Tabitha, also known as Dorcas, was a disciple of Christ and a giver to the poor. While she does not speak a word in the Bible, you can see God in her life circumstances or put it better her death.
God leads
In Acts 9:32-35, the apostle Peter traveled from one place to another and visited a town called Lydda.
“Meanwhile, Peter traveled from place to place, and he came down to visit the believers in the town of Lydda. There he met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed instantly. Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.” NLT
God guided Peter to go to this town for a purpose. While there, he healed a man in Jesus’ Name and the whole town believed in God. This is a crucial part of this account. Everyone saw and believed. If the whole town believed, word would have gotten out about what God had done to the nearby towns.
God’s providence
When God leads us, if we look hard, we can see Him working. While Peter was in Lydda, just 11 miles down the road, something else had happened. Tabitha had gotten sick and died.
“There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. About this time she became ill and died.” Acts 9:36-37a NLT
God move Peter to be in the right place, for just such a time.
God is trustworthy
Tabitha’s friends had to have known and trusted God for the impossible. Why? They did not follow the usual Jewish custom of preparing the body.
“Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room. But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, “Please come as soon as possible!” Acts 9:37b-38 NLT
They could have heard how Aeneas was healed and believed that God could bring Tabitha back to life? Maybe. Until now, no one had been raised from the dead since Jesus had risen from the dead and ascended into heaven, so they believed in something that had never been done.
God shows His power for His glory
God’s power raised Tabitha from the died and like in Lydda, many believed.
“So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them. But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up! He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive. The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord.” Acts 9: 39-42 NLT
In Lydda and Joppa, God used miracles to show people Himself. When you see God work, it takes a conscious choice not to believe in an Almighty God.
While we only know a little about the life of Tabitha, we can still see God in her life, death, and in her healing to show us His power.
Have you seen any of these attributes of God in your life now or in the past? Leave a comment and let me know. I love hearing from you!
