Women greatly outnumber men in the average Sunday morning church service. Why is that? Part of it may be the stereotype that has been created of Christian men. Nice men. Soft spoken. Men with soft, wimpy handshakes. That was the image of the average clergyman when I was growing up. And that has been the face of Christian men for many centuries. And worse still that’s what many American men assume about Christianity: an effeminate religion for the weak and soft. But if we actually dig deeply into the men and stories in the scriptures, we find something quite different.
We could point to the character of Jesus that has been grossly distorted by the Christian church, but that’s too large topic just here. Instead let’s take a brief look at Abraham, the foundational
figure in the biblical story of salvation. Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, is described as “a quiet man dwelling in tents.” And it would be easy to assume the same about Abraham.When the flocks of Abraham and his nephew Lot grew too large to graze side by side, “Mr. Nice Guy”, Abraham offers Lot the choice of the land and is willing to take the leftovers. When he heads down to Egypt during a famine, he feared that he will be killed over his beautiful wife and convinced her to sacrifice herself by claiming to be his sister instead. Not much courage there. In fact, he does this on another occasion with a different king. But these events are not the whole story.
Abraham’s home city was the Ur of Chaldees at the eastern end of the fertile crescent. Archaeological excavations have revealed that it was not at all primitive as we moderns are prone to assume. The people of Ur built multistory buildings, fortresses and city walls. And they had already developed advanced mathematics that far exceed the educational level of the average American adult. But this “wimpy” Abraham leaves all of that, and heads out to an unspecified country, there to become a keeper of flocks and herds. In this part of his story we see a bold man of action; not a spineless whimp.
Later, after his nephew Lot has become enmeshed in the wicked city of Sodom, a war among nine local kings arises. Sodom is defeated and Lot is carried away among the captives of war.
In the account, we read Abraham’s response:
Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram. 14When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people. Genesis 14:13–16
Whoa! Wait a minute. “Wimpy” old Abraham has within his entourage 318 trained warriors?! How did that happen? And did Abraham just send them out to rescue Lot? No! “He led forth his trained men.” He is his own military leader. What sort of man does it take to lead an army of 318 trained men?
Read that again. Abraja, went in pursuit as far as Dan, almost 100 miles. Apparently, he arranged the logistics for a long journey with all 318 of his men and their animals.
Then when he arrived “he divided his forces against them by night.” So here is “wimpy” old Abraham planning and executing an effective military strategy. And after routing the enemy he pursued them another 60 miles up to Damascus! Field commanders are well aware that one of the most challenging times for an army is right after a victory. It’s at that point where everyone is physically and emotionally exhausted and wants to stop and rest. But when the enemy is in retreat is also the prime time for further damage and destruction. It’s the time of the greatest payoff. . .if you can keep the men engaged and motivate them to push through their fatigue. Abraham does exactly that, and he brings back his nephew and a pile of riches and possessions.
I would venture to guess that the normal, intelligent American man wouldn’t know the first thing about training, outfitting, organizing and leading a 318 man army on a 120 mile trek into battle against five local king-warriors at the drop of a hat, but Abraham did!
So, Abraham, this man of faith, known as the friend of God has his shortcomings and weaknesses, but not when it comes to leadership, and not when strength and action are required. Words that come to mind are decisive, bold, valiant, brave, fearless, confident, and competent warrior. He’s the kind of man who could have made a great impact back in his home city, Ur of the Chaldees. And he’s also the kind of man that we can look like and say, “I want to be like that man!”
When we take the time to dig deep into the characters and stories in the bible we often discover splendid examples to follow. . . people like Abraham that stir and challenge our hearts and our faith.