Hebrews Chapter 11
If these Hebrews believed that God would take care of things for them at the right time they would be able to endure their current sufferings.
Therefore, in Chapter 11, the writer explores faith.
We too, when we are in the midst of a trial we really need to believe that God is in control and will not let the trial do any real, permanent, eternal damage – as long as we have a clear conscience before God and we have addressed whatever God wants us to address.
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
People sometimes ask for a definition of ‘faith’. Verse 1 is a really good definition. In general, when you believe something you cannot prove, you have faith. When it comes to spiritual things, when you believe what God says, even though what He says will happen hasn’t happened, then you have faith.
2 For by it the men of old gained approval.
If you want God’s approval you must believe what He says, even when it hasn’t happened.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.
You see the universe in existence. You see the fantastic order in the universe. You see the numerous scientific laws that govern the operation of the universe. There is no real proof that God made it all. You have to take it by faith.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.
Don’t be afraid to give God precedence over your career. Give God the best you have and you will not regret it.
5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Enoch really believed that God really exists even though he couldn’t see God anywhere. As a result, he lived his life very differently. He spoke as if he was speaking in the presence of God. When someone wronged him he left them in the hands of God instead of taking revenge himself. He was careful about what he heard and saw and where he went because he knew God was watching. He didn’t speak evil of anyone behind their back because he knew it would displease God. He didn’t waste his time away. He didn’t fight with people who cheated him or took advantage of him but left them in God’s hands. In this way, Enoch pleased God.
If you really believe that God exists and that He will reward you for seeking His path then you will behave like Enoch too. Your life will be very different from those who say that God exists but act as if God really doesn’t exist.
7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Noah had never seen a great flood before. But when God told him that there would be one and that he needs to build an ark, he believed God and got on the job.
What about you? God has told us that the current heavens and earth will be destroyed, and that we need to build the church through the spiritual gifts He has given us. Have you got on the job out of reverence for God?
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
I don’t know if you realize this, but we are in the same situation as Abraham. God has called us to be born again and God has told us that we have an inheritance in heaven, but we have no idea what heaven will be like. We have to live on this earth as aliens, dwelling in a temporary body, looking forward to our resurrected body, giving up our Isaac’s when God tells us so, and meanwhile suffering in our flesh and the reproach of our fellowmen.
11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.
We read of Sarah’s story in Gen 18, and in Gen 18:12 we see that initially Sarah didn’t really believe what God said. Yet, the fact that she conceived implies that at a point later she did believe. What we can take from this is that if we doubted God’s word at one point, we can still repent of that and believe His word today, and still receive the promise if it is available to us.
You have an impossible task, and insurmountable problem? Make it God’s problem and let Him solve it for you.
13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
God gives people the opportunity to return to their old state of unbelief if they stop believing, and He negates His promises in such cases. We see this in His dealings with the Israelites who were with Moses and didn’t enter the Promised Land because of their unbelief.
God made promises to people, but these promises were not fulfilled while they were alive. Yet they believed. We too must have that kind of faith – a faith that continues to believe what God has said even if we don’t see it coming to pass in our lifetime.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18 it was he to whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED." 19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.
Abraham began to get the hang of how to work with God; when he saw that what God said about Isaac being born become a reality he realized that God is indeed able to keep His promises. So when God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac – the same Isaac through whom God promised to make a great nation, Abraham didn’t doubt that God would make such a thing happen even if he sacrificed Isaac. He realized also that he didn’t need to figure out how. He just believed. Our faith must be like that too.
You find God appearing to contradict Himself somewhere in His word? Don’t let that faze you. There is obviously a resolution for that contradiction in a manner that you haven’t fathomed. Just let it play out and watch for the solution to come alive.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.
Isaac didn’t really know what would happen, but his blessing turned out spot on because he spoke according to the will of God.
21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
Jacob also didn’t really know what would happen, but his blessing turned out spot on because he spoke according to the will of God.
Like Isaac and Jacob, bless your children, in accordance with God’s will.
22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.
Joseph knew that the Jews were only temporarily in Egypt because he knew what God had said to Abraham concerning the land of Canaan. Joseph knew God well enough to believe Him and so he gave orders concerning his bones. He wanted to be in the land that God gave Abraham.
You can believe what God has said and apply it to your legacy.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
When an evil king commands the destruction of your legacy you can still believe that God will overrule.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.
When you see Him who is unseen you can endure great suffering.
When you value the things that God values more than the things that He doesn’t you will be given a piece of the action in God’s kingdom.
When you are doing what God wants you to do there is no man who can oppose you and succeed, unless God allows it.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
Sometimes, God may ask you to do things that don’t make sense to you. But do it anyway. Have faith that God is smarter and wiser than you.
31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.
Like Rahab, you can make an opening for yourself in God’s kingdom even when you didn’t have one initially. Like David, you can become king even when you aren’t in the lineage of the current king. For example, even if you aren’t born to a family of preachers and teachers of God’s word you can become a great preacher and teacher if you side with God and His people and show yourself faithful to God and to His cause.
32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.
There is no limit to what you can accomplish for God by faith. Don’t be worried about the temporal cost. Don’t be worried about human and demonic opposition – God is greater than both. Focus on generating eternal value.
39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.
God has reasons for why He doesn’t fulfill His promises in your timeframe. Whenever you don’t understand God give Him the benefit of your doubt and let Him take His time to show your that He doesn’t lie and will do what He says.
|