I've been meaning to read John MacArthur's newest book for weeks now, but I finally made it a priority--taking time away from my fictional heroes to study true heroes. This nonfiction book examines the lives of: Enoch, Joseph, Miriam, Gideon and Samson, Jonathan, Jonah, Esther, John the Baptist, James, and Mark and Onesimus. I must say that I was surprised by a few of his choices, never really seeing Gideon or Samson or even Jonah as "heroes" before. I saw that God uses people in spite of themselves--in spite of their flaws, their failings, their temperaments. God doesn't use people because they are absolutely perfect and can naturally do whatever they're called upon to do. God uses imperfect people--we're all imperfect people--to accomplish his will, to bring glory to himself.
My favorite chapters would probably be "Jonathan: The Man Who Would (Not) Be King," "Esther: For Such a Time As This," "James: The Brother of Our Lord," and "Mark and Onesimus: A Tale of Two Runaways."
Some of the chapters were just fascinating, a nice blend of summary, analysis, and insight. I loved learning some of the historical and cultural background for these men and women. These chapters are mini-biographies. Each study shows how God is the TRUE hero of each story. How it was God working in each of their lives, sometimes VERY DRAMATICALLY working in their lives.
© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible
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