Tabitha

In Acts 9, we are introduced to a woman named Dorcas or Tabitha in Hebrew. Verse 36 it shares

36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, in Greek her name is Dorcas, she was always doing good and helping the poor.

We see here that Luke, the author of Acts, calls her a disciple and that she was always doing good and helping the poor.  What stood out to me in this verse is the word always.  Always doing good is quite a challenge for most of us.  Being mentioned here by Luke and always doing good and helping the poor says a lot about the character of Dorcas.  She was clearly following God’s command of helping the poor but to me this passage says she did it more than most and wasn’t worried about herself.

Verses 37 - 39 read

About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

In these few verses, we can see the importance of Dorcas.  Peter was about 12 miles from her but he clearly dropped everything to come help Dorcas.  I wonder if Peter knew she had already died?  Or did he quickly get there thinking he could save her?

When Peter arrived, he could see the love that people had for her, not only were they mourning her death but they were bragging on all she had done.  It’s almost as though they were saying, you have to save her, she helps so many people, who will help them if we don’t have Dorca?

Verses 40-43 read

Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.

Peter, in an act of obedience, immediately prayed.  He prayed in solitude, not with all the people around him but, just him and God. Peter knew this was not about him. He was doing the work of the Lord.

I can only believe that Tabitha had even more gratitude than before because she was given a 2nd chance. God healed Tabitah that day and because of it many more people believe in God.

To add additional color to this story, I believe there is a specific reason God chose Joppa as the place to raise Tabitha.

Joppa at this time was a very busy port city on the Mediterranean Sea.  The population was both Jews and Greeks. Since it was a port city, you would have a lot of people traveling through the city.  Sailors, tourists, and the people of Joppa.  What a great place for Peter to perform a miracle. The news would spread due to the nature of what happened and Peter could preach to share the power of God. People then could take this news of Christ and this miracle and  share it back in homelands.

What can we learn from Tabitha?  Clearly by following Christ and being a selfless caregiver, God will take care of you.  Remember the first verse I read, she was always doing good and helping the poor.  I imagine Dorcas was a widow herself, that is why she related to the poor and cared so much.  God was clearly using her in a special way to care and to lead more people to Christ!

I learned two things from this story.  First of all, I am personally not doing enough.  I think of the few hours I serve here and there and know in my heart I could do more.  Secondly, I learned that there are a lot of caregivers out there.  I wonder who takes care of those caregivers? People care for the sick and needy and that's good and needed but I always look at the caregivers and worry about them and who is looking after their needs.  Do you know someone that is a selfless caregiver?  If so, do something for them and let them know that what they do is appreciated.  Or fill in for them from time to time.

Right now I am challenging myself to think more about the poor and what I can do for them or think of someone in particular that might need something I can give.  Let’s make this our prayer today. 

“God, show us a person that might be in need. Allow us to see an opportunity where we can be like Dorcas and care for others. Encourage us to take this story to heart and see the goodness in giving to others and the long term impact that spreading the word and your miracles can have on others. Amen”