Hebrews chapter 11 opened with a definition of faith in verses 1 to 3, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” Hebrews 4:1-3. [NOTE 1]
The remainder of the chapter gives examples of those who exercised faith in God in the midst of challenging circumstances.
This is shown in the different eras of Israelite’s history.
- A]. 11:4-7. Early History To The Great Flood
- B]. 11:8-31. History From Abraham To Entry Into The Promised Land.
- C]. 11:32-40. Other Historical Examples Of Faith.
A]. 11:4-7. Early History To The Great Flood
Heb 11:4 “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.” We are not told why Abel’s sacrifice was more acceptable to God than Cain’s, except that it was offered in faith. His example of faith continued to encourage people even after his death.
Heb 11:5 “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 1:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” The first “taken” is from [metatithēmi; μετατίθημι meaning to transport, transfer, to translate out of the world. The second is from the noun [metathesis; μετάθεσις] and reinforces the concept that Enoch was removed from the world because of his faith. There follows a general truth, namely that anyone who wants to please God, like Enoch, must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.
Heb 11:7 “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this, he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”
Noah acted in faith by obeying the voice of the Lord to prepare for a giant flood and was considered righteous for doing so.
B]. 11:8-31. History From Abraham To Entry Into The Promised Land
Heb 11:8 “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.” Faith means acting on what God reveals. This is what Abraham did as he acted in faith setting out to go to a promised land while not knowing what direction he would be travelling.
Heb 11:11 “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” Sarah allowed herself to participate in the plan of God knowing it was humanly an impossible task. But in faith, she looked beyond the impossible in trusting that God was faithful to His promises.
A summary of those who had faith
Heb 11:13 “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone 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 for them a city.” Faith is believing in promises that are unseen by natural sight. All the above heroes of faith trusted in God’s promises seeing and greeting them “from afar.”
Examples Of Faith From Abraham To The Entry Into The Promised Land. 11:17-31
Heb 11:17 “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.”
God’s testing of Abraham in commanding him to offer up his son Isaac as a sacrifice, may seem out of the character of God. However, God knew that Abraham would act in faith and Isaac would not be sacrificed. Abraham in faith believed that if Isaac was sacrificed then God could bring him back from the dead.
Heb 11:20 “By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.“
Isaac had known God’s blessing on his life and in faith believed that his sons would also receive God’s blessing. He preferred Esau to Jacob and tried to bless Esau first even though he was not the firstborn. His will was contrary to the will of God. However, when he discovered that he had blessed Jacob instead of Esau, he realised that God’s will must be done and in faith accepted God’s plan in making Isaac His first choice in His purposes.
Heb 11:21 “By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.”
When Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, he crossed his hands so that the older son’s blessing fell on Ephraim, the younger. In spite of Joseph’s protests, Jacob insisted that the blessings must stand because this was the order that the Lord had specified. He acted in accord with the revealed will of God and this was seen as an act of faith.
Heb 11:22 “By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.”
When Joseph knew that the end of his life was near, he predicted the exodus of Jacob’s descendants from Egypt. And he expressed his faith in telling these descendants to carry his bones from Egypt to the promised land of Canaan.
Heb 11:23 “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.”
Here it is the faith of Moses’ parents that is being discussed. Somehow they recognised that this child was special and needed to be protected from Pharoah’s edict that children his age had to be killed. They took the risk of hiding Moses because of their faith in God’s purposes.
Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
Moses’ faith was seen in his forsaking all the wealth and privilege of belonging to the court of Pharoah to take a stand for his own people. In faith, he led the people of Israel out of bondage in Egypt knowing that Pharoah would be angry and would try to prevent them from leaving. He observed the Passover and encouraged all the Israelites to do the same, and as a result, the destroying angel passed over the homes of the Israelite people.
Heb 11:29 “By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.” The Israelite people followed Moses’ command and in faith began to enter into the Red Sea only to find that the sea opened up for them, but the pursuing Egyptian army was destroyed as the sea closed over them.
Heb 11:30 “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.”
The people believed that if God’s command was obeyed, then the wall would fall.
Heb 11:31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.”
Rahab hid the spies because she had begun to have faith in the God of Israel. She told them, “And as soon as we heard it [the stories of the Exodus and the victories God had given the Israelites], our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” Joshua 2:11. Rahab recognised that God was at work in blessing His people and trusted in Him.
C]. 11:32-40. Other Historical Examples Of Faith
The writer concluded the chapter by joining together the many acts of faith that the people of God had performed over many centuries. Heb 11:32 “And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—
- Heb 11:33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
- Heb 11:34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
- Heb 11:35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.
- Heb 11:36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
- Heb 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—
- Heb 11:38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. The judgment of the writer on all these heroes of faith is given in the simple phrase, “of whom the world was not worthy.” 11:38. The unbelieving world did not deserve to have such heroes living among them and considered them as being of no worth, but by their faith they were worthy in the sight of God.
Something Better For The Current People Of God. 11:39-40.
There is a surprising ending to the chapter as the writer reveals a wonderful truth, “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” 11:39-40. The believers in the Old Testament period knew God’s blessings but there was more to come which would be introduced through Jesus. God’s promises are eternal but are fulfilled according to His timetable, not ours. The fulfilment would come in Jesus as St Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”
The entry of Israel into the promised land could have been seen as the fulfilment of all God’s promises to His people. But there was something ”better” for the people of God in all ages to experience. As the writer expressed in Heb 4:3 “For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.” All believers may enter into God’s rest which means into a personal relationship with Christ. He encourages everyone to come to Him to enjoy the rest that only He can offer, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
[NOTE 1]. The definition of “faith” is outlined in the previous blog No. 530.
Blog No.531 posted on Friday 23 February 2024
holbeck 
531. Hebrews11:4-40. The Examples of the Faith Of The Heroes of Faith
Hebrews chapter 11 opened with a definition of faith in verses 1 to 3, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” Hebrews 4:1-3. [NOTE 1]
The remainder of the chapter gives examples of those who exercised faith in God in the midst of challenging circumstances.
This is shown in the different eras of Israelite’s history.
A]. 11:4-7. Early History To The Great Flood
Heb 11:4 “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.” We are not told why Abel’s sacrifice was more acceptable to God than Cain’s, except that it was offered in faith. His example of faith continued to encourage people even after his death.
Heb 11:5 “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 1:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” The first “taken” is from [metatithēmi; μετατίθημι meaning to transport, transfer, to translate out of the world. The second is from the noun [metathesis; μετάθεσις] and reinforces the concept that Enoch was removed from the world because of his faith. There follows a general truth, namely that anyone who wants to please God, like Enoch, must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.
Heb 11:7 “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this, he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”
Noah acted in faith by obeying the voice of the Lord to prepare for a giant flood and was considered righteous for doing so.
B]. 11:8-31. History From Abraham To Entry Into The Promised Land
Heb 11:8 “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.” Faith means acting on what God reveals. This is what Abraham did as he acted in faith setting out to go to a promised land while not knowing what direction he would be travelling.
Heb 11:11 “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” Sarah allowed herself to participate in the plan of God knowing it was humanly an impossible task. But in faith, she looked beyond the impossible in trusting that God was faithful to His promises.
A summary of those who had faith
Heb 11:13 “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone 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 for them a city.” Faith is believing in promises that are unseen by natural sight. All the above heroes of faith trusted in God’s promises seeing and greeting them “from afar.”
Examples Of Faith From Abraham To The Entry Into The Promised Land. 11:17-31
Heb 11:17 “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.”
God’s testing of Abraham in commanding him to offer up his son Isaac as a sacrifice, may seem out of the character of God. However, God knew that Abraham would act in faith and Isaac would not be sacrificed. Abraham in faith believed that if Isaac was sacrificed then God could bring him back from the dead.
Heb 11:20 “By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.“
Isaac had known God’s blessing on his life and in faith believed that his sons would also receive God’s blessing. He preferred Esau to Jacob and tried to bless Esau first even though he was not the firstborn. His will was contrary to the will of God. However, when he discovered that he had blessed Jacob instead of Esau, he realised that God’s will must be done and in faith accepted God’s plan in making Isaac His first choice in His purposes.
Heb 11:21 “By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.”
When Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, he crossed his hands so that the older son’s blessing fell on Ephraim, the younger. In spite of Joseph’s protests, Jacob insisted that the blessings must stand because this was the order that the Lord had specified. He acted in accord with the revealed will of God and this was seen as an act of faith.
Heb 11:22 “By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.”
When Joseph knew that the end of his life was near, he predicted the exodus of Jacob’s descendants from Egypt. And he expressed his faith in telling these descendants to carry his bones from Egypt to the promised land of Canaan.
Heb 11:23 “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.”
Here it is the faith of Moses’ parents that is being discussed. Somehow they recognised that this child was special and needed to be protected from Pharoah’s edict that children his age had to be killed. They took the risk of hiding Moses because of their faith in God’s purposes.
Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
Moses’ faith was seen in his forsaking all the wealth and privilege of belonging to the court of Pharoah to take a stand for his own people. In faith, he led the people of Israel out of bondage in Egypt knowing that Pharoah would be angry and would try to prevent them from leaving. He observed the Passover and encouraged all the Israelites to do the same, and as a result, the destroying angel passed over the homes of the Israelite people.
Heb 11:29 “By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.” The Israelite people followed Moses’ command and in faith began to enter into the Red Sea only to find that the sea opened up for them, but the pursuing Egyptian army was destroyed as the sea closed over them.
Heb 11:30 “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.”
The people believed that if God’s command was obeyed, then the wall would fall.
Heb 11:31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.”
Rahab hid the spies because she had begun to have faith in the God of Israel. She told them, “And as soon as we heard it [the stories of the Exodus and the victories God had given the Israelites], our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.” Joshua 2:11. Rahab recognised that God was at work in blessing His people and trusted in Him.
C]. 11:32-40. Other Historical Examples Of Faith
The writer concluded the chapter by joining together the many acts of faith that the people of God had performed over many centuries. Heb 11:32 “And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—
Something Better For The Current People Of God. 11:39-40.
There is a surprising ending to the chapter as the writer reveals a wonderful truth, “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” 11:39-40. The believers in the Old Testament period knew God’s blessings but there was more to come which would be introduced through Jesus. God’s promises are eternal but are fulfilled according to His timetable, not ours. The fulfilment would come in Jesus as St Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”
The entry of Israel into the promised land could have been seen as the fulfilment of all God’s promises to His people. But there was something ”better” for the people of God in all ages to experience. As the writer expressed in Heb 4:3 “For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.” All believers may enter into God’s rest which means into a personal relationship with Christ. He encourages everyone to come to Him to enjoy the rest that only He can offer, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
[NOTE 1]. The definition of “faith” is outlined in the previous blog No. 530.
Blog No.531 posted on Friday 23 February 2024
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About Jim Holbeck
Once an Industrial Chemist working for the Queensland Government but later an Anglican minister in Brisbane, Armidale and Sydney. Last position for eighteen years before retirement in 2006 was as the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney.