The great men of scripture share a common characteristic: humility before their God.
I think of Abraham, the great father of nations, falling on his face before the Almighty God (Genesis 17:3).
I think of Moses, the great leader of Israel, standing on holy ground barefoot, saying, ‘who am I, that I should go?’
I think of Job, the great man of the east who lost everything in a day and yet said, ‘Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD’ (Job 1:21).
I think of David, the great king of Israel, who cried to the LORD for mercy and cleansing and restoration after his scandalous sin (Psalm 51):
‘Have mercy upon me, O God … against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight.’
I think of Isaiah, the great prophet, who caught a vision of the glory of God and cried, ‘Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips’ (Isaiah 6:5)
I think of great men like Daniel and Ezra, who repented of their nation’s sin, even when they were personally blameless:
‘[Ezra] said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head’ (Ezra 9:6)
‘I Daniel … prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession … We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled’ (Daniel 9:1-5)
I think of Paul, the great apostle, who considered himself ‘the least of the apostles’ (1 Corinthians 15:9) and the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).
These and more were truly great men. Their words and actions moved kings and peoples and nations.
Yet, in their own estimation, they were nothing in comparison to their great God.
And that’s the path we need to follow.
Great men stay low before God.