Word In Life Study Bible
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES IN THE BIBLE
Dan.5:11-12
Much of Daniels career was spent in the highest levels of the Babylonian government, where he served as the chief advisor to King Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 5:11–12; compare 1:18–21). The Bible tells of several other people who served God while working in government positions. Some of them came to believe in Him while so employed. The table below lists some of the more noteworthy.
| Joseph (Gen. 39–50) | After being sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, he was taken to Egypt, where God arranged matters for him to eventually become the chief executive officer of the nation. |
| Caleb (Num. 13–14) | He served as a spy for Moses when the Israelites initially prepared to enter Canaan. Years later, he served as a leader to help divide the land. |
| Joshua (Num. 13–14; Josh. 1:1–3:17) | He served as a spy with Caleb, and later was called to succeed Moses as Israel’s leader. |
| Deborah (Judg. 4–5) | She is the only female judge over Israel mentioned in the Bible. After her military commander was victorious in battle with her help, she led her people in a victory song. |
| David (1 Sam. 16–31; 2 Sam. 1–24) | He rose from obscurity as a shepherd to become the preeminent king of Israel. |
| Solomon (1 Kin. 3–11) | Successor to David, he was best known for his wisdom, but also excelled in international trade, building projects which included the temple, amassing great wealth, and writing much of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and probably the Song of Solomon. |
| Hezekiah (2 Kin. 18–20; 2 Chr. 29–32) | Born to the family of wicked King Ahaz, he ruled Judah with unexpected righteousness. He is remembered for building a strategic water supply system for Jerusalem. |
| Nehemiah (Neh. 1–6) | As a Hebrew captive in Babylon, he served as the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I, a high-level position. After hearing about the destruction of Jerusalem, he appealed to the king for help and negotiated a letter of commission to return to Jerusalem and lead its redevelopment. |
| Esther (the Book of Esther) | An orphan in the care of an older cousin, she was recruited into the harem of the Persian king Ahasuerus, from which she was selected to be queen. In this role, she was able to foil a plot of genocide against her people. |
| Matthew (Matt. 9:9) | He served as a tax collector for the Roman government, and as a result was rejected by his own people the Jews. Jesus called him to leave his position and follow Him. |
| Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1–9) | The chief tax collector of Jericho, he sought out Jesus, and, after having dined with Him, repaid everyone he had cheated and gave half his wealth to the poor. |
| A Roman Centurion (Matt. 27:54) | He oversaw the crucifixion of Jesus, but came to believe that Jesus was the Son of God after witnessing the events of His death. |
| The Treasurer of Ethiopia (Acts 8:26–40) | This official under the Ethiopian queen was traveling home from a trip to Jerusalem when he encountered the evangelist Philip, who explained to him the way of salvation in Christ. |
| Cornelius (Acts 10) | A Roman military commander stationed in Caesarea, he obeyed God by inviting Peter to come to his home. After Peter explained the gospel, he and his household became the first known Gentile converts in the early church. |
| The Philippian Jailer (Acts 16:20–36) | Working the night shift at the jail in Philippi, he was panic-stricken after an earthquake opened the doors of the cells. But Paul and Silas brought him lasting peace by presenting the gospel, which he and his family believed. |
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