Other Heroes

Hebrews 11-Part 19
And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae, of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets.   Hebrews 11:32

LET IT GLOW

Do you have any "heroes of faith" in your life? Will you share them with us? I can think of a few modern-day heroes in my life: my dad, who lost a leg in WWII; the soldier who marched in Dad's place that died of a sniper's bullet instead of Dad; a woman whose daughters were molested by their father; a couple who lost a grandson to cancer and a granddaughter hit by a car, the husband suffering a stroke; a young mother who lost her teenage son and another mother lost a baby; a man who had around 15 heart surgeries, yet died of bone cancer praising the Lord during it all;  my mother inlaw who battled cancer for years; my daughter who lives with rheumatoid arthritis; my husband with a heart condition. The list could go on. All of these have remained faithful to our God. These are my other heroes, yet unknown to the world. The story of their life has never been printed in a magazine nor in a book, but God sees their faith.

Dr. Charles Stanley said in his message, The Call of Faith:

• The walk of faith is to step into the unknown (Heb.11:8)
• The walk of faith is a call to separation.
• Step out of your comfort zone.
• We miss out on God's best because we won't let go.
• The call of God always includes the promise of blessing.
• Our idea of security is a distorted idea.
• We're shortsighted.
• The call of faith will involve testing and trials.
• We can respond in two ways: focus on Christ and obey Him, or react to fear and try to work things out ourselves.
• Taking your focus off God will get you into trouble (Abraham went to Egypt.)
• The call of faith has tests and trials. In obedience we are able to enjoy the best that God has to offer.

Friends, I hope your faith in God is increasing as mine is since we have been studying the heroes in the Hall of Faith found in Hebrews 11. I see the extraordinary things God did when the people exhibited faith in Him. Remember by faith Abel's sacrifice, Enoch pleased God and was translated, Noah's ark, Abraham moved without details and lived in tents, then offered Isaac, Sarah's baby at age 90, Jacob worshipped leaning on his staff, Joseph's belief in the resurrection and he wanted his bones carried into the Promised Land to be buried, Moses' parents hid him 3 months, Moses refused to be called the son of the Pharoah's  daughter, forsook Egypt, kept the Passover, the Israelites passed through the Red Sea, younger Israelites marched 7 days so the walls of Jericho would fall, and Rahab received and hid the spies. Those things  happened when God saw their faith that He would keep His promises, do what He said He would do, because without faith it's impossible to please God.

This list of men in our key verse held a position of power or authority, but none of them is praised for his personal status or abilities. Instead, they are recognized for what each one had accomplished by faith in God. (MacArthur)

Not one of these people mentioned in verse 32 was perfect, passive, persistent, or protected from hardship, calamity, and tragedy. The theme in  Hebrews 11 is endurance. (Swindoll)

I don't know all that God could accomplish through Linda, if she keeps  faith in Jesus and obeys Him fully. Insert your name dear friends.
Jesus, Your will, Your way, today, I say.

LET IT GROW

I had considered looking deeper into each man's life that is named in verse 32, but like the author, my time is limited. So I will give a summation (all 6 are found in the book of Judges) of how God used them to defeat a group and delivered Israel:

1. Gideon, by faith in God, with 300 men destroyed a countless multitude of Midianites and Amalekites; he threw down the altar of Baal, cut down his grove, in obedience to the command of God. Yet he was a man who doubted God's word to him at first, and repeatedly asked for confirmation. (Judges 6-9)
2. Barak, by faith in God, overthrew Jabin, the king of Canaan, and his numerous army. He had a agreat victory of all the host of Sisera. Yet he hesitated and went forward only when Deborah encouraged and accompanied him. (Judges 4)
3. Samson, by faith in God, destroyed more Philistines at his death than during his lifetime. He was a child of promise, devoted to the Lord. Yet he never lived up to his potential, and had a tragic ending to his life after being enticed by Delilah.  (Judges 13-16)
4. Jephthah, by faith in God, defeated the Ammorites. Yet he made a foolish vow and stubbornly kept it, killing his daughter. (Judges 11)
5. David, by faith in God, killed the giant Philistine, Goliath. Yet he failed with Bathsheba and with his own children. He spent about 15 years running for his life from King Saul, which resulted in the writings of the Psalms.
6. Samuel, who by faith, was a child of prayer, devoted to the Lord at a young age, became the last of the judges and first of the prophets. He annointed David as king of Israel, and was known as a man of intercessory prayer.
7. The prophets not mentioned by name, but from Samuel to John the Baptist, were famous for their faith in the Messiah and trust in God, and their honorable walk and conversation.

[Resources: The New Gill Expostion of the Entire Bible, David Guzik's Commentaries on the Bible,
                    Matthew Henry's Commentary, Adam Clarke's Commentary]

I'm encouraged when I read of these heroes of faith who sometimes failed, but succeeded in spite of their failures.

I, too, find myself asking for signs of confirmation like Gideon, asking for someone to go with me as I obey as Barak, don't live up to my potential like Samson, run in fear of the enemy as David did, don't always pray faithfully for others as Samuel. However, I want to walk in faith with Jesus on this country road to wherever He leads me, honoring and serving Him.

By faith Linda...

LET IT GO

Let go of the worldly things and follow Jesus so I don't miss the best He has for me.

Step out of my comfort zone and walk by faith.

Pray all day.