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MEN OF THE BIBLE DEVOTIONAL

Insights from the

WARRIORS, WIMPS, & WISE GUYS

YOU are the reason we do what we do here at Barbour Publishing. We promise that we will always use our God-given talents to produce content with you in mind—and that we will remain biblically faithful, no matter what. Thank you for being the heart of our business. © 2015 by Barbour Publishing, Inc. ISBN 979-8-89151-431-7 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without written permission of the publisher. Reproduced text may not be used on the World Wide Web. No Barbour Publishing content may be used as artificial intelligence training data for machine learning, or in any similar software development. Churches and other noncommercial interests may reproduce portions of this book without the express written permission of Barbour Publishing, provided that the text does not exceed 500 words and that the text is not material quoted from another publisher. When reproducing text from this book, include the following credit line: “From Men of the Bible Devotional, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission.” Scripture quotations marked kjv are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Scripture quotations marked skjv are taken from the Barbour Simplified KJV® Bible, copyright © 2022, 2025 by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked niv are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®. niv®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked nlt are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked esv are taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., 1810 Barbour Drive, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683, www.barbourbooks.com Our mission is to inspire the world with the life-changing message of the Bible. Printed in the United States of America.

Welcome to the MEN OF THE BIBLE DEVOTIONAL The men of the Bible are a colorful group of people. Some, like Abraham, give us a powerful picture of faith. Others, like the kings Saul or Ahab, offer us serious warnings against sin. Then there are the seemingly unremarkable men, many of whom get only one passing mention in scripture, whose lives feel much like our own. Every man in the Bible, however, has a story. Whether short, long, or something in between, each one can show us God’s eternal truths. Sometimes these men help us understand an important principle. At other times, they illustrate a problem we’ve faced in our own lives, whether we were walking in faith or stumbling along in our own wisdom. Whatever the success level of any man’s life— those in scripture or our own—one truth shines: God demonstrates His enduring love in every believer’s life. God loves the men He created—those who lived thousands of years ago and those of us who live now. And His Holy Spirit can sustain and transform us today just as He did those guys of long ages past. By their examples, the men described in this book lead us through the rough-and-tumble circumstances of this world with the strength and peace that comes from knowing the Lord. As a bonus to the stories of biblical men, this volume includes alphabetical lists of the meanings of many men’s names that appear in scripture. These lists appear on pages 17, 28, 39, 50, 61, 72, 83, 94, 105, 116, 127, 138, 149, 160, 171, 182, and 191. 5

ADAM: Made in the Image of His Creator Read: Genesis 1:26 God made Adam—and every human after him—in His own image. That truth implies a lot of things, some of which we’ll discuss momentarily. But it doesn’t mean that Adam possessed all knowledge and power, or that he was perfect in his love and holiness. Adam was a created being, always secondary to his Creator. Though he was destined to live eternally, Adam had a beginning. God, on the other hand, always was and always will be. To say Adam was “created in God’s image” means that the Lord made humans as the only beings on earth with a true consciousness of their Creator. While all created things owe their existence to their Creator, only humans can really know and love the God who made them. The Lord had spent the first six days of creation making the cosmos, the earth, the plants and animals. All of those things are in their own ways reflections of their Creator, but none of them truly bore His image the way the first man did. God wanted people to see Him in all of creation. And He especially wanted a loving, personal relationship with the only creatures He made in His own image—us!

MORDECAI: Honorable in Exile Read: Esther 10:3 A Jewish man named Mordecai had been carried into exile to Babylon, where he brought up a cousin who was orphaned. This cousin, known by the Babylonian name of Esther, later become queen to the Persian king Xerxes. Providentially, Mordecai discovered a plot to assassinate the king. Despite living in a foreign country under a pagan king, Mordecai exposed the plot. It was foiled, and his loyalty was recorded in the national annals. But nothing was done at the time to reward him. Later, in a separate incident, Mordecai refused to bow to a high government official named Haman. Incensed, this official began plotting against the Jews in general and Mordecai in particular. During a sleepless night for the king, Xerxes asked for the chronicles of his reign to be read to him. He was struck by the fact that Mordecai had not been rewarded for saving his life. Out of concern for his people, Mordecai urged Esther to reveal Haman’s plot against the Jews. Though this came at great personal risk, Xerxes listened to Esther’s report—and he was furious. The king ordered Haman to be hanged on a gallows he’d built for Mordecai. Then Xerxes promoted Mordecai to Haman’s vacant position. Mordecai always acted honorably. He seems to have lived without any expectation or request of rewards, showing concern always for others. But in the end, looking out for others brought great reward to Mordecai as well. 8

POTIPHAR: He Couldn’t See the Plan Read: Genesis 39:1 Potiphar wasn’t seeking milk or eggs at the market. He bought a slave. But not just any slave. This Egyptian officer ended up purchasing a great-grandson of Abraham, the man God would ultimately use to save both Egypt and the Israelites. Even in Joseph’s slavery, God had a plan. It didn’t take long for Potiphar to trust this Israelite with everything he owned. The longer Joseph remained in his house, the better things seemed to go for the Egyptian official. His crops and livestock increased, and he didn’t need to concern himself with any of his household needs. Potiphar probably believed that “luck” played a key role in his purchase of Joseph, but this wasn’t luck—it was providence. Potiphar’s final appearance in scripture is when he tossed Joseph in prison based on a false accusation. But even in this hardship, God was working His plan. With Potiphar’s story over, Joseph’s really kicked into gear. It’s possible that Potiphar was alive to see his former slave become the second in command in the entire nation of Egypt (Genesis 41). God always has a plan (Romans 8:28). He just wants us to follow where He leads so we can see His story unfold firsthand.

GAIUS: Honorable Mention Read: 1 Corinthians 1:14 It’s encouraging to be noticed, but we often want more than that. When some of the Corinthian believers were bragging about who had shared the gospel or baptized them, Paul took them to task like a frustrated parent. In his first letter to Corinth, the great apostle demanded to know who had done the good work in them. Was it Paul or Apollos or Peter? Or was it Jesus, the Messiah? Gaius, mentioned only briefly, is one of a few Corinthians the apostle had baptized—and apparently one that Paul was confident wasn’t going to brag about it. That was better than being noticed. It was being found quietly trustworthy. Many believers don’t do anything that others would notice—they’re steady and dependable in the Lord’s work. Some quietly provide shelter for visitors, feed travelers, give money, or pray faithfully. Gaius showed up later as Paul’s host on his third missionary journey. In fact, Gaius was host to the entire local church, which met in his home. He gained honorable mention in scripture because he was honorable in his faith.

JOHN: Fisherman Becomes Fisher of Men Read: Matthew 4:21–22 How often do we immediately do what we’re told? That’s exactly what the Bible says John and his brother James did. It was probably just another day for John, not much different than any other. He was a fisherman on Lake Galilee, like his father and his brother. They were all in a boat near the shore preparing their nets. Suddenly a man like no other called out, urging them to follow Him. Jesus had been in Galilee preaching the kingdom of God, and very likely John recognized him. When this remarkable man called, there was nothing for John to do but follow. He immediately dropped what he was doing and went to Jesus. We don’t even have record of him saying goodbye to his father! From that point forward, John’s life was bound to his Lord. Jesus later said that anyone who would be His disciple must give up everything he has (Luke 14:33). John did just that—and what a gatherer of souls he became. He serves as an example to us even today. What people or things do we hold dear? Would we give them up in order to gain Jesus?

CAIN: The First “Drip” in the Flood Read: Genesis 4:6–7 Can we feel sorry for the man who invented murder? Sure—he really messed up his life. Cain probably felt sorry for himself. He was the first child born into mankind’s fallen state. He farmed a cursed land that produced thorns and thistles as much as his crops. Cain might have been bitter about his parents’ sin, which also affected him. Perhaps he felt justified in keeping his best produce for himself and offering God what was left over. When God called him on that, Cain lashed out—and killed his brother. The ultimate fruit of his labor turned out to be a violent murder. Cain could have avoided this whole sad situation. He should have just stopped feeling sorry for himself. He should have stopped thinking everything was about him. He should have focused on God instead. Think of it: Two faithful sons of Adam might have established a completely different relationship between humanity and God. The Flood might have been avoided. But Cain felt sorry for himself. Next time you’re in that spot, step away from your “justified” wrath. Think of Cain, think of God, and say, “It’s Your plan, Lord, not mine. Help me to understand that clearly.”

METHUSELAH: Long Life, Short Obituary Read: Genesis 5:27 Methuselah is noted for his lifespan, the longest recorded in the Bible, but little else. All we’re told is that he had sons and daughters, lived 969 years, and died. Genesis 5 records the long lives of many of the early patriarchs. Enoch, Methuselah’s father, had the shortest life span, of 365 years. Yet he is the only one described as having walked faithfully with God. The first man, Adam, lived 930 years. He would still have been alive at the birth of Methuselah. Did Adam ever talk to his descendant, confessing his own role in the fall of humanity? Did Methuselah ever hear Adam describe his walks with God in the Garden of Eden? Hopefully, Adam told Methuselah that failing to follow God’s direction would eventually lead to disaster. Long life gives a man opportunity to improve his pattern of living or sink deeper into sin. How did Methuselah use his years? Did he pray every day to become a better person? Or did he plot ways to achieve his own selfish desires? Clearly, many of his generation chose the latter because “everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil” (Genesis 6:5 nlt). None of us know how long our lives will last. So our goal every day should be to draw closer to God and walk more perfectly in His way.

SHADRACH, MESHACH, AND ABEDNEGO: No Compromise, No Matter What Read: Daniel 3:17–18 Modern thinking holds that compromise is always a virtue. Refusing to bend on a strongly held personal conviction earns you labels like “narrow minded” “or “intolerant.” Our world today might look askance at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, young Hebrew men who served in the court of the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. These men held a special place in the kingdom, right up to the moment they refused a “bow or die” order straight from the king himself. How did they respond? We won’t bow to your idols, even if it means being burned to a crisp in your furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew full well that their God was more than able to save them from death at Nebuchadnezzar’s hand. But they also knew that even if God didn’t save them, they would never dishonor Him. Nor would they defile themselves by bending the knee to the king’s golden idol. Life is filled with moments where compromise seems the wise choice. But when compromise means that God is dishonored, when it means putting His standards in second place, then “we won’t bow” should be our response.

JUDAH: A Flawed Instrument of God Read: Genesis 35:23 As the fourth-born son of Jacob and Leah, Judah didn’t have much hope of inheriting what the firstborn Reuben was entitled to. But when Reuben slept with his father’s concubine (Genesis 35:22) and Simeon and Levi massacred the men of Shechem (Genesis 34), Judah ended up first in line for the blessing (Genesis 49:8–12). That didn’t stop him from making his own string of poor decisions. Judah married an ungodly Canaanite woman, Shua, and fathered three children with her: Er, Onan, and Shelah. He chose a woman named Tamar as wife for his firstborn son. Er was so wicked that God took his life. Onan then refused his family duty to have children with his brother’s widow, so God killed him too. When Judah visited a woman he believed to be a prostitute, she turned out to be Tamar in disguise. Judah got her pregnant, threatened to have her burned for committing adultery, and then had to sheepishly acknowledge the twins in her womb were his (Genesis 38). In spite of the mess Judah created, God brought forth the Messiah from the line of Perez—one of the twins Tamar bore (Matthew 1:3, Luke 3:33). God never promises to remove the consequences of sin. But He can redeem situations and people that we would think are beyond hope.

CALEB: Ten Angry Men Read: Numbers 13:30–31 The Israelites had arrived at the border of the Promised Land, and Moses sent twelve tribal leaders to explore it. Ten of them said, in effect, “It’s a wonderful place, but scary! We should go elsewhere.” Two men, Caleb and Joshua, declared that the Israelites could conquer the land. All twelve had scouted the same place. Ten returned in fear. But God Himself said Caleb had a different spirit. This man knew that God had promised Israel the land, so what was there to fear? Not the Canaanites—and not the other spies either. Caleb’s example encouraged Joshua. A young aide to Moses, he had already led the Israelites in battle. He would go on to become one of Israel’s greatest heroes and one of God’s most faith-filled servants. Were the others impressed? Not really. . .they wanted to stone these two brave men (Numbers 14:10). God rewarded Caleb and Joshua, though, by letting them enter the Promised Land. The ten other spies died in the wilderness. How much courage does it take to stand against your peers? A lot. But if you’re standing with God, the example you set will be more powerful than you could possibly imagine.

WHAT DID THAT MAN’S NAME MEAN? Many biblical names had specific meanings. Here are a few of those meanings, including the names of some men in this book. • Abraham: Father of a multitude • Abram: High father • Absalom: Friendly • Adam: Ruddy • Agabus: Locust • Agrippa: Wild horse tamer • Ahab: Friend of his father • Ahimelech: Brother of the king • Ananias: God has favored • Andrew: Manly • Apollos: The sun • Aquila: Eagle

JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA: A Secret Admirer Read: John 19:38 Everything we know about Joseph of Arimathea comes from just a handful of verses in each Gospel. He was a rich man who had become a disciple of Jesus (Matthew 27:57), a prominent member of the Sanhedrin (Mark 15:43), a good and upright man who had not consented to the council’s decision to crucify Jesus (Luke 23:50–51), and a man who kept his devotion to Jesus a secret ( John 19:38). This was an unusual combination of traits. Jesus had taught how hard it was for a rich man to enter heaven, yet here was one who had given his heart to the Lord. On top of that, this rich man was also a member of the Sanhedrin, the very council that condemned Jesus to death. It’s no wonder Joseph kept his true beliefs a secret—it would have been scandalous had the council found out, not to mention a danger to Joseph’s life. But there can be no doubt about Joseph’s devotion to Jesus in the end. After the Lord’s death, Joseph personally petitioned for the body, prepared it with expensive perfume, and laid it in his own tomb. He sacrificed his own resources and risked his personal standing in order to honor the King of kings. Can we do any less?

SAMSON: Sort Of Set Apart Read: Judges 13:24 There were no cell phones in the days before Samson’s birth. The internet wouldn’t be available for a few dozen centuries. So God chose an angel to personally deliver a message to a certain couple who hadn’t been able to have children. The message to mom was simple: “You will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son” ( Judges 13:3 nlt). Samson would become the most famous Nazirite in the Old Testament. To be a Nazirite meant to be set apart. They had restrictions on what they could eat and drink. They followed laws that forbade them to cut their hair. In Samson’s case, his long hair was a visible sign of his incredible, God-given strength. But just because his body was “set apart” didn’t mean that Samson was fortified with internal virtue and character. At this time in Israel’s history, the Philistines were the nation’s primary enemy. Yet when it came time for Samson to marry, he saw a Philistine woman who “look[ed] good” ( Judges 14:3 nlt). His parents reluctantly arranged the marriage. Before he ever met the famed Delilah, this impulsive strongman experienced the sting of a woman’s betrayal. And he responded in a typically aggressive way. Being “set apart” as followers of Jesus has to be far more than how we look. When our hearts are truly holy before God, the internal change will produce far greater results than merely showing off some Christian style. 19

ISHMAEL: God Doesn’t Forget the Outcasts Read: Genesis 21:17 No one gets to choose anything about his birth. After Ishmael’s birth was arranged by Abram’s wife, Sarai, God told the boy’s Egyptian mother, Hagar, that Ishmael would live without the support of human society. But he would still produce a large family line to become a great nation. God declared that Ishmael would live to the east of his brothers and that he would be at odds with everyone. When Ishmael was a young teenager, he and Hagar were sent packing. Why? Because Sarai hated what today might be seen as a typical behavior—mocking his little brother. That little brother happened to be Sarai’s miracle baby, Isaac. Hagar and Ishmael were in the desert, short of water, and expecting to die. That’s when God intervened to show this desperate mother a nearby well. And God repeated His promise that Ishmael would be the father of a great nation. Before then, Ishmael would live in the wilderness and learn the skill of archery. His family line began when his mother took a wife for Ishmael from the Egyptians. Not surprisingly, God’s predictions for Ishmael came true (see 1 Chronicles 1:29–31). The young boy who’d been cast out of his home became much more than anyone might have guessed. “God was with the boy” (Genesis 21:20 skjv). And God is always with you as well. 20

JOSHUA: The Faithful Aide Read: Exodus 24:12–13 You’re the young captain-general of the Hebrews and right-hand man of Moses. The great leader tells you that he wants you to accompany him up the holy mountain of God. There, the Lord will supply you with stone tablets containing His law. Scary? You bet. But as frightening as it would be to approach the holy, all-powerful God—marching right up into the cloud in which He appears—what does the invitation to accompany Moses say about Joshua’s character? A lot. The day was coming when Joshua would become Moses’ successor. But that time wasn’t yet. In this moment, Joshua’s duty was to support Moses as the leader of God’s people. He had exhibited his faithfulness in the past by fighting and defeating the Amalekites, just as Moses had ordered (Exodus 17:9). Now here he was—in closer proximity to God than any other man besides Moses. By definition, leaders are rare. Often times, we are second (or third or fourth) in command at work or church or in some other organization. Are you fully supportive of the person God has put in charge for this particular season? Are you always faithful to help carry out the vision God has given? If so, the Lord will bless you as He blessed Joshua.

ABEL: Nice Guys Finish Last? Read: Genesis 4:4–5 From the story of Abel and his brother Cain, you might be tempted to think that “nice guys finish last.” But if that’s your takeaway, you’re mistaken. Abel, second son of Adam and Eve, was the family’s “good boy.” He probably did, consistently, whatever his parents asked. Abel certainly loved God, for when it came time to make an offering, he brought the best he had. And God smiled on Abel. Cain, the elder son, may have thought, Mom always loved you best—and Dad does too. Now even God is taking your side. Soon, sibling rivalry overcame brotherly love. God knew that Cain’s sacrifice wasn’t from the heart. Feeling unaccepted, Cain took out his anger on his brother. He committed the first murder in history and was condemned to wander the earth for the rest of his days. Abel didn’t have a long life, but judging from the joy that accompanied his sacrifice to God, it was a successful one. Jesus commended Abel as a righteous man (Matthew 23:35). Though Cain lived on for many years after killing his brother, who will say that those years of life were better? No one. If finishing last means joy in eternity, maybe being last is the first thing we should aim for.

A LEPER HEALED: A Thankful Man Returns Read: Luke 17:15–16 Before their encounter with Jesus, the band of ten lepers in Luke 17 had multiple strikes against them. First, as lepers they were obligated by the law of Moses to keep their distance from everyone else (Leviticus 13:46). Second, at least one of them was a Samaritan. Samaritans had a strained relationship with Jews for a number of reasons—they were racially mixed and their religion was both different and deficient. But Jesus never recoiled over physical or spiritual impurities. As the ten lepers saw Him coming, they cried out for mercy and He granted it to them, healing all ten. The one who was identified as a Samaritan returned to thank Jesus, but the other nine did not. While Jesus expressed disappointment, going so far as to ask the Samaritan, “Where are the other nine?” (Luke 17:17 nlt), His compassion for the men hadn’t been conditional. It was not dependent on how grateful they would be in response to His granting their healing. How often is our willingness to show compassion to castoffs conditional, based on our perception of their worth or a perceived future response to our action? What if we cared less about their response and more about their souls?

JONAH: Withholder of Mercy Read: Jonah 4:2 Many of us are familiar with the story of Jonah. God told him to go to Nineveh and preach against the people’s wickedness. Instead, Jonah fled in the opposite direction. Because he disobeyed God, he ended up in the belly of a great fish. In Jonah 4, we learn he disobeyed God because he knew God would have mercy on the Ninevites if they repented. Jonah thought that wasn’t right. He believed the Ninevites deserved punishment, and he tried to withhold the Word of God to ensure that judgment came. Sometimes, we can become modern-day Jonahs. We look at the people around us—at work, home, the grocery store, or in our neighborhood—and instead of seeing people who need to be told of God’s mercy, we see Ninevites who should be punished. Like Jonah, rather than wanting to bring these people God’s Word, we are tempted to flee in the opposite direction. God desires to gather for Himself a people “from every nation, tribe, people, and language” (Revelation 7:9 niv), and He has instructed us to go to those people and proclaim the gospel (Mark 16:15). Remembering how much mercy God has shown us, let’s share that with others today.

THE CENTURION OF CAPERNAUM: Between Heaven and Earth Read: Luke 7:9–10 While in Capernaum, a centurion of the Roman army sent a message to Jesus. Paraphrased, he told Jesus, “I am not worthy to have You in my house. However, I know that You need only say the word, right where You are now, and my servant will be healed.” It was an extraordinary thing: In effect, the centurion prayed to Jesus while the Lord still walked the earth as a man! Jesus no longer physically walks the earth. But He did promise that He is “with [us] always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20 kjv). He listens when we call to Him, and He will answer. So we can petition Him for help or healing through our heartfelt prayers. The centurion had a faith that impressed even Jesus. But he had more than that. He recognized the power of God, and he recognized his own unworthiness. His Jewish neighbors deemed him “worthy” because he loved their nation and had built a synagogue, but the commander himself had a humbler view of his standing. Nevertheless, he trusted that God could and would act powerfully on his behalf. May this centurion’s perspective be the one we hold today.