RR “God’s Heroes” by Jerry Miller

Shavuah Tov,

Hebrews 11:32-34a “And what more shall I say? For time would fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets. By faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness…”

Tonight we have the joy of beginning our 8-day celebration of Chanukah, the Feast of Dedication.  Central to its celebration is the story of the Maccabees, who accomplished an amazing and unlikely victory over an army that was superior in every measurable way.  Of course, the “difference maker” in the account was God Himself, who responded to the faith of the Maccabees, empowering them to accomplish this great victory that was beyond their capabilities.  God was the ultimate Hero of the story, and yet, the victory called for a people of faith who would be willing to step out and believe for God to accomplish, through them, what was otherwise impossible.  Chanukah is truly a story of great heroism—a story of what we might see as, unlikely people who accomplish unlikely things.

Certainly, in the Bible as well, we see many accounts of heroes who did great things for God.  We also can see that there are times yet to come in which there will be great acts of heroism.  I think of Revelation 12, which refers to those would overcome the evil one “…by the blood of the Lamb and word of their testimony…”  Certainly now, and in future days, there will inevitably be great heroism arising from those who love God more than they love this world—a people willing to even lay down their lives if necessary.  

But there’s a question I sometimes think of, which is, what are these latter days heroes going to be like?  Are they people who somehow live on a level above everyone else because they are more holy or more gifted?  Will they be smarter or more clever?  No, I don’t think it’s some level of natural superiority that will stand out.  I suspect that God’s heroes are really—very ordinary people, who in a sense, happen to be in the right place at the right time, AND, they end up making choices at that point in time that their lives are going to count for something beyond self-serving purposes.  Such people may not see anything in themselves that they would define as even being very heroic, but they respond in faith in such moments.

I’m always struck when I read the account in Hebrews 11, where it lists those often referred to as “heroes of the faith.”  I quote a small part of that passage above.  But think about this list of faith heroes.  Of course, the writer began earlier in the chapter with Abraham and Moses, whom we might see as “heavyweights” of faith.  But look at where the writer takes us, as we are told of men and women who were not exactly ones we would expect to become heroes.  What’s my point?  Simply that each of these folks cited was willing to respond to situations that required action from someone willing to believe that God would do something great despite the person He would have to work through.  God is looking for those who are willing to be used.  My point is, it seems to me that heroes, really tend to be ordinary people, just like you and me.  They are ordinary people who make choices of faith and courage in a time of need, opening the way for God to do great things that bring glory to His name.

So what I would like to get across to you today, in light of this season, is really a simple word of encouragement—not so much that you should aspire to be a hero, but rather, that you would understand that your life can count for something in a special way that gives glory to God and blessing to others.  We can be so quick to consider ourselves, our weaknesses and failures, and we can end up dismissing even the possibility of God using us for something special.  But doesn’t the testimony of the Bible prove that God is not limited to those who look like they should be heroes?  In fact, it often seems that God chooses those who appear to be least likely according to natural thinking.

Be alert to the daily opportunities God places before you, to simply step out in faith in response to His leading, and see Him work in you and through you, for being a blessing to those around you.  Ephesians 3:20 tells us that He is “…able (and I believe wanting) to do (in us and through us) far beyond all that we ask or imagine, by means of His power that works in us.”  It’s not about being a so-called hero, but rather, living our lives in a way that draws attention to the greatness of who God Himself is, as we give out from our lives to bless others in ways He alone can accomplish.  

Every one of us has, what I would call, a testimony-in-the-making, if we will simply trust Him to work through us in response to our actions of faith.  May we be a people who spend our lives embracing the risks of love, knowing that as we do so, God will work through us to bring blessing to others.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sun14-Dec-2025 24th of Kislev, 5786
Ge 41:1-141 Sa 25Ps 70-71Mk 16       (1 Co 14:1-19)