In his latest release, Twelve
Unlikely Heroes, John MacArthur examines the lives of some great figures
from Scripture. He highlights the ways God chooses to act for his glory by
taking ordinary, flawed human beings and using them in magnificent ways to
accomplish His purposes.
The message is a moving one. It is very possible (even
common) that one may look to characters such as these and focus too heavily on
them so as to make an idol of men. The other common problem is that we despair
in looking at the accomplishments of which they’ve been a part and determine
that there is no hope for us to be used by God. In looking at the lives of OT
and NT characters alike, MacArthur looks to find the God-honoring middle
ground. He leads the reader in a careful and honest look at these men and
women, noting their flaws and imperfections as well as their faithfulness. And
above all of this, he points out the way God positioned them and used them for
His glory. JMac brings to bear his considerable gifts as an expositor of the
Word as he mines the depths of key passages, revealing beautiful elements that
are right there to be read, but are often overlooked.
In a time where we tend to make heroes of any celebrity,
athlete or cool cat around and press until “hero” has next to no meaning, it is
refreshing to see what God identifies as a hero.
