the Old Testament, but at the same time to judge the
Jews for their unfaithfulness to their religion. No other Gospel denounces so forcibly the
hypocritical outlook of the Pharisees” (Eerdmans’ Handbook to the Bible, 1973, p. 470).

Only in Matthew

Eerdmans’ Handbook to the Bible lists these parables, miracles and events that are found only in
the Gospel of Matthew (p. 474):

Parables:

 The tares.
 Hidden treasure.
 The pearl.
 The dragnet.
 The hard-hearted servant.
 The workers in the vineyard.
  The two sons.
 The marriage of the king’s son.
 The 10 bridesmaids.
 The talents.

Miracles:

 The two blind men.

 The dumb man who was possessed.
 The coin in the fish’s mouth.

Incidents:

 Joseph’s dream.
 The visit of the wise men.
 The escape to Egypt.
 Herod’s massacre.
 Pilate’s wife’s dream.
 The saints resurrected in Jerusalem.
 The bribing of the guard.
 The Great Commission.

For more about the Gospel of Matthew, see our article “The Gospel of Matthew.”

Matthew, man of faith

Though we know little about Matthew’s life before his calling or after his last mention in
Scripture, we can tell from his response to Jesus’ calling that Matthew was a man of faith. He
was willing to give up a stable and lucrative career for a difficult and precarious life as a disciple.

The long, dusty miles; the constant press of people with great needs; the hatred from the
religious authorities; the uncertainty of where the next meal would come from and where they
would sleep—Matthew willingly endured all this because He believed in the Messiah. He
believed in the mission. He believed in the wonderful future Jesus promised. And he loved the
people he was called to serve.

Matthew’s beliefs and his actions set a pattern that all men of faith can strive to follow.

Who Is Mark in the Bible?

by David Baker

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What do we know about Mark the evangelist? The Bible gives hints about a man who
disappointed Paul, but later became a faithful helper for Paul and Peter.

Mark is a name that occurs few times in the Bible, appearing in only eight verses, and yet he had
a profound impact on the New Testament.

Who wrote the book of Mark?

Most biblical scholars believe that Mark, also known as John Mark, was the author of the Gospel
bearing his name.

In the introduction to the Gospel of Mark, The Bible Knowledge Commentary states: “The
unanimous testimony of the early church fathers is that Mark, an associate of the Apostle Peter,
was the author. The earliest known statement of this comes from Papias (ca. A.D. 110), who
quoted the testimony of John the elder, probably an alternate designation for the Apostle John.”

Many traditions claim that the Gospel of Mark is comprised of the recollections of Peter. Mark
and Peter enjoyed a close relationship, and Mark was with Peter when he wrote his first letter (1
Peter 5:13).

Later in the introduction the commentary states, “Many scholars believe that Mark was the first
Gospel written and that Matthew and Luke used it as a primary source document along with
material from other sources. Luke, in fact, stated that he used other documents (Luke 1:1-4).
Several arguments support the priority of Mark: (1) Matthew incorporates about 90 percent of
Mark, and Luke over 40 percent—over 600 of Mark’s 661 verses are found in Matthew and
Luke combined” (The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures).
Apparently Mark was the first Gospel written, and Matthew and Luke used this shorter, fast-
paced Gospel as an outline for their Gospel accounts. (See more about the book of Mark in our
article “The Gospel of Mark.”)

Was Mark the young man who fled naked?

Who was Mark, the author of the Gospel that bears his name? We may get our first glimpse of
him in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night Jesus was betrayed and captured. The account is
found in Mark 14:50-52:

“Then they all forsook Him and fled. Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen
cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, and he left the linen
cloth and fled from them naked.”

It is impossible to know for sure who the young man was, as the Bible does not specifically say.
“Only Mark records this mysterious episode. The ‘young man’ (v. 51) is not identified, but the
consensus is that he is Mark. Why else would he insert such a trivial detail in so solemn a story?
Was this Mark’s way of saying, ‘I was there’? Why he was there is not explained” (The
Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 8, 1984, p. 766).

This is certainly not the most flattering introduction of a Gospel writer.

Peter escapes to the house of Mark’s mother

Mark is next mentioned in Acts 12. Herod Agrippa I had James, the son of Zebedee, killed with
the sword. He also arrested the apostle Peter and planned to execute him after the Passover. This
probably occurred in A.D. 44. God miraculously intervened on behalf of Peter and the Church by
delivering Peter from prison.

Once Peter “had come to himself,” he went “to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose
surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying” (Acts 12:12). Mark was
sometimes called by his Jewish name, John, and sometimes by his Roman name, Mark.

Mark’s mother had a relatively large house in Jerusalem and, therefore, she must have been
somewhat affluent. The house was large enough for “many” members of the Church to gather.
Peter knocked at the gate or outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer.

There is no mention of Mark’s father. Perhaps he was no longer living at this point. Later, Peter
affectionately refers to Mark as “my son” (1 Peter 5:13). It appears that Mark grew up in the
faith.

Mark, the cousin of Barnabas

Next, we see Mark traveling with Barnabas and Paul (Acts 12:25). Mark and Barnabas were
cousins (Colossians 4:10). Since they were related, we should briefly consider Barnabas to
understand more about Mark.

Barnabas was a Levite from the island nation of Cyprus. His real name was Joses or Joseph, and
he was nicknamed Barnabas (Son of Encouragement) by the apostles (Acts 4:36). He was
generous and sold some land and donated the money to the Church (verse 37).

Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith (Acts 11:24). He accepted Paul as a
disciple of Christ and brought him to the apostles in Jerusalem (Acts 9:27). He was sent by the
Jerusalem church to Syrian Antioch to preach and encourage the members. He traveled to Tarsus
and brought Paul back to Syrian Antioch, where they both taught for a year (Acts 11:22-25).

Barnabas and Paul brought famine relief from Antioch to the Jerusalem church (verse 30). Soon
afterward, Barnabas and Paul returned from Jerusalem accompanied by John Mark.

John Mark departs during Paul’s first journey

From Syrian Antioch, directed by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Paul were sent out on their first
evangelistic journey, accompanied by Mark. This journey started after A.D. 44 and ended some
time before 50.

Mark is referred to as their assistant or helper (hypēretēn). From Antioch they traveled down to
Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. They landed at Salamis and traveled across the
island to Paphos, teaching in the Jewish synagogues. Cyprus had a large Jewish population
during the first century, and it was the homeland of Barnabas.

From Paphos they sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, “and John, departing from them, returned to
Jerusalem” (Acts 13:13). The Bible does not give a reason for John Mark’s departure from the
group back to Jerusalem.

Many have speculated various possibilities, but we simply do not know the reason. However, we
do know that the apostle Paul did not agree with Mark’s decision and was disappointed with him.

Paul and Barnabas disagree over Mark

Around A.D. 50 Paul proposed that he and Barnabas revisit the cities of their first journey, and
Barnabas wanted to take Mark with them.

Mark serves as an example of someone who had a rough start in his service to the Church. He let
down his fellow workers, but ultimately he didn’t quit. He persevered, and over time his faith
matured.Luke records, “Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But
Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in
Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that
they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose
Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through
Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches” (Acts 15:37-41).

Even though Mark returned to Jerusalem at the beginning of the first journey, it appears that he
was willing to accompany them on the second journey. Mark would have heard about the trials
and hardships encountered during the first journey—the opposition from the Jews and their
blasphemy and persecution, the need to flee from certain cities and the stoning of Paul. Yet he
was willing to accompany them on their second journey.

It seems Mark had changed. He had faith that God would be with them and that their journey
would be successful.

Barnabas and Mark’s journey

Mark joined Barnabas in traveling to Cyprus, and they are no longer mentioned in the book of
Acts. (This is not unusual; even the apostle Peter is not mentioned in the book of Acts after the
Jerusalem conference.)

There is no biblical record of Barnabas and Mark’s journey and work of preaching the gospel in
Cyprus. Undoubtedly, they faced severe trials along the way, and through faith they endured.
According to some traditions, Barnabas was martyred by the Jews at Salamis on the island of
Cyprus and was buried by Mark.

Did Paul and Barnabas reconcile?

What about the rift between Barnabas and Paul regarding Mark? Was it ever resolved? The Bible
doesn’t indicate whether Barnabas and Paul ever met again. Paul mentioned Barnabas in his
letter to the Galatians, which was probably written around A.D. 53-54 during Paul’s second
evangelistic journey. He also mentioned Barnabas in his first letter to the Corinthian church,
which was written approximately A.D. 55-57 during Paul’s third journey.

So, about five years after his separation from Barnabas, Paul wrote, “Do we have no right to eat
and drink? Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the
brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from
working? Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of
its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?” (1 Corinthians 9:4-7).

Paul spoke of Barnabas in a favorable way as an equal or colleague. It is interesting to note that
Paul and Barnabas did not visit Corinth during their journey together. Paul made his first visit to
Corinth in A.D. 52-53 during his second evangelistic journey.

Did the Corinthian church know Barnabas? Had he visited them prior to when Paul wrote his
letter? We simply don’t know.

Paul and Mark reconciled

Paul also mentioned Mark in his letters. During his first Roman imprisonment, which occurred
around A.D. 61-63, Paul wrote to the members in Colosse.

As Paul concluded his letter, he wrote, “Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark
the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome
him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God
who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me” (Colossians 4:10-11).

Approximately 10 years earlier, Paul had wanted nothing to do with Mark. Now he referred to
Mark as one of his “fellow workers for the kingdom” and “a comfort to me.” What a wonderful
change!

During the same time frame, Paul wrote Philemon and sent greetings from Mark and others and
referred to them as “my fellow laborers” (Philemon 1:23-24).

Mark had the faith to travel to Rome and become a companion and coworker of a prisoner. He
earned the trust and confidence of the apostle Paul and proved to be a faithful servant.

Paul was a prisoner in Rome, allowed to live in his own rented house for two years (Acts 28:30).
He was given the freedom to write and send letters, receive visitors and preach the gospel to
those who visited, but he was still guarded by a Roman soldier (verse 16).

He apparently was not allowed freedom of movement, so perhaps Mark and others served as his
eyes, ears and legs—recording, delivering and receiving messages. Paul mentioned that Mark
might visit Colosse—presumably on behalf of Paul (Colossians 4:10).

2 Timothy 4: Paul called Mark “useful to me for ministry”

Near the end of his life during his second Roman imprisonment, Paul wrote Timothy to come to
him quickly and to “get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry” (2
Timothy 4:11).
During Paul’s first evangelistic journey, Paul considered Mark useless for his ministry, but years
later, he considered Mark useful to his ministry, a fellow worker for the Kingdom and a comfort
to him as he neared the end of his life.

Through faith, our perceived weaknesses can be made strong. Mark serves as an example of
someone who had a rough start in his service to the Church. He let down his fellow workers, but
ultimately he didn’t quit. He persevered, and over time his faith matured. Through his faithful
service he became a blessing to the one he had let down and disappointed.

Blind Bartimaeus and the Samaritan Leper

Two men with different afflictions asked Jesus for healing. In each case Jesus responded with
these comforting words: “Your faith has made you well.”

The story of Bartimaeus in the Bible is one of faith. And the story of the 10 lepers healed is also
about having faith, as one of them—a Samaritan—returned to give glory to God for his healing.

Neither of these stories are parables but are stories of real-life men who were healed by Jesus. It
is valuable for us to review their examples, as each provides lessons about having faith.

Bartimaeus in the Bible

Only one of the Gospel accounts (in Mark 10) mentions Bartimaeus the blind man by name. (His
story is also found in Matthew 20 and Luke 18, but his name is not given in these accounts.)

Jesus and His disciples and a great multitude had just come from Jericho, and they were on the
way to Jerusalem. Alongside the road Bartimaeus the blind man sat begging (Mark 10:46).

The Holman Bible Dictionary states: “Because of their severe handicap, blind persons had little
opportunity to earn a living . . . Frequently, the blind became beggars . . .

“Many things caused blindness in ancient times. One could be born blind due to some
developmental defect or as a result of infection prior to birth. Usually, however, blindness began
later. The most common cause was infection. Trachoma, a painful infection of the eye, is a
common cause of blindness today and was probably prevalent in ancient times . . .

“In reality, almost no effective treatment was available to those who suffered from diseases of
the eye and blindness. There were no antibiotics, no effective surgical procedures for most
problems, and no eyeglasses. Miraculous healing was often sought.”

So, when Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was near, he called out to Him for mercy.
Jesus, Son of David

“And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of
David, have mercy on me!’ Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more,
‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then
they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.’ And
throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus” (Mark 10:47-50).

Bartimaeus was no longer blind! Jesus, our Lord and Savior, had mercy on him.Bartimaeus used
the phrase “Son of David” to address Jesus. The Pharisees in particular did not use that phrase or
agree with it, as we see in another account in Matthew 12:22-24:

“Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him,
so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and
said, ‘Could this be the Son of David?’ Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, ‘This fellow
does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.’”

Barnes’ Notes on the Bible gives this explanation: “Is not this the Son of David? – That is, Is not
this the promised ‘descendant’ of David, the Messiah? They were acquainted with the prophecy
in Isaiah 35:5, ‘Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be
unstopped,’ and they inferred that he must be the promised Messiah who was able to do this.
This inference was drawn by the common people, and not by the proud and haughty Pharisees.”

Jesus healed Bartimaeus

Not only did Bartimaeus believe that Jesus was the Son of David, he also believed that He was
“Rabboni.”

“So Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ The blind man said
to Him, ‘Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your faith
has made you well.’ And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road”
(Mark 10:51-52).

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes: “The original word is ‘Rabboni’ = my
Master. The blind man gives Him the title of greatest reverence that he knew. The title occurs
only here and in John 20:16, where it is used by Mary Magdalene to her risen Lord.”

Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible says: “The blind man said unto him, Lord; ‘Rabboni’, or, as
the Syriac version reads it; ‘Rabbi’; thou, great master in Israel, and Lord, of the whole world,
my request to thee, and which thou, art, able to effect; is, that I might receive my sight.”

Bartimaeus was no longer blind! Jesus, our Lord and Savior, had mercy on him. It is interesting
to note that after Jesus told him to “go your way,” Bartimaeus followed Jesus on the road. There
is no more information on Bartimaeus in the Bible, but one lesson we can learn from his life is
that we, too, must have faith and follow Jesus Christ.
That same phrase Jesus said to Bartimaeus, “your faith has made you well,” was said once again
to another person who needed healing.

The story of 10 lepers healed

According to The Holman Bible Dictionary, leprosy was “a generic term applied to a variety of
skin disorders from psoriasis to true leprosy. Its symptoms ranged from white patches on the skin
to running sores to the loss of digits on the fingers and toes.

The leper returned and gave thanks. Likewise, when God intervenes in our lives, we, too, should
never forget His mercy, but remember it with gratitude and thanksgiving.“For the Hebrews it
was a dreaded malady which rendered its victims ceremonially unclean . . . Anyone who came in
contact with a leper was also considered unclean. Therefore, lepers were isolated from the rest of
the community so that the members of the community could maintain their status as worshipers.”

That is why when Jesus entered a certain village, 10 men stood afar off because they were lepers.
In the same way that Bartimaeus pleaded, they, too, asked Jesus for mercy (Luke 17:12-13).

In this case, when Jesus saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests” (verse 14). This
is what people were to do according to the laws concerning leprosy found in Leviticus. The
priests could not only pronounce someone unclean, they could also verify when someone was
healed.

“When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling, a scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes on
the skin of his body like a leprous sore, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of
his sons the priests. The priest shall examine the sore on the skin of the body; and if the hair on
the sore has turned white, and the sore appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a
leprous sore. Then the priest shall examine him, and pronounce him unclean” (Leviticus 13:2-3).

Once a person was healed of the leprosy, he or she was to be brought to the priest: “Then the
LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘This shall be the law of the leper for the day of his cleansing:
He shall be brought to the priest. And the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall
examine him; and indeed, if the leprosy is healed in the leper, then the priest shall command to
take for him who is to be cleansed two living and clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop’”
(Leviticus 14:1-4).

As the lepers went to the priests, a miracle occurred—all 10 were cleansed (Luke 17:14).

It was at this point that “one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud
voice glorified God” (verse 15).

Lessons from the 10 lepers

The one leper who returned “fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a
Samaritan” (verse 16).
There are two important lessons we can learn from this verse. The leper returned and gave
thanks. Likewise, when God intervenes in our lives, we, too, should never forget His mercy, but
remember it with gratitude and thanksgiving.

The other lesson to note is that the one who returned and gave thanks was a Samaritan. Most
Jewish people looked down upon Samaritans, and the Samaritans were not prone to follow the
laws of Moses—especially to go to the priests.

Once again, The Holman Bible Dictionary gives some further insight: “In the days of Christ, the
relationship between the Jews and the Samaritans was greatly strained. The animosity was so
great that the Jews bypassed Samaria as they traveled between Galilee and Judea. They went an
extra distance through the barren land of Perea on the eastern side of the Jordan to avoid going
through Samaria. Yet Jesus rebuked His disciples for their hostility to the Samaritans (Luke
9:55-56) . . . and preached to the Samaritans (John 4:40-42).”

So, it was unusual that a Samaritan returned. Even Jesus remarked about what happened: “So
Jesus answered and said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not
any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?’” (Luke 17:17-18).

This is another important lesson we can learn from this story. No matter who we are, or what
background we have come from, God is well pleased with those who are thankful and have faith.
Nine of the lepers didn’t return to glorify God, but a foreigner did.

And we then find the very same words that were spoken to Bartimaeus. “And He said to him,
‘Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well’” (verse 19). So, this Samaritan had faith as
well, which we all need to have in our lives.

These two miracles were astonishing, but they were not the only ones of Jesus. For a listing of
His other miracles and the reasons for them, please read our article “Miracles of Jesus.”

Nicodemus the Pharisee

by John Foster

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The discourse between Nicodemus and Jesus Christ, found in the Gospel of John, is one of
the most profound doctrinal discussions Jesus had with a Pharisee.

The story of Nicodemus and Jesus Christ is quite fascinating. Most of the Pharisees were totally
opposed to the teachings of Jesus. Yet Nicodemus, one of their leaders, came to Jesus by night
and ended up learning a great deal about the need to be born again and how one enters the
Kingdom of God.

Who was Nicodemus?

“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to
Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no
one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him’” (John 3:1-2).

This encounter took place early in the ministry of Jesus. The famous miracle of water being
turned into wine had just occurred (John 2:1-11). In fact, “many believed in His name when they
saw the signs which He did” (verse 23).

So, Nicodemus acknowledged that he and other Pharisees knew that Jesus was a teacher who
came from God, because none of the signs that He did could have been done without God.

Who were the Pharisees?

The Pharisees were a religious sect of the Jews. They had their own beliefs and interpretations of
the Old Testament laws and were often at odds with Jesus Christ. The following information is
from jewishvirtuallibrary.org:
“Their main distinguishing characteristic was a belief in an Oral Law that God gave to Moses at
Sinai along with the Torah . . . or Written Law . . . The Pharisees believed that God also gave
Moses the knowledge of what these laws meant and how they should be applied.”

The oral traditions were largely devised by the Pharisees and eventually became codified and
written down in what is now known as the Talmud.

It was these oral traditions “of the elders” that Jesus addressed and condemned in Mark 7:5-9:
“Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him ‘Why do Your disciples not walk according to the
tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?’

“He answered and said to them, ‘Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
“This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship
Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

“‘For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of
pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.’

“He said to them, ‘All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your
tradition.’”

Jesus’ core problem with the Pharisees was that they elevated their humanly devised laws over
the actual laws God had revealed. In many ways, their laws contradicted the intent and purpose
of God’s law and took people’s attention away from how God had actually intended them to live.

Still, Nicodemus came to Jesus

Even though Jesus chastised the Pharisees for their man-made commandments, Nicodemus still
came to visit Jesus.

Why did he come at night? The Bible doesn’t say, but as a ruler of the Pharisees (which meant he
was a member of the Sanhedrin or Council), he may have just wanted to have a private meeting
with Jesus away from the scrutiny of others.

Whatever the reason, Nicodemus was going to hear some profound truths—things even Jesus’
disciples had not yet heard.

Jesus responds to Nicodemus

One of the Pharisees’ firmly held beliefs was the resurrection of the dead. The apostle Paul knew
about their belief and used it during his defense in Acts 23:6-9.

So, interestingly, when Jesus began His discussion with Nicodemus, He focused on what must
happen prior to one’s entering the Kingdom of God, and it involved a resurrection. “Most
assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).
Nicodemus then said to Jesus in verse 4: “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a
second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

It seems to have been a logical question, and so Jesus further explained this belief in the next few
verses. He took time to instruct Nicodemus on one of the most foundational beliefs regarding
how one enters the Kingdom of God.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the
kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is
spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again’” (verses 5-7).

For a further detailed explanation of this doctrine, please read our article “What Does It Mean to
Be Born Again?”

Jesus then concluded this discourse on what being born again will look like in the future: “The
wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from
and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (verse 8).

After hearing these words, “Nicodemus answered and said to Him, ‘How can these things be?’”
(verse 9).

We don’t read any more comments from Nicodemus in this passage, but Jesus continued His
teachings.

Further doctrines that Jesus taught

It’s important to note that after this discussion on being born again, Jesus emphasized to
Nicodemus additional doctrinal truths that are at the heart and core of Christianity:

 “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven” (verse 13). For more
about this, see our article “Do We Go to Heaven When We Die?”
 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (verses 14-15). For more
about this, read our article “Why Jesus Had to Die.”
 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to
condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (verses 16-17). For more on
this, see our article “Love of God.”

Nicodemus appears again

There are two other instances where Nicodemus is mentioned in the Gospel of John. From what
we read, it seems that he believed what Jesus had taught him earlier.

Nicodemus, the one who had heard the truth about being born again and how to enter the
Kingdom of God, used his resources to show honor to Jesus after His death.It was during the
Feast of Tabernacles, one of the annual festivals of God, that Jesus proclaimed, “If anyone
thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of
his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38).

Soon afterward, there was a division among the crowd as to who they thought Jesus was. Many
thought He was the Prophet, and others said He was the Christ. The Pharisees then pompously
asked the crowd to consider: “Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him?” (verse 48).

However, one spoke up: “Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to
them, ‘Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?’” (verses 50-
51).

Good question. Nicodemus had insight into the law, and he stood up to his fellow Pharisees. As a
ruler in the Sanhedrin, he was putting his reputation at risk by challenging them in public. As we
can read in the next verse, the other Pharisees openly disagreed with him.

“They answered and said to him, ‘Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet
has arisen out of Galilee’” (verse 52).

They totally rejected what he had to say. This account seems to indicate that Nicodemus was
sympathetic to Jesus and was growing in faith that Jesus was the Christ.

One final appearance of Nicodemus

After Jesus Christ was crucified, His body was taken away to be buried by Joseph of Arimathea.
But Joseph was actually assisted by someone else—Nicodemus.

“And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh
and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of
linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where He was
crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So
there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby” (John
19:39-42).

Nicodemus brought a prodigious amount of expensive spices for the burial. He and Joseph
prepared the body of Jesus and buried Him in the tomb.

This act showed their extreme respect for Jesus. Nicodemus, the one who had heard the truth
about being born again and how to enter the Kingdom of God, used his resources to show honor
to Jesus after His death. He stood up to the Pharisees by proclaiming that one shouldn’t judge a
man until he heard that person.

What happened to Nicodemus?

The Bible doesn’t reveal any more information about what happened to Nicodemus. There is
some speculation about his life later, which can be found in a number of commentaries. One of
those traditions is found in Unger’s Bible Dictionary:

“Tradition adds that after he had thus publicly declared himself a follower of Jesus, and had been
baptized by Peter, he was displaced from his office and expelled from Jerusalem.”

Whether this particular story about Nicodemus is true or not, we do have biblical proof that he
was interested in what Jesus taught and was supportive of Him. From Nicodemus’ limited
statements and actions recorded in the Bible, we can conclude that he came to believe in what
Jesus taught.

So must we. That is what faithful men and women need to do!

Stephen the Martyr

by John Foster

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Peter and Stephen both condemned their audiences for murdering the Son of God, and
people were cut to the heart. Peter provoked change; Stephen ended up dead.
Stephen in the Bible is known as the first Christian martyr. At his trial, after he reviewed the
truthful history of Israel, Stephen condemned the Jewish leaders for not keeping the law and for
killing the prophets and the Just One. At this point he was attacked, and even the one who later
became the apostle Paul was consenting to his death.

Yet just before his martyrdom, Stephen looked into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus
standing at His right hand. When he mentioned this to the crowd, they went berserk by stopping
their ears, casting him out of the city and stoning him to death (Acts 7:55-59).

Who was Stephen?

The first time we read about Stephen in the Bible is in Acts 6. The context shows that there was a
complaint among some in the Church that a group of widows was being neglected. The apostles
determined that seven men should be chosen to handle that situation. The decision pleased the
members.

The first man to be chosen was Stephen (Acts 6:5). He was selected not only for his good
reputation and for being full of the Holy Spirit, but also for his wisdom (verse 3).

And Stephen had an additional spiritual characteristic: he was a man “full of faith” (verse 5). A
faithful man, as we would call him. A man of faith.

Six other men were also chosen at that time. They all were known as the first deacons and were
ordained by the apostles (verse 6).

Stephen the deacon

Deacons serve the Church even now in numerous ways. It’s interesting to note that there are
other qualities that they should exhibit in their personal lives in addition to those mentioned in
Acts.

The apostle Paul lists these qualifications for deacons: “Likewise deacons must be reverent, not
double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith
with a pure conscience” (1 Timothy 3:8-9).

According to Vincent’s Word Studies: “The mystery of the faith is the subject-matter of the faith;
the truth which is its basis, which was kept hidden from the world until revealed at the appointed
time, and which is a secret to ordinary eyes, but is made known by divine revelation.”

Stephen had that mystery of faith and shared that revealed truth with others. “And Stephen, full
of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8).

Later, some disputed with what Stephen was saying, but they couldn’t prove him wrong: “And
they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke” (verse 10).
Stephen set us an example of faith in action. He not only spoke about the powerful acts of God,
but also lived his faith.So, as happened to Jesus Christ, false accusations were brought against
Stephen, and he was seized and brought before the council and high priest. He was asked about
the accusations and defended his faith with boldness.

In fact, we read later: “For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good
standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 3:13).

Stephen’s response

In his lengthy answer in Acts 7, Stephen recounted the history of Israel to all who were in
attendance, and they apparently agreed with him until a certain point.

Stephen, as a man full of faith, first detailed the following powerful acts of God:

 “The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia . . . And from
there, when his [Abraham’s] father was dead, He [God] moved him to this land in which you now
dwell” (verses 2, 4).
 “And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when
Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants
after him” (verse 5).
 “And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and
delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh,
king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house . . . So Jacob went down
to Egypt; and he died, he and our fathers” (verses 9-10, 15).
 “But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew
and multiplied in Egypt till another king arose who did not know Joseph” (verses 17-18).
 “At this time Moses was born, and was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his
father’s house for three months” (verse 20).
 “And when forty years had passed, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a
bush, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai. When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he
drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘I am the God of your fathers—
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and dared not
look. ‘Then the LORD said to him, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you
stand is holy ground. I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt; I have
heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to
Egypt”’” (verses 30-34).
 “He brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red
Sea, and in the wilderness forty years” (verse 36).

Stephen then transitioned to a warning message. He reminded those present that Israel disobeyed
God, and that they should have listened to God and the One whom He sent.

 “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you
a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear’” (verse 37).
 “And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of
their own hands. Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written
in the book of the Prophets: ‘Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty
years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? You also took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the
 star of your god Remphan, images which you made to worship; and I will carry you away beyond
Babylon’” (verses 41-43).
 “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:
‘Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the
LORD, or what is the place of My rest? Has My hand not made all these things?’” (verses 48-50).

Stephen had quoted Scripture, and the audience appeared to have accepted and believed what he
said. It was at this point that Stephen then indicted them for breaking the law and killing Christ.

 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your
fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed
those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and
murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it” (verses 51-
53).

The stoning of Stephen

The crowd went ballistic! Instead of listening, believing and repenting as the 3,000 people did
whose hearts were cut on the Day of Pentecost after Peter’s sermon (Acts 2:37), these people got
angry and killed Stephen.

 “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their
teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus
standing at the right hand of God, and said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man
standing at the right hand of God!’ Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and
ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him” (Acts 7:54-58).

It was during his stoning that Stephen powerfully demonstrated the depth of his faith. He called
on God to be merciful to those who were killing him, using similar words to the ones Christ had
used during His crucifixion (Luke 23:34).

 “And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’
Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’
And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:59-60).
When the Bible refers to a person falling asleep in this context, it means the person died.
Throughout the Bible, death is likened to sleep since it is a state of unconsciousness.

Lessons for us from the example of Stephen

Stephen set us an example of faith in action. He not only spoke about the powerful acts of God,
but also lived his faith.

He reminded people that everyone needs to learn from the mistakes Israel made. He allowed
Christ’s thoughts and mind-set to permeate his thinking (Philippians 2:5). They are reflected
throughout his response and in his last statements before his death.

Finally, just as Stephen looked to God and to Jesus Christ even to the end of his life, so must we!

John the Apostle

by Chris Moen

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In the apostle John’s writings, we see some of the deepest teachings about God’s love, and in
his life, we see a boldness to preach the Kingdom of God.

In his latter years John the apostle was exiled to the island of Patmos.
Early on in the Gospel accounts, Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee when
He began calling His inner circle of 12 disciples. These men had probably all heard and believed
Jesus’ teachings. Now they were being called to follow Him.

John is introduced as a fisherman by trade. John and his brother James were on their father’s
boat, mending their fishing nets, when Jesus called the two brothers. Immediately they left the
boat and their father and followed Him (Matthew 4:21-22).

They believed in Jesus and His message, and they boldly acted on that belief.

The training of John

Jesus’ 12 disciples came out of ordinary occupations, but they were called to a much higher
purpose for their lives. Jesus would give them the finest education available in spiritual matters.
Coming from their humble backgrounds and status in society, they could more easily learn “the
simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3), without having to unlearn all the pharisaical
traditions held by those taught in the rabbinical schools of the day (Matthew 15:2-9; also see
John 7:15).

John and the others were being prepared to perform far greater works—sharing the good news of
the coming Kingdom of God with the world.

Jesus also called them apostles, from the Greek word apostolos, meaning “one sent on a
mission.”

John the Galilean

Like most of the 12, John was a Jew living in Galilee, the northernmost province of Palestine.
This region was somewhat isolated from the most extreme influences of the religious leadership
centered in Judea to the south. The prideful religious leaders in Jerusalem viewed Jesus’
disciples as uneducated Galileans (Acts 4:13).

Galileans spoke a distinctive form of Aramaic that made them stand out, in the opinion of some,
as being different, if not less refined (Matthew 26:69-73).

Over the centuries, gentile populations had settled in what once was the northern kingdom of
Israel (2 Kings 17:24). While there was a large Jewish population in Galilee, where Jesus
performed most of His teaching and miracles, this may be why a prophecy in Isaiah points to His
works being done in “Galilee of the Gentiles” (Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:15).

One reason Jesus was not highly esteemed was because He was brought up in the village of
Nazareth in Galilee (Isaiah 53:3; John 1:46; 7:52). Jesus explained to a crowd that God was not
calling many people of high rank and privilege in this age, but that God was opening the minds
of those whose hearts were like little children’s (Matthew 11:25; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
John, the beloved disciple

John refers to himself in his Gospel account as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” He refers to
himself this way five times, showing he was a disciple particularly close to Jesus (John 13:23;
19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20).

We can see that John had a natural boldness that, when molded and refined into the character of
Jesus Christ, would be a valuable asset in carrying the gospel to the world.John had a receptive
spirit and an eagerness to learn from Jesus, which may have led to the special bond between
them. John was one of only three disciples invited to witness certain events like the resurrection
of the young daughter of Jairus, a ruler of the local synagogue (Luke 8:51-55). John was also one
of just three to experience the vision of the glorified Christ as He was transfigured before them
(Matthew 17:1-2).

John was the one who sat close to Jesus at the last Passover and leaned on His breast to privately
ask who His betrayer was (John 21:20). John had a deep love for his Teacher and liked to be
close to His side. John was one of only three whom Jesus took with Him to a private spot in the
Garden of Gethsemane to watch and pray on the night of His betrayal (Matthew 26:36-37).

John was the one Jesus entrusted with the care of Mary. Jesus, nearing death, said to John,
“Behold your mother!” From then on, John took her to his own home (John 19:27).

These are some of the moments that show the special relationship Jesus had with John.

John, a “Son of Thunder”

Jesus gave John and James the nickname “Sons of Thunder,” perhaps describing their strong-
headed, forceful temperaments (Mark 3:17).

John, like all the disciples, had his human side that was not yet tempered through the indwelling
of the Holy Spirit. On one occasion a wrong attitude was stirred up in John and his brother
James.

On a long journey by foot to Jerusalem, Jesus had sent a few messengers ahead to a village of
Samaritans. This was a planned stop for the group, but when the Samaritans learned of Jesus’
destination, they refused to welcome Him.

When James and John saw the rejection of their Teacher—the One who could have brought the
villagers great blessings—their anger was aroused. They said in their zeal, “Lord, do You want
us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” (Luke
9:54).

Jesus had to correct this attitude, saying, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For
the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them” (verses 55-56).
This was one of many teachable moments for John as he learned more about God’s love and
mercy. (Read more about this big subject in our article “What Is the Grace of God?”)

Seeking greatness

In another scene, John and James accompanied their mother as she made an appeal for them to
receive two of the highest positions when Jesus returned to rule in the coming Kingdom. Their
mother, eager to see her sons appointed to such a place of honor, said, “Grant that these two sons
of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom” (Matthew
20:20-21).

Like many Jews in their day, the disciples were expecting a Messiah to overthrow the Roman
occupation and establish a physical kingdom in Israel. They also had a selfish view of leadership.

To this request, Jesus respectfully explained that they didn’t know what they were asking for.
Only our Father in heaven can appoint such positions based on His judgment.

Jesus then took the opportunity to explain a deep lesson to all the disciples, saying, “Whoever
desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be
served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:27-28). (For more on
this topic of true greatness, see our article “Humility: The Surprising Key to Lasting Success.”)

John’s boldness

We can see that John had a natural boldness that, when molded and refined into the character of
Jesus Christ, would be a valuable asset in carrying the gospel to the world.

John’s epistles express some of the deepest spiritual teachings about the Father’s love that can be
seen in the New Testament writings.In Jerusalem in the final days leading up to the crucifixion, it
was dangerous to be seen in public with Jesus. Yet on the night when the wicked schemes of the
Pharisees and chief priests resulted in a mob arresting Jesus in Gethsemane, John boldly
followed Jesus to the home of the former high priest to stay close through the first interrogation
(John 18:15-16). John also stayed near Jesus in His final hours on the stake, as revilers mocked
the Son of God.

As the apostles continued to preach and perform miracles around Jerusalem after Pentecost, on
one occasion the religious leaders were greatly disturbed at their teaching of the resurrection of
Jesus Christ. At one point, Peter and John were arrested and jailed (Acts 3:1; 4:1-3). The next
day they were brought from the jail to testify before a hostile group. Peter and John confidently
explained that it was through the power of Jesus Christ that they performed a miraculous healing
of a lame man.

The religious leaders marveled at the boldness of these two apostles. In spite of being severely
threatened (Acts 4:18-21), Peter and John were not intimidated, and they continued to teach in
the name of Jesus Christ.
John expresses the love of God

Whatever fiery temperament John may have had when Jesus began working with him, we can
see in John’s writings the transformation he underwent through the Holy Spirit to become one
who could express the deep love that Christ and the Father had for humanity. (To learn more
about walking as Jesus walked, read “Following in His Footsteps.”)

John’s epistles express some of the deepest spiritual teachings about the Father’s love that can be
seen in the New Testament writings.

John wrote, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be
called children of God! . . . Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been
revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we
shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:1-2). (For more on this subject, see our article “Love of God.”)

John serves into old age

Sometime likely around A.D. 90, the apostle John was banished to the Greek island of Patmos
for teaching the truth. Early tradition is that John was exiled to this prison island during a time of
persecution under the Roman rule of Domitian in the late first century.

John explains, “I . . . was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the
testimony of Jesus Christ” (Revelation 1:9).

John was perhaps in his 90s when he endured the harsh conditions of exile from normal society,
and he was probably denied many of the comforts of life. But it was here that God granted John a
special role in recording “the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His
servants—things which must shortly take place” (Revelation 1:1).

John was tasked to write down the things he saw in the vision (Revelation 1:11). John was one of
only a few men on record privileged to see the glory and the splendor of the very throne room of
God in vision (2 Chronicles 18:18; Isaiah 6:1; Ezekiel 1:26; Daniel 7:9; Acts 7:55; Revelation
4:2). (For more on the last book of the Bible, please see the introductory article “Understanding
the Mysterious Book of Revelation.”)

John throughout the New Testament

John, an apostle of Jesus Christ, is mentioned by name in the New Testament in the three
Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke), as well as in Acts and Galatians. Bible scholars
generally accept that this same apostle John was the author of five New Testament books—John,
1 John, 2 John, 3 John and Revelation.

Actual details are sparse, but John is believed to have outlived all the other apostles and may
have been the only one to die a natural death (see Jesus’ conversation with Peter in John 21:20-
23 for background).
Paul includes John, along with Peter (Cephas) and James, as esteemed pillars of the early Church
(Galatians 2:9).

Extrabiblical records claim that John had a number of students, such as Polycarp, who would be
an early elder of the church in Smyrna. See more in our article “Church History: Polycarp and
Polycrates.”

In summary, John the apostle was a faithful disciple dedicated to Christ. He was called to do a
great work, and as a man of faith, he had a major positive impact on the New Testament Church.

The Faith of Abraham

by John Foster

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What was so special about the faith of Abraham? In what ways did Abraham demonstrate his
faith, and what lessons can we learn from the father of the faithful?

Abraham was a stranger and a pilgrim in the land of Canaan just as Christians today are
foreigners to the ways of the world.

Abraham: a man of faith

The apostle Paul wrote about Abraham’s faith in Romans 4:3: “For what does the Scripture
say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness’” (emphasis added
throughout).

Paul was quoting from Genesis 15:6. What example of Abraham’s faith was Paul referring to?

A profound example of the faith of Abraham

The answer is in Genesis 15:4-6: “And behold, the word of the LORD came to him [Abraham],
saying, ‘This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be
your heir.’ Then He brought him outside and said, ‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars
if you are able to number them.’ And He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ And he
believed the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”

This extraordinary, unwavering belief that Abraham had in God’s power and promises was what
Paul recounted.

“Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations,
according to what was spoken, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ And not being weak in faith, he
did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the
deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was
strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised
He was also able to perform” (Romans 4:18-21).

Paul noted that Abraham’s belief was unhampered by the fact that he was almost a hundred years
old; he was not weak in faith. He was strong in faith.

What is faith? Faith is a deep conviction that God’s words are true and that God will perform all
that He promises. Abraham simply believed that God would do what He said.

Nothing is too hard for God. Nothing is impossible for God. That is an example for all of us
today, that our faith should be strong in God.

An earlier example of Abraham’s faith

“Now the LORD had said to Abram, ‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your
father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and
make your name great. …’ So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went
with him” (Genesis 12:1-2, 4).

Hebrews 11, the Faith Chapter, tells us what was so extraordinary about this departure: “By faith
Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an
inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8).
Abraham departed, and he trusted and believed God that He would guide him and his family into
uncharted territory. There was no questioning and no wavering! He showed his faith by
departing. This was a profound act of faith.

(For more insight on maintaining faith in uncertain times, read our blog post “What Does ‘Walk
by Faith, Not by Sight’ Mean?”)

The faith of Abraham continued

After Abraham came into the land of Canaan, he continued to be a stranger and a pilgrim in that
foreign land. But he believed God, who had promised that one day he and his descendants would
inherit that land.

We, too, live our lives as strangers and pilgrims on this earth, waiting with patience and faith for
the Kingdom of God to be established on the earth, ruling from Jerusalem.Genesis 13:14-17
records that promise to Abraham: “And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from
him: ‘Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward,
eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants
forever. And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number
the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. Arise, walk in the land
through its length and width, for I give it to you.’”

Looking for a city whose builder and maker is God

In addition to appreciating the promised blessing of land for his descendants, Abraham grew in
his faith toward God and personally anticipated a spiritual reward.

Hebrews 11:9-10 records this process: “By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign
country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he
waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

Abraham (along with other people of faith) anticipated a permanent city and country to come:
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were
assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the
earth. … But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed
to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:13-16).

We, too, live our lives as strangers and pilgrims on this earth, waiting with patience and faith for
the Kingdom of God to be established on the earth, ruling from Jerusalem. We, too, are
sojourners, desiring a better heavenly country—a country that is coming in the future.

How did Abraham prove his faith in God?

Abraham’s faith was tested again, in the most challenging way. Hebrews 11:17 relates
the supreme test of Abraham’s faith: “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac,
and he who received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, ‘In
Isaac your seed shall be called,’ concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the
dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.”

Abraham believed that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead, if God had not spared Isaac’s life
(Genesis 22).

Abraham must have believed that God had a very good reason for asking him to sacrifice Isaac,
and that somehow Isaac would have to be raised from the dead to fulfill the promises God had
made concerning him.

Abraham’s willingness to give up his son was a type of God the Father’s willingness to give His
only begotten Son (Christ) as a sacrifice. We who are of the faith of Abraham must also believe
that God can resurrect the dead.

Lessons from the faith of Abraham

Since Abraham’s faith is so often mentioned in the Bible, there are many lessons we can learn.

First of all, Abraham was justified by faith. God has ordained that all should be justified by faith.
That means we are declared blameless in His sight by the blood of the sacrifice of His Son Jesus
Christ and by faith in God.

The father of faith

In explaining the significance of the righteousness of faith, Paul also acknowledged Abraham’s
role as the father of the faithful.

“For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted?
While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.
And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had
while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are
uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also” (Romans 4:9-11).
So, whether one is Jewish or not, those who have the righteousness of faith, righteousness
imputed to them by God, they are the children of our father Abraham (verse 12). All must have
faith walking in Abraham’s steps.

“Preached the gospel to Abraham”

We must remember that the promises of God given to Abraham are realized through faith.
Abraham and his seed, his true descendants who have faith, will inherit the promises of God
given to Abraham.

As Romans 4:13 says: “For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to
Abraham or his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”

The promises given to Abraham are part of the gospel message—the good news. Abraham heard
and believed in the gospel.

Galatians 3:8 says: “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith,
preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’ So
then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.” (The scripture being quoted is a
combination of a promise in Genesis 12:3 and 22:18.)

This is a good example for us who hear the gospel today. Not all obey. “But they have not all
obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our report?’ So then faith comes by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:16-17).

There is a difference between trusting in our own “works” and trusting in God in order to be
justified and saved.In Abraham’s Seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed. We are
blessed through the righteous Seed of Abraham, who is Jesus Christ.

Abraham’s faith and works

There is a difference between trusting in our own “works” and trusting in God in order to be
justified and saved. And there is a difference between relying on the law, as the Jews did, and
doing good works that demonstrate obedience and living faith.

Abraham is our object lesson in this regard.

James explained: “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do
you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
And the Scripture was fulfilled, which says, ‘Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him
for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God. You see then, that a man is justified by
works, and not by faith only” (James 2:20-24).

Our faith is perfected as we do good works.

We should do good works in faith, as our father Abraham did. As John 8:39 says: “If you were
Abraham’s children you would do the works of Abraham.”

Abraham did many works that demonstrated his strong faith in God. Jesus Christ told the Jewish
leaders of His day, “But now you seek to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard
from God. Abraham did not do this” (verse 40).

Abraham believed the truth from the mouths of God’s messengers and from the mouth of the
Lord.

The faith of Abraham is living faith

We need to do what our father Abraham did. We need to believe that God can do the impossible
and that nothing is too hard for God. We need to believe in God’s power and promises, without
wavering. We need to believe and be willingly obedient to God, to come out of this world and
depart from sin.

We also need to trust God’s guidance and direction in leading us into uncharted territory. As we
journey through life as pilgrims and strangers in the world, we need to look in faith to the
coming Kingdom of God and the New Jerusalem. Our faith in the future inheritance of the world
to come should motivate us to live by faith.

Finally, through Abraham’s example, we see that we must demonstrate our faith by being
obedient to God and doing good works that demonstrate our faith. Our faith is perfected by doing
good works.

Having faith and doing good works is a living faith. “I will show you my faith by my
works” (James 2:18).

Abraham certainly showed us all his faith by his works. Are you going to follow Abraham’s
example? This is the most important step you can take.