Category: A Moment with the Master

Hebrews 11 is a much shorter chapter than it could be. The first 31 verses work from Genesis through Joshua in a fairly detailed way. But in verse 32, the author begins summarizing larger swaths of Old Testament history. He gives a brief nod to the judges, kings, and prophets and offers this incredible testimony of their faith: “Who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.” Those are some incredible ideas! The underlying message of all of them is this: faith makes God’s people strong. A life of faith is not always easy. It requires great effort and great courage. But when we are faithful, God grants His people the strength to prevail. If you want real strength, then pursue a life of wholehearted faith.

Hebrews 11 demonstrates the incredible power of faith. Faith is powerful not because of our strength but because it points us to God’s power. God’s power enables amazing things. In fact, by God’s power, faith enables us to conquer the enemy.

Hebrews 11:30 says, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.” When Israel arrived at Jericho, they had fought a few battles, but it’s hard to imagine this nation being a military powerhouse. Just a few decades earlier, they were all enslaved. How could they possibly overthrow a mighty and fortified city? By faith. The nation obediently heeded God’s instructions, strange as they seemed. And by trusting in God, Israel was victorious against an enemy they should never have been able to defeat.

And so it is with us. We face an enemy far stronger than ourselves. But we don’t have to rely on our power—if we are faithful to God, we can find victory in Christ!

Hebrews 11 contains wondrous examples of faithful men and women, and it demonstrates what faith does.

One aspect of faith that permeates the chapter is that faith saves. In verse 28, Israel kept the Passover and was not touched by the Destroyer. In Verse 29, Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry land by faith and was saved from Pharaoh’s army. Then, verse 31 tells us, “By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.” These examples share a common theme: deliverance and salvation. The Lord is able and willing to save us. We don’t deserve salvation, but God graciously offers it. Salvation is God’s gift, but He requires us to respond in obedient faith. When we do, we, too, can be saved. As Ephesians 2:8 reminds us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”

As we’ve studied Hebrews 11, we’ve seen that faith is powerful. Not because of our strength—faith is powerful because it points us to God and His strength  . And thus, faith accomplishes the impossible!

In Hebrews 11:27, we read that Moses “…endured as seeing him who is invisible.” How remarkable! It’s not that Moses was given some super-power. No, Moses was able to walk by faith instead of sight. His faith led him to see and understand something our carnal senses cannot grasp.

Also, verse 29 says, “By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land…” The Israelites would not have been able to overcome Pharaoh and his army, and they couldn’t outrun Pharaoh. But God did what they could not. God provided a path where no path existed. But it required faith to accept, trust, and walk that path. When we walk by faith, God will accomplish for us what would be impossible for us to accomplish on our own.

The Hebrew writer demonstrates that Moses’ life provides several lessons about faith. Yesterday, we noted that faith empowered Moses to choose Israel over Egypt. But that choice required something else from Moses. Hebrews 11:27 says, “By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.” Earlier this week, we saw Moses’ parents were unafraid of Pharaoh’s edict because of their faith. Their son shared their courage. But notice what else Moses did—he left Egypt. When he chose Israel over Egypt, he didn’t try to hold on to Egypt’s pleasures while allying with the Hebrews. No, he left Egypt. He left his old life behind.

Faith must do the same for us today. Genuine faith moves us to leave our old ways of sin and selfishness behind. By faith, we must leave Egypt. Whatever the consequences, we must courageously endure the narrow path with eyes faithfully fixed on the Lord.

Yesterday, we learned faith helps us make important choices . The reason for this is that faith allows us to evaluate worth. Hebrews 11:26 says Moses, “…considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.” We tend to place the highest value on wealth and pleasure. Which life is more valuable: that of a wealthy prince or a slave? Which life would you choose? Our gut reaction is that wealth and privilege are valuable, but faith helps us evaluate better. Faith helps us understand and see real value. See, real value is in things that last. And worldly wealth, comfort, and fame don’t last. But the reward promised those faithful to Christ? That is invaluable. It is beyond our ability to calculate the value! Will the path to such reward require hardship and suffering? Yes. But faith reminds us that eternity is far more valuable than the fleeting and temporary.

Our lives are filled with important choices, and the greatest choices require faith. Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s household. At a certain point, he had a choice to make: continue enjoying life as a prince of Egypt or throw away wealth and comfort to suffer with the Lord’s people. How did Moses decide? By faith.

Hebrews 11:24-25 says, “By faith Moses, when he was grown up, 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.” From a human perspective, Moses made a foolish choice. We tend to choose pleasure over pain and comfort over difficulty. Willingly selecting a path that is difficult and maybe even painful is a difficult choice to make. The only way we’re going to be able to make that choice is through faith. Faith reminds us of eternity and empowers us to choose what’s good instead of what’s easy.

In Hebrews 11:23, the Hebrew author moves from Genesis to Exodus for examples of faith. The first example is that of Moses’ parents. For all we read about Moses, we know very little about his parents. But we do know they had great faith, and we know that their faith gave them impressive courage.

At the time of Moses’ birth, Israel was a nation of slaves. Further, Pharaoh declared that all newborn Hebrew males should be cast into the Nile River and thus killed. Now, Pharaoh was a powerful man. Defying his order could bring terrible consequences. But Hebrews 11:23 says, “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” We face a terrifying enemy—but faith reminds us that He who is with us is greater than he who is in the world. And with such knowledge, faith leads to great courage.

Hebrews 11:22 considers one final example of faith from Genesis—Joseph. It reads, “By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.” Of all of Joseph’s trials and achievements, why does the Hebrew writer pick this as the great example of Joseph’s faith?

Perhaps it is because however much he accomplished, Joseph never forgot who he was. He may have been second in command in Egypt, but he was no Egyptian. Thus, he told his people to ensure they took his bones with them when they left Egypt and returned to the Promised Land. Egypt was temporary—God’s promises, forever.

So it should be for us. We are passing through this life—escaping Egypt and wandering the wilderness. Don’t mistake either for home. Remember who you are and where you’re going, and faithfully serve the Lord until you enter His promised rest.

Hebrews 11:21-22 consider the two final characters of Genesis, Jacob and Joseph. But the Hebrew writer considers these two characters in an intriguing way. Jacob’s and Joseph’s faith is described within the framework of death.

Hebrews 11:21 says, “By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.” Yesterday, we noted that Jacob’s faith moved him to bless others. But notice what else faith does—faith prepares one for death.

We all are afraid of death, whether we admit it or not. But faith helps us prepare for and confront that terrible enemy. Because of faith, Jacob could approach death with courage and hope. And notice what faith moved Jacob to do at death’s doorstep—he worshiped! A life filled with pleasure and selfishness will be useless as we approach the end. But worshipful faith won’t just help us live—it will help us when it comes time to die.