Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives

FASCINATING STORIES OF FORGOTTEN LIVES

Copyright © 2005, Charles R. Swindoll, Inc.

All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published by W Publishing Group, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., P. O. Box 141000, Nashville, Tennessee, 37214.

Published in association with Yates & Yates, LLP, Attorneys and Counselors, Orange, California.

W Publishing Group books may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fundraising, or sales promotional use. For information, please email SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977 by the Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California. Used by permission.

Other Scripture references are from the following sources:

Quotations designed TEV are from the Good News Bible: The Bible in Today’s English Version, © 1976 by the American Bible Society.

Quotations designated MSG are from the Message copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Quotations designated NET are from the NET Bible®. Copyright © 2003 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.netbible.com. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Quotations designated NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996). Used by permission.

Editorial Staff: Shady Oaks Studio, 1507 Shirley Way, Bedford, TX 76022.

Cover Design: Gearbox; Illustration: PixelWorks

Page Design: Inside Out Design & Typesetting, Fort Worth, TX 76180

02 03 04 05 06 07 QW 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Information about External Hyperlinks in this ebook

Please note that footnotes in this ebook may contain hyperlinks to external websites as part of bibliographic citations. These hyperlinks have not been activated by the publisher, who cannot verify the accuracy of these links beyond the date of publication.

DEDICATION

It is with great gratitude

that I dedicate this volume to

The Ramer Brothers—

JOHN, DANNY, AND LUKE

along with three of their sons—

ANDREW, JUSTIN, AND JOHN.

These men represent a strong work ethic, commitment to excellence,

skill in craftsmanship, attention to detail, and outstanding attitudes . . .

qualities that are virtually unheard of in our day of

hurried and mediocre workmanship.

They not only built our new home, they built it right.

And they took great pleasure in doing so

because they did it for the glory of God.

CONTENTS

Introduction

1 Often-Overlooked Lives of Significance

2 Cain: The Farmer Who Murdered His Brother

3 Abraham: The Father Who Released His Son

4 Esau: The Son Who Couldn’t Win

5 Achan: The Man Whose Sin Brought Calamity

6 Samuel: The Boy Who Heard God’s Voice

7 Saul: The King Who Refused to Bow

8 Abigail: The Woman Who Saved Her Husband’s Neck

9 Absalom: The Rebel Prince Charming

10 Rehoboam: The Reckless Phony

11 Jabez: The Unknown Who Became Well Known

12 Naaman: The Officer Whose Leprosy Was Cleansed

13 Gehazi: The Servant Who Got Greedy

14 Uzziah: The Leader Who Became a Loser

Conclusion

Endnotes

Publications by Charles R. Swindoll

BOOKS FOR ADULTS

Active Spirituality

Bedside Blessings

Behold . . . The Man!

The Bride

Come Before Winter

Compassion: Showing We Care in a Careless World

The Darkness and the Dawn

Cultivating Purity in an Impure World

David: A Man of Passion and Destiny

Day by Day

Dear Graduate

Dropping Your Guard

Elijah: A Man of Heroism and Humility

Encourage Me

Esther: A Woman of Strength and Dignity

The Finishing Touch

Five Meaningful Minutes a Day

Flying Closer to the Flame

For Those Who Hurt

Getting Through the Tough Stuff

Getting Through the Tough Stuff Workbook

God’s Provision

The Grace Awakening

The Grace Awakening Devotional

The Grace Awakening Workbook

Growing Deep in the Christian Life

Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life

Growing Wise in Family Life

Hand Me Another Brick

Home: Where Life Makes Up Its Mind

Hope Again

Improving Your Serve

Intimacy with the Almighty

Job: A Man of Heroic Endurance

Job: Interactive Study Guide

Joseph: A Man of Integrity and Forgiveness

Killing Giants, Pulling Thorns

Laugh Again

Leadership: Influence That Inspires

Living Above the Level of Mediocrity

Living Beyond the Daily Grind, Books I and II

The Living Insights Study Bible, general editor

Living on the Ragged Edge

Living on the Ragged Edge Workbook

Make Up Your Mind

Man to Man

Moses: A Man of Selfless Dedication

The Mystery of God’s Will

Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit

The Quest for Character

Recovery: When Healing Takes Time

The Road to Armageddon

Sanctity of Life

Simple Faith

Simple Trust

So, You Want to Be Like Christ?

So, You Want to Be Like Christ? Workbook

Starting Over

Start Where You Are

Strengthening Your Grip

Stress Fractures

Strike the Original Match

The Strong Family

Suddenly One Morning

Swindoll’s Ultimate Book of Illustrations and Quotes

Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back

Victory: A Winning Game Plan for Life

When God is Silent

Why, God?

Wisdom for the Way

You and Your Child

MINIBOOKS

Abraham: A Model of Pioneer Faith

David: A Model of Pioneer Courage

Esther: A Model of Pioneer Independence

Moses: A Model of Pioneer Vision

Nehemiah: A Model of Pioneer Determination

BOOKLETS

Anger

Attitudes

Commitment

Dealing with Defiance

Demonism

Destiny

Divorce

Eternal Security

Forgiving and Forgetting

Fun Is Contagious!

God’s Will

Hope

Impossibilities

Integrity

Intimacy with the Almighty

Leisure

The Lonely Whine of the Top Dog

Make Your Dream Come True

Making the Weak Family Strong

Moral Purity

Our Mediator

Peace . . . in Spite of Panic

Portrait of a Faithful Father

The Power of a Promise

Prayer

Reflections from the Heart—A Prayer Journal

Seeking the Shepherd’s Heart—A Prayer Journal

Sensuality

Stress

This is No Time for Wimps

Tongues

When Your Comfort Zone Gets the Squeeze

Woman

BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

Paw Paw Chuck's Big Ideas in the Bible

INTRODUCTION

Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives

From my earliest years I have admired people who live their lives in the shadows. They often feel the pressure of much responsibility, yet they bear up under it without seeking to be noticed. They do great work, thanks to their God-given skills and seasoned experience. Many fill significant roles and contribute greatly to the accomplishment of important tasks, all the while remaining virtually anonymous. Without applause and usually without public awareness, these faithful men and women press on, knowing that their names will never be in lights. To be honest about it, they would feel uncomfortable if they were. All that attention and acknowledgment makes them nervous. They don’t do what they do to be noticed or to call attention to themselves; they do it because it’s their role to fill; better stated, it’s their calling. Quietly and efficiently, they serve and give of themselves. The world is a better place because of them.

As the song goes, they are the wind beneath our wings. They are the unsung heroes in the battle, the folks who do the work behind the scenes, the people who pick up the pieces, the ones who make sure everything in the project flows freely. As a matter of fact, if you ever take the time to find out, you’ll discover that many are downright fascinating individuals with stories to tell that hold you in rapt attention. They may be unknown, but they are not insignificant. They may be overlooked by the public, but in private they fill roles that are invaluable.

While I have been busily engaged in writing this book, my wife and I have been overseeing the construction of our new home. Since it’s going to be the last home we will build, we’re making it special in many ways. No need to go into all that, except to say that we’re taking our time and doing it right. It will be full of reminders of our more than fifty years together as husband and wife—places we have traveled, sights we’ve seen, books I have collected from all over, people we have met, friends we have cultivated, and memories we have made.

Cynthia and I love things that represent deep roots—old beams, fine architecture, seasoned-looking wood floors, aged bricks, great stone and tile work, stately fireplaces, and of course, splendid woodwork. Those things require close attention to detail, which calls for skilled individuals with a commitment to excellence in craftsmanship. Rare are those who qualify as true, seasoned workmen who know their craft, who take pride in doing their work well, and who do it all to the glory of God. Need I tell you? Those ranks are mighty thin these days. We are fortunate in having chosen a family of brothers to build our home—men who have the unusual blend of skill, experience, taste, and touch. It’s doubtful that you know any of them, but they are the ones who deserve the credit for the finished product. Our gratitude for and pleasure in their work are reflected in my dedicating this book to them. I’m convinced they were called by God to construct our final house.

Moses certainly felt the same way about Bezalel and Oholiab.

Never heard of them, have you? See what I mean? They stand as classic examples of fascinating people whom everybody has forgotten. Even though they were literally called by the Lord to do a significant work, they represent unknowns in the minds of most people. Who were they? According to the inspired record, they were the lead craftsmen who were called by God to construct the original tabernacle.

Observe God’s evaluation of these two men:

I have called by name Bazalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the

tribe of Judah.

I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding,

in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship,

to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze,