PERSONAL JOURNAL/MEDITATION AND REFLECTION: Hebrews 11:1-40

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

2 For by it the men of old gained approval.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

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.

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.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.

31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

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.

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.

Here the preacher gives the greatest definition for what faith is. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” It is placing absolute trust in what we cannot see and the things we look forward to. We all remember the story of doubting Thomas who would not believe unless he touched the wounds of Christ. Jesus said blessed would be those who believed without being able to touch and see. The preaching is writing to a congration just like us – we never saw Christ, we never saw His micacles, and we never saw Him after the resurrection. We just have a conviction that what the Bible tells us is true. We have faith in it. And we are like the Apostles who look forward with hope. This isn’t a hope like a wish, but a hope that is certain and one by which we can ground our lives in. We live in that hope. That is the sort of faith that is needed in order to endure the life of pain and suffering that comes with being a Christian.

“For by it the men of old gained approval.” As we will see in a minute, there are many who had faith. Faith is not a New Covenant phenomenon, but something that has made men apart of the community of God from the beginning. And “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.” We understand this world to have been created by God from nothing. We cannot prove this by science, there is no way to argue this from reason alone, but we have to have faith that it is true.

“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. 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. 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.” Here is another defining mark about faith – it is necessary to please God. Without faith it is impossible for God to be satisfied in what we do. And the faith that is necessary has to believe that God is God, and that He exist and that He is the rewarder of those who seek Him. There are many in the world today who teach that all you need is faith, but do not define what your faith must be in. Faith in false gods is as good as faith in God. Your faith can be in a tree, it really doesn’t matter as long as you have faith. But that is not what the preacher says here. He demands that we believe in God, the God who has revealed Himself in the Bible and most clearly in His Son. Ultimately you have to believe in Jesus and see after Him and trust that He will reward you if you do – other wise your faith is in vain.

“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. 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. 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; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” Here is another mark of faith – its hope is not in the things of this world, but in the heavens, which is the dwelling place of God. Our faith shouldn’t be in having a good future. We shouldn’t hope for a good life with no suffering or pain. Rather, our hope and faith should be in Christ and long for nothing more than Him. He should be all we long for and therefore we look forward to the heavenly city where we will dwell with Him for eternity.

“By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.” A true faith will believe that the one who promised is faithful. God is not like a man that He should lie. God is not like a man that He might not be able to keep what He has said. But God is faithful and that faithful is sustained by His infinite wisdom and power. Our faith should have such great confidence that even when a woman is 90, if God says she will have a son we will believe it. Our faith should be so confident that if God calls us to minister in the projects, or in foreign lands, or among our family who might reject us, we should go forth in great confidence because He is able to do what He wills and no matter what happens to us it doesn’t matter because this life isn’t what we are longing for.

“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. 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. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 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.” By faith the patriarchs lived as sojourners on this land by looking to the great city God had prepared for them. If the promise land had just been a few square miles of land in Palestine they could have went there, but they longed for a city with God and they had faith that God would bring them to it.

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.” He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.” Abraham could have rejected God’s command here, but instead he was obedient though faith. He knew that his son was the promised child and necessary for the promise of the covenant and so he had faith that God could and would raise him from the dead. And this was done as a sign, as a type of what was to come, that is Christ who was raised from the grace in ensure the promises of bringing God’s people to the heavenly city.

“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones. 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. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.” Moses dwelled in the luxury of Egypt and gave it all up in order to suffer the reproach of Christ because he considered it to be greater riches than the pleasures of Egypt. He would rather suffer for Christ sake than to enjoy a good life in Egypt because he was looking forward to the reward in faith.

“By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. 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. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace. 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, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 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. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. 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 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.”

It is by faith that men both gained great victories and endured great trails. Faith is the fiber that keeps the believer secured to God. And faith is what makes it possible for the believer to please God in any way. And faith has been made possible by Christ. “And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.” It was not until the New Covenant people came that the fullness of the promises could be obtained. In order for the faith of the saints of old to mean anything they were dependent on the work of Jesus on the cross. They placed their faith in what was to come and we must place our faith in what is to come – a heavenly city made possible by the work and blood of Jesus Christ our Savior.