The God and His Family Series consists of 16 episodes. In the New Testament, one of the most common descriptions of God and his people is that of a family. This series is designed to talk about that relationship in detail.
Jesus introduced the concept that God is three spirits in one – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. From that terminology, God is a family.
Jesus and the New Testament writers often use family terms to describe the relationship between God and his people. They draw on relationships such as: father, children, sons and daughters, and adopted sons and daughters. These relationships not only imbue privileges, but also confer responsibilities.
It’s hard to see in English but Jesus sometimes refers to God as his Father and sometimes as “Daddy.” Part of the Good News of Jesus is that God can also be our Father and Daddy.
Tabitha lived in Joppa, a seaport on the Mediterranean Sea. For many centuries Joppa had been a key port, but several decades before this story takes place, Joppa had been supplanted by Caesarea, a new deepwater port located about thirty miles north of Joppa. Because of circumstances beyond their control, many of the people of Joppa were poor.
Tabitha was a Christian who was always doing good and helping the poor, especially the widows. When she got sick and died, the people of the town were distraught. When they learned Peter was in a nearby town, they sent two disciples to urge him to come at once. He did come and he raised her from the dead. According to Acts 9:42, this became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
Imagine how the story must have circulated in town. Peter raised Tabitha from the dead, which is pretty amazing. But why her, why Tabitha? She wasn’t an important politician or a rich business leader, or even a religious leader. No, Tabitha helped poor people. So, helping poor people must be very important to God and to the Christians.
