Infinite Loop

Infinite Loop

There is an interesting phenomenon in the IT world known as an “infinite loop.” It is the state of a program that has no way of ending. I remember first learning of this from friends while visiting the Radio Shack stores way back in the day. Radio Shack released their first personal computer called the TRS 80. There was always one on display at the stores. Security was non-existent, so we would get on the computer and type in a simple BASIC program that would display our name on the screen “infinitely” until someone came along and stopped it.

Later in college, we learned that you could send a simple command to a printer that would cause it to do a page feed. Again, creating a simple program that would send this command to a printer “infinitely” would cause it to spew paper at a rapid pace until the operator could “kill” the program. If a printer was left unattended such a prank could empty a box of printer paper in seconds. We thought it was amazing that we had such power!

I recently re-entered the IT field. Much has changed. The languages are much more stable and sophisticated. I didn’t even consider the fact that they were still capable of getting into an “infinite loop” scenario … until yesterday. I ran a program that should have finished in seconds, but instead ran for several minutes before I stopped it. After further investigation I realized I had omitted a very important step in the logic.

Without getting too technical I’ll give a brief explanation. In SQL, which is what I’m using now, in order to “iterate” or loop through data, you create a “cursor” containing the information you wish to process. You then “fetch” a record from the cursor, test to see if you have reached the end of the cursor, and if not, process the data. At the end of the process you fetch another record from the cursor and repeat. Because of the test for “end of data” at the beginning of the process, this will continue until all data has been processed.

Yesterday I inadvertently left out the “fetch” at the end of the procedure. This caused it to look at the same data over and over with no end in sight. Because I never fetched a new record the test for end-of-data was never satisfied and it just looped. Had I not intervened it would continued running until it timed out.

As I began to consider this a few thoughts came to mind. There are many that live life this way. Like the movie Groundhog Day they live the same day over and over, not even realizing the missing “fetch” that needs to occur to give them new information, new inspiration, new definition, and renewed purpose. They grind out the same data over and over again, each time hoping for a different outcome. Unfortunately, some never realize it until they “time-out”. That is not a life.

My pastor, Bobby Gourley, has been trying to teach me something since his arrival in August 2014. He calls it “margin”. I call it “Sabbath”. They mean the same thing. The writer of Hebrews called it “rest”, as in “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” (Hebrews 4:11) Regardless of what you call it, the meaning is the same. You have to take time to “fetch” some new information for your life.

Did you ever notice how Jesus was always pulling away from the crowd to spend time alone with Father? If Jesus needed to “fetch” from time to time I know I do. Moses would spend time alone with God in the Tabernacle in order to be refreshed and renewed as he led Israel through the wilderness. Paul, after his conversion, spent time away from Jerusalem to be taught by the Holy Spirit. We all need “fetch” time in order to stay spiritually, mentally, and physically alive.

“Fetching” can take on many forms. It will most likely be different for each person because our needs vary greatly based on our life experience and position. Regardless of where you are, or what you do, margin/Sabbath/rest is necessary. Without it we simply churn the same old information over and over, never progressing, never producing, just getting tired.

One day your life (process) will end. You will “time out”. Wouldn’t it be better to leave in the middle of a productive life cycle than simply on the treadmill? Find a way to recharge. You will never regret it.

Women in the Bible – Atarah – Second Wife of Jerahmeel

Women in the Bible – Atarah – Second Wife of Jerahmeel

1 Chronicles 2:25-26 (ESV)

The sons of Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron: Ram, his firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah. Jerahmeel also had another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam.

The woman’s name we consider today is Atarah. She most likely was born in Egypt during Israel’s captivity. Her name comes from the Hebrew word ʿaṭārâ, which means “a crown.” We know very little about her. Neither she, nor her husband or sons are mentioned anywhere else in scripture except here where the lineage of King David is being enumerated.

Atarah’s husband, Jerahmeel, was the great-great-grandson of Jacob (also known as Israel). Jerahmeel was the brother of Ram, whose son continued the lineage that would lead to David.

Women in the Bible – Asenath – Egyptian Wife of Joseph

Women in the Bible – Asenath – Egyptian Wife of Joseph

Genesis 41:45-52 (ESV)

And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.

Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.

Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

After being sold into slavery and taken to Egypt, Joseph found himself in a unique position: in command of all of Egypt. Pharaoh was so appreciative that he gave Joseph a wife: Asenath. Asenath was the daughter of an Egyptian priest. I’m sure this made for an interesting mix of faith in their household.

On was a center for worshipping the sun god, Ra. The high priest of On was considered “Seer of Seers” among the Egyptian people. Asenath was a treasure given to Joseph. Her name is of Egyptian origin and means "gift of the sun-god". She became a gift to Joseph. She bore two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. There is not much more mentioned of her in scripture. Her legacy, however, endured.

The two sons born to Asenath became part of Israel’s history. When the nation of Israel was delivered from Egypt about 400 years after Joseph God changed some things regarding their makeup. Until this time they were divided into twelve tribes, the twelve sons of Jacob (who became Israel). While giving the law the tribe of Levi was chosen to be a priesthood to serve in temple worship. In order to keep the number of tribes at twelve God instructed Moses to replace Joseph with two representatives: Ephraim and Manasseh.

Asenath is never mentioned again, but there are still those that identify as being from the tribes of Israel led by her two sons.

Women in the Bible – Anna the Prophetess – Who Prophesied About Jesus at the Temple of Jerusalem

Women in the Bible – Anna the Prophetess – Who Prophesied About Jesus at the Temple of Jerusalem

Luke 2:36-38 (ESV) And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The next Women of the Bible is our first in the New Testament. It also happens to be one of my favorite people in scripture. Her name is Anna. The name comes from a Hebrew word, which means “favored.” She lived her whole life for a single encounter: an encounter with Jesus, the Messiah.

Her life began like most Hebrew women. She was taught the law and the prophets. Anna knew about the promised Messiah. She believed that He would come and deliver Israel. She married as a virgin, but her husband died seven years after they were married. Apparently she had no children, so after she was widowed as a young woman Anna committed her life to service at the temple. Her days and nights were filled with prayer and fasting. She knew her God, and longed for the Promise that the prophets had said would come.

Her once-in-a-lifetime encounter came when she was eighty-four years old. Most Jewish girls married young; sometimes as early as thirteen. After seven years of marriage, Anna may have been serving in the temple for over sixty years. Imagine sixty years of fasting and prayer, day and night. Clearly she was well acquainted with her God. It was no wonder that He would use her to bless His own Son.

After Jesus was born it was Jewish custom to bring Him to the Temple to be circumcised. When Mary and Joseph entered the temple that day no one had to tell Anna who they were. She knew it was the Christ. After Simeon had spoken words over Jesus, Anna began to give thanks to God, and began telling others that their Redemption had finally arrived. The Messiah was born! Jesus, Son of David, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, had come to earth. Anna was there to welcome Him.

What about you? Would you be willing to spend sixty years of your life in service to God, denying yourself the human pleasures that most enjoy, just for one encounter with the King of Kings? Anna did.

Women in the Bible – Aholibamah – Daughter of Anah, One of Esau's Wives.

Women in the Bible – Aholibamah (or Oholibamah) – Daughter of Anah, One of Esau's Wives.

Genesis 36:2-24 (ESV) Esau took his wives from the Canaanites: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite, and Basemath, Ishmael’s daughter, the sister of Nebaioth. And Adah bore to Esau, Eliphaz; Basemath bore Reuel; and Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.

Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, his livestock, all his beasts, and all his property that he had acquired in the land of Canaan. He went into a land away from his brother Jacob. For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together. The land of their sojournings could not support them because of their livestock. So Esau settled in the hill country of Seir. (Esau is Edom.)

These are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir. These are the names of Esau’s sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Basemath the wife of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz. (Timna was a concubine of Eliphaz, Esau’s son; she bore Amalek to Eliphaz.) These are the sons of Adah, Esau’s wife. These are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These are the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife. These are the sons of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau’s wife: she bore to Esau Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: the chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, Korah, Gatam, and Amalek; these are the chiefs of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Adah. These are the sons of Reuel, Esau’s son: the chiefs Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah; these are the chiefs of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Basemath, Esau’s wife. These are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau’s wife: the chiefs Jeush, Jalam, and Korah; these are the chiefs born of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau’s wife. These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their chiefs.

This is the most unusual name to me. The next Women in the Bible we consider is Aholibamah, or Oholibamah as is most commonly used. The name comes from the Hebrew word ʾoholîbāmâ which means “tent of (the) height.” All we know of her is that she married Esau. That should qualify her for some kind of award right there! Esau, the twin brother of Jacob, was a rough character. He was a man’s man, a hunter, a farmer. He also had a temper.

She was a blessing to Esau by giving him three sons: Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. We never hear anything of these three in scripture. Every time Oholibamah is referenced they mention her mother, and her mother’s father, but never her father. This could imply that she was illegitimate. Rarely do you see just a mother mentioned in a lineage. Even if the father is deceased he is still mentioned. Because of this, Esau would not have received a dowry with his wife. It also could mean that Oholibamah’s mother came to live with them. Regardless of these things Esau’s “tent was increased” when he took her as his wife.

Raising three boys in any culture is a challenge. Raising them as a nomadic people had to be very difficult. We don’t know the outcome of all of this. We know Esau eventually made peace with Jacob. Hopefully this change of heart in Esau was also experienced by his wives, and Oholibamah.