10th-16th February 2025
Heroes of Faith
In the Word of God there are plenty of stories and lessons encouraging, exhorting and inspiring us to pray.
In the Psalms, as we chart David’s spiritual and emotional life, he goes from the heights of ecstasy to the depths of despair. And reflecting those moods, he calls out to God ranging from emotional praise to longing for help and rescue.
As Moses led his people through the desert, they really needed to depend on God for safety from Empire, warring tribes and harsh nature. There weren’t a lot of restaurants and watering holes in a wilderness like that, especially to cope with a small nation wandering through the brush, searching purpose and direction.
Jesus himself was the ultimate inspiration for praying. In the Gospels, the times he spent alone with his Father were the fuel behind his ministry and his sense of purpose. He then taught his disciples a template for prayer in daily life, lovingly passed onto us.
And how can we forget when he went through his experience more traumatic than any mere mortal has ever faced? His prayers showed his utter dependence on communing with his Father.
Finally, (this is far from an exhaustive list) the Apostle Paul communicated with churches throughout his rather extensive evangelistic parish. He regularly reminded them that he was praying for them and that they should pray for each other.
With this in mind, I have been meditating on a number of ‘Heroes of Faith’. I have kept on this occasion purely to the Old Testament. And to see what prayers their lives might evoke or inspire in us.
Written by Gavin McQuoid
MONDAY
Enoch
I have often been intrigued by the character of Enoch for two reasons. One is that so little is said about him. The other is that so much is inferred about him.
Two verses give us tiny insights into the quality of this man:
Genesis 5:24 - Enoch walked faithfully with God, then he was no more, because God took him away.
Hebrews 11:5 - By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death.
Sometimes in beautiful literature, less is more. We are left wondering and meditating. It also reminds us of the different ways that God deals with his people.
There were many incredible, godly people in the Heroes of Faith who gave their lives for their unwavering belief in God. In his sovereign will, he allowed them to make the ultimate sacrifice, knowing that in eternity he would reward them beyond human imagination.
Enoch was one of only two who had the opposite experience. He and Elijah were the only recorded biblical characters who didn’t die. God simply took them to heaven.
So, what can we presume about Enoch? He ‘walked faithfully with God’ would suggest a number of things. He lived a holy life. God was clearly very pleased with the way he conducted himself. He had a close relationship with God and was obedient to his will.
As with all believers, it is a two-way relationship with our Heavenly Father. When we obey and do his will, he blesses us. No doubt, God blessed Enoch in other ways, but I would gently suggest his greatest blessing was not having to face physical death.
Heavenly Father, please help me to learn lessons from the life of such a godly character as Enoch. While his story is almost unique, it shows how pleased you were with his life. May my life be better known for quality than quantity. And however much or little is said about it, that it is one focused on serving you.
He’s known for being very old. He’s known for not dying. Most importantly, he’s known for walking with you. May that be my inspiration this day. Help me to seek to please you, and to walk with you as Enoch did. Amen.
TUESDAY
Abraham
Abraham, like Enoch, appears in the Hebrews 11 Heroes of Faith. Unlike Enoch, there is a lot written about his life … about 14 chapters in Genesis.
We are introduced to him just as God is calling him to take a huge leap of faith. He is to leave the pagan land of Ur, people and family, and to follow the One True God. Abram is fortified by the promise of many blessings and good things happening to him, but he still has to be obedient and take that first step … and then many more. God would later change his name to Abraham, meaning ‘the father of many nations’.
Abram is 75 years old when he starts out on his Middle Eastern tour, so that pension plan has to be put on hold. Taking his wife Sarai, nephew Lot, entourage and possessions, he heads to the land of Canaan. It was a real commitment to move the equivalent of a small town and large farm across the country!
Two things I note about Abraham in the first 8 verses of Genesis 12. There is no recorded delay in his obedience to God’s call. He was immediately obedient. Also, at two places where they stopped, he was very quick to build alters and worship God. A man of true faith.
I would suggest his legacy is Genesis 15: 6 ‘Abram believed the LORD, and it was credited to him as righteousness’. But Abraham was also a man with real flaws. Perhaps that’s one of the ways in which I can identify with him.
This is the briefest glimpse into Abraham’s life, as there is so much more to be said of him. He made big mistakes. But he also showed plenty of examples of real costly obedience, faith and belief. Probably the ultimate one included his son Isaac. We’ll leave that for your reading in Genesis 22 with a good, strong coffee!
Father God, thank you for another biblical character to learn from. With his intermittent weaknesses and flaws, Abraham was also a man of real faith and obedience. He was willing to go where you called, do what you asked and serve you in many different circumstances.
Please help me to live this life of faith, trusting in you. To daily want to serve and honour you and to put you first in my life. To be a righteous person is a mighty goal. May I start each day with that in mind and live right before you. Amen.
WEDNESDAY
Moses
Some might feel it a tad remiss of me if I was to write a short series on Old Testament Heroes of Faith and not include Moses. He’s right up there.
Born a Hebrew under the might of Egypt, Moses’ story begins with Pharaoh sentencing all Hebrew boys to death. His mum hides him in a basket in the River Nile. Who should find and adopt him? None other than Pharaoh’s daughter. Don’t tell me God doesn’t have a sense of the dramatic! From Jewish poverty to Egyptian Palace.
Opulence, luxury, education, prestige, a life of power and status awaits the young man. But then one day a heady mix of his latent Hebrew DNA and innate sense of justice kick in, and the course of his life is irrevocably altered. Killing an Egyptian task master for abusing a slave doesn’t look good on the CV.
Before you know it, he’s had to flee out to the Midian wilderness. Instead of learning Empire from his adoptive grandfather, he now learns sheep herding from his eventual father-in-law. The Egyptians would have despised that. God’s Will is an interesting journey!
Moses spends years there, learning, grafting and marrying that shepherd’s daughter. It seems this will be the course of his life until, one day, God speaks to him through a burning bush. Quite the wakeup call! And quite the Commission!
He is to go back to Egypt and tell Pharaoh (no, not that one … the next one) to set God’s people free from their brutal slavery. With an eclectic mix of God’s patience and plagues, Egypt’s Ruler finally breaks and lets Israel go.
There is much more of his fascinating and challenging life in the fittingly titled ‘Exodus’, if you’re interested. A kind of ‘Rough Guide to Wilderness Travel with Grumpy Companions’. The main message is God using Moses to set his people free and lead them on a long, challenging journey to the Promised Land.
Dear Lord, thank you for this powerful, ancient story. You chose Moses, another flawed but good man, to set your people free from tyranny.
With your sovereign power, you could use an ordinary man to face the might of an empire … and win. But the victory and glory is yours.
May examples from Moses’ life teach me to be patient as you train me to obey and serve your purposes.
Thank you that the story of Moses leading his people from Egypt to the Promised Land is a picture of salvation. As you set us free from the power of sin and on course for heaven. It’s not always easy, but you are always with us each step of the way. Amen.
THURSDAY
Joshua
As Bible characters go, Joshua had a cracking CV. He was a brave and able warrior, who became a deputy to Moses. Then, when Moses ‘went the way of all men’, God called Joshua to lead his people into the new world of the Promised Land.
Joshua did many great deeds and had adventures out in the wilderness, leading Israel to their eventual home. We first read of him when Moses recruited him to fight the Amalekites who were attacking God’s people. Moses chose well, because Joshua won.
Of 12 Spies dispatched to Canaan for a recon mission, only Joshua and Caleb brought back a positive report. Only those two of the 12 entered to settle in the land! Faith rewards.
On another occasion, he had the very painful experience of publicly identifying, exposing and punishing Achan’s sin of theft in front of the nation. God was teaching the harsh lesson that he would not tolerate disobedience. Stories like this are a sobering reminder of the white hot holiness of God.
The book of Joshua is replete with many more stories of the exploits and successes of this godly warrior leader.
If I was to select an appropriate epitaph for Joshua, it would require a fairly big headstone. He was talking to the people towards the end of his life and challenging them to make their decision. Joshua 24:15 ‘But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’
Lord God, help me this day to put you first in my life. Whether in the big things, or the small, remind me that you are always worthy of my praise, worship and obedience.
Like Joshua, may you be Sovereign in my and my family’s lives even if that is not the case with other people. I want others to join me in a life of faith but, even if they don’t, your will comes first. May this be my life’s ambition, that I honour you and wish that you be glorified by all I say, think and do. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.
FRIDAY
Ruth
One of the truly beautiful people in the Old Testament. And a loving, faithful character born out of challenge, trial and pain.
Let’s take a quick overview of the challenges: Ruth becomes a young widow. Then she is willing to go to a completely foreign culture to support her mother-in-law. In her home of Moab, there were many gods. In Judah, where she would move to, there was only one God. She was willing to give up her culture and her old beliefs for you.
Ruth volunteered to go and work in the fields to ‘glean’ and gather food for home. She was also learning a new language and customs as an outsider.
Ruth loved her mother-in-law, but there could be a hint that, at least for a while, she may not have been an easy person to live with. When she returned home, friends naturally recognised Naomi and welcomed her back. But she was so consumed by her pain that she told them to call her Mara. That means ‘Bitter’ and no doubt could have affected how she lived her life at that stage.
Naomi had also found it very tough. She had experienced famine in Judah, which is why they had first gone to Moab. Then the crushing blows of losing her husband and then both her sons. I get how Naomi could feel so bitter. I could have been as well, in those awful circumstances. Thankfully, she had her delightful daughter-in-law to take care of her.
One beautiful note regarding the faithfulness of Ruth. This lovely young outsider, an import to God’s people, became a direct part of the lineage of Messiah. God works by his own sovereign rules, not those of man.
Let’s take a moment to list some of Ruth’s virtues. It not an exhaustive one. Faithful 1:16-18; Hard working 2:2, 7; Humble 2:10; Kind 2:11-12; Obedient 3:5-6; Virtuous 3:10, 14.
Father God, thank you for the life of Ruth. May I seek to learn from her wonderful qualities and put them into practice.
Teach me to see the important things and people in life. Help me to be faithful in serving you. However tough things can be, help me to remember always to put you first and to live a life of seeking what I can do to help others.
May any difficult situations I face not make me bitter or angry but instead mould my character into one that brings honour to your name. Amen.
SATURDAY
Esther
I reckon the central theme of the Book of Esther is ‘And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?’ (4:14b). Oh yes, God isn’t mentioned once in the book. Neither is prayer. So, you may be wondering why exactly I’m referencing it regarding … praying … to God. Please indulge me.
King Xerxes, the hugely powerful and wealthy ruler of the vast Persian Empire has a mega banquet to honour … himself. No sense of humility there! The opulence was extreme.
In high spirits he calls for his beautiful wife, Vashti, to be brought to him, to display her beauty to his court and nobles. Indignantly, she refuses to be a trophy. He is furious at this snub and banishes her for life. Power corrupts … absolute power … you know the phrase.
So, the Queen’s throne is now empty. Xerxes takes advice and initiates an Empire wide beauty contest. Thankfully Mordecai, a captured Jew, living in Susa, Persia hears about this and enters Esther. She is stunning and wins, so is now made Queen.
Mordecai now overhears a plot to kill the king. He reports on the two plotters. They are arrested and executed.
Meanwhile Haman, ambitious no2 in the Kingdom, is extra grumpy that Mordecai, an ardent worshipper of God, won’t bow down to him, so he has him arrested and imprisoned. Haman is such an evil character that he decides he will not only destroy Mordecai, but all his people, the Jews. From jealousy to genocide!
He takes his chance to poison Xerxes’ mind against the Jews and sentence them to death throughout the Empire. Urgent rescue is needed. Mordecai gets the message to Esther, that even though it may put her life in danger, she must act.
At an exclusive dinner for 3, Xerxes, Haman and herself, she reveals her Jewish background. Though queen, it is genuinely at risk to her life, if she doesn’t find favour with Xerxes. By God’s grace she does. Simultaneously Haman absolutely doesn’t and ends up swinging from the very gallows he’d prepared for Mordecai.
That’s the gruesome bit. The glorious bit is that even though God is never mentioned, because of his power and providence, and Esther’s courage, his people around the Empire are saved.
Dear Father, I believe that you have a purpose for my life. None of us is here by accident, and you have a role that you want each of your children to play.
Help me to learn where you want me to be and what you want me to do. Whether it is big or small, high profile or not, my I be fulfilled in living a life that brings glory to you. Give me the courage and wisdom I need to live in your will.
Help me to live a life that is always prepared ‘for such a time as this’. Amen.
SUNDAY
Daniel
From a young age, Daniel was a Man of God and a Leader of Men. One of many young Jewish captives, he was exiled to the capital of the mighty Babylonian Empire. There, identified among the very brightest, he was to be trained, educated and indoctrinated in the ways of his captors and then be placed in the highest ranks of the Civil Service. If a prodigy played his cards right, the sky was almost literally the limit.
His first test was being renamed in honour of a Babylonian god. Would that change his identity or the focus of his worship? No!
His second test was being given food offered to idols. Would he compromise his principles? No! He negotiated a test where he and his 3 best buddies (another great story) got veg and water for 10 days. The chief official was reluctant due to possible reprisals if they aren’t fit and mentally sharp, but agreed. In the end, they were the fittest and healthiest in the Honours class!
God gave Dan and his friends amazing gifts of wisdom, so they aced everything and were set to work for the King. Actually, I mean God.
Daniel’s ultimate test was about prayer. Jealous officials tricked the vane King Darius (new empire, new boss) into signing a decree that everyone should pray to him. Daniel maintained God was better option, so was sentenced to be the royal lions’ lunch. By God’s grace, Daniel more than survived the lions’ den.
Later that morning, the deceitful plotting officials were to painfully find out that the big cats only played against character and type when Daniel was with them.
Daniel faced many challenges but was never found wanting. No matter his status, position, education or level of danger, Daniel would always put God first.
Father God, Daniel thought praying to you was so important, he was willing to give his life for the privilege. Help me to be impacted by that amazing truth.
Whatever tests or challenges come my way, help me always to be faithful to you. Help me to do my best and know that I do all things to bring honour and glory to your name. May my life be one of worship to you and no compromise in challenging situations.
Help me to remember that whatever my circumstances, you are always with me and have promised never to leave me. For your glory, Amen.