What's in a name?

Jdg 10:1 And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim. 

Jdg 10:2 And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.

Which Abimelech is this who died? Abimelech means my father is king.

Jdg 8:30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.
Jdg 8:31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.

Gideon had 70 sons and Abimelech was born from his concubine. He became the seventh judge of Israel and ruled for three years. He killed his seventy brothers. He was an ungodly ambitious ruler.

Now who is Tola? Tola means worm. He was a judge after Abimelech who ruled for twenty three years.

Puah was the father of Tola. Puah means splendid, so splended was father of worm.

Puah's father was Dodo. Dodo means "his beloved". (Not what we would have expected) He was from the tribe of Issachar, a man of Bethlehem, father of Elhanan who was one of David's 30 captains.

As Christians we may be called fools and Dodos by the world, but God has a name for us "His beloved."

Tola, the worm dwelt in Shamir, meaning a point or thorn and there he was buried. The people without God are as a worm dwelling in a cursed land.

What's my point? Well lets try this? Jesus took our curses to the cross.

Psa 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

God the father called him "my beloved Son."

Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.


Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 
Php 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 
Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 
Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

No matter what people call us, if we are in Christ Jesus we are seen as the beloved children of God. Now let us behave as his beloved as holy people, bringing honor to His name.

Thorns

The thorn of blending in with the heathen

Jdg 2:1 And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.
Jdg 2:2 And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?

 Jdg 2:3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

The people of Israel were told to destroy the altars and false idols, to kill and to drive out the heathen nations in their new promised land, but many of the tribes did not do this. It was a choice that they made, because God was with them to drive them out as a mighty wind would blow the autumn leaves, but they were not willing to do this. Because they took up with the heathen people, their women and their Gods, the LORD stopped helping them. He will not go before us if we are not separated unto him. We as God's people cannot expect the LORD to open doors for us, removing satanic forces if we are in the world, not separated unto him and content with the heathen idols.

A crown of thorns: Jesus took our curses to the cross

Mat 27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

Mat 27:30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
Mat 27:31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

Thorns on the head, a mock crown that brought blood to heal our heads. His cursed thorns removed our curses. In Jesus we are blessed. Our thoughts are cleansed, our minds become the mind of Christ. Thank you Jesus for healing us by your wounds taken for our salvation and healing.

Paul's thorn in the flesh

2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

What was Paul's thorn? A messenger of satan, a fallen angel? A demon that buffeted him?

Some say it was bad eyes or a disease.

Strong's concordance definition for buffeted:

1) to strike with the fist, give one a blow with the fist

2) to maltreat, treat with violence and contumely.

It seems that the messenger of satan was able to inflict pain. I think perhaps it was the false Jews, those who were of the synagogue of satan, the religious people who tried to silence his message of grace by persecution. We too will experience persecution if we are separated unto Jesus Christ. Or are you one who will blend in with the world? Perhaps you will take the mark of the beast as well to escape persecution and hunger? I think not. If we suffer with Christ, his grace is sufficient for us. We are to stay separated, holy unto God through Jesus Christ. Our mind is to be renewed by reading and meditating on God's word with prayer. His grace goes with us and we are a blessed people.