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— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. (Hebrews 11:34-36)
Yesterday we looked at the first four men who were famous prophets/military leaders before Israel started having kings. Next the writer mentions Samuel and David. Samuel was the last prophet. We know him from the famous story of his mother, Hannah, who was the barren first wife ridiculed by the second wife. Hannah conceived in answer to a desparate prayer to God. She was so grateful she returned Samuel to the Temple once he was weaned to grow up there. As a young child God spoke to Samuel. Samuel anointed the first king, Saul, and later the very famous and beloved king David. Both Samuel and David were very human. Samuel did not control his own sons. Perhaps he was too busy at work! David was an adulterer and a murderer. The redeeming character trait of all the men mentioned was that they trusted an unseen God for an unseen future. Verse 34 says they “won strength out of weakness.”
I am not sure how you “win” strength but I certainly know what it means to feel weak and incapable of doing the task at hand. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts right now and help us cry out for God in our weakness. Let’s pray for medical people who deal with people when they are weak and scared. May they have compassion, be gentle, and instill hope during the Christmas season when no one wants to be weak and helpless.
On the Way to Wonder 