Hebrews as Muse -- Heroes of Faith -- Hebrews 11
Who were your heroes growing up? Mine tended to be sports related. I was a St Louis Cardinal fan, so naturally I liked Stan Musial, but my favorite back in the 60’s was Curt Flood, their small centerfielder. My love of reading is largely due to sports biographies I read. Musically, I became an Elvis Presley fan while in Jr High, after watching one of his movies; not sure that provided the best influence. Influence is key. We need virtuous heroes who provide the kind of example needed for positive Christian influence.
Did I have heroes from the Bible? I’m sure I was impressed as I heard the story of David and Goliath; I liked Joshua, and a favorite has always been Barnabas in the New Testament, the encourager. But a story told on flannelgraph with Velcro figures just isn’t the same as watching the game of the week on television. Our culture hasn’t been helped by the influence of impressive media that takes us down tangents, sometimes morally depleted tangents. In Hebrews 11, sometimes called the Faith Hall of Fame, we have a list of potential heroes from the Bible. Men and women who demonstrated their faith in God during tough times. When we read about them in scripture and take the time to learn their stories, they should be models of faith we seek to emulate. In fact, our text in Hebrews 11 is followed by Hebrews 12:1 where we learn, “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race set before us.”
Who are those in this cloud of witnesses? We are told in chapter 11 that “by faith Abraham offered up Isaac…considering that God was able even to raise him from the dead.” “Sacrifice my son of promise, my only son?” Abraham might have thought. But he obeyed. A symbol of the sacrifice of Jesus that would, in fact, happen later. “By faith Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” And “by faith the people crossed the Red Sea on dry ground,” and “by faith Rahab welcomed the spies.” There are several others mentioned: Gideon, Barak, Sampson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets.
Did God bless them with health, wealth and good things? Hardly. “Some were tortured, others suffered mocking and flogging, being in chains and imprisoned. They were stoned, sawn in two, killed by the sword…destitute, afflicted, mistreated.” Not a health and wealth gospel. “The world was not worthy of them!” we are told. The point? Sin has messed up this world. There is enjoyment to be experienced, but our focus needs to be on following and serving the Lord. IF we do, he promises an eternity to make up for all we might miss in this life. These heroes provide that example. Faith means acting for God.
“But I just want to be happy,” many say. God wants that too, but for eternity, not just for the fleeting years of this life. And so, we are told that Abraham, who did not receive in this life what was promised, was “looking forward to the city that has sure foundations, whose designer and builder is God (vs. 11).” This was true for all mentioned here, they “all died in faith, not having received the things promised…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” (13, 16). He has prepared that city for you too.
These heroes of faith did not have an irrational faith, but one based on the evidence of God’s actions in history, evidence as he acted in their lives, and we have this evidence preserved for us too, another reason we need to be active in Bible study. These men and women were not perfect, but they believed and followed. They acted as God directed. That’s the kind of heroes we need!
Cross Point: “God has provided something better for us” (vs. 40). The promise was fulfilled in Jesus. Follow him.
Did I have heroes from the Bible? I’m sure I was impressed as I heard the story of David and Goliath; I liked Joshua, and a favorite has always been Barnabas in the New Testament, the encourager. But a story told on flannelgraph with Velcro figures just isn’t the same as watching the game of the week on television. Our culture hasn’t been helped by the influence of impressive media that takes us down tangents, sometimes morally depleted tangents. In Hebrews 11, sometimes called the Faith Hall of Fame, we have a list of potential heroes from the Bible. Men and women who demonstrated their faith in God during tough times. When we read about them in scripture and take the time to learn their stories, they should be models of faith we seek to emulate. In fact, our text in Hebrews 11 is followed by Hebrews 12:1 where we learn, “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race set before us.”
Who are those in this cloud of witnesses? We are told in chapter 11 that “by faith Abraham offered up Isaac…considering that God was able even to raise him from the dead.” “Sacrifice my son of promise, my only son?” Abraham might have thought. But he obeyed. A symbol of the sacrifice of Jesus that would, in fact, happen later. “By faith Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” And “by faith the people crossed the Red Sea on dry ground,” and “by faith Rahab welcomed the spies.” There are several others mentioned: Gideon, Barak, Sampson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets.
Did God bless them with health, wealth and good things? Hardly. “Some were tortured, others suffered mocking and flogging, being in chains and imprisoned. They were stoned, sawn in two, killed by the sword…destitute, afflicted, mistreated.” Not a health and wealth gospel. “The world was not worthy of them!” we are told. The point? Sin has messed up this world. There is enjoyment to be experienced, but our focus needs to be on following and serving the Lord. IF we do, he promises an eternity to make up for all we might miss in this life. These heroes provide that example. Faith means acting for God.
“But I just want to be happy,” many say. God wants that too, but for eternity, not just for the fleeting years of this life. And so, we are told that Abraham, who did not receive in this life what was promised, was “looking forward to the city that has sure foundations, whose designer and builder is God (vs. 11).” This was true for all mentioned here, they “all died in faith, not having received the things promised…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” (13, 16). He has prepared that city for you too.
These heroes of faith did not have an irrational faith, but one based on the evidence of God’s actions in history, evidence as he acted in their lives, and we have this evidence preserved for us too, another reason we need to be active in Bible study. These men and women were not perfect, but they believed and followed. They acted as God directed. That’s the kind of heroes we need!
Cross Point: “God has provided something better for us” (vs. 40). The promise was fulfilled in Jesus. Follow him.