The Bible is about people who put their faith in God, trusting His Word and doing it. Of course their lives are contrasted against others who refused to trust Him, and who rebelled against Him. So their faith is usually seen against the backdrop of conflict in which the faithful took their stand, often against human logic, by trusting what God had told them. If the catalogue of faithful examples in Hebrews 11 could be complete it would be very long; so the writer chose a 'catch-all' of godly people who made the right decisions and saw God's powerful hand at work.

Gideon turned the tide of war against the marauding Midianites (Judges 6:1-8:35) with only 300 men and God's battle plan. However towards the end of his life he became proud and encouraged idolatry by wanting to be a religious celebrity (Judges 8:22-27). Barak (his name means 'thunderbolt') was called to serve under the prophetess, Deborah. Because he was fainthearted, the battle honours went to a woman (Judges 4:1-24), although he routed the army of Sisera. Samson was a larger-than-life strongman. But he was emotionally weak, given to womanising and anger. However, God used him. When he obeyed God, the Lord gained great honour, but when he relied on himself he suffered personal distress and death (Judges 13:1-16:31).

David was a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). After suffering at the hands of the jealous Saul, he became the greatest leader in Israel's history; also writing many songs of worship and reflection. But David also failed spectacularly by his adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband, Uriah (2 Samuel 11:1-27). Samuel was the last of the prophets: growing up in the temple as a servant boy, God spoke to him announcing the downfall of the indulgent and ill-disciplined priest and his sons. Although he presided over the anointing of Saul and David as kings, and exercised a prophetic ministry (1 Samuel 1:3-25:1), he brought up his own sons as Eli raised his sons. They were corrupt and the people could not trust them in ministry (1 Samuel 8:1-5).

God chose these great Old Testament characters; they desired to serve God and He used them. They were men of faith, they all trusted God's Word; and yet they were all flawed in some way. Although God enabled them to see great victory in their ministry, they all had personal weaknesses, which pulled them down. Their challenge is for today: if you have heard the Lord, obey. If you have fallen, repent and get up and serve as God leads you. If you have started well, finish well. Note those formative influences on your life and discern which you should copy and which you should not. Above all, keep living in faith, trusting the Lord even though you cannot see how it will all work out. Looking at others, do not condemn the failures … every man and woman of faith fails at some point … it is how they continue that matters.