In 2009, Baker books published a Book by Warren Wiersbe, the renowned author of the ‘Be’ series of Bible commentaries, called ’50 people every Christian should know’. It is a highly recommended read. You will find many well-known spiritual heroes in its pages. Men and women such as George Whitfield, Fanny Crosby, Charles H. Spurgeon, Frances Ridley Havergal and D. L. Moody. But you will also find lesser known heroes of the Christian faith. People like Katherine von Bora. Who was she? – the wife of Martin Luther! Luther playfully called her “Kitty my rib”! What an important part she played in the life of her famous husband! Whether well-known or lesser known the people that Dr. Wiersbe has written about, played a vital role in the advancement of Christ’s kingdom.
The Bible, the greatest book ever written, is also full of heroes. Great heroes stride across the pages of Old and New Testaments. Men like Abraham, Moses, David, Peter and Paul. Women like Sarah, Hannah, Esther, Mary and Martha. But tucked away among the pages of Scripture are lesser known characters. Characters, who nevertheless, played their part in the work of God. So I would like you to meet four of these lesser known heroes. Two men from the Old Testament and two women from the New Testament.
We have known Moses from childhood. The baby boy who was hidden in the bulrushes. As a man he fearlessly confronted Pharaoh, pleading for the freedom of his people, the Hebrews.
And who can forget the thrill of the first Passover night when he led these same people to freedom! But how well do you know BEZALEL? “Who?” you might ask. Bezalel. He was a contemporary of Moses. In fact, all of the evidence would point to him having escaped Egypt on that never to be forgotten Passover night.
We first meet Bezalel in Exodus 31. God had outlined to Moses the plan of the Tabernacle, the furniture that would be required and so on. Moses may have been wondering how he was going to get all of this work done. He need not have been concerned, God had everything under his control. The opening verses of Chapter 31 read as follows; ‘Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying; see, I have called by name Bezalel….’ The following verses tell us that Bezalel was to be the chief architect of the Tabernacle. When God wants work done, He always has men and women to do it.
When God calls someone to serve Him, He equips that person for the job. And He did this for Bezalel. Verse three of Exodus 31 reads as follows (God is speaking); “I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship.” He received all that was needed to do the work that God wanted him to do.
And what was that specific work? Read carefully verses four and five of Exodus 31 and you will get some idea of the importance of the work and the skill required to carry it out. The last phrase of verse five in the Amplified Bible sums it up very well “… to work in all kinds of craftsmanship.” The illustrious leader Moses could not have done without this gifted, lesser known man Bezalel and those who worked with him. Bezalel may not have led Israel’s armies into battle, nor featured in the top one hundred best known Bible characters, yet he was God’s man for God’s work. Yes, in his own way, a lesser known Bible hero.