She gathered up the edges of the bloody tapestry, rolling it into a ball to bring down to the river for washing. Nobody saw this coming. The body had already been removed from her tent. All that remained was blood stains and a single tent spike. The nation was victorious against its warring neighbors. National peace had been attained at the hands of a woman. She was a hero.
The world needs heroes. Jael is at the top of the list of mine. [read full account in Judges 4]
What makes a hero? A hero is someone that does something great, often involving helping or saving other people, at the risk of their own well-being.
We all need people to look up to, learn from, and try to emulate. Having real-life examples of those who have succeeded despite setbacks, overcome obstacles, and had a great impact on the world is important.
Heroes and their stories breed hope. They show us what is possible. They are living proof that difficulty doesn’t define you, rather it helps shape you into something wiser and stronger. These stories of real people remind us not only of our limitations, but of our potential.
Our humanity is a shared common trait. Every hero was also human. They struggled with things just like you. Being human sets us all on a level playing field in respect of our value. Whether we are born into privilege or poverty, we all have potential to do great things.
Humans are both god-like and earth-like. We are created in the image of God, so we have a characteristic that sets us apart from animals and nature. We are also made of dust, which makes us fragile, limited, and mortal. Death is a daily potential risk.
What sets a hero apart from the rest? I believe there are three defining characteristics: Blood, grit, and faithfulness. Combine these three and you have the makings of a hero. The next few weeks I’ll be posting more about what makes a hero. Stay tuned!
I’d love to hear from you. What traits do you look for in a hero? And who are your heroes from the Bible or more recent history? Leave a comment below!
