LETTER TO THE HEBREWS - Chapter 11: 27-40 - The Hero Hall of Faith, II
LETTER TO THE HEBREWS –Chapter 11: 27-40
THE HERO HALL OF FAITH – Cont’d.
February 14, 2012
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Happy Valentine’s Day!!
As we continue our study of the Hero Hall of Faith, I considered that the Bible tells us what Faith is, but what Love is not.
1 Cor. 13: Though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains and have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing.
Like Faith, Love, is too wide, too deep and too high for our language to express. Love “passes knowledge.”
1 Ti. 1:5: “Now the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.”
C. S. Lewis wrote a beautiful book, The Four Loves. It describes Christian love that God is love. However, he also reveals the arch-emotion of how love becomes corrupt by presuming itself to be what it is not.
This is what Paul tell us of love in 1 Cor. 13. He tells us what love is not.
1 Cor. 13: 4-8: “Love suffers long, and is kind; loves envies not; love vaunts not itself, is not puffed up; does not behave itself unseemly; seeks not her own, is not easily provoked; thinks no evil; rejoices not in iniquity; but rejoices in the truth; bears all things; believes all things; hopes all things; endures all things; love never fails…”
C. S. Lewis describes to us “need-love”, the love of a child for mother; and “gift-love”, God’s love for humanity.
He then breaks these down into four different kinds of love:
- Affection
- Friendship
- Eros – Romance (Eros is an emotional connection with another person). Beyond the emotional connection then comes the sexual.
- Agape- Unconditional love – the love of God.
When we are able to receive the Love of God in our hearts and be dispensers of that love, we will live and move in a pain-free realm of love in the Spirit. Love’s pain is in the soul. This is when love becomes corrupt by presuming itself to be what it is not.
Eph. 3:17-19: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with the fullness of God.”
That we may “be filled with the fullness of God”, is the place of righteousness, the peace of God that passes all understanding, and joy unspeakable.
1 Cor. 13:13: “Now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
As we continue our study of the Hero Hall of Faith, we see the Lord perfecting his love in these faith-worthies by God’s love of humanity.
We concluded in our last study with Hebrews 11:26, Moses faith declaration: sacrificing, suffering and enduring faith, at the time he came into his manhood. “He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.”
Neither history nor the Bible tell us just who this daughter of Pharaoh was. However, as her son, Moses would have been in line for the throne. According to Jewish tradition, he was indeed headed for the throne. In any event, he was treated as an Egyptian prince. While his fellow Israelites were suffering, he was getting the finest education Egypt could provide. He enjoyed all the comfort, ease and privileges his rank brought him. Then, as Stephen puts it, “when he was fully forty years of age,” he came to a tremendous crisis. He found himself wanting to be identified with the down-trodden people of Israel.
By faith he came to know they were God’s chosen people and that God would fulfill his promise to lead them to their own land.
11. MOSES ---Faith’s fearlessness---Moses feared not the visible king because he saw the invisible one.
11:27: “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeking Him who is invisible.”
As is stated here, before the visitation of the “burning bush”, Moses had already experienced a visitation of the Lord in Egypt. It would have been at that time he knew he was called to be the deliverer of the Hebrew nation.
Moses went to the Hebrews to offer himself as their deliverer. In the process he saw an Israelite being abused by an Egyptian and slew him. When word of it reached Pharaoh, he wanted Moses’ life. So now Moses was in trouble. But that wasn’t all. His own brethren also turned against him, saying, “We won’t have you as our judge!” Pharaoh wanted to kill him; his own brethren refused his leadership. There was no way for him to do what God had called him to do. So he wisely chose to retreat to the Sinai desert. He was now aware that he had made a mistake in judging the Lord’s timing. He fled to Midian, hopefully to pray and seek the Lord. It took great faith for Moses to sit out 40 years of inaction. “You receive the promise early, but God fulfills it late.”
12. MOSES – Faith’s Protection--- 11:28: “Through faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, less He that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.”
When the day finally came for God’s people to leave Egypt, Moses was commanded to do two unusual things; (1) have the people eat the Passover lamb; (2) put blood on the doorposts.
As strange as these orders were, Moses proceeded to obey the Lord without batting an eye. So completely did he trust God, it no longer mattered what He asked Moses to do. This institution of the First Passover is a shadow and type of the Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Passover Feast. Observing that feast that night was an act of faith. But Moses didn’t stop there. He went on and laid down regulations for the keeping of that Passover throughout all future generations as a witness of their deliverance from Egypt until the fullness of time when the feast was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Moses never once doubted that God meant to deliver His people out of Egypt. The second act, putting blood on the doorposts, also required a lot of faith. As part of the 10th plague on Egypt, the death angel was to go through all Egypt, slaying the firstborn of man and beast in every household. To prevent this from happening to the Israelites, God instructed Moses to sprinkle blood on their door-posts. With unflinching faith, he proceeded to do exactly as he was told. As a result, the plague did not touch the firstborn in any Israelite family.
13. ISRAEL - -Faith’s Preservation—11:29: “By faith they (Israel) passed through the Red Sea on dry land; which the Egyptians attempted to do and were drowned.”
On the day of the great exodus, the people of Israel gathered their families and belongings. At this point only Moses’ faith was in operation. They simply acted on his orders. Their march halted at the Red Sea. Then they heard that the Egyptian army was bearing down on them from the rear. In fear, they cried out against Moses, “You brought us out here to have us killed!” Then the rugged 80-year old leader commanded them “Fear not, but stand still and see the salvation of the Lord!” As they watched, Moses’ faith went into action again. He lifted his rod and the sea divided before their eyes. It was thrown back, says the Scriptures, so that the water was walled up on both sides (Ex. 14:22).
Then Moses gave the command to go forward between those quivering walls of water. Now it was time for their own faith to go into action. It did. They obeyed Moses’ command by faith.
The faith of the Israelites stands out against the presumption of the Egyptians. The author is specifically speaking of the faith of the Israelites here, not the faith of Moses. In all the 40 years of wandering which followed, they never again were able to trust God for a great deliverance such as this. It was the only time they appropriated the power of God as a people.
14. ISRAEL ---Faith’s Miracle ---11:30: “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.”
Forty years have gone by. A new generation of Israelites have arrived at the border of the promised land. They are ready to act on God’s Word and take the land. Their path is barred by a great fortress, the city of Jericho. This high walked city was a formidable barrier. They couldn’t bypass it. If they did, they’d never have any peace in the land. Yet, from a military point of view, it was impossible to conquer.
The Israelites came as nomads off the desert. They had no battering rams or engines of war. God told Joshua and the people, “I’m going to give you this city.” They believed Him. They were ready to trust Him and carry out His orders no matter how foolish they seemed. Imagine how the soldiers manning the walls of Jericho must have laughed to see grown men hoping to conquer a fortress simply by marching around it.
Led by the priests blowing the ram’s horns, they marched around the city once a day for six days. On the 7th day, the Israelites shouted and the walls of the city came rumbling down---flat. There is archeological evidence that an earthquake may have occurred at that same time. In any event, the Israelites “went up into the city, every man before Him, and took the city” (Joshua 6:20)
The fall of Jericho was not a military conquest; it was an act of faith. They never expected to conquer the city in their own strength. They believed God was going to do it for them. The Jericho story teaches us that what is impossible for man is always possible with God through faith.
15: RAHAB – Faith’s Deliverance---11:31: “By faith the harlot, Rahab, perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.”
Here is one of the most surprising personalities in the hero hall of faith. Rahab, a Gentile woman, who was a prostitute and betrayer of her country is listed here because she told a lie---by faith.
When Joshua sent spies to scout out the military situation in Jericho, they took lodging in Rahab’s house. Somehow their presence was discovered and the city officials sent soldiers to Rahab’s house to seize them. The harlot hid them, lying to the soldiers as to their whereabouts.
After that she helped them escape from the city, the only thing she asked in return was that she and her family might be spared when Jericho fell to the Israelites. The people of Jericho had heard of the mighty deeds of the Israelites (Red Sea crossing and destruction of the Egyptian army); but only this woman interpreted these as being done by the God of Israel.
Of her own free will, she elected to put her faith in the Lord. To the spies she said, “I know the Lord has given you the land!” What a remarkable statement of faith! She made this prediction when the downfall of Jericho seemed impossible. She went on to say”…the Lord your God, He is God in heaven and earth beneath” (Joshua 2: 9-11).
By faith she joined the people of God and married Salmon. She became the mother of Boaz which makes her an ancestress of the Lord Jesus. This woman was far from great in the eyes of the world for she was a harlot, a betrayer and a liar. But in the eyes of God she was great enough for His Hall of Faith Heroes. That’s the difference faith makes.
16. GIDEON ---Faith’s Miraculous Victory
17. BARAK—Faith’s Triumph
18. SAMSON---Faith’s Physical Strength
19. JEPHTAH – Faith’s Boldness
20. DAVID –Faith’s utter reliance
21. SAMUEL – Faith’s Integrity
22. 17 works of Faith
11:32-35: “And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David, Samuel and the prophets; who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the word, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again; and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection;”
Our writer employs rapid-fire phrases in listing the achievements of faith heroes. The history of Israel is full of them. The first four come from the time of the judges, and there is something comforting about his selection. When you read the account of their lives in the book of Judges, you wonder whether or not they had real faith in God.
But because of their faith in God, they were instruments in His hands. The only king mentioned is David. We know him for his sins and his great faith. God used him to build Israel into a powerful nation. David was definitely one who smashed kingdoms and ruled in righteousness. He took God at his Word and saw promises come true right before his eyes.
Samuel was the first of the prophets. He not only anointed Israel’s first two kings, but there were times when he and the prophets who followed him, stood alone against the entire nation of Israel in trying to bring the people back to God.
From the time of Joshua to the time of the Maccabees, men who were weak in themselves, became strong through faith, and time and again routed whole armies from their soil. The incredible odds against these people meant little to them when they knew they were instruments in the hands of God.
When the writer speaks of women receiving their dead back again by resurrection, there are two who come to mind; (1) the poor widow of Zarephath, whose son was restored by Elijah (1 Kings 17:17), (2) the wealthy Shunamite woman whose son was restored by Elisha (1 Kings 4:32).
The boys were restored to natural life. They died again. That is not what the N.T. means when it speaks of resurrection. Because of that, we will shortly find our author speaking of a “better resurrection.”
11:35-38: “Women received their dead raised to life again; and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourging, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy). They wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”
Our writer listed some of the amazing things the O.T. saints achieved by faith. But that’s only part of the story, the glamour side. There’s another side, the suffering that goes with faith.
The interval from the prophets to the time of the Maccabees abounds with examples of suffering on the part of the faithful. Many of the prophets forfeited their lives to remain faithful. Some, like Zechariah, were stoned to death. Tradition says that Jeremiah died that way. In the days of Jezebel at least 100 prophets were slain by the sword on her orders.
According to Jewish legend Isaiah was sawn with a wooden saw by orders of King Hezekiah.
We can tell from the language and choice of phrases that he is describing the incredible sufferings that occurred under Antiochus Epiphanes. The bible doesn’t furnish any details of those sufferings, for they occurred during the silent years, the 400 year interval between Malachi and Matthew.
The books of the Maccabees, while they are not inspired, give us an accurate account of what happened during that period and the awful tortures inflicted on those who refused to deny god and give up the Law.
From these, we learn of the deaths of Eleazar, an old Jewish scribe, and seven brothers who chose a horrible death rather than give up the Law. They were torn apart on racks, skinned alive, whipped to pieces, and roasted alive in a huge frying pan.
They could have been set free, simply by denying their faith. Believing God would reward them with a better resurrection, they refused to compromise with idolatry.
The reference to living in mountains and caves pertains more precisely to the Syrian governor, Antiochus Epiphanes. In 168 B.C., this king captured Jerusalem. Using torture methods equal to anything dreamed up by Hitler, he did his best to get the Jews to forsake God and the law. Clearly inspired by Satan, it was one of the most devilish attempts in history to wipe out a religion. If Satan could wipe our Judaism, the world would be denied it Savior.
Those believers, who were not captured, fled to the mountains and deserts. The reference to animal skins indicates they were stripped down to nothing. Homeless and impoverished they went without the bare necessities of life.
The Syrian President Al Assad is killing his people and Christians. He has spoken out against Israel and the U.S.A.
Faith in the Lord carries no guarantee of comfort or safety in this life, but it does offer and undreamed of reward in the life to come. That is the life that really counts.
11: 39-40: “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise; God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”
Oh my!!! The church of the United States of America will have much to answer for!!! We are the most blessed people the world has ever known. How can we neglect so great a salvation??? The promise referred to here is that of the coming Messiah, the sum and substance of all the O.T. promises.
No one could be joined to God and inherit the divine nature until sin was cared for. That couldn’t be done until the right moment in history. The coming of the Lord Jesus had to wait until the fullness of time. Yet, even though actual son-ship was denied the O.T. believers, the hope of it burned so brightly in their hearts they were able to live for God and take the worst of the world’s abuse and persecutions.
The believing dead were said to be comforted in “Abraham’s bosom” (Luke 16: 22-26). Here they waited until Jesus could put away their sins and bring them into son-ship.
Eph. 4: 8-10: “When he ascended up on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?”
Jesus went in the Spirit and announced the news to the people in Sheol (1 Peter 3: 18, 19). Those who had died in faith received their son-ship and righteousness that instant. They had their Pentecost in the “lower parts of the earth”. They were led into Heaven where they are now members of the same body with us, making but one family in God (1 Cor. 12:13). Thus these saints were “in Christ” before we were (Heb. 12:23).
The experienced Pentecost before it occurred on earth.
We become sons of God by birth---instantly when we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
The O.T. saints wouldn’t dare address God as “Papa” (the Abba of Romans 8:15). The Christian enjoys total access and acceptance as God’s own child. It may be that we are very spoiled children.
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
www.eastgateministries.com Scripture from K.J.V.; Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible; Lovett’s Lights on Hebrews by: C. S. Lovett; The Four Loves, by: C. S. Lewis.