The Dastardly Deeds of the Hall of Fame of Faith

Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.” 

Corrie Ten Boom

Have you ever taken a moment and really looked at the names in the “Hall of faith” that is mentioned in Hebrews 11? It is a list of people who despite their outward circumstances relied on God to keep his promises to them. Some were murderers, some were liars. Well, one of them was a prostitute. How about that? In my faith journey, I was always taught that saints were those who were pure, without stain. They were above disdain. Yet this gospel accounting seems to destroy what I was taught as a child. Sure, Enoch, (the great great grandfather of Noah) did walk with God in a pure way. He never experienced death, God just took him to heaven. The list is a fascinating look into how God can use anyone if they are willing to live out His love and plan.

The Hall of Faith Had Deeply Flawed Characters

Let’s start from the beginning, shall we? The first name mentioned in the passage is Abel. He gave a more meaningful and from the heart sacrifice to God than Cain. It was a bit off putting that Cain killed Abel because of this. I’ve wrestled with this passage for some time. I decided to go to the Jewish faith to see their interpretation. In my reading I found that Abel gave the fattest and best of his livestock. He chose his choicest cow, most likely his bull that sired his best livestock and gave it to God. Cain brought “some of his first fruits” but not the best. It was not something unique or special in any way. 

Why Did Cain Kill Abel?

As I read further, the scholar Josephus said that Cain chose to give an offering that can be manipulated by human hands, seeds can be crossed, they can be brought together to make another species of plant. Abel chose the products that reproduce naturally through nature. A tribute to God and his order. Josephus actually referred to Cain’s method of farming as “crafty.” If that is the case, God desires our purest sacrifice, not those things that are salacious and not of him. I must add, I will always have a bit of wonder concerning this passage. But, Abel made it to this hall of fame because of his pure heart that wanted to give God the first fruits of his labor. Is that not what God desires of all of us? 

Enoch was a Man who never Experienced Death

The next person that we are told about was named Enoch. What an interesting story. A man that never knew death. His walk was so close to God that he honored him to not have to experience the sting of death. Why was that? Well, scripture says that he was not just a man of faith, but rather, a man that, “walked with God.” He lived in communion with God, coming together was his first thought in the morning and the last thought that was in his head before sleep. Enoch was the 7th son of Adam. The world was under the curse of sin and death after the fall in the Garden of Eden. The sin of murder had taken place. The world was decaying because of sin. It was very much possible that Enoch was a beacon in a world that was rife with sin. There was also another brother, Lamech that was mentioned in scripture. He was the antithesis of Enoch. He was full of sin, a murderer, an adulterer, you spin the wheel of terrible. He probably ticked off all the boxes. 

Noah was the first documented drunk in the Bible

Did you know that Noah was the first recorded drunk in the Bible? Yes, he was. We are probably familiar with the task that Noah was charged with by God. He was told to build an enormous boat, collect 2 of each species, and house them in that boat while the earth was flooded. Can you imagine? Bears! Lions! No thank you. Also, can you take a trip in your mind to what others were saying about Noah and his family? Probably, “Look at that idiot! He’s building a boat! For what?” The Bible says that he was a man of great faith and he was obedient. All in the service of God. By his faith he condemned the world, and inherited righteousness. He became drunk after the passage on the ark. The scripture really does not say why he became inebriated but he did. 

Abraham and Sarah had a Sordid Story

Abraham and Sarah. Wow, what a story. God promised Abraham that he would start a nation with his seed. Childless Abraham and Sarah who were advanced in age. Sarah was so incredulous that she laughed at the notion of having a child. She doubted so much that she sent her servant to lay with Abraham. Can you imagine? Hagar did bear a son, she named him Ishmael. Ishmael was the ancestor of Muhammed. The father of Islam. Some years later Sarah did conceive Isaac and later God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac as a test of his faith. When Abraham took Isaac for the intended sacrifice God provided a ram in Isaac’s place. This act is seen by a lot of scholars as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. What a sordid story, right?

Isaac was almost Sacrificed

Next up, Isaac. His name means to laugh. Much like his mother laughed when she found out she would bear a child, his name is both disbelief and awe. Isaac married Rebekah and had twin sons. Jacob and Esau. Isaac favored Esau and Rebekah favored Jacob. Esau was a bit of a common man. He sold his birthright as a first born to Jacob for stew. I’d say it was not very important to him. As Isaac was on his deathbed, Jacob put fur on his arms and impersonated his brother to receive his birthright as first born. So, yeah. He lied. The brothers did eventually reconcile but once again, God in his mercy continued his plan through 2 imperfect people. 

Joseph was a Braggart

Who came after Jacob and Esau? Joseph. The coat of many colors comes to mind. Did Jacob show favor to Joseph? Yes. He did. So much so that he did give Joseph a coat of many colors. What did this gift cause his 10 half brothers and one whole brother to do? At first they wanted to kill him. But the voice of reason prevailed with the brothers. They sold him as a slave for 20 pieces of silver. Now, Joseph did brag about his dreams of his brothers bowing down to him. So boasting probably caused a lot of friction with his brothers. Joseph became a slave, he was compromised by his slave master’s wife. He landed in prison, I am sure he asked, “Why me?” many times and ultimately he became a Vizier. What is a Vizier? It was the highest official next to the Pharaoh. Ultimately he was reunited with his father and brothers. Once again, they had faith in God’s promise even when it was hard. 

Moses was a Murderer

Moses. He was hidden in a basket, set loose in the river because of an edict that Hebrew babies must be drowned was saved by Pharaoh’s daughter. He was raised in the royal house with the best of the best. However, one day he killed another man mistreating a Hebrew and fled the wrath of punishment. He fled to the desert where God appeared to him in a burning bush. God let him know that he was indeed the chosen one to let the Hebrews go from slavery. After that the plagues were unleashed on Egypt and they were set free. He parted the Red Sea, he received the Ten Commandments and cemented his legacy and a man of faith. 

Joshua sent spies to Rahab the Prostitute

By faith Joshua and the Hebrews marched for many days until the walls of Jericho fell. There was Rahab the prostitute who hid the Hebrew spies while they performed reconnaissance. What happened to Rahab’s legacy? She was later in the lineage of King David and eventually in the lineage of Jesus. All by her faith. 

In their Weakness, God was their Strength

Gideon, who did not perceive himself as strong, saved the Israelites from the Midianites. Barak led the Israelites against the forces of Jabin. Deborah led the way for him. Samson the judge who had strength in his hair. He was led astray by Delilah who had him cut his hair. He was captured by the Philistines and his eyes were gouged out. In one final act of prayer and faith he asked for strength and killed his captors by destroying the column of the building and killing everyone inside. The last three? Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets. Jephthah was an interesting study. He was the son of a harlot who was not taken seriously because of his low birth. He led the Israelites to another victory against a foe, namely the Ammonites. The weird twist in this narrative was that Jephthah said he would sacrifice the first thing to come through his door. The first person to come through the door? His daughter. He kept his word and sacrificed her. Why didn’t God provide a lamb in her place? I am not sure but he kept to his faith. 

David, the man after God’s own heart was a Cheater

Finally, David, Samuel and the prophets. David. The man after God’s own heart. David who slept with another man’s wife out of pure lust. David who had the husband of his adulterous affair killed in battle so that he could salve his guilt. David who was very low one moment and the next, high on God’s grace and forgiveness. Samuel, the king maker. The child of prayer and miracles. Samuel who was given to God at a young age by his mother Hannah. God called to Samuel and he answered. 

God is faithful. He can use us even in our weakness

What do each of these dastardly deeded persons have in common? God used them despite their flaws. How much more can he use us in our humanity? Often I think about what I am doing to influence the greater good. How can God use someone like me? I am just a wife and mother who raised 6 kids. What do I possibly have to give? God knows and he has a plan for each of us. Will you listen? Are you open? If anything the dastardly bunch that is the hall of fame of faith can teach us that God can use us, just as we are. Where we are and who we are. Just be open to his ministry. Thank goodness for the dastardly crew.