The name Hananiah is found several times in the book of Nehemiah. But who is he? Do you know? Hananiah is a name found in the book of Nehemiah in several different places (Nehemiah 3:8, 30; 10:23; 12:41). I rather suspect a solid case could be made that the Hananiah mentioned in all these passages is the same person. Regardless, I doubt very seriously the book of Nehemiah triggers a thought of Hananiah even to those well-acquainted with the book.
Nonetheless, there is one other place in Nehemiah’s memoirs that the name Hannaniah is found. After the walls and gates of Jerusalem had been rebuilt and repaired Nehemiah wrote, “I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many.” (Nehemiah 7:2). Owing to the fact that Hanani is Nehemiah’s brother (1:2-3); Nehemiah sees no need to explain his choice. Furthermore, we can reasonably, and quite necessarily, infer from his commendation of Hananiah that the same is equally true of his brother.
My point in writing about the obscurity of Hananiah is not to give some bible trivia. It is to point out, when it is all said and done, whether anyone remembers us or not on earth is really insignificant. Yet, I might add, if human history were to remember our lives, be it as remotely as a mere footnote like Hananiah, what better definition of our lives could there be than that we were more “faithful and God-fearing than many”?
If we are going to let out light shine and be an influence to those around us, it is not important how many people, if any, remember our names after we die. Our memory is only significant to those who know us by name in the present. When we die, with very few exceptions, we will only be remembered by those who knew us and not in some history book. Do those who know us by name, in the present, see us as a person more “faithful and God-fearing than most”? That, my friends, will determine the ultimate significance of our lives for all eternity!
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