Notable Men of the Bible

Nov 2015 ATLIt was a cloudy and rainy day here in Atlanta. We went to a service at Revolution Church where Stephanie and Nathan attend. We spent the day at home watching football and for me working on some details on my book. This evening Stephanie wanted to celebrate Debbie’s birthday and mine that is coming during this next month. We took a picture with the grand kids and our birthday pie.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “…if the people of a country sin against me by not being loyal, I will use my power against them. I will cut off their supply of food and send a time of hunger, destroying both people and animals. Even if three great men like Noah, Daniel, and Job were in that country, their goodness could save only themselves, says the Lord God.” Ezekiel 14:12-14 NCV

When we look in the Bible we see some great men of God that were used to intercede for those facing God’s judgment. We see Abraham “bargaining” with God about saving the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of the righteous. We consistently see Moses and Aaron interceding for the consistently disobedient Children of Israel in the wilderness. We see the prayers of Isaiah in the days of idolatry and Nehemiah as God’s people were in captivity.

In many cases the intercession or actions of a leader or prophet stayed the hand of God’s judgment and allowed time for the people to repent. However, as the downward spiral of God’s people continued God’s patience had come to an end and the fate of His people was sealed. To emphasize this destiny the Lord speaks to Ezekiel and specifically names Noah, Daniel and Job as individuals who, though righteous, would only be able to “save” themselves; much like Lot who had to flee Sodom.

The reference to these three points to three critical segments of world history. Noah a “preacher of righteousness” lived before the flood. Job lived after the flood and before the formation of Israel, is described as “…a man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. (Job 1:1 NIV) Daniel lived among the exiles and distinguished himself as a leader, interpreter of dreams and faithful in his commitment to daily seek the Lord and intercede for God’s people.

From these three we see the Lord using key people at key times to play a significant role in their day. These three distinguished themselves because they set themselves apart from the prevailing culture of the day. In each time period people were focused on “eating, drinking, and giving in marriage.” They were only concerned about this life and failed to have a perspective of life that included eternity.

Jesus said that before he returns people will have the same focus as that in Noah’s day. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:38,39 NIV)

Each of these three were willing to stake their lives and their future on obedience to God. They faced ridicule for their faith, but they stayed true to what they knew, without needing to “know everything” before they trusted and obeyed. Noah built the ark, Job refused to “curse God and die”, Daniel would not defile himself with the King’s food and later faced a den of lions.

All three of these men speak to us about God consistently working out His plan and bringing good out of tragedy. We see new life and a new beginning after the flood, we see Job emerge from suffering with greater wealth, possessions and family. We see Daniel not only being a part of the restoration of God’s people to the Promised Land, but also speaking of days which are still to come.

All three of these men through their obedience saw the Lord reveal Himself to them and through their experiences they help us today understand the heart and character of God. It is important for us to realize we continually learn, grow and discover more about God and His plan for us and our future as we live in obedience to Him.

We see many “great” people in the Bible. Those whose lives mirrored Noah, Job and Daniel. They dedicated themselves to  God, sought God, obeyed the Lord and were used of the Lord to be an influence in their day. Just as the reference to these three reveal God’s work in our world over the history of time, the Lord is still at work in our day. He still uses those who will trust Him, one day at a time, dedicate themselves to His purpose and allow God to use them in strategic ways.