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FAMOUS BUT NAMELESS

iUniverse, Inc.

Contents

Preface.......................................................................................................ix1. Abraham's Eldest Servant A story of devotion..............................................................12. The Pharaoh Who Promoted Joseph A study in wise leadership................................................53. Pharaoh's Daughter A compassionate heart..................................................................94. Joshua's Troops at Jericho The genius of discipline.......................................................125. Samson's Mother An illustration of spiritual receptivity..................................................166. The Servant of Kish and Saul The importance of being prepared.............................................197. The Woman Who Hid Jonathan A tale of great courage........................................................228. The Man Who Discovered Absalom Hanging in a Tree A paragon of integrity...................................269. The Quick-Thinking Woman from Abel Executive ability in the clutch........................................2910. The True Mother The essence of mother-love...............................................................3211. The Man of God from Judah and the Old Prophet from Bethel A hard lesson in obedience.....................3512. The Widow at Zarephath Taking the leap of faith..........................................................4013. King Ahaziah's Messengers and Captains Knowing who holds the aces........................................4414. The Indebted Widow Tapping into hidden resources.........................................................4815. The Shunammite Woman The greatness of a big heart........................................................5116. Naaman's Friends Lessons in love and loyalty.............................................................5517. A Humble King of Israel Deferring to a higher authority..................................................5918. "A Poor Wise Man" The priceless power of wisdom..........................................................6219. The Crew on Jonah's Boat The noble code of public service................................................6520. The Reformed Ninevites Mending one's ways before it's too late...........................................6921 The Shepherds at the Nativity Ready and willing...........................................................7222. The Faithful Leper When faith becomes conviction.........................................................7623. The Confident Centurion Understanding who's in charge....................................................7924. The Gadarene Madman Goodness behind the mask of madness..................................................8325. The Woman with the Issue of Blood "... faith as a grain of mustard seed".................................8626. The Greek Syro-Phoenician Woman from Canaan The importance of persistence................................8927. The Father of the Lunatic Son Never give up!.............................................................9228. The Two Blind Men Insisting on good......................................................................9529. The "Sick of the Palsy" and His Four Bed-Bearers The power of perseverance...............................9830. The Wise Scribe Valuing truth above popularity...........................................................10131. The Widow Who Gave Two Mites A most generous giver.......................................................10432. The Samaritan Woman and the Men of Sychar The beauty of unprejudiced minds...............................10733. The Samaritan Leper The grace of gratitude...............................................................11134. "A Certain Nobleman" The nobility of humility............................................................11535. The Oldest Man in the Mob Getting the beam out of one's own eye..........................................11836. The Man Born Blind Refusing to compromise the truth......................................................12237. The Unknown Host of the Last Supper Priceless prudence and discretion....................................12738. Pilate's Wife Heeding spiritual intuitions...............................................................13139. The Just Malefactor Defending innocence..................................................................13540. The Centurion at the Cross Catching a glimpse of divinity................................................13841. The Man Lame from his Mother's Womb Receiving the gospel with joy........................................14242. The Ethiopian Eunuch Seeking God diligently..............................................................14643. The Church that Prayed for Peter The might of collective consecration....................................15044. The Disciples Who Stood by Paul Church in action.........................................................15345. The Jailer of Paul and Silas A noble heart in a surprising setting.......................................15646. Epilogue What about you?.................................................................................159Appendix: A Few Who Didn't Make a cut........................................................................161(Endnotes)....................................................................................................165

Chapter One

(Genesis 24:1-67)

A story of devotion

How would you like to be in a position to make a choice that would affect the entire course of history? Do you think you might feel a little pressure not to flub it?

Abraham put his eldest servant in that position when he commanded him to travel to Abraham's native land, Mesopotamia, to pick a wife for Abraham's son, Isaac. Mercifully for the servant, he probably didn't have a clue that he was about to play such a vital role in shaping the future of Judaism and Christianity, and hence the course of human history, but still, he was under a lot of pressure to perform. After all, Isaac was the only child of Sarah and Abraham, the "miracle boy" who was born when Sarah was ninety years of age and Abraham a full one hundred. Clearly, the selection of the right wife for Isaac was crucial to Abraham's legacy and lineage.

You may wonder why Abraham assigned such an important task to a servant. For Abraham, it was a matter of simple obedience. Decades before, God had commanded Abraham (then named "Abram") to leave the land of his birth. In all the years that followed, God never cancelled or modified that order, and so faithful Abraham was resolved not to return there under any circumstances.

Abraham's submission to the divine will was total and unshakable. When God had told him to move to a new country, he moved. When God had told him to sacrifice his son, he obediently prepared to carry out that grim deed, until divine intervention spared the boy at the last minute. With a track record of such unflinching obedience to God (followed always by great blessings) it was perfectly consistent for Abraham to set aside his personal opinions in the matter of selecting Isaac's mate.

In Abraham's day, paternal pride and concern about...