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5. (c) bitter (Ruth 1:20). Naomi, whose name meant "pleasant," was left destitute after the deaths of her husband and two sons. Returning home with her daughter-in-law Ruth, Naomi told everyone to call her Mara, meaning "bitter," because "the Almighty has made my life very bitter."
   
   
6. (a) was taken captive (Daniel 1:7). Carried into captivity, Daniel ("God is my judge") was renamed Belteshazzar after Babylon's god, Bel. Faced with pagan customs, beliefs, and food, Daniel stayed faithful to God and was judged "ten times better" than the king's other officials (v. 20). Daniel's old name, like his faith, remained.
   
   
7. (c) his first missionary journey (Acts 13:9). Saul is a Hebrew name, Paul a Roman (Gentile) one. Arriving on Cyprus, Saul preached in the synagogue, then to the Roman proconsul, and is thereafter called Paul (Acts 9:15).
   
   
8. (b) tore down Baal's altar (Judges 6:32). Gideon's first act as Israel's leader was to destroy Baal's altar. The people demanded his death, but Gideon's father said, "If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself." The people changed Gideon's name to Jerub-Baal ("let Baal contend") and worshiped God.
   
   
9. (b) Moses (Num. 13:16). Joshua, Moses' aide, had witnessed God's salvation from slavery in Egypt. Moses changed his name from Hoshea ("salvation") to Joshua ("the Lord saves") after choosing him as one of the 12 spies who explored the Promised Land.
   
   

A Christian Reader original article.

Copyright © 2002 by the author or Christianity Today International/Today's Christian magazine (formerly Christian Reader).
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