Heroes with humble beginnings

Heb 11:32-34

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.

These heroes of the faith are rightfully famous throughout history, as they did remarkable feats of bravery. But did you notice these two sentences: Their weakness was turned into strength, showing that they did not start out from a position of strength, but from weakness. And they became strong in battle, meaning that they certainly were not strong to begin with, they had to journey and transition into a position of strength where they were able to put whole armies to flight.

The Angel of the Lord found Gideon hiding in a winepress to beat out the wheat, as the Israelites were protecting themselves from the Midianites who regularly destroyed all their crops and left them with no livestock to live from. And when told that he would rescue Israel from them, Gideon responded by telling the Angel that his whole family is the weakest one in Manasseh and that he himself was the least important member of that family. Hardly the response of a brave man ready to face the enemy armies.

The Lord sent word to Barak through Deborah the prophet that he had to muster troops on Mount Tabor to fight against the Canaanites, and that the Lord would hand the whole enemy army over to him. His cowardly response was that he would only do this if Deborah would accompany him, he did not have the courage to trust the Lord’s word and just obey.

Samson might have received super-human physical strength from the Lord, but he had no moral strength and had to learn this throughout his lifetime. Only at his death did he fully accomplish that which the Lord had called him to do, namely the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines. His physical blindness might have finally led him to see spiritually.

When Gilead’s leaders went to search for Jephthah to ask him to lead their army against the Ammonites, they found him living in the land of Tob because his own half-brothers had thrown him out. He was surrounded by worthless men who accompanied him on raids. This is not the profile of a mighty man of valour who would lead Israel out to conquer the enemy.

David tended his father’s sheep, and his own family did not even consider him worthy to be invited to the meeting where Samuel would anoint one of Jesse’s sons as king of Israel.

Points to ponder:  Consider the humble beginnings of these men, and contrast this with the wonderful acts of great courage the Lord led them to accomplish. Would He not do the same for you? God’s strength works through people who own up to their own weaknesses. All He needs is a willing and humble spirit.

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