“And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets." Hebrews 11:32
It is written, “The path of the just is a shining light”
(Pro. 4:18). Certainly, that fact is manifest in the lives of these faithful
men. One thing was common to
them. Each one lived and served the cause of Christ in a day of great spiritual
darkness and evil. The times in which they lived are described at length in the
book of Judges. Following the deaths of Moses and Joshua, Israel forsook her
God. She cast off his law, worshipped the idols of the heathen, and “every
man did that which was right in his own eyes!” Darkness covered the earth,
and gross darkness the people.
Yet, even
in those days God did not leave himself without a witness. In the midst of
great darkness, these six men stood in their day as bright, shining lights. In
the midst of terrible idolatry, they stood as beacons of truth. In the midst of
utter apostasy, they stood as walls and pillars of steadfast faith in and love
for the God of all grace, whose grace they had proved. They were just the men
needed for the day in which they lived. And the day in which they lived was
just the day for them.
In this text six specific men are
named. Then, these six are linked to the “prophets” (who also served God
in times of great apostasy). So the number of those mentioned here is seven,
the number used in the Scriptures for completion, grace, fullness, and
perfection. – In other words, we are told that God’s provision is always
exactly what is needed, always complete, and always full.
This inspired description of faith could not have been
complete if Paul had not given us these examples from Israel’s darkest days. –
“It was during seasons of great spiritual darkness and gloom that faith wrought
many of its mightiest works and achieved some of its most notable victories.”
(Pink) – It was during these days of terrible darkness, idolatry, and unbelief
that grace shined brilliantly.
Our God is
not limited by our circumstances! Grace is not constrained by our constraints.
The Word of God is not bound by our bondage. Faith is not weakened by
unfavorable circumstances, but thrives in such. These things are written for
our encouragement (Rom. 15:4). We, too, live in days of darkness, utter
darkness and apostasy. But the arm of the Lord is not short that it cannot
save. His ear is not heavy, that it cannot hear. Let us cry to him. He will
hear us. Let us lean heavily upon his omnipotent arm. He will help us. Who
knows what wonders he may do in our day. Never was a day riper for the showing
forth of his greatness, his glory, and his grace. In this apostate generation,
we have reason, as much and more, as Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David,
and Samuel, to believe God, rejoice in his goodness, and give thanks to his
holy name.