Stumbling Blocks

“Ner became the father of Kish, and Kish became the father of Saul, and Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal. The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal, and Merib-baal became the father of Micah.” - 1 Chronicles 8:33-34 

Here, in the official genealogy of Saul’s family, we read how one of his sons was named “Eshbaal.” But in another account this son was called “Ish-bosheth”(2 Samuel 2:8). We also read how Saul’s grandson was named “Merib-baal.”However, in another account, this boy’s name was “Mephibosheth” (2 Samuel 4:4).

Why would these same people have different names? For one thing, both names in 1 Chronicles included “baal.” In ordinary speech, the word meant “lord.” However, it came to be associated with the Phoenician god Baal. This “god” and the religion associated with him became snares to God’s people.

It has been suggested that the names of these men were changed because they included the word “baal”—changed to eliminate any association between God’s people and foreign gods.

The fact is that everything about our lives is part of our testimony—the people we associate with, the places we go, the things we allow into our minds, the words we speak, the clothes we wear. In fact, our lives can impact others in surprising and subtle ways. All of these things either confirm or contradict the values we say we live by. They can strengthen or destroy our testimony.

The Bible tells us that we are not to “put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way” (Romans 14:13). Therefore, we need to be sensitive to anything that might be a stumbling block.

Today, seek to live in such a way that you point people to Jesus. Avoid being a stumbling block through the things you do, the words you speak, or the places you go.