Twelve inconceivable heroes

Far from the children's stories depicted in illustrated books and nurseries, the men and women highlighted in the Bible were disturbingly real. They faltered. They struggled. And sometimes they did not live up to the circumstances. Yet, God worked through them in surprising and incredible ways to accomplish divine purposes. The Scriptures do not hide the weaknesses of these characters, do not ridicule their strengths, nor do they favorably bias their stories as a display of human nobility. On the contrary, the Bible describes these heroes of faith with unflinching sincerity and gives us an unexpected ending: "God is not ashamed to be called their God" (Hebrews 11:16).

In Twelve Unlikely Heroes, pastor and renowned author John MacArthur uses his deep biblical and historical knowledge to help us see these three-dimensional men and women in their own times and cultures. In this way, he shows how their dramatic stories apply to us today. People who at first glance might seem strange quickly become familiar and unforgettable, especially when they reveal the true hero behind each witness, that is, the power that compensates for all weakness: "The author and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).