The Great Heroes of Faith from the Past

I identify with the great heroes of the past — Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and Jeremiah. At first, this statement might sound presumptuous or arrogant, but it isn't. In truth, I identify with these heroes of the faith in their weaknesses, which reveal our total dependence on God and his grace.

I identify with ABRAHAM, who had moments when his faith wavered and unbelief won out. Abraham's life of faith was long and demanding, and he had to face great doubts and obstacles. Throughout his pilgrim journey, Abraham had his highs and lows. His faith was not perfect, just as ours isn't. At times he showed exemplary faith; at other times, unbelief prevailed — as when, twice, out of fear of being killed, he said Sarah was his sister: first to Pharaoh in Egypt (Gen 12:10-20), and later to Abimelech in Gerar (Gen 20:2-18). Yet the main point is that Abraham persevered in his faith. He never abandoned his faith in God, even though he sometimes failed to apply it or to honor God as he should have. But he pressed on, and through perseverance grew ever more secure in God's promise.

I identify with MOSES who, even after receiving the best training Egypt had to offer, felt disqualified when God called him. Moses said to God, "Who am I?" (Ex 3:11). With that rhetorical question, Moses was simply saying, "I am nobody," "I don't have what it takes." In Moses' case, this reflects his reluctance and humility; in my case, it reflects the sense of inadequacy I feel before the task to which God has called me. But just as with Moses, we can only carry out God's work strengthened by his presence. The promise God made to Moses also applies to everyone he has called: "God answered, 'I will be with you'" (Ex 3:11). What comfort to know that the call to serve God always comes with the presence of God (cf. Matt 28:20).

I identify with ELIJAH, who had his moments of discouragement and despair. After defeating the 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:20-40) and receiving threats from Queen Jezebel, Elijah lost his courage and, feeling defeated and depressed, considered giving up altogether. He said to God, "I have had enough, Lord. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors" (1 Kings 19:4). But God addressed Elijah's deep depression with rest, food, and water (1 Kings 19:5-8). And once revived by the strength of that meal, the prophet walked more than three hundred kilometers, forty days and forty nights, to Mount Horeb (Sinai), where God had given the law to Moses. Elijah's journey would have been long and difficult, and making it without proper rest and nourishment would have been unthinkable. In the same way, in our Christian walk we can only press on when we constantly feed on the Word of God and seek fellowship with the Lord in prayer, resting in his promises, which are faithful and true.

I identify with JEREMIAH who, when called by God, felt inadequate and unequipped for such a mission and tried to back away. He said, "Alas, Sovereign Lord, I do not know how to speak; I am too young" (Jer 1:6). Long before Jeremiah was born, God had already set him apart to carry out his sovereign will, as the biblical text says: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations" (Jer 1:5). The idea that God created Jeremiah for a specific purpose is very clear in the text. The verse contains four statements: "I formed you...," "I knew you...," "I set you apart...," "I appointed you...." When called by God to such a great responsibility, Jeremiah hesitated. Looking at the task ahead of him, at the wickedness around him, and at his own weaknesses, he became convinced he was not the right man for such a challenge. But as happened with Jeremiah, whenever God gives us a mission, he takes responsibility for carrying it out in us or through us. God's answer to Jeremiah was: "Do not say, 'I am too young.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord (Jer 1:7-8). Then the Lord reached out his hand, touched his mouth, and said, "I have put my words in your mouth" (Jer 1:9).

As Warren Wiersbe rightly put it, "when it comes to serving the Lord, in a sense, nobody is ever fully adequate." The apostle Paul, reflecting on the responsibilities of ministry, asks: "And who is equal to such a task?" (2 Cor 2:16). He answers that question further on: "Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God" (2 Cor 3:5). God is the reason for our success, never our own ability or talent. As John Calvin said, "whatever good you see in me is Christ's; whatever is bad is my own." As David does so many times in the book of Psalms, we must recognize that our victories come from the Lord, not from our own strength or ability. The Lord's words to Paul apply to all of us: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor 12:9).