3 Role Models in the Bible and Their Amazing Stories

Do you recall Moses’ story? Famed actors and multiple movies portray him as a great deliverer, which is true. But the man rescued from the waters of the Nile as an infant had an impulsive bent. In fact, the first words in the Bible about the adult Moses testify to his murderous actions against an Egyptian beating an enslaved Israelite.

Fearing Pharaoh’s wrath, Moses fled to Midian, where he served as a shepherd. Years later, Moses encountered the Lord and learned about God’s rescue mission and his place in it. Exodus 3:10 (NIV) explains, “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

God commissioned Moses to lead the Israelites from captivity to freedom. The Lord used a man responsible for murder to save an entire people group from bondage and suffering. His life marked by miracles like the plagues of Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea, Moses teaches us that God restores us from the worst of sins. Moses’ life also reveals several positive traits worth imitating. 

• Obedience-Despite his initial reservations, Moses returned to Egypt. There, he faced the possibility of execution and rejection by the Israelites. But the deposed prince obeyed the Lord and delivered his people from oppression.
• Intercession-When he discovered the Israelites worshipping the golden calf, Moses pleaded for mercy on their behalf. Exodus 32: 23 reads, “But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”  
• Sacrifice-Hebrews 11:24-25 reveals Moses' heart for the people. “By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.”
  
  

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I envision Rahab squinting into the distance from the rooftop. The fear in the city was almost palpable as conversations about the Israelites’ prowess and the power of their God circulated throughout Jericho. Rahab knew about the Red Sea’s miraculous parting and the swift military victories over Sihon and Og. Could this powerful God of Israel free her from a life of hopelessness and shame?

Maybe my writer’s imagination swerves too far from actual events. Then again, maybe not.

Joshua 2 reveals an amazing encounter between Rahab, a prostitute, and two spies engaged in a reconnaissance mission. Entering the city, the men sought shelter in Rahab’s home. The king heard of their presence and demanded Rahab release the intruders. She responded, “At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly” (Joshua 2:4 NIV). But she had tucked them beneath thick stalks of flax on her roof.

A shrewd woman, Rahab asked the men to return her kindness by sparing the lives of her loved ones in the event of an attack. The men agreed and directed Rahab to hang a scarlet cord from her window. The spies returned to camp and when the city fell, they kept their word to Rahab and her family.

Rahab demonstrated several traits that make her a role model in the Bible.

• Faith-Did you know that the Bible describes Rahab as a woman of faith? (Hebrews 11:3) More than that, the Lord grafted her into the line of the coming Messiah (Matthew 1:5). Perhaps you struggle to believe God will use you to minister to others because of unfortunate past decisions. Consider Rahab. The Lord specializes in redeeming the stories of broken people.
• Wisdom-Rahab exercised wisdom. She protected the spies from discovery, provided insight that kept them safe following their escape, and secured a promise of safety for herself and her family in advance of an attack on the city. A Canaanite accustomed to worshipping idols, Rahab also aligned herself with the God of Israel. Living in turbulent times requires wisdom. Like Rahab, we can turn to the Lord when circumstances overwhelm us, show compassion to those in need, and align ourselves with a community of believers to whom and from whom we can give and receive support.
• Fear of God-Rahab kept her word to the spies. Someone else might have caved to the demands of Jericho’s king, but she refused to reveal their whereabouts and maintained secrecy about Israel’s plans to invade. As a result, Joshua and his troops overcame Jericho through a miraculous move of God.
  
  

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Elisha is one person in the Bible whose sin is not recorded, making him an extraordinary role model. While the scripture affirms that “no one is righteous” (Romans 3:10), we can learn several important truths from Elisha’s life.

Elijah the prophet set out to anoint the man destined to serve in his stead. On his journey, he noticed Elisha plowing a field behind a pair of oxen. The seer approached the farmer and threw his mantle over the younger man’s shoulders—a symbolic act that indicated spiritual adoption and identified Elisha as a future prophet.

Let’s explore some of the ways Elisha serves as a role model:

• Surrender - 1 Kings 19:19 reads, “Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah.” Elisha trusted God and never looked back. Instead, he called his parents and servants together, prepared a hasty feast, and departed. Elisha surrendered everything - family, wealth, and position - to pursue God’s will for his life.
• Love- Elisha expressed care and compassion for others regardless of social status, gender, or age. He attended to the physical needs of a starving widow and her son, healed a stubborn army commander from Aram - a neighboring region with a penchant for raiding Israel, and wept over Israel while prophesying about Hazael’s murderous intent. Elisha’s example challenges us to love others through our actions, too - an expectation Jesus expressed when he said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39 NIV).
• Zeal-Anticipating Elijah’s departure though uncertain of its form, Elisha accompanied the older prophet to the Jordan River. After a miraculous crossing, Elijah said, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied (2 Kings 2:9 NIV). Moments later, a fire-engulfed chariot flanked by flaming horses caught Elijah up to heaven, and—his request answered—Elisha launched a Holy Spirit-empowered ministry. Jesus told his disciples hundreds of years later, “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NIV)

In the Old Testament, the Spirit worked in the lives of a select few, like Elijah and Elisha. After Christ’s death and resurrection, the Spirit dwells in and works through all who love Jesus.

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The people about whom we read in the Bible were like us. They struggled, doubted, and sinned. But God transformed the stories of those who loved him into messages filled with hope and redemption. Biblical figures like Moses, Rahab, and Elisha were imperfect people just like each of us. They had struggles, they sinned, and they were not the ones who seemed like the obvious choice to do God's work. This is encouraging news for us! Since the beginning, God has chosen the most unlikely people to fulfill His will. Who knows? You could be the Lord’s next role model.

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