“Show me your company and I will tell you who you are.” I cannot count the number of times that my grand-aunt chided me with those words. It was her way of guiding me in the careful choice of friends. She wanted me to be safe and and to make good decisions even when I was not with her. She was therefore very particular in vetting the friends that I kept.
Recently, as I read Hebrews Chapter 11 I thought about my grand-aunt’s admonition. This chapter is called by some, the “Hall of Faith”. I looked at the list of men and women and I wondered, “If they were my contemporaries would my gran’ have been comfortable with them? Maybe Enoch, Abel, Noah, and Moses would have been OK, but would she have allowed me to be friends with Samson? How about Rahab and Jacob?” Interestingly, the writer of Hebrews says of these individuals,
“But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:16.
I am not suggesting that my grand-aunt’s counsel was not good, but we should be careful not to write-off people, or ourselves because of present behaviors! Samson was a womanizer who although he had a special calling on his life, allowed his eyes to lead him to choose women who ultimately led to disaster. Rahab was by profession, a prostitute, a woman no one cared to be seen with. Jacob was, from birth a cheat and a liar, and this broke up his family. The thief on the cross with Christ, although not mentioned in Hebrews, received from Jesus the same promise (“. . . He has prepared a city for them.”) as the “Hall of Faith-ers”.
“And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you today you will be with Me in Paradise.”” Luke 23: 43.
None of these individuals would have been welcome in my home. If we are honest, in Samson’s presence we would carefully guard our females; in conversation with Jacob we would take everything he said with “a grain of salt”; we would be super critical of Rahab watching for the first signs of coquettish behavior to justify our coolness; and we would hide the silver and down-play the value of our belongings to discourage the thief. So can we justify their place in the Hall of Faith?
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” Hebrews 11:13.
Hebrews 11, precedes the name of each of these individuals with the phrase, “by faith . . .” and there is the key! Each one of these individuals came to the place of “faith” at different points in their lives. Jacob came in his mid-life desperation, Samson came at the lowest point in his career, Rahab came while she was still enjoying notoriety, and the thief on the cross came but minutes from his death. What is common to all of them is that they saw a need for change, they acknowledged it, and by faith they accepted God’s offer. Let’s take a look at the lives of each of these individuals and see if there is anything there for us.
Samson’s Experience:
Samson was a debonair judge in Israel. All the women swooned over him, and the men had a healthy respect. His tall elegant body, and commanding personality stood out wherever he went. Now however, in chains, beaten and defenseless he leaned against a marble column in the temple of the pagan god, Dagon. His emaciated frame was covered in black and purple bruises, and his head a mass of tangled hair matted with mud, blood, and sweat.
“Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice. And they said: “Our god has delivered into our hands Samson our enemy!” When the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said: “Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy, The destroyer of our land, And the one who multiplied our dead.” Judges 16:23, 24.
Samson’s head throbbed with hot, searing pain and every muscle in his body was on fire. He had lost everything. Gone were the expensive clothes for which he was known, and gone was the “buff” young man that all the women swooned over. In place, Samson’s feet were bare, his clothes scant and filthy, his arms and legs sapped of the strength that once ripped apart lions and defied armies.
“So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother . . . Now to his surprise, a young lion came roaring against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand.” Judges 14: 5, 6.
The loud exultant jeers of the crowd reverberated on the cold marble floors and went like a dagger into Samson’s frame. His confident, unflinching, defiant, eyes were gone. Remaining were empty, disgorged, swollen sockets oozing a mix of blood and tears. In the fog of his pain came disjointed memories of his parents’ warnings. “Why didn’t I see that I was headed for disaster?” He moaned.
“Now Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. So he went up and told his father and mother, saying, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.” Then his father and mother said to him, “Is there no woman among the daughters of your brethren, or among all my people, that you must go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” And Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she pleases me well.”” Judges 14: 1-3.
Unbearable was the pain of knowing that he had not only disappointed his parents, he had disgraced his God. In deep sorrow he called out one last time to Jehovah to forgive him and to use him to avenge His enemies.
“Now the temple was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there—about three thousand men and women on the roof watching while Samson performed. Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, “O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!” Judges 16: 27, 28.
The pillars on which Samson leaned for support would become his weapon. Placing his faith in the God of his youth, Samson groped for the pillars and his last thoughts came as he felt the power of God course through his limbs shaking the building and reducing it to jelly.
“And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. Then Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.” Judges 16: 29, 30.
Samson’s final use of his gift was in complete acknowledgement that all that he had was from God, and without Jehovah he was nothing. Samson in faith became a new person!
Rahab’s Experience:
Rahab sat pensive in the down-time between customers. She contemplated the news that was the buzz in Jericho. The army of Israel was approaching and through their God, they were defeating all the nations in their path. She looked to her mantel where unmoving, stood Asherim, her god. Instinctively she knew she needed more. In this time of social and political upheaval she knew her own wiles could not save her, neither could Asherim. She pleadingly looked to him but his wooden eyes stared empty and his wooden arms hung lifeless. Her money, her notoriety, her crafty ingenuity, were all powerless in the path of the God of Israel. The world around her was careening to an end and she would not land on her feet this time.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her door. Opening she saw two men whom she instantly knew were foreigners. “What can I do for you?” she said a little impatiently having interrupted her musings on her future. They introduced themselves and Rahab, looking furtively out on the street, quickly pulled them into the hall. “How can I help you?” she repeated.
“Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went, and came to the house of a harlot named Rahab, and lodged there.” Joshua 2:1
Most of the night was spent in talk. Rahab peppered the Hebrew men with questions about their God. They, as best they could, introduced her to Jehovah, who through a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, had brought them out of slavery and was fulfilling His promise to bring them to a better life. She listened enthralled by the idea that their God actually spoke and made promises that He kept. Her eyes widened as they told her how He quenched their thirst with water from a rock, satisfied their hunger with heavenly bread, and revealed Himself in peels of thunder and bolts of lightening that shook the earth and brought them all to their knees in awe and wonder.
She pondered, “These men have come to me, the most unlikely, the most despised person in Jericho. Despite my sullied reputation, they are inviting me to join with Jehovah’s people, to be a part of their victory!” This was no chance meeting she decided— this was a Divine appointment. This all-powerful God had sent them to her no less! Rahab made her decision.
“Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men: “I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites . . . . For the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below! Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”” Joshua 2:8-13.
Rahab’s decision made all the difference. Not only was she and her family saved and joined to the people of Jehovah, but history tells us that through her line came the Savior of the world— Jesus.
“. . . . Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king. . . . Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.” Matthew 1: 4-6, 14-16.
Through faith, Rahab, the prostitute, became a new person. She received a new heritage.
Jacob’s Experience:
Jacob sat alone in the dark, mentally and physically tired from the journey as well as the stress of planning and strategizing to meet his brother. After several years away he was returning home — a rich man but haunted by the bad-blood that he had left there. Jacob could not remember a time he wasn’t restlessly seeking more from life. From birth, everyone knew that Jacob got what he wanted. Some said he was ambitious, and driven. He would use any means to achieve his goal. He envied his brother’s birthright and by devious means he got it.
“Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” . . . But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils . . .” Genesis 25: 29-34.
He was the second born son but he yearned to have the blessing and approval due the first-born child, and aided by his mother, he got that too.
“He went to his father and said, “My father!” Isaac replied, “Here I am. Which are you, my son?” Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau, your firstborn. I’ve done as you told me. Now sit up and eat some of my wild game so that you can bless me.” But Isaac asked his son, “How in the world did you find it so quickly, my son?” “Because the LORD your God brought it to me,” he replied.” Genesis 27: 18-20.
That ruse almost took his life. He became a fugitive, ending up with his uncle hundreds of miles away from home. Through the years he had made deals with God— “God, if you bless me I will . . .” etc., etc. Some of those promises he kept, but over and over his scheming nature got the better of him. On the other hand, God had always kept His promise. Proof? Jacob was returning home a wealthy man.
Jacob admitted, “This pickle is my fault. It is all my doing. Will Esau forgive me? Will God forgive me and take away my restless, covetous, and unscrupulous traits?”
“Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother . . . . saying, “Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your servant Jacob says: “I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.” ’ ” Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies. And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.” Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant . . . . For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ ”” Genesis 32: 3-12.
Jacob sat alone and lonely battling with his feelings of guilt. He yearned to be trust-worthy, to be a man of his word, content with God’s will for his life. He wanted a change and desperately sought that change from God.
It was a moonless night— as dark as his thoughts, when Jacob heard movement behind him. He jumped to his feet.
“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
So He said to him, “What is your name?”
He said, “Jacob.”
And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” . . . . So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Genesis 32: 24-30.
Through faith Jacob, the scoundrel, would become God’s faithful, devoted emissary!
The Thief’s Experience:
Lanu had been a thief from childhood. He had no choice it seemed— It was either stealing or dying from hunger. He chose to live, so he became a thief. It started small as he stole just to meet his daily needs but after a while he realized that he had the skill to do even more. He staked out the homes of the rich, and sometimes the not-so-rich, and with the agility of a cat he was in and out with their treasures while they slept but inches away from him. He was good at what he did and he made a good life for himself relying on his wits. His last heist was the most daring and having entered the home of one of the town’s magistrates, he was caught red-handed by the guards who seemed to have been waiting for him.
His trial was quick and his sentence was death. Hanging there on the cross his life-choices haunted him. What was all the wealth he had amassed doing for him? It all seemed pointless as he hung there. Lanu’s thoughts were interrupted by the jeering shouts of his accomplice. Through the pain he thought, “Unbelievable! He is joining with the crowd to taunt an innocent man.”
“Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left. And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.” Matthew 28: 38-44.
Lanu had heard of Jesus and several times he had stood on the fringes of the crowd to listen as Jesus taught. More than once he was convicted by the words that he heard but each time he convinced himself that this was not convenient, what would his friends think. There was too much going on. He even remembered one occasion when Jesus told a story that now seemed so applicable to him.
“The seed sown among thorns is the person who hears the word, but worldly cares and the seductiveness of wealth choke the word, so it produces nothing. But as for the seed sown on good soil, this is the person who hears the word and understands. He bears fruit, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13: 22, 23.
Life was so good then and his future so sure that he saw no need for the option which Jesus offered. He was free, unencumbered, and made his own rules. But now life was not good nor was it sure any more. He had messed up, he had chosen wrongly. Even as he felt the life draining from his body, he decided— he would choose life and so he cried out to Jesus for help. He hoped it was not too late.
“Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:39-43.
Lanu, died to one life and received another. In faith, he became a new person!
What can we learn from these individuals? Can we see traits of them in ourselves? The arrogance and stubbornness of Samson, the unreliable schemer in Jacob, the devil-may-care-I’ll-do-it-my-way of Rahab, or the excuse-making, dishonesty of the thief? Are we brave enough to look?
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8, 9.
Samson, Rahab, Jacob, and the thief on the cross, had one thing in common— They looked in the mirror and they didn’t like what they saw. They were at the end of making excuses for who they were and they wanted to change. It is not by chance that their sordid lives are recorded in the Bible. Their weaknesses, their mistakes, and their final redemption are recorded for our benefit. We can be guided by their lives. Let’s join the group that cashed in on this wonderful gift.
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith . . .” Hebrews 12: 1, 2.
Today’s Goal: To take an honest look in the mirror, and believing what we see, ask God to make the needed changes.
A Wilderness Guidebook . . . 