What other biblical figures demonstrate similar courage as in 1 Chronicles 11:43? courage highlighted in 1 Chronicles 11:43 1 Chronicles 11:43: “Hanan son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite.” These two men stood among “the Thirty,” an elite corps whose fearless devotion to David flowed from their faith in the God of Israel. fellow warriors beside david who mirrored that bravery • Abishai – “He raised his spear against three hundred men and killed them, winning a name among the Thirty” (1 Chronicles 11:20). • Benaiah – “He went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion” (1 Chronicles 11:22-23). • Eleazar – Fought until “his hand clung to the sword” and the LORD brought a great victory (1 Chronicles 11:12-14). • Shammah – Stood his ground in a lentil field while the rest fled; “the LORD brought about a great victory” (1 Chronicles 11:14). old testament heroes who stepped forward in danger • Joshua and Caleb – Urged Israel to trust God in the face of giants (Numbers 14:6-9). • Jonathan and his armor-bearer – Climbed the Philistine outpost believing “nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few” (1 Samuel 14:6). • Gideon – Led three hundred men against Midian after hearing, “Surely I will be with you” (Judges 6:12; 7:7). • Deborah – Called Barak into battle and went up with him when he hesitated (Judges 4:8-9). • Jael – Single-handedly dispatched Sisera, ending the Canaanite threat (Judges 4:21-22). • Esther – Approached the king at the risk of her life, declaring, “If I perish, I perish!” (Esther 4:16). faith under foreign rule • Daniel – Kept praying “three times a day” despite the lions’-den decree (Daniel 6:10-11). • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – Stood before Nebuchadnezzar and said, “Even if He does not rescue us, we will not serve your gods” (Daniel 3:18). • Mordecai – Refused to bow to Haman, trusting God’s deliverance (Esther 3:2-4). prophetic boldness • Elijah – Faced four hundred fifty prophets of Baal on Carmel and prayed, “Answer me, LORD, answer me” (1 Kings 18:36-37). • Micaiah – Spoke the unwelcome truth to Ahab: “If you ever return safely, the LORD has not spoken through me” (1 Kings 22:28). courage fulfilled in jesus and carried forward • Jesus – “He set His face resolutely toward Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51) and, in Gethsemane, prayed, “Yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). • The apostles – Replied to the Sanhedrin, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). key takeaways • True courage flows from confidence in God’s presence and promises, not mere self-reliance. • Each act of bravery—whether on a battlefield, in a throne room, or before a hostile crowd—demonstrates unwavering trust that the LORD saves. • The same God who empowered Hanan, Joshaphat, and their fellow servants still equips believers today to stand firm in every sphere of life. |
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