Manasseh/Thomas

I. MANASSEH

Israel’s 12 tribes were named for Jacob’s children or, in the case of Manasseh, his grandchildren. Manasseh, Joseph’s first born, was born in Egypt to Joseph and his wife Asenath who was the daughter of Potiphar. Manasseh’s name means to forget all my troubles and all my father’s household. (Genesis 41:51)

I do not have to get into it, but you must read Genesis 48 to understand what happens. The brief version is that Jacob adopted Manasseh and Ephraim, the sons of Joseph, as his sons. Manasseh was the oldest, but Jacob blessed Ephraim, but he said Manasseh would be great too.

The tribe of Manasseh provides us with many lessons.

Early on, we learn that Manasseh is frequently referred to as the “half-tribe” of Manasseh. This designation highlights the choice made by some not to cross the Jordan River. (Numbers 32:33, Joshua 13:29-31)

Numbers 32:33 “So Moses gave to them, to the sons of Gad, the sons of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Joseph’s son Manasseh, the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og, the king of Bashan, the land with its cities with their territories, the cities of the surrounding land.”

They believed that the land on the east side of the Jordan River was more suitable for raising their flocks. It did not matter what God said. The rest, however, crossed the Jordan following Joshua’s command to enter and possess the Promised Land.

To me, this is clear evidence of free will. God endows His children with the freedom to choose. Was the tribe that chose to stay in the wilderness saved?

It is a good question. I will not answer it for you, but my initial thoughts before I personally dig into it deeper is this. It looks to me that those who wanted to remain behind did not fully commit to following God. To me, it is the Old Testament version of what the New Testament calls apostasy.

They had tasted of the Promised Land, but they did not commit. There is an interesting passage in Hebrews that talks about it.

Hebrews 6:4-6 “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.”

I will let you study the Bible for yourself and make the final conclusion, but exercising free will can lead to disastrous results. Would we all agree to that? Especially, if we make disobey God and make selfish choices.

Even those of the half tribe of Manasseh who crossed the Jordan failed to exhibit faith in God. (Joshua 17:12-18)

The half tribe of Manasseh desired more land because they were a numerous people, but that desire was driven by greed and covetousness. Joshua gave them more land, but they did not have the faith to follow Joshua’s exhortation to clear the land. Their faith had been hijacked by their fear of the Perizzites and the Rephaites (Giants). I challenge you to read the passage in Joshua 17.

On the other hand, Manasseh, at times, exhibited great faithfulness to God. Do you remember this from the Bible?

Judges 6:15 “But he said to Him, “O Lord, how am I to save Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.””

You know what happened. Gideon, from the tribe of Manasseh, was commanded by God to drive out the Midianites. In fear, the tribe of Manasseh could not drive out the Perizzites, but in faith, they could conquer the Midianites.

What is the lesson from the tribe of Manasseh? The lesson is that if we remain strong in the faith, we have the ability not to succumb to the powers of the world.

II. THOMAS

Thomas, to me, is the most “mislabeled” of the 12 apostles.

What do we call him? “Doubting Thomas. But was he really a doubter?

Matthew, Mark, and Luke only mention Thomas in the listing of the apostles. In John’s Gospel, Thomas plays a significant role in three accounts.

First, Thomas demonstrated great loyalty to Jesus. (John 11:16)

John 11:16 “Therefore Thomas, who was called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s also go, so that we may die with Him!””

This is near the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Many in Judea were already plotting the demise of Jesus. It was during this time that Jesus and the disciples received news that Lazarus was deathly ill. (John 11:1-3)

John 11:1-3 “Now a certain man was sick: Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. And it was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.””

The disciples, fearing for their lives, tried to talk Jesus out of returning to Lazarus’ hometown of Bethany, but Jesus was set on going, and Thomas urged the others to go with Jesus even it meant death. Thomas was ready to stay with Jesus despite the consequences.

Second, Thomas sought answers from Jesus Christ. (John 14:1-6)

John 14:1-6 ““Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Thomas sought answers from Jesus. He wanted a knowledge that only Jesus Christ could provide. Jesus was warning his disciples of His imminent departure. This confused the disciples, but only Thomas had the courage to ask for clarification, and praise God that he did because Jesus answered him with one of the greatest passages in all of the Bible. The way to eternal life was not the Law, a route, or a location. The life Thomas desired was found in a person, and that person was Jesus Christ.

Third, Thomas sought the truth about the Resurrection.

Thomas, for whatever reason, was not present with the disciples when Jesus appeared to them in a closed room in Jerusalem, and when the other disciples told Thomas about Jesus appearing to them, Thomas responded with this famous verse.

John 20:25 “So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.””

With those infamous words, Thomas earned the reputation as a doubter.

I want you to remember, however, this important fact. Thomas did not have the indwelling Holy Spirit. There were many things that Jesus told His disciples that they did not understand until after the Day of Pentecost. That is a significant detail. Imagine reading the Bible today without the Holy Spirit guiding you to an understanding of what it is saying. It would be impossible to gain any understanding.

Thomas’s skepticism about the resurrection was no the same as worldly opposition to the truth. His doubt represents a loving, genuine quest. The same love that he exhibited when he asked Jesus to show him the way. Thomas was speaking honestly. This is very important.

Sincere faith does not prohibit sincere investigation.

Is that not the purpose of Bible study? Eight days after the first encounter, Jesus appeared to the disciples, and guess who was there? Do you know what Jesus did? He did not condemn Thomas for questioning did He? Jesus, instead of condemning, invited Thomas to touch the wounds and see for himself. Jesus knew what Thomas needed and provided the evidence.

John 20:27 “Then He said to Thomas, “Place your finger here, and see My hands; and take your hand and put it into My side; and do not continue in disbelief, but be a believer.””

Do you know what I think? I believe that as soon as Thomas saw those wounds he knew what Jesus meant when Jesus said that He was the way, the truth, and the life. It all became clear to Thomas at that very minute. He had previously said he would die for Jesus. Now, he understood completely who Jesus was.

Do you know what Thomas did after he understood everything Jesus told him? He took the gospel all the way to India where he was martyred. He was murdered when a Hindu ran him through with a spear. The nickname “Doubting” Thomas is a rather unfortunate one a misrepresentation of who Thomas was. Think about it like this. None of the other disciples believed Mary about Christ being resurrected. He appeared to all of them to show them, but Thomas was not there.

Thomas should be remembered more for his loyalty, obedience, and faith. In the future, 12,000 of the tribe of Manasseh will be sealed during the Great Tribulation to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. They will be strong in the faith like Manasseh and Thomas and will not succumb to the powers of this world, the Antichrist and Satan.