The word bondservant is used several different times throughout the Bible. What is the meaning of this word, and who does it refer to?
Course Spotlight From The General Epistles: (Part 2) The Letters of John and Jude
Jesus had been baptized and was preparing to begin His important ministry on earth. God had a very important mission for Him, and He knew that the lives of every human being depended on Him to be successful in the mission. Jesus also knew that if He succeeded He would one day earn a brand new title. He was about to be tested in a way He never had been before. He was about to enter a battle against the current ruler of the world – the one whose name literally means “adversary”.
Matthew 4:10
Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
After spending some time teaching in Judea, Jesus and the disciples headed home for Galilee. The shortest route to get there was to go through Samaria. Samaria had been in the land of the Kingdom of Israel before God allowed them to be taken into captivity by the Assyrians. The King of Assyria replaced the Israelites with people who mixed the worship of the true God with paganism (2 Kings 17:24-33). The Jews didn’t like the Samaritans and would usually travel many extra miles around Samaria to avoid meeting them–but not Jesus.
Luke 4:13-14
“Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.’”
Pasaje Destacado: Génesis 4:9–16; Lucas 10:27
Cuando Dios aceptó la ofrenda de Abel, pero no aceptó la de Caín, Caín se enojó mucho. ¡Se enojó tanto que mató a su hermano! Se convirtió en el primer asesino de la humanidad. Dios sabía que Abel estaba muerto y vino a hablar con Caín sobre el asesinato de su hermano. Dios preguntó a Caín que dónde estaba su hermano. En vez de admitir lo que había hecho, Caín intentó esconder de Dios lo que había hecho y no lamentaba sus acciones. Él respondió a Dios, diciendo: “¿Soy acaso el guardián de mi hermano?” Esta lección mostrará el concepto de causa y efecto. Mostrará que ciertas cosas suceden debido a nuestras acciones, y que serán positivas o negativas dependiendo de si obedecemos a Dios o no. También mostrará que todos deben amar a su prójimo.
Discusión:
Memorizar y revisar:
Lucas 10:27
“Aquél, respondiendo, dijo: Amarás al Señor tu Dios con todo tu corazón, y con toda tu alma, y con todas tus fuerzas, y con toda tu mente; y a tu prójimo como a ti mismo”.
¡Más que hacer!
Estas actividades son opcionales, pero algunos niños pueden encontrarlas agradables.
Pasaje Destacado:Génesis 5:28–29; 9:18-29; 10:1–32
¿Sabías que el nombre de Noé significa “descanso”? Su nombre mostraba la esperanza de su padre de que Dios usaría a Noé para traer liberación a su pueblo. Y, por supuesto, eso es lo que Dios hizo. Dios usó a Noé para preservar la raza humana. Cuando Noé y su familia dejaron el arca, Dios les ordenó que fuesen fructíferos y se multiplicaran. Esto significa que Dios quería que las familias tuvieran hijos y poblaran la Tierra. Todas las personas de todas las razas, etnias y culturas pueden rastrear su linaje hasta Noé. Noé vio a muchos de sus hijos, nietos y bisnietos porque vivió 350 años después del diluvio. Él vivió un total de 950 años, lo cual era común para las personas en la era previa al diluvio. Sin embargo, después del diluvio, la duración de la vida de la mayoría de las personas comenzó a acortarse. Luego de casi cinco generaciones después del diluvio, la gente estaba viviendo menos de doscientos años. Noé también vivió para ver, tal como Dios lo había dicho, que el corazón del hombre está inclinado al mal (Génesis 8:21). La gente no aprendió de los problemas del mundo previo al diluvio, pues poco tiempo después del diluvio, los seres humanos se volvieron a alejar del camino de Dios.
Discusión:
Memorizar y revisar:
Génesis 6:9
“Estas son las generaciones de Noé: Noé, varón justo [recto, que guarda los mandamientos], era perfecto en sus generaciones; con Dios caminó Noé”.
Pasaje Destacado: Génesis 35: 9–15; 48: 8-20; 49: 1–2, 8–12, 22–26; Hebreos 7:14
Después de que Abraham mostró a Dios que le obedecería sin importar lo que fuera, Dios hizo promesas incondicionales a Abraham. Estas promesas incluyeron gobierno, poder militar y propiedad de la tierra más productiva del planeta. Sin embargo, Abraham murió sin haberlas recibido. ¿Acaso Dios mintió? ¡No! Dios pasó las promesas a Isaac, el hijo de Abraham, y de Isaac a Jacob. Jacob, cuyo nombre fue cambiado a Israel, tuvo doce hijos, quienes luego recibirían las promesas. Por medio de Jacob, Dios dio la promesa del “cetro”, que incluye la realeza y la promesa del futuro Mesías a Judá. Un cetro es un bastón que posee un rey, lo que representa su gobierno y autoridad. La promesa del Mesías fue cumplida en Jesucristo, quien nació de la tribu de Judá y quien gobernará sobre todas las naciones. La promesa del “derecho por nacimiento” de riqueza y grandeza nacional fue dada a José. Las naciones de habla inglesa hoy en día, que son descendientes de los hijos de José, Efraín y Manasés, heredaron las promesas de primogenitura. Muchas de las bendiciones que disfrutan hoy son un resultado directo de la obediencia de Abraham a Dios y de la fidelidad de Dios al cumplir sus promesas a Abraham.
Discusión:
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Génesis 18:19
“Porque yo sé que mandará a sus hijos y a su casa después de sí, que guarden el camino del Eterno, haciendo justicia y juicio, para que haga venir el Eterno sobre Abraham lo que ha hablado acerca de él”.
Author: Mr. Kenneth Frank | Faculty in Theology, Living Education
Estimated Reading Time: 6 min.
Jeremiah would learn that they had been faithful to that command for about two and a half centuries. God contrasted the obedience of these non-Israelites to the disobedience of the Jews to His commands, which eventually led to this invasion and captivity. These nomads were Rechabites, a branch of the Kenites related to Moses’ father-in-law. This Digging Deeper analyzes Jeremiah 35 illustrating lessons for Christians today.
Before we delve into this chapter, we should consider earlier historical events as backstories. In about 841 BC, King Jehu of Judah vigorously opposed Baalism in the days of wicked King Ahab of Israel because of his “zeal for the LORD” (2 Kings 10:15-16). One of his allies was a man named Jonadab (also called Jehonadab) who was from this Kenite tribe. Smith’s Bible Dictionary reports that Jonadab’s ancestor was Rechab whose house: “…is identified with a section of the Kenites, a Midianitish tribe who came into Canaan with the Israelites, and retained their nomadic habits” (e-Sword 12.2).
The Rechabites were only distantly related to the twelve tribes of Israel. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia explains: “A part of the Kenite tribe joined the Israelites during the wilderness wanderings (Numbers 10:29-32; Judges 1:16; 4:17), becoming identified with the tribe of Judah … Rechab was the ancestor or founder of a family, or order, in Israel known as the Rechabites, who at various times were conspicuous in the religious life of the nation” (e-Sword 12.2).
Wine-drinking was excessive in the Ancient Near East for Canaanite worship and its association with Baalism. During the reign of King Jehu of Judah (841-814 BC), the Rechabites joined him in a vigorous assault on Baalism (2 Kings 10:15-23). Jonadab made a family rule that they would drink no wine, like the Nazarites (Numbers 6:1-21), and that they would not build houses, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyards but dwell in tents as nomads (Jerermiah 35:6-9). Fausset’s Bible Dictionary explains this requirement: “The ascetic rule against wine, houses, sowing, and planting (Jeremiah 35), was a safeguard against the corrupting license of the Phoenician cities and their idolatries (Amos 2:7-8; 6:3-6)” (e-Sword 12.2). The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia adds further: “They followed this simple life in order to guard against the enervating tendencies of sensualism, and as a covenant of fidelity to Yahweh, to whom they wholly devoted themselves when they joined themselves to Israel” (Ibid.).
The Babylonian captivity of the House of Judah came in three waves, finalizing in 587/6 BC when the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the Temple and carried away thousands of Jews as captives back to the Babylonian empire. Before Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of the cities of Judah, these Rechabites fled to Jerusalem. Jeremiah was commanded by God to set before them pots full of wine with cups in the Temple and then instruct them to drink (Jeremiah 35:1-5). They refused, not out of disrespect for Jeremiah or the Almighty, but in obedience to their ancestor’s by-gone command. For about two and a half centuries these people had obeyed their ancestor, Rechab, and would not dishonor him even at the request of Jeremiah.
God’s word emphasizes that their faithfulness to Jonadab’s decree contrasted to the utter faithlessness of the Jews to His commands (Jerermiah 35:12-17). Because the Jews refused to heed His many prophets, who called them to repent through several centuries, God punished them with captivity as had been prophesied. These Rechabites were more faithful to an ancestor’s command than the Jews were to God’s greater commandments.
The description of these ancient people who were faithful to an ancestor’s command from about two and a half centuries before is included in Holy Scripture to instruct Christians. Notice what the apostle Paul writes: “Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Corinthians 10:11 KJV). Paul’s point is that when we read the Old Testament, Christians are obligated to draw from it lessons for righteous living today. This story provides lessons by comparing the lesser to the greater. Joseph S. Exell’s The Biblical Illustrator contrasts the obedience of the Rechabites with Christians, who disobey Christ, with this admonition:
III. Wherein it shames Christian disobedience.
1. These Rechabites are obedient to their father Jonadab, a mere man who had been dead nearly three hundred years, while Judah is in open and flagrant disobedience to the Most High God.
2. Jonadab commanded but once, and he had instant and constant heed, generation upon generation, for centuries. “But I,” saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel—“I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking. I have also sent unto you,” &c.
3. Obedience to Jonadab was at a cost, and it brought at the best only power to endure and the spirit of independence. It left the Rechabites poor and homeless. Obedience to God was also at a cost, but it gave His people assured possessions, peace of conscience, protection from their enemies, and all the exceeding riches of an eternal inheritance in God’s kingdom of grace and glory. Yet the Rechabites obeyed Jonadab with a beautiful constancy, while Judah hearkened not to the voice of the Lord. (e-Sword 12.2)
Again from The Biblical Illustrator, here are some positive things we should learn:
I. Wherein it resembles Christian obedience.
1. It was total. They did not consult their preferences or their “affinities.” They did not proceed upon any law of “natural selection.” They did not show punctilious fidelity with reference to one commandment, and great laxity concerning another. This is one essential characteristic of Christian obedience. It is total. If we can make choice of such commands as we feel like obeying and disregard the rest, what are we but masters instead of subjects, dictating terms instead of receiving orders?
2. It was constant. It kept an unbroken path. It bore the stress of storms and tests. And herein it was marked by another essential characteristic of Christian obedience—a beautiful constancy. Enlistment in the Lord’s army is for life, and there is no discharge in that war. (Ibid.)
This little-known aside in the Book of Jeremiah teaches Christians that, by contrast to the price the Rechabites paid for their rigorous faithfulness to Jonadab’s command, we have been mightily blessed by the God of the universe who gave His only begotten Son that we might live forever. Christian “Rechabites” who are committed to His commands will make old lessons new again.
Kenneth Frank was born and raised in New Jersey, USA, and attended Ambassador College, graduating in 1973. He served in the Canadian ministry from 1973-1999, after which he returned to the USA to pastor churches in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina for 15 years. Having earned a BA degree from Ambassador College he later earned a MA degree from Grand Canyon University before being assigned to the Charlotte office to teach at Living University, now Living Education. Currently, he teaches the Survey of the Bible course to the on-campus students and writes the Digging Deeper column for our online Bible study program. He is married, has four children, and seven grandchildren.
In some of our courses, we have a “Student Thoughts” section where we ask a question to see what the students think. In Unit 4 of the Life Ministry and Teachings of Jesus Christ course, we asked the question: Christ instituted the foot-washing service as part of Passover to teach us about true humility. What are some ways we can genuinely serve others with Godly humility?
Here are some of the responses:
“God has given each of us unique talents and gifts, and as we go through life we also develop various skills. As our abilities become refined, pride can find a foothold and our focus can turn inward. But, rather than using gifts and skills to aggrandize the self, if we keep our focus on the needs of others then we can use our talents to uplift and bring joy, comfort, and love to those around us.” – TF
“We can serve others in whatever need they may have. If we see a need we should fill it. We can pray for and visit the sick, comfort those who are grieving, offer food or clothing if needed and we can open our home in hospitality for fellowship. If we look around at our brethren in our congregations, we will see there are many we can serve.” – JS
“God’s people should be willing and ready to serve whenever and wherever there is a need if they are able. There are many elderly among us who may need a ride to Sabbath service because they no longer drive, or help with yard work, or picking up groceries or something that would make life just a little easier for them. Other ways we can serve is by sending cards to those who are ill, or calling them during the week to check on them, or even visiting them to sit and chat for a while. These may seem like small deeds but they are big to those who need and receive such acts of kindness. Jesus Christ said that He came not to be served but to serve (Matt. 20:28). Christ desired to serve and so should we, with the same humility and love.” -MSJ
Pasaje Destacado: Génesis 4:4-8; 1 Juan 3:11–12, 15; Proverbios 16:32
Caín se enojó mucho cuando su ofrenda no fue aceptada pero la ofrenda de Abel sí. En su enojo culpó a Abel de meterlo en problemas. Caín dejó que su ira creciera y creciera, hasta el punto en que llegó a odiar a su hermano. Eso lo llevó a asesinar a Abel. Dios dice que debemos amar a los demás tanto como a nosotros mismos (Lucas 10:27). Dios también nos dice que ni siquiera debemos odiar a nuestros enemigos, sino amarlos (Mateo 5:44). En esta lección, veremos cómo la ira puede crecer y convertirse en odio si lo permitimos. Y el odio puede conducir al asesinato. Pero Dios quiere que respetemos a los demás y tengamos dominio propio. ¡Eso lleva a la paz!
Discusión:
Memorizar y revisar:
Lucas 10:27
“Aquél, respondiendo, dijo: Amarás al Señor tu Dios con todo tu corazón, y con toda tu alma, y con todas tus fuerzas, y con toda tu mente; y a tu prójimo como a ti mismo.”
Pasaje Destacado:Génesis 7:16–24; 8:1–22; 9:1–17
Noé había advertido a la gente de la llegada de un diluvio, pero no quisieron escuchar. Después de que Noé y su familia entraron en el arca, Dios cerró la puerta y la selló. La lluvia caía del cielo y las aguas debajo de la tierra fueron abiertas. Por cuarenta días y noches llovió, y las aguas cubrieron toda la Tierra. No sobrevivió ningún animal que viviera en la tierra. Después de estar en el agua durante cinco meses, el arca llegó a descansar en la cima del monte Ararat, que está en la actual Turquía. Noé, su familia y todos los animales se quedaron en el arca por otros siete meses mientras esperaban a que las aguas retrocedieran. Noé había estado en el arca durante un año, y lo primero que hizo al abandonar el arca fue hacer un sacrificio a Dios y adorarlo. Dios decidió entonces que nunca más maldeciría la Tierra por la maldad del hombre, y prometió no volver a destruir todo ser vivo que habita la tierra. La señal que Dios dio en recuerdo del pacto es el arco iris.
Discusión:
Memorizar y revisar:
Génesis 6:9
“Estas son las generaciones de Noé: Noé, varón justo, era perfecto en sus generaciones; con Dios caminó Noé.”