Jacob … . The story reminds us of not only the importance of having the courage to look at ourselves and make changes, but also reminds us of God’s mercy and forgive¬ness. God forms Adam from the dust of the ground. Dressed as a prostitute, she coerced her father-in-law, Judah, to have sex with her and she bore twin sons. What message will you take away from it in regards to self-discipline? In this week’s Bible story, David gives in to his desire for another man’s wife. What did you learn from that experience? Go and sin no more.” (John 8:10-11) Before we “throw stones” at others for their failings, or even at ourselves, let’s take a breather. 5 prominent bible characters had their own epic fails. God’s word points out in painful detail the Bible characters who made mistakes. In general, this story refers to times when we let our physical senses deceive us. Bible Characters – Men in the Old Testament. Balaam, riding his donkey, is confronted by an angel of the Lord. The Apostle Paul wrote, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). If you have, then it's time that you know that it is not our faithfulness, but God's faithfulness and the presence of Jesus in our lives that empower us to live out the greatness God has meant for us. (Genesis 31:19) Reuben, the pride and firstborn of Jacob, was a pervert who slept with his father’s concubine. Rachel, who wrote the book on love at first sight, was a nomadic kleptomaniac. What is preventing you from doing this? "(Emanuel Swedenborg, TCR 528) ... See MoreSee Less, "If I can find something good in every day, then I can find something good in every person." Moses and Aaron were quite the team - Moses was like a god to Pharaoh; Aaron was like a prophet. Where they failed… Do you remember any stories of lying as a child? But if the thoughts he has after temptations cannot be turned in the direction of those he had during them, he has either given way in temptation, or he has departed into similar, and sometimes graver ones, till he has been brought to that healthier outlook in which he believes he has merited nothing. Aaron, Moses' older brother, is so often overlooked. It is universal, then, and consists of all individuals who have lived in the virtue of thoughtfulness according to the principles of their religions. Do you remember having an innocent, unquestioning belief in God? 2:8); Aaron failed by making a carved image to worship (Ex. Balaam disobeyed the Lord by returning to the king Balak, the king who wanted to curse God’s people. God worked with them to help them learn from their failures, and to accomplish good things in spite of their limitations. The Bible is filled with stories of people, just like you and me, that have struggled, stumbled, failed and simply just messed up. God even used him to lead His people during a very difficult time. Swedenborg writes that this story did not literally occur, but contains symbolic meaning: “Anyone may recognize that Jehovah God did not speak to a serpent, and indeed that there was no serpent…. Success in spiritual life is not thinking more of ourselves than others, but thinking less of ourselves. If only life would mold and bend to our desires, and if fate would just dutifully play out our expectations, maybe then we’d be happy. Bible Characters and Themes. This list features ten people and deities from the Bible who have excelled in their ability to stand up against difficult odds. But are we “bad” for coming to this state? These guys all made their own share of mistakes with consequences. Instead of drowning, Jonah was swallowed by a whale that God provided. At the same time we can be distracted by paying too much attention to ourselves and our abilities and not recognizing our need for the Lord. 10 Biblical Characters Who Made Mistakes: 1. He could do nothing but obey God’s call, eventually leading the Israelites from captivity to freedom. All the biblical characters discussed here have one thing in common; their devotion to our faith. Resist the urge to condemn yourself or others for making mistakes, but use self-discipline to “go and sin no more.”. As a result, they suddenly realize that they are naked, and the early state of innocence is now gone. The Bible has stories of military heroes, prophets, preachers and kings who have followed God and given us good examples to follow. The difference is the OT folks looked forward to the cross and we look back. "(Luke 13:3)"Actual repentance is examining oneself, recognizing and acknowledging one's sins, praying to the Lord, and beginning a new life. 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