Hannah’s prayer shows us that all we have and receive is on loan from God. Hannah might have had many excuses for being a possessive mother.  But when God answered her prayer, she kept her promise to dedicate Samuel to God’s service.

She discovered that the greatest joy in having a child is to give that child fully and freely back to God. She entered motherhood prepared to do what all mothers must eventually do – let go of their children.

When children are born, they are completely dependent upon their parents for all their basic necessities. This causes some parents to forget those same children grow towards independence within the space of a few short years.  Being sensitive to the different stages of that healthy process will greatly strengthen family relationships; resisting or denying that process will cause great pain.  We must gradually let go of our children in order to allow them to become mature, interdependent adults.

Strengths and accomplishments:

• Mother of Samuel, Israel’s greatest judge
• Fervent in worship; effective in prayer
• Willing to go through with even a costly commitment

Weakness and mistake:

• Struggled with her sense of self-worth because she was unable to have children

Lessons from her life:

• God hears and answers prayer
• Our children are gifts from God
• God is concerned for the oppressed and afflicted

Vital statistics:

• Where: Ephraim
• Occupation: Housewife
• Relatives: Husband: Elkanah. Son: Samuel.  Later, three other sons and two daughters
• Contemporary: Eli, the priest

Key verses: “And she said to him, ‘As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD.  I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.  So now I give him to the LORD.  For his whole life he shall be given over to the LORD’ “ (1 Samuel 1.26-28).

Her story is told in 1 Samuel 1, 2.

Escape of some kind is usually the most tempting solution to our problems. In fact, it can become a habit.  Hagar was a person who used that approach.  When the going got tough, she usually got going – in the other direction.

However, it is worthwhile to note that the biggest challenges Hagar faced were brought on by other people’s choices.  Sarah chose her to bear Abraham’s child, and Hagar probably had little say in the matter.

It isn’t hard to understand how Hagar’s pregnancy caused her to look down on Sarah. But that brought on hard feelings, and Sarah consequently punished Hagar.  This motivated her first escape.  When she returned to the family and gave birth to Ishmael, Sarah’s continued barrenness must have contributed to bitterness on both sides.

When Isaac was finally born, Sarah looked for any excuse to have Hagar and Ishmael sent away. She found it when she caught Ishmael teasing Ha Isaac.  In the desert, out of water and facing the death of her son, Hagar once again tried to escape.  She walked away so she wouldn’t have to watch her son die.  Once again, God graciously intervened.

Have you noticed how patiently God operates to make our escape attempts fail? Have you begun to learn that escape is only a temporary solution?  God’s continual desire is for us to face our problems with his help.  We experience his help most clearly in and through conflicts and difficulties, not away from them.  Are there problems in your life for which you’ve been using the “Hagar solution”?  Choose one of those problems, ask for God’s help, and begin to face it today.

Strength and accomplishment:

• Mother of Abraham’s first child, Ishmael, who became founder of the Arab nations

Weaknesses and mistakes:

• When faced with problems, she tended to run away
• Her pregnancy brought out strong feelings of pride and arrogance

Lessons from her life:

• God is faithful to his plan and promises, even when humans complicate the process
• God shows himself as one who knows us and wants to be known by us
• The New Testament uses Hagar as a symbol of those who would pursue favour with God by their own efforts, rather than by trusting in his mercy and forgiveness

Vital statistics:

• Where: Canaan and Egypt
• Occupation: Servant, mother
• Relatives: Son: Ishmael

Key verse: “Then the angel of the LORD told her, ‘Go back to your mistress and submit to her’ “ (Genesis 16.9).

Hagar’s story is told in Genesis 16-21. She is also mentioned in Galatians 4.24, 25.

Most of us want to know God’s plan for our lives, but we’re not always sure how to find it. One common misunderstanding is the idea that God’s guidance will come to us out of the blue, that it has nothing to do with what we’re doing now.  But if we’re always looking around for God’s next assignment, we run the risk of ruining whatever we’re working on right now.  Fortunately, the Bible points to a kind of guidance that does not put our current projects in jeopardy.  In the Bible’s description of how God guided many people, we can see that often God’s call came while people were completely immersed in the challenge of the moment.  A good example of this kind of guidance is seen in Gideon’s life.

Gideon had a limited vision, but he was committed to it. His challenge was to obtain food for his family even though hostile invaders were making the growing, gathering, and preparation of the food almost impossible.  Gideon was resourceful.  He put a winepress to double use by turning it into a sunken threshing floor.  It lacked ventilation to blow the chaff away, but at least it was hidden from the Midianites.  Gideon was working in his threshing floor when God sent him a messenger with a challenge.

Gideon was surprised by what God told him to do. He did not want to jump into a task for which he was ill prepared.  The angel had to overcome three objections before Gideon was convinced: (1) Gideon’s feelings of responsibility for his family’s welfare, (2) his doubts about the call itself, and (3) his feelings of inadequacy for the job.  Once Gideon was convinced, however, he obeyed with zest, resourcefulness, and speed.  He dedicated those personality traits to God, with whom he was now personally acquainted.

Gideon had his weak moments and failures, but he was still God’s servant. If you can easily see yourself in Gideon’s weakness, can you also see yourself in being willing to serve?  Remember Gideon as a man who obeyed God by giving his attention to the task at hand.  Then give your full attention to believing God will prepare you for tomorrow when it comes.

Strengths and accomplishments:

• Israel’s fifth judge. A military strategist who was an expert at surprise
• A member of the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11
• Defeated the Midianite army
• Was offered a hereditary kingship by the men of Israel
• Though slow to be convinced, acted on his convictions

Weaknesses and mistakes:

• Feared that his own limitations would prevent God from working
• Collected Midianite gold and made a symbol that became an evil object of worship
• Through a concubine, fathered a son who would bring great grief and tragedy to both Gideon’s family and the nation of Israel
• Failed to establish the nation in God’s ways; after he died they all went back to idol worship

Lessons from his life:

• God calls in the middle of our present obedience. As we are faithful, he gives us more responsibility
• God expands and uses the abilities he has already built into us
• God uses us in spite of our limitations and failure
• Even those who make great spiritual progress can easily fall into sin if they don’t consistently follow God

Vital statistics:

• Where: Ophrah, Valley of Jezreel, spring of Harod
• Occupations: Farmer, warrior, and judge
• Relatives: Father: Joash. Son: Abimelech
• Contemporaries: Zebah, Zalmunna

Key verses:   “ ‘But Lord,’ Gideon asked, ‘how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.’  The LORD answered, ‘I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together’ “  (Judges 6.15, 16).

His story is told in Judges 6-8. He is also mentioned in Hebrews 11.32.

Zechariah was told before anyone else that God was setting in motion his own visit to earth. Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, were known for their personal holiness.  They were well suited to do a special work for God.  But they shared the pain of not having children, and in Jewish culture this was considered as not having God’s blessing.  Zechariah and Elizabeth were old, and they had stopped even asking for children.

This trip to the temple in Jerusalem for Zechariah’s turn on duty had included an unexpected blessing. Zechariah was chosen to be the priest who would enter the Holy Place to offer incense to God for the people.  Suddenly, much to his surprise and terror, he found himself face to face with an angel.  The angel’s message was too good to be true!  But Zechariah did not respond to the news of the coming Saviour as much as he expressed doubts about his own ability to father the child the angel promised him.  His age spoke more loudly than God’s promise.  As a result, God prevented Zechariah from speaking until the promise became reality.

The record of the prayer in Luke 1 is our last glimpse of Zechariah. Like so many of God’s most faithful servants, he passed quietly from the scene once his part was done.  He becomes our hero for those times when we doubt God and yet are willing to obey.  We gain hope from Zechariah’s story that God can do great things through anyone who is available to him.

Strengths and accomplishments:

Known as a righteous man

Was a priest before God

One of the few people to be directly addressed by an angel

Fathered John the Baptist

Weakness and mistake:

Momentarily doubted the angel’s promise of a son because of his own old age

Lessons from his life:

Physical limitations do not limit God

God accomplishes his will, sometimes in unexpected ways

Vital statistics:

Occupation: Priest

Relatives: Wife: Elizabeth. Son: John the Baptist

Key verses:   “Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.  But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well on in years”  (Luke 1.6, 7).

Zechariah’s story is told in Luke 1.

We are never closer to failure than during our greatest successes. If we fail to recognise God’s part in our achievements, they are no better than failures.  Uzziah (also called Azariah) was a remarkably successful king.  His achievements brought him fame.  He was successful in war and peace, in planning and execution, in building and planting.

Uzziah overestimated his own importance in bringing about the great achievements he experienced. He did so many things well that a consuming pride gradually invaded his life like the leprous disease that finally destroyed his body.  In trying to act like a priest, he took on the role that God did not mean him to have.  He had forgotten not only how much God had given him, but also that God had certain roles for others that he needed to respect.

Uzziah’s pride was rooted in his lack of thankfulness. We have no accounts of this king ever showing appreciation to God for the marvellous gifts he received.  Our accomplishments may not compare with Uzziah’s, but we still owe a debt of thanksgiving to God for our very lives.  If God is not getting the credit for your successes, shouldn’t you start looking at your life differently?

Strengths and accomplishments:

Pleased God during his early years as king

Successful warrior and city builder

Skilful in organising and delegating

Reigned for 52 years

Weaknesses and mistakes:

Developed a proud attitude due to his great success

Tried to perform the priests’ duties, in direct disobedience to God

Failed to remove many of the symbols of idolatry in the land

Lessons from his life:

Lack of thankfulness to God can lead to pride

Even successful people must acknowledge the role God has for others in their lives

Vital statistics:

Where: Jerusalem

Occupation: King of Judah

Relatives: Father: Amaziah. Mother: Jecoliah.  Son: Jotham

Contemporaries: Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, Jeroboam, Zechariah, Azariah

Key verses:

“In Jerusalem he made machines designed by skilful men for use on the towers and on the corner defences to shoot arrows and hurl large stones. His fame spread far and wide, for he was grealy helped until he became powerful.  But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall.  He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense” (2 Chronicles 26:15, 16).

Uzziah’s story is told in 2 Kings 15:1-7 (where he is called Azariah), and in 2 Chronicles 26:1-23. He is also mentioned in Isaiah 1:1; 6:1; 7:1; Hosea 1:1; Amos 1:1; Zechariah 14:5.

We are never closer to failure than during our greatest successes. If we fail to recognise God’s part in our achievements, they are no better than failures.  Uzziah (also called Azariah) was a remarkably successful king.  His achievements brought him fame.  He was successful in war and peace, in planning and execution, in building and planting.

Uzziah overestimated his own importance in bringing about the great achievements he experienced. He did so many things well that a consuming pride gradually invaded his life like the leprous disease that finally destroyed his body.  In trying to act like a priest, he took on a role that God did not mean him to have.  He had forgotten not only how much God had given him, but also that God had certain roles for others that he needed to respect.

Uzziah’s pride was rooted in his lack of thankfulness. We have no accounts of his king ever showing appreciation to God for the marvellous gifts he received.  Our accomplishments may not compare with Uzziah’s, but we still owe a debt of thanksgiving to God for our very lives.  If God is not getting the credit for your successes, shouldn’t you start looking at your life differently?

Strengths and accomplishments:

Pleased God during his early years as king

Successful warrior and city builder

Skilful in organising and delegating

Reigned for 52 years

Weaknesses and mistakes:

Developed a proud attitude due to his great success

Tried to perform the priests’ duties, in direct disobedience to God

Failed to remove many of the symbols of idolatry in the land

Lessons from his life:

Lack of thankfulness to God can lead to pride

Even successful people must acknowledge the role God has for others in their lives

Vital statistics:

Where: Jerusalem

Occupation: King of Judah

Relatives: Father: Amaziah. Mother: Jecoliah.  Son: Jotham

Contemporaries: Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, Jeroboam, Zechariah, Azariah

Key verses:   “In Jerusalem he made machines designed by skilful men for use on the towers and on the corner defences to shoot arrows and hurl large stones.  His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful.  But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall.  He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense” (2 Chronicles 26:15, 16).

Uzziah’s story is told in 2 Kings 15:1-7 (where heis called Azariah), and in 2 Chronicles 26:1-23. He is also mentioned in Isaiah 1:1; 6:1; 7:1; Hosea 1:1; Amos 1:1; Zechariah 14:5.

Thomas, so often remembered as “Doubting Thomas”, deserves to be respected for his faith. He was a doubter, but his doubts had a purpose – he wanted to know the truth.  Thomas did not idolise his doubts, he gladly believed when given reasons to do so.  He expressed his doubts fully and had them answered completely.  Doubting was only his way of responding, not his way of life.

Although our glimpses of Thomas are brief, his character comes through with consistency. He struggled to be faithful to what he knew, despite what he felt.  At one point, when it was plain to everyone that Jesus’ life was in danger, only Thomas put into words what most were feeling, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16).  He didn’t hesitate to follow Jesus.

We don’t know why Thomas was absent the first time Jesus appeared to the disciples after the resurrection, but he was reluctant to believe their witness to Christ’s resurrection. Not even ten friends could change his mind!

We can doubt without having to live a doubting way of life. Doubt encourages rethinking.  Its purpose is more to sharpen the mind than to change it.  Doubt can be used to pose the question, get an answer, and push for a decision.  But doubt was never meant to be a permanent condition.  Doubt is one foot lifted, poised to step towards or backwards.  There is no motion until the foot comes down.

When you experience doubt, take encouragement from Thomas. He didn’t stay in his doubt, but allowed Jesus to bring him to belief.  Take encouragement also from the fact that countless other followers of Christ have struggled with doubts.  The answers God gave them may help you too.  Don’t settle into doubts, but move on from them to decision and belief.  Find another believer with whom you can share your doubts.  Silent doubts rarely find answers.

Strengths and accomplishments:

One of Jesus’ 12 disciples

Intense both in doubt and belief

Was a loyal and honest man

Weaknesses and mistakes:

Along with the others, abandoned Jesus at his arrest

Refused to believe the others’ claims to have seen Christ and demanded proof

Struggled with a pessimistic outlook

Lesson from his life:

Jesus does not reject doubts that are honest and directed towards belief

Better to doubt out loud than to disbelieve in silence

Vital statistics:

Where: Galilee, Judea, Samaria

Occupation: Disciple of Jesus

Contemporaries: Jesus, other disciples. Herod, Pilate

Key verses:

“Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side.  Stop doubting and believe.’  Thomas answered, ‘My Lord and my God!’ “ (John 20:27, 28).

Thomas’ story is told in the Gospels. He is also mentioned in Acts 1:13.

Around the world, the gospel has most often taken root in places prepared by the blood of martyrs. Before people can give their lives for the gospel, however, they must first live their lives for the gospel.  One way God trains his servants is to place them in insignificant positions.  Their desire to serve Christ is translated into the reality of serving others.  Stephen was an effective administrator and messenger before becoming a martyr.

Stephen was named among the managers of food distribution in the early church. Long before violent persecution broke out against Christians, there was already social ostracism.  Jews who accepted Jesus as Messiah were usually cut off from their families.  As a result, the believers depended on each other for support.  The sharing of homes, food, and resources was both a practical and necessary mark of the early church.  Eventually, the number of believers made it necessary to organise the sharing.  People were being overlooked.  There were complaints.  Those chosen to help manage were chosen for their integrity, wisdom, and sensitivity to God.

Stephen, besides being a good administrator, was also a powerful speaker. When confronted in the temple by various antagonistic groups, Stephen’s logic in responding was convincing.  This is clear from the defence he made before the council.  He presented a summary of the Jews’ own history and made powerful applications that stung his listeners.  During his defence Stephen must have known he was speaking his own death sentence.  Members of the council could not stand to have their evil motives exposed.  They stoned him to death while he prayed for their forgiveness.  His final words show how much like Jesus he had become in a short time.  His death had a lasting impact on young Saul (Paul) of Tarsus, who would move from being a violent persecutor of Christians to being one of the greatest champions of the gospel the church has known.

Stephen’s life is a continual challenge to all Christians. Because he was the first to die for the faith, his sacrifice raises questions: How many risks do we take in being Jesus’ followers?  Would we be willing to die for him?  Are we really willing to live for him?

Strengths and accomplishments:

• One of seven leaders chosen to supervise food distribution to the needy in the early church
• Known for his spiritual qualities of faith, wisdom, grace, and power, and for the Spirit’s presence in his life
• Outstanding leader, teacher, and debater
• First to give his life for the gospel

Lessons from his life:

• Striving for excellence in small assignments prepares one for greater responsibilities
• Real understanding of God always leads to practical and compassionate actions towards people

Vital statistics:

• Church responsibilities: Deacon – distributing food to the needy
• Contemporaries: Paul, Caiaphas, Gamaliel, the apostles

Key verses:

“While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’  When he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:59, 60).

Stephen’s story is told in Acts 6:3 – 8:2. He is also mentioned in Acts 11:19; 22:20.

Wisdom is only effective when it is put into action. Early in his life, Solomon had the sense to recognise his need for wisdom.  But by the time Solomon asked for wisdom to rule his kingdom, he had already started a habit that would make his wisdom ineffective for his own life – he sealed a pact with Egypt by marrying Pharaoh’s daughter [Hippocrates].  She was the first of hundreds of wives married for political reasons.  In doing this, Solomon went against not only his father’s last words, but also God’s direct commands.  His action reminds us how easy it is to know what is right and yet do not do it.

It is clear that God’s gift of wisdom to Solomon did not mean that he couldn’t make mistakes. He had been given great possibilities as the king of God’s chosen people, but with them came great responsibilities; unfortunately, he tended to pursue the former and neglect the latter.  While becoming famous as the builder of the temple and the palace, he became infamous as a leader who excessively taxed and worked his people.  Visitors from distant lands came to admire this wise king, while his own people were gradually alienated from him.

Little is mentioned in the Bible about the last decade of Solomon’s reign. Ecclesiastes probably records his last reflections on life.  In that book we find a man proving through bitter experience that finding meaning in life apart from God is a vain pursuit.  Security and contentment are found only in a personal relationship with God.  The contentment we find in the opportunities and successes of this life is temporary.  The more we expect our successes to be permanent, the more quickly they are gone.  Be sure to balance your pursuit of life’s possibilities with reliable fulfilment of your responsibilities.

Strengths and accomplishments:

Third king of Israel, David’s chosen heir

The wisest man who ever lived

Author of Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs, as well as many of the proverbs and a couple of the psalms

Built God’s temple in Jerusalem

Diplomat, trader, collector, patron of the arts

Weaknesses and mistakes:

Sealed many foreign agreements by marrying pagan women

Allowed his wives to affect his loyalty to God

Excessively taxed his people and drafted them into a labour and military force

Lessons from his life:

Effective leadership can be nullified by an ineffective personal life

Solomon failed to obey God, but did not learn the lesson of repentance until late in life

Knowing what actions are required of us means little without the will to do these actions

Vital statistics:

Where: Jerusalem

Occupation: King of Israel

Relatives: Father: David. Mother: Bathsheba.  Brothers: Absalom, Adonijah.  Sister: Tamar.  Son: Rehoboam

Key verse:   “Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned?  Among the many nations there was no king like him.  He was loved by his God, and God made him king of all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women” (Nehemiah 13:26).

Solomon’s story is told in 2 Samuel 12:24-1 Kings 11:43. He is also mentioned in 1 Chronicles 28, 29; 2 Chronicles 1-10; Nehemiah 13:26; Psalm 72; and Matthew 6:29; 12:42.

The lives of the first Christian missionaries can be described with many words, but “boring” is not one of them. There were days of great excitement as men and women who had never heard of Jesus responded to the gospel.  There were dangerous journeys over land and sea.  Health risks and hunger were part of the daily routine.  And there was open and hostile resistance to Christianity in many cities.  Silas was one of the first missionaries, and he found out that serving Jesus Christ was certainly not boring!

Silas’ name appears in Acts at the end of the first church council on the Jewish/Gentile problem. The majority of early Christians were Jews who realised that Jesus was the fulfilment of God’s Old Testament promises to his people; however, the universal application of those promises had been overlooked.  Thus, many felt that becoming Jewish was a prerequisite to becoming a Christian.  The idea that God could accept a Gentile pagan was too incredible.  But Gentiles began to accept Christ as Saviour, and the transformation of their lives and the presence of God’s Spirit confirmed their conversion.  Some Jews were still reluctant though, and insisted these new Christians take on various Jewish customs.  The issue came to a boiling point at the Jerusalem meeting, but was peacefully resolved.  Silas was one of the representatives from Jerusalem sent with Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch with an official letter of welcome and acceptance to the Gentile Christians.  Having fulfilled this mission, Silas returned to Jerusalem.  Within a short time, however, he was back in Antioch at Paul’s request to join him on his second missionary journey.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy began a far-ranging ministry that included some exciting adventures. Paul and Silas spent a night singing in a Philippian jail after being severely beaten.  An earthquake, the loosing of their chains, and the resulting panic led to the conversion of their jailer.  Later, they narrowly missed another beating in Thessalonica, prevented by an evening escape.  In Berea there was more trouble, but Silas and Timothy styed to teach the young believers while Paul travelled on to Athens.  The team was finally reunited in Corinth.  In each place they visited, they left behind a small group of Christians.

Silas leaves the story as suddenly as he entered it. Peter mentions him as the co-author of 1 Peter, but we do not know when he joined Peter.  He was an effective believer before leaving Jerusalem, and he doubtless continued to minister after his work with Paul was completed.  He took advantage of opportunities to serve God and was not discouraged by the setbacks and opposition he met along the way.  Silas, though not the most famous of the early missionaries, was certainly a hero worth imitating.

Strengths and accomplishments:

A leader in the Jerusalem church

Represented the church in carrying the “acceptance letter” prepared by the Jerusalem council to the Gentile believers in Antioch

Was closely associated with Paul from the second missionary journey onwards

When in jail with Paul in Philippi, sang songs of praise to God

Worked as a writing secretary for both Paul and Peter

Lessons from his life:             

Partnership is a significant part of effective ministry

God never guarantees that his servants will not suffer

Obedience to God will often mean giving up what makes us feel secure

Vital statistics:

Where: Roman citizen living in Jerusalem

Occupation: One of the first career missionaries

Contemporaries: Paul, Timothy, Peter, Mark, Barnabas

Key verses: “So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul – men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing” (Acts 15:25-27).

Silas’ story is told in Acts 15:22-19:10. He is also mentioned in 2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Peter 5:12.