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Mighty Men Of God
by Bro. Peter Rahme
 How can we compare our lives with what our forefathers went through? Their victories in battle as they conquered armies, the trials and tests they went through and the law they had to contend with? Our spiritual ancestors were fearless as they lived their lives to honor their God. Yet the Word of God says that God has provided something better for us.
“And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented — 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.” Hebrews 11:32-38
Let’s take a look at some of these mighty men of God from days past.
Joshua
“So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up to the mountain of God.” Exodus 24:13
The Lord made a covenant with Moses and with Israel while Moses was on the mountain of God and he did not eat bread or drink water for forty days while he was in the presence of the Lord. (Exodus 34:27-28) Joshua was on the lower part, praying and waiting for Moses. As far as we can ascertain from the Word of God, Joshua never ate or drank anything either but did not complain or get weary all of those days and nights while he waited.
Joshua was a great leader and won many battles against the ungodly Gentiles. After the death of Moses, Joshua proved himself in the eyes of God that he would be the one to take the sons and daughters into the Promised Land. The parents complained, murmured and rebelled against God from the day they left Egypt. Joshua, however, stayed focused and faithful and fulfilled his calling at the ripe old age of 110 (Joshua 24:29).
Caleb
Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent to spy out the Promised Land and was one of two who brought back a good report, unlike the other ten. At eighty five years old he went up to the hill country and overcame the fiercest men, called the Anikim, who were giants. The tomb of one of the last-living  giants, named Og, was found and it measured over thirteen and a half feet long, and six feet wide (4.5 meters long by 1.8 wide) (Deuteronomy 3:11)
Caleb is an outstanding example of a godly man. He obeyed the Lord and followed Him with all of his heart. The Lord God kept him physically strong and courageous. At eighty-five years old he went to war and the Word says he drove out the sons of Anak (Joshua 15:14). In Joshua 14:10-12 Caleb says, “Behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain…” The name Caleb means bold and impetuous.
David
David, King of Israel, is one of the finest warriors recorded in all of the Word of God. He was raised as a shepherd boy and anointed of God by the mighty prophet Samuel. The Lord says David was “a man after My own heart, who will do all My will” (Acts 13:22). He is remembered mostly for killing Goliath, who was a descendant of the same giants that Caleb fought, but that was just one of the many battles in which David fought for what he believed. He was a man of compassion, tenderhearted and also was quick to repent and return to his God when he sinned.
David wrote most of the Psalms and although he was a loving and fearless king and a great leader, he was also a man of much bloodshed. He says in 1 Chronicles 28:3 “But God said to me, 'You shall not build a house for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood.'” Even though David had the capacity and opportunity to kill Saul who reigned before him and hunted him, he never retaliated or pursued Saul, who eventually died on the battlefield. David’s integrity and faithfulness wouldn’t allow him to touch God’s anointed, even though Saul was in severe disobedience to the will of God.
We have a better covenant
“And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.” Hebrews 11:39-40
This mystery is a truly a wonder of our awesome God. These were all mighty warriors of God but with complete confidence I say this, based on the Word of God and not of my own opinion: we have a better covenant which was established on better promises. We are not required to fight earthly wars in order to fulfill our calling. The price has been paid and the battle won. All we must do is receive what has been provided for us through the new covenant and go forth and do exploits for our God. We are living in a time where there is so much we should be thankful for because we have a God, a brother, a friend, and a mediator. Jesus is the only true way to our heavenly Father, He has conquered hell, death and the grave. He has destroyed the prince of darkness, taking away his weapons and has stripped him of all of his ability.
Jesus is our high priest, the greatest man that ever walked the face of the earth. His name is Prince of Peace and we can now walk in divine serenity knowing we have eternal peace with our God. His name  is Savior; we can rest in hope knowing we can leave this earth with the assurance of eternal life with our heavenly Father. We have a God who went through and conquered death for all people. His name is Jesus!
When life gets tough and you think of giving up, remember the spiritual line of conquerors you’re descended from and walk tall in the inheritance of a better covenant! Hallelujah!
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Bro. Peter Rahme
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