Bible Heroes

I remember when i was little and I prayed to be wise like Solomon did. I don't mean little like ten or eleven years old I mean like three. Needless to say God has indeed provided wisdom and we should be careful what we ask for. This memory has me thinking now though about who my hero is. Which Bible hero do I seek to be like the most aside from the obvious Jesus? Jonah probably isn't the best pick and Jacob really had his issues. They all have trials but I think how the big three handle them are the most intriguing.

Ruth is amazing. If you don't know her story read it over. She basically lost everything when she was very young including her husband and her mother in law was left alone. That is except for Ruth who stayed by her side instead of getting married again or finding someone else to live with who could support her. Despite her grief over her husband she worked to sustain her mother in law who's religion and culture was different from hers. They moved to a place where God provided for her a rich husband who saw her work ethic and thought wow she really must have love in her heart to do all of this. He fed Ruth and her mother in law for a good while from his own supply of wheat before asking the incredibly obedient Ruth to marry him. God provided for her so much and had a plan for her she just had to wait and see.

Then there's Joseph. He got bullied by his family even his dad who made him a colorful coat. He was beaten and thrown in a hole for doing what his parents told him. By his own brothers. The day they sold him into slavery he forgave them before the sun went down. I'm sure he still thought about it but being angry wasn't worth his energy which he would need. Through God's grace he was promoted to the head of the household in a rich mans home for working so hard and with such skill. He was accused of rape which he did not do and thrown in jail. After all these things he did to follow the rules he ends up in jail. That bites right. But he made the best of it and not only thanks God but thrives even in prison. He gets out because God allowed him to interpret a dream. The pharaoh needs a guy like that and by that time he prevented starvation during a drought and became second in charge of Egypt. So slave to second in charge. God even reunites him with his family who was saved along with the entire Egyptian population and anyone else around. Pretty big stuff for a guy who used to herd sheep.

Lastly Moses. A Hebrew baby born under strict pagan rule. Much like today it would seem as if he was doomed from the start. While we have bad education, bad food, and a pagan society out to kill us he had a pagan society literally throwing Hebrew babies into the Nile river to be consumed by crocodiles. God brought his basket to the pharaohs wife who raised Moses as her own child with the help of his birth mother as a diaper changer which was lucky for the time. He grew in the palace and saw the suffering of his people. One day it became too much and he murdered an Egyptian man who was punishing a Hebrew slave. He ran to the desert. Here God blessed him and he repented. He was told that he would save these people. He did even after complaining about it. God worked miracles on Egypt and His people were freed. God allowed Moses to perform miracles and to see his raw glory as much as any human could. God showed him his cloak and Moses' face glowed with God's light but he had to climb the mountain first. Before he could part the red sea he had to face pharaoh like God had commanded. He had to lead his people and when Moses did things out of anger which he struggled with God punished him. He died before he could reach Canaan.

Out of these three favourites I am probably the most like Moses. He had all of these sins and flaws to overcome. He even had a speech impediment. I would like to say that the other two stories are things I aspire to. Having faith like that without seeing any proof until the end. Seeing things you love ripped away from you after you worked so hard to achieve them. I'm sure Ruth really loved her husband. Having him gone and hoping God would bring a Boaz one day like he did years later without giving up hope is so amazing to me. Joseph had worked so hard despite his circumstances. He was bullied and dad still loved him best but that got taken away along with the fancy slave job and the high prison position. It was only in the end when he was allowed the full reward God had been saving just for him. I don't think I could ever be like them but I know what it's like to have the people you love leave in an instant. These blessings that God shows to these people are all that can help me through it. One day His mercies and promises will be rewarded to me for being faithful in times of hurt and joy just as they were to Ruth and Joseph. As for Moses, to glow with God's light would be the best thing to ever happen. It would mean His presence and love all in a glance. It would be like what I'm missing everyday from the garden. It is all I could ever want. So I suppose he is my favourite.