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Hebrews 11 Devotional

Who are your heroes of the faith?  Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Daniel, one of the apostles?  Maybe someone closer to our time in history? William Wilberforce?  Dietrich Bonhoeffer?  Jim Elliot?  Maybe someone closer to home like a parent, grandparent, neighbor or friend who introduced you to Christ?

 

Today, we’re looking at Hebrews chapter 11.  The Hall of Faith.  This is a pivotal point in the letter to the Hebrews.  We are moving out of the doctrinal chapters into the practical application chapters.  Today’s practical application chapter is all about Faith.  And I challenge you to look for glimpses of Christ throughout the passage.

 

When we walk away from our time together today, I want you to know Faith is given to those who believe (in) God and earnestly seek Him.  That is why the subject of the message today is Faith, confidence and assurance in the unseen, pleases God.

 

Father, in the magnificent name of Jesus, I ask that You open our eyes and hearts today to see Christ in Your word. I ask that You enlighten and convict and teach and transform us during our time with You.  Draw us closer to You.  Change us.  Grow our faith.  Amen.

 

We have two divisions:

1. The ancients were commended for faith (Hebrews 11:1-31)

2. The world was not worthy of those commended for faith (Hebrews 11:32-40)

 

Let’s begin.

 

Read Hebrews 11:1-3.

 

How would you define faith?  Belief without evidence? Actually, there is PLENTY of evidence out there for faith in Christ for salvation.  There is a whole branch of study called apologetics that addresses that evidence.  Check out some of the authors and speakers on this list: https://crossexamined.org/top-20-apologists/.

 

These very Scriptures define faith as “…confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”  Take a look back at this definition when you need to refresh your memory as we study today.  This is what the ancients were commended for.  Now believers are credited with the faith that God created the universe by command.  This is the most basic building block of faith: God as Creator.  I am going to presume that you believe God created the heavens and the earth, etc.  Let’s build on that, now.

 

Read Hebrews 11:4-7.

 

Abel, Enoch, and Noah.  I absolutely love J. Vernon McGee’s commentary!  The Holy Spirit used it to bring me to new depths of understanding as I studied it in conjunction with this passage this week.  Abel’s story in Genesis 4 reveals the way of faith.  The acceptable sacrifice that brings fellowship with God and points to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ is blood!  Abel brought God the sacrifice of faith, of blood.  His brother Cain brought a sacrifice of his own works.  We cannot come to God through our works.  Only Christ’s blood is acceptable.

 

Enoch’s story in Genesis 5 reveals the walk of faith.  Scripture says Enoch walked with God after the birth of his son, Methuselah.  There is something about becoming a parent that will bring us to our knees before the throne of God!  Isn’t there?  Enoch walked with God and he was no more because God took him.  The first rapture.  Oh, how I would love to be part of that experience!

 

Noah’s story in Genesis 6 reveals the witness of faith.  Noah walked with God.  Noah obeyed God to build the ark.  His obedience made him look crazy to all the people around him – except his family!  He witnessed to his family through his raising of them and his actions.  Has God blessed you with a family?  They are your primary congregation to whom you “preach.”

 

Read Hebrews 11:8-12.

 

Abraham and Sarah.  In Abraham, we see the worship of faith.  Worship leads to obedience.  And, though Abraham was far from perfect, he did obey God when God told him to leave Ur of the Chaldeans in Genesis 12.  We also see in Abraham’s story that he built an altar wherever he went!  He acknowledged God in faith, and the action that displayed it was worship.

 

Sarah represents the strength of faith.  And this strength is not our own!  It is the Lord’s!  The joy of the Lord is the strength of His people!  Sarah was given the strength to conceive a son in her old age after longing for a child for so long.  Talk about a manifestation of joy!!!

 

Read Hebrews 11:13-16.

 

Faith is living for the future.  A future time, place, people, hope.  Do you feel out of place most of the time?  Do you feel that this earth is not your home?  It’s not.  This earth is a place of preparation.  The home of the people of God is heaven!  Actually, the home for ALL people is SUPPOSED TO BE heaven!  Hell was not created for people!  It was created for the devil and his angels.  God wants no one to perish, but all to come to salvation!

 

The ancients (Old Testament characters we are discussing today) did not receive what was promised them.  They may have seen the beginnings of it, but not the fulfillment.  The promise to Abraham is still being fulfilled since people are still coming to faith in Jesus Christ and representing the offspring as numerous as the sand or the stars.

 

Celebrate when you feel out of place.  It means you are yearning for the kingdom to come.  It means you will cling less to the world.  It means you can live in anticipation and hope and faith that others will see and it will be a witness pointing them to Christ!

 

I think verse 16 is interesting.  It seems to say that, because these people of faith were longing for a better country, God is not ashamed to be called their God.  Huh.  I never thought of God being ashamed of people before.  Does that mean He is ashamed of those who call Him their God, but aren’t looking forward to heaven?  It actually makes sense to me.

 

Read Hebrews 11:17-22.

 

Faith is passed on from generation to generation.  Here we see Abraham tested with the sacrifice of Isaac.  This is a whole teaching all by itself, so I will be extremely brief.  First of all, God tests us when we can pass the test!  His desire is not for us to fail!  His character is not such that He wants us to fall on our face to teach us a lesson!  I pray you have experienced His gentle correction so you know this for yourself!  We also see the concept of a substitutionary sacrifice with the ram appearing in the thicket.  You may have also heard that Isaac is a type of Christ.  He is a picture of Christ, Who willingly gave His life for the sins of the world.  This tells me that Isaac, a young man who could’ve overpowered his elderly father, gave his life willingly on that altar.  This is what Isaac represents: the willingness of faith.

 

When Scripture says Abraham received Isaac back from the dead, I believe it to be true from a mental and spiritual standpoint.  Abraham, in complete faith and trust, released Isaac to God, maybe not physically killing him, but accepting his death mentally to be able to be obedient to God’s instruction to sacrifice his son.

 

Scripture calls attention to Isaac blessing his sons as his memorable act of faith.  He was willing to bless his sons even though the blessing was given in faith about the future.  We see over the course of his life that Isaac was a well digger.  He would dig a well, and an enemy would take it.  He would dig another well, and an enemy would take that one.  This would’ve meant that Isaac moved around, so he wouldn’t have had much earthly blessing to promise his children.

 

Interestingly, the notable act of faith in Jacob’s life was his death.  At his death, Jacob blessed Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on his staff.  Jacob lived a very worldly life.  He deceived, played favorites, sinned.  He absolutely points to the grace of God, and it makes me so grateful.  I hope it reveals to you “that God can take any life and straighten it out.”  Even if it’s at the very end of that life that faith shows up!

 

Joseph’s life was full of illustrations of faith.  In fact, one of the most interesting exercises I’ve ever done when studying Scripture is to create a list of similarities between Joseph and Jesus Christ.  I challenge you to take some time and do that.  The author of Hebrews notes that Joseph’s act of faith also points to the future, speaking of the coming exodus and giving instruction concerning his own bones.  Now let’s take a look at the man who would take up those bones out of Egypt.

 

Read Hebrews 11:23-31.

 

Moses represents the sacrifices of faith.  He had godly parents who entrusted Moses to a basket in the Nile, where he was picked up by Pharaoh’s daughter and raised as her son.  When he grew up, he turned his back on that lavish life and chose to be identified with his true people, the Jews, who were slaves in Egypt.  He participated in the first Passover, the Jews sacrificing lambs in Egypt and marking their doors so the angel of death would pass over the Jewish homes and spare their firstborn, which was the final act that ushered in the exodus of the Jews from bondage.  The Israelites, led by Moses, passed through the Red Sea on dry ground by faith.

 

Joshua represents the watch of faith.  Joshua believed God and obeyed God and watched God’s deliverance.  Rahab represents the wonder of faith.  Rahab survived the fall of Jericho because she believed God and protected the Israelite spies who came to scout out the city.

 

This leads us to our first principle:

 

Acts of faith glorify Christ.

 

What is God calling you to do in faith that you are resisting?  What needs to change in your heart to motivate you to obediently act upon the faith He has given you?  What step could you take to get yourself on board with God’s plan?

 

Let’s look at some other heroes of the faith.

 

Read Hebrews 11:32-38.

 

So many more stories to tell that the author declares he has no time to do right now.  The author names some names.  You can read their stories in the Old Testament Scriptures.  This would be some great quiet time reading if you don’t already have a Bible reading plan that you’re doing.  The list of names given by the author includes the following judges:  Gideon (Judges 6-8), Barak (Judges 4-5), Samson (Judges 13-16), Jephthah (Judges 11-12), and Samuel (1 and 2 Samuel).  The author also mentions David (1 and 2 Samuel), the second king of Israel.  Then the author mentions the prophets (1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, and books bearing the names of the prophet).  The Old Testament contains some wonderful biographies!

 

Then the author lists some circumstances and you may have some guesses regarding the names represented.  You may recognize Daniel in reference to the shut mouths of lions.  Or Shadrach, Mishach and Abednego at the mention of the fury of the flames.  Elijah and Elisha raised the dead.  According to tradition, Jeremiah was stoned to death, and Isaiah was sawn in two.  The world was not worthy of these heroes of the faith.

 

Read Hebrews 11:39-40.

 

What promise were these heroes waiting for that they didn’t receive in this life?  The same thing all God’s people are waiting for: to be with God forever in our heavenly home for eternity.  Jesus declared to the disciples He was going to prepare a place for them.  He is doing the same for us.  If you are familiar with preparation for Jewish marriage, after the contract is made between the bridegroom and the bride’s father, the bridegroom goes to his father’s house and builds an addition where he and his bride will live.  When the place is finished, the bridegroom will return for the bride and take her home.  So, Jesus is preparing that place for His Bride (the Church).  And when that place is finished, He will return to collect us!  Oh Happy Day!!!

 

And here is our final principle:

 

Acts of faith are for the kingdom of God, not the world.

 

How might your service to God change if you were to care less about the world’s kudos?  Where are you investing in the world instead of the kingdom?  How has the kingdom of God grown as a result of your acts of faith?

 

By faith…  (Insert your name.)  Write out some ways God has blessed you.  Keep a notebook of such things to look back on when times are tough or when God seems silent.  Record the crazy instructions you’ve received from God and how you pursued obedience…or tripped.  Keep a journal of your walk with God.  It will help you to know Him so intimately.  It will help you to see how He has grown and matured you over your lifetime and see where He has gifted you with faith.  Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, thank You for this time in Your Word.  Thank you for such exciting true stories to read in Scripture.  Thank You for being a gracious God Who uses imperfect people.  Thank you for revealing their humanity so we can see ourselves in their stories.  Grow our faith.  Grow Your kingdom.  In Christ’s name.  Amen.

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