Well, to football fans everywhere, Happy Draft Day! The excitement of this day in the lives of football fans is rivaled only by the kickoff to Fantasy Football and the Superbowl. Today is the day we see talented college players' dreams come true as they hear their name called, grab a jersey and shake a hand. Maybe I'm weird in this, but my favorite part isn't seeing who will pick up the Luke Joeckels of the world. I like it when it gets down to the last players. The ones that get picked that most have never really heard of. Sure, the name sounds familiar but you don't necessarily know what school they're from or what they've done. I love to see the smiles on their faces. They weren't sure they'd get picked. They had hoped so, but they were always overshadowed by the future franchise players and they never got the big name.
This post is devoted to them: the lesser known people of college football. In their honor, I present the lesser known people of the Bible. Skim the pages. You may have heard their names, but you don't know when they were around or what they did. You may have skipped over them entirely. But what I find so beautiful about the Bible is that it is common people that make up the pages. Some who changed the world, and some who simply went to work each day, but did it for God. I love that they are represented. I love that their names live on because of how they lived for their earthly kings and their King of Kings. Here are my top four picks.
#1. Bezalel
Exodus 36:1 "So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.” Bezalel. His name is in the Bible nine times, seven within seven chapters of Exodus and twice in 2 Chronicles. And what did he do? He helped to craft the Tent of Meeting and Ark of the Covenant. He helped to create the place where God would dwell among his people.
Earlier in Exodus 31 we see that God has "chosen Bezalel" and given him skills in essentially an ultra-sophisticated form of arts and crafts. So many times as a young child I was given the impression that I had to be a missionary or a pastor to serve God, but Bezalel proves that you can use any of the talents God gives you for his glory. It isn't about your job, it's about your attitude and your willingness to do whatever you do for God and His glory.
#2. Naaman's Wife's Maid
Yep, we don't even know her name. Check out 2 Kings 5 for the whole story, but I'll give you the summary. Naaman was a commander of the army of the King of Aram. He was pretty cool, but he had leprosy. Skin-eating diseases didn't go so well for commanders. So when this all happened, his wife offered the advice that her Israelite slave gave: go and see the prophet (Elisha) and be healed. Naaman went and after some debating and arguing with the instructions, did as Elisha said and was healed.
We don't know the girl's name. We do know she was a slave and a woman, both being reason enough for her to never be mentioned in ancient cultures. But here she is. She trusted in God and not only that, but spoke on His behalf. Because of her, Naaman was led to exclaim, "'Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel'" (2 Kings 5:15). Simple trust, simple words: both are enough to showcase the awesome power of God and lead others to him.
#3. Benaiah
2 Samuel 23:20 "Benaiah son of Jehoiada... performed great exploits. He struck down Moab's two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion." No big deal, he just jumped into a pit and killed a lion. Benaiah is mentioned sporadically throughout the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Chronicles, and 1 and 2 Kings. Through the glimpses we see that he was a great warrior who stayed loyal to David, even when David's son came against him to take his throne. After David's reign, Benaiah was loyal to Solomon and became the commander of his armies (2 Samuel 9:35).
I love his tenacity and I love his loyalty. He stood by those God had placed over him. Nothing I have read on him tells of his relationship with God, but if his loyalty to his earthly king is any indication of how he served his heavenly King, I'd argue he was a pretty faithful servant. It was embedded in his character, and for his loyalty he was rewarded.
#4. Mephibosheth
This one you may have heard of. He is a little more famous. But the story is so beautiful, I couldn't leave it out. Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, son of Saul. The son of David's best friend. First let's back up and give some background: before David went on the lam, he and Jonathan made a pact. David promised that he would never cut off his kindness from Jonathan's family (1 Samuel 20:14). You see, Jonathan knew David would someday be king instead of him. Back in the day if you were taking over the kingship, you needed to kill off all the family of the king before so you could rule in peace. But David makes a promise to show Jonathan's family kindness. And so enters Mephibosheth.
Trying to fulfill his promise, David asks if there is anyone left in Saul's (and Jonathan's) family to show kindness. He is answered, "there is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet" (2 Samuel 9:3). Ouch. Don't you hurt for Mephibosheth? He is defined by his shortcomings. When people say his name, they tack on that he's disabled. But David doesn't care. He wants to see Phibo. And when Phibo gets there, he bows down and wonders why David would "notice a dead dog like [him]" (2 Samuel 9:8). So he has heard the whispers too. The whispers that say he isn't good enough. The whispers of how he isn't whole. The pitying glances and sorrowful nods.
But David, the King of Israel, refuses to see him for that. In Phibo, he sees a person. Maybe David sees the son of his friend. Maybe David sees his potential. Whatever David sees, he sees as worthy enough to eat at his, the King of the nation's, table for the rest of Phibo's life. Maybe you're lame. Or maybe people only see your past when they look at you. Maybe they assume you'll turn out like everyone else in your family. Know this truth: God knows you. He doesn't call you by your shortcomings, he calls you by your name. He calls your name and invites you to his table. So have a seat and dine with the King.
There you have it. Not the big shots of the Bible, but the ones who barely made it in. They have beautiful stories, and so do you. Live it out. No matter the simplicity of your life, "whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:17). Do that, and you'll make an impact. Do that, and see all that God will do through your faithfulness.
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