FOUR UNLIKELY HEROES!

FOUR UNLIKELY HEROES!

Heb 11:32

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

           Ensconced uncomfortably in the company of heroes are found, after further review, four who seem to be unqualified. These are Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jepthah. Let’s take a closer look.

           Gideon is first seen threshing wheat by a winepress to hide it from the Midianites for Israel was being terrorized by the Midianites who swooped down and destroyed everything they could not carry off. An angel, lounging casually under an oak tree, watched him for a while and then announced: “The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.” Gideon’s response was to question the Lord’s presence among his people and why such distress was being permitted. He points out that there were no miracles at a time when a miracle was sorely needed. He accuses God of being unfaithful and of abandoning His people into the hands of the Midianites. (Judges 6:11, 12, 13)

           Like most heroes, we do not often focus on their birth or training. We focus only on one or two amazing exploits that sets them apart from other men. We do not see Gideon begging God for some sign of victory. We don’t linger long at the scene where he is laying out a fleece asking God that it might be dry from the dew of morning. Later we see him doubting his own request when he places another fleece on the ground asking God to make the dew rest only on the fleece and not the ground. This is not what faith looks like. No, we only see Gideon with his 300 holding the lamps and tooting their horns. (Judges 7:19, 20)

           Barak is another timid warrior. He refused to go into combat unless Deborah, the prophetess, accompanied him (Judges 4:8). On top of that, it was yet another courageous woman that actually destroyed the enemy. Sisera had fled to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber. She gave him some nice warm milk and he lay himself down to sleep and not awake because she drove a tent peg through his temple and fastened him to the ground. (Judges 4:17, 21)

           Samson is remembered for his great strength but not for his womanizing. How could such a strong man be so dumb when it came to women? He lost his strength because he gave glory to his hair instead of his God. He lost his sight because he had lost his focus. Yet, in his death, he killed more of the enemy than he had in life. (Judges 16:28, 30)

           Jepthah was the son of a harlot (Judges 11:1) but that was not his primary problem. He made a hasty and costly vow. He vowed to offer as a burnt offering whatever first met him coming from the battle. Who would have thought it would be his only daughter?

Judg 11:30

30 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,

Judg 11:34

34 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

           Most of us can identify with at least some of the weaknesses of these “heroes.” We are fearful and questioning of God’s ability and nature, like Gideon. We are timid and sometimes hide behind the skirts those we should be protecting, like Barak. We are sensual and lustful and we allow that lust to rob us of our strength, like Samson. Moreover, we are often hasty and foolish, like Jepthah. What hope do we have to hear the Master say to us: “Well done, good and faithful servant?”

Dear Lord! I take courage knowing that by Thy grace I may join the number of the faithful. All my failures are mine and all my victories are yours. Thank you for being faithful to me. AMEN