Surprise!

The sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, and Bered his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son, Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son and Ezer and Elead. Now the people of Gath, who were born in the land, killed them, because they came down to raid their cattle. And their father Ephraim mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him. Ephraim went in to his wife, and she conceived and bore a son; and he anmed him Beriah, because disaster had befallen his house. His daughter was Sheerah, who built both Lower and Upper Bethhoron, and Uzzensheerah. I Chronicles 7: 20-24 NRSV

Among the listing of the descendants of Israel, some of them stand out. This is one of them. It shows Ephraim's sons and grandsons. Ephraim was one of Joseph's sons. However, his family meets with tragedy. All of his descendants are killed. In fact, it isn't clear if the sons and grandsons were raiding the cattle or the people of Gath were doing the raiding. Either way, the outcome is death. Ephraim does have other sons but it is interesting that it is his daughter (or possibly granddaughter) who does well. Sheerah builds two cities. It is the female, in this long list of males, who makes a name for herself.

Surprise!

Here we are in the midst of Easter weekend when the female followers of our Lord make a name for themselves in the midst of stories about the male followers. It is to the women coming to the tomb that the announcement of the Resurrection is first made. And it is up to these women to be the first evangelists.

Surprise!

May we keep our eyes open this weekend for the unexpected while we are actively in the midst of the ordinary.

God, you are the God of surprises -- both great and small. Help keep our eyes open! In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims

Nameless

So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, "The man who came to me the other day has appeared to me." Manoah got up and followed his wife , and came to the man and said to him, "Are you the man who spoke to this woman?" And he said, "I am." Then Manoah said, "Now when your words come true, what is to e the boy's rule of life; what is he to do?" The angel of the Lord said to Manoah, "Let the woman give heed to all that I said to her. She may not eat of anything that comes form the vine. She is not to drink wine or strong drink, or eat any unclean thing. She is to observe everything that I commanded her." Judges 13:10-14 NRSV

This devotional today was going to be about how God gives us things for us to do and we are always questioning God but never getting a straight answer, just more of the same instructions. However, what really strikes me is the fact that the woman is never given a name. She is identified as Manoah's wife. She has been visited by an angel. God has special instructions for he and will bless her. But we never have a name for her. In addition, Manoah and the angel speak of her in the third person even though she is standing right there!

I think if the Gospels had been written in the same style as the Old Testament, we would have learned about Joseph's fiance and the mother of John the Baptist - without any names. In fact, more often than not in the Old Testament, we know the names of the "bad" women more than the names of the good ones. This woman will only be known as the mother of Samson. But who doesn't know Delilah's name?

God, do you know my name?

Question of the day: What person in your life has remained nameless?

Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims