32 And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—
Hebrews 11:32
We are reflecting on Hebrews 11 as a recording of heroes and heroines in the Old Testament. They are the ancestors of New Testament heroes we might be more familiar with. The writer explains that these people trusted a God that could not be see and who promised a future that had to be lived into. Sounds like our very own dilemma as we come to next week and Advent 1. On December 3 we will light that first Advent candle that is often called the Hope candle or the Prophecy candle.
So what do Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah have in common? They were all judges. It is not what we think of as if they held court but they were more like military leaders. Gideon led 300 men chosen because of how they knelt at a pool to drink water (Judges 6:1-8:32). Barak was the commander under Deborah (Judges 4:1-5:31). The women, Deborah and Jael, saved the day but Barak was the commander and God did not forget him. Samson we know for his strength and long hair and his affair with Delilah (Judges 16:1-31). Jephthah (Judges 11:1-12:7) is little known. He was the son of Gilead by a prostitute and disowned by his brothers. But eventually he led the people to victory. So this is not such an illustrious group of men. They were ordinary men who trusted God and played their part in the history of Israel.
Often we think of leaders as those getting the glory and leading a project. Each of these men was flawed even as we are. Perhaps we deal with doubt and need fleeces like Gideon. Maybe we don’t want to lead but follow like Barak. Maybe we have a worldly past like Sampson. Maybe we carry a social label, “illegitimate”, like Jephthah. God uses people like them and like us with our idiosyncrasies. Lord, help us look to you and know you are able to accomplish your will through us – not because of us. Your strength is made perfect in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
On the Way to Wonder 