Abe Alba

Who is your favorite character in the Bible, and why?

I always say that Jesus doesn’t count, ’cause he is someone out of this world. I mean, who would it be in addition to him?

Many years ago I read Julius Caesar’s quote “I would rather be the first man among these fellows, than the second man in Rome”. I long admired Julius Caesar when I was a youngster. Especially since our Latin teacher used a fragment of his Commentarii de Bello Gallico to teach us the basics. The fact that a man of war could be so eloquent fascinated me. I also admired his boldness, stating he would accept nothing less than absolute power in Rome.

Today, I am more reserved. It’s been a while since I stopped studying Roman history and Julius Caesar’s life, so my judgment might not be perfectly accurate. However, I strongly advise people against becoming fans of politicians who are willing to drag their factions into a civil war. I believe there are plenty of those politicians in today’s world; they may even know they are hurting society, but they don’t care as long as they preserve absolute power.

But have you ever meditated on Jonathan, the son of Israel’s first king, Saul? The Lord decided he would never get the throne, but he sure had the heart of a king—willing to be second for the benefit of someone greater than himself: that is God and his people.

I never saw the relevance, the boldness, the integrity and the beauty that it takes to accept second place—even when you grew up knowing it is your birth right to seat on the throne—until the story of Jonathan portrayed it to me. Should more politicians and citizens be like him, we would certainly live in a much better and fairer world.

“And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you.’”

1 Samuel 23:16-17

So, who is your favorite character in the Bible, and why?

Abe Alba