Where Are The Heros?

1 Samuel 17; Numbers 13:26 - 14:10.

Who are your heroes? Each generation has its heroes. Some are because of the heroic actions, others because they had (in our opinion) enough courage to challenge the system. Some are because they "made" it in something, in this particular generation it is often those who make it in the "Pop" music industry. What about historical figures though? Napoleon, Nelson, Spartacus, Wellington, Martin Luther, Martin Luther King Jnr (I have a dream speech);

"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountains of despair a stone of hope.

With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discord of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.

With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together,

to go to jail together, knowing that we will be free one day."

What about heroes of biblical figures?

Caleb, one of the "good" spies. At forty years old he was sent to spy out the land. Only he and Joshua reported in faith, faithfully. He had to wait forty years to gain his inheritance. That was because of the sin of others. Yet during that time he kept himself ready, he kept himself physically fit, yet itching for his mountain and city. I can almost see him watching as the faithless generation died off. They were those who where twenty and over, when Caleb was forty years old. I can see him going around the camp counting who is left, they were holding up his inheritance. Each day this happened until there was only one left. There is Caleb ear to the tent, listening for the death rattles of "Eli-Gonna-die." "Eli, are you still with us?" cries Caleb. He gets a reply, so he goes away and comes back the next day, with the same question. A little bit of impatience set is one day; "Eli, will you hurry up and die so I can get my mountain!"

Caleb, when he was over eighty years old, physically fit and able, took his mountain. Some Forty odd years before hands God had said of this man. What kept him going, it was he had seen it for his own eyes, he caught the vision.

Numbers 14:24; "..My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring (him) into the land where he went, and his descendents shall inherit it."

This man had a warrior spirit for God. Of what spirit are you?

Mary the mother of Jesus, she was willing to take the social sigma and possible rejection Joseph because she pregnant.

Luke 1:38; "Let it be to me according to your word."

Esther, took her life in her hands by going to the king without being summoned.

Esther 4:16; "If I perish, I perish!"

Ruth, who stood with her mother-in-law when she needn’t have.

What about Jo-sheb Bas-sheb-eth, better known as Ad-in-o. He killed eight hundred of the enemy on one occasion. (1 Samuel 23:8-12)

Eleazar son of Dodo, he fought so hard in one battle that he could not let go of his sword.

Sham-mah son of Agee, he defended a field of lentils when everyone else had fled. These Philistines where not going to get the inheritance and sustenance of his people. Are you prepared to stand for what is the Kingdoms?

Jash-o-beam, kill three hundred with a spear.

Ben-a-iah; this guy needed his head examining. He jumped into a pit, on a cold freezing day, to kill a lion. Why not kill it with a spear or stones from the top? On another occasion he wrestled a spear out of the hand of the biggest Egyptian you have ever seen. Then had to audacity to kill him with his own spear.

I particularly want to tell you the story about is the young guy called Dave, whose brothers were off being soldiers at a battle with the neighbouring nation. Dave is the youngest of them all, and he had been left at home with dad to look after the sheep. But then one day his father send him off to take some food to his brothers at the front line.

Each day at the scene of the battle there is a lot of talk, a lot of hot air, but basically nothing happening. Each day the two armies would line up in their respective positions, the shields were polished, the swords sharpened, the spears ready. When this thumping great giant of a man steps forward from the Philistines side and starts to say things that even causes the average soldier blush.