This tenth lesson in our topical studies in Hebrews, continues in chapter 11, which teaches about faith by reminding us of many courageous Old Testament believers. In our previous lessson we studied what the Hebrew writer says about faith, and his first three Old Testament examples, Abel, Enoch, and Noah. The Hebrew writer now presents other inspiring examples, of godly men and women in Old Testament times, Abraham in particular, who believed in Christ and thereby sought eternal life.

10. The Faith of Abraham. The Old Testament provides us with inspiring examples of faith even unto death. Time might not permit all their stories to be considered, but to be reminded again of some of these men and women of God helps us to share in their faith.

Heb 11:1-40, Heb 12:1
 

Abraham’s Faith

Abraham

Abraham showed great faith in God. The Hebrew writer reminds us of some examples of Abraham’s faith.

• When God called, he obeyed, left his home and set out for an unknown destination (Heb 11:8).
• As a consequence, he lived as a nomad, in tents in a foriegn land, with his sons and family (Heb 11:9).
• He was willing to live like an alien, because he believed in a better home in a better world (Heb 11:10).
• He received and believed promises from God, and God rewarded him and Sarah with a son in their old age and many descendants (Heb 11:11-12).
• Abraham was even ready to obey God’s command to sacrifice Isaac his only son, although this seemed to contradict the promises God had made about Christ being a descendant of Isaac. Abraham left matters up to God, and simply did what God said. He reckoned that even if Isaac died, could bring him back to life (Heb 11:17-19).

The story of Abraham is found in Genesis chapters 12 to 22. Few have ever shown such faith in God as Abraham showed. He is an inspiring example of the full and unswerving committment of self to God.

Faith in Abraham’s Family

The faith of Abraham is also seen in members of his family. No doubt his example had a great influence upon them, such that they were encouraged to develop a similar personal faith in God and in things eternal.

Sarah

It was through faith that Sarah conceived although she was old and had always been barren. After some initial difficulty in accepting the "impossible" she trusted in God’s promise, thus Isaac was born (Heb 11:11 Gen 18 & 21).

Isaac

Isaac himself showed faith in the promises God had made to his father Abraham, and repeated to him. In the light of those promises, Isaac accepted, as the will of God, the blessing he had inadvertently given to Jacob, disappointing his favourite son Esau who had foolishly lost his birthright (Heb 11:20 Gen 27).

Jacob

Jacob followed in the footsteps of his fathers, and in turn blessed each of the sons of Joseph with a view to the promises of God (Heb 11:21 Gen 48).

Joseph

Joseph also had the promises of God in mind and looked toward the future. At the end of his life he showed faith in the coming of the promised land (itself a symbol of heaven) by instructing in advance that his bones should go there with God’s people when God’s promise was fulfilled (Heb 11:22 Gen 50)

Moses

The story of Moses is also one of faith, beginning with the faith of his parents who were willing to disobey Pharaoh. His life demonstrated a belief in the future suffering Christ and in the eternal life that Christ would bring (Heb 11:23-24).

You will note that the Hebrew writer looks into the mind of Moses and sees an understanding in Moses that he was "choosing rather to suffer the reproach of Christ". This is not an invention of the Hebrew writer, but a revelation of what was in the minds of Moses and his ancestors. Although they saw these things from a distance, nevertheless they believed and sufficiently understood them. Their faith was therefore a faith in Christ and in eternal life through him (Heb 11:13-16).

The Judges and Prophets

The Hebrew writer has no time to mention the judges and prophets who led God’s people by faith, but he emphasises that the thread of faith runs through the whole tapestry of their adventures (Heb 11:32-34).

Faith Among the Mistreated

The Hebrew writer, conscious of how the stories of Old Testament saints symbolise the sufferings of Christ, also speaks of the many who suffered opression and mistreatment, yet still showed faith in God.

Rahab

Rahab was a prostitute, and then as now most prostitutes are abused and enslaved women, and many have never even chosen to be what they are. Rahab although a harlot and not an Israelite, was still recognised by God for the faith she demonstrated, and God rescued her (Heb 11:31 Jsh 2).

Others Afflicted

The Hebrew writer describes the oppression and suffering of other women and men who clung to their faith in God through much tribulation (Heb 11:35-38).

Our Faith

The Hebrew writer concludes that this "great cloud of witnesses" demonstrated faith in the promises without having yet seen them fulfilled. How much better off are we, for Christ has now come and many of the promises that the ancients believed in, that were future for them, are now history for us. This should strengthen us to believe in what is yet to come, eternal life with Christ in heaven, and to make this the whole point and purpose of our lives (Heb 11:39-40, Heb 12:1-2)

Home | Topics | List | Next