Today we are going to wrap up our tour in the Hall of Faith
of Hebrews 11. However, before we do, let us remind ourselves of why this
entire chapter is included in the preacher’s sermon in Hebrews. This sermon in
Hebrews could very well have jumped from the exhortation in 10:39 (“but we are
not those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the
persevering of the soul”) to the second part of the first verse in chapter 12
(“therefore, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us”).
However, instead the preacher provides a compendium of examples, a list of
illustrations, a “Hall of Faith,” in an effort to describe what God is looking
for among His people who live on the earth. What is sought among God’s people
both then and now is the kind of faith that was defined for us in Hebrews 11:1—“Now
faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen…”.
Such faith has been witnessed in the inductees that we have perused since Super Bowl
Sunday: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and Rahab. This, however,
does not complete the list. As the tour of this hall nears its completion, the
preacher rattles off a list of honorable mentions and their accomplishments
that serves as a capstone to this chapter. Let us complete this tour then by
examining four elements found in Hebrews 11:32-40 as we endeavor to apply this
compelling series to our own lives.
The List of Honorable
Mentions-11:32
As we close the tour of the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11,
the guide (the preacher of the Hebrews), perhaps recognizing that it is closing
time soon, lumps many more examples of faithfulness into a quick survey. This
quick summary is introduced in verse 32 when he says, “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…”. Each of these names and the stories they
incorporate deserve at least a cursory look.
Gideon proved to be a valiant warrior who led a decisive
brigade of 300 men to overwhelm a much larger enemy. The Bible says in Judges
7:19ff “so Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts
of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just posted the
watch; and they blew the trumpets and smashed the pitchers that were in their
hands. When the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the
pitchers, they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their
right hands for blowing, and cried, ‘A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!’
Each stood in his place around the camp; and all the army ran, crying
out as they fled. When they blew 300 trumpets, the Lord set
the sword of one against another even throughout the whole army; and the army
fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the edge of Abel-meholah,
by Tabbath…”. However, Gideon was not born a leader. Earlier in Judges God
found this “mighty man” hiding in a winepress. When called by God, Gideon made
every excuse in the book to be passed over for someone else saying, “I’m the
least in my tribe,” and “I’m the youngest in my house,” etc. This man doubted
himself and God at nearly every turn, even to the point of making God prove Himself
to him on multiple occasions (see Judges 6).
Barak led an army on the Lord’s behalf to pursue an enemy.
However, he wasn’t going to go unless Deborah went with him along with 10,000
warriors (see Judges 4).
Samson landed a huge blow on the Philistines after finding his
faith again in Judges 16:28ff-”Then Samson called to the Lord and
said, ‘O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this
time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two
eyes.’ Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which
the house rested, and braced himself against them, the one with his right hand
and the other with his left. And Samson said, let me die with the
Philistines!’ And he bent with all his might so that the house fell on the
lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his
death were more than those whom he killed in his life…” However, this was only
after he lived a life of debauchery and reneged on his Nazarite vow. Not only
that, but he left himself vulnerable to being overtaken by his enemies, was outsmarted
by his wife, and blinded by those who wanted him dead.
In spite of being born of a harlot and suffering a checkered
past, Jephthah proved to be a valiant warrior and defender of God’s people. And
yet, in a momentous lapse in judgment and foolishness, Jephthah made a vow to
God that eventually required the life of his only daughter (see Judges 11).
Who can forget David? Though the youngest in his family,
David upstaged his older brothers and was anointed by God to succeed Saul as
king over Israel. A gifted musician, avenging shepherd, faithful friend,
good-looking young man, and unmatched warrior, David was the renaissance king
who solidified his place forever in Jewish folklore after he slew Goliath when
everyone else was too scared. Even king Saul was intimidated by a young David
before his death. You know you’ve pretty much wrapped everything up when the
kingdom you will one day rule exclaims in one accord, "Saul has slain his
thousands, and David his ten thousands" (1 Samuel 18:7). Not to mention,
elsewhere, David is even called a “man after God’s own heart” (see Acts 13:22).
However, in a moment of vulnerability
and weakness, David commits adultery and then proceeds to cover it up by having
the cuckold killed in the front lines of battle (a mistake that would follow
him the rest of his colorful life) (see 2 Samuel 11ff).
Samuel was a miraculously-born prophet used to anoint and
guide the first two kings of Israel: Saul and David. His ministry was marked by
righteousness and wisdom and yet, his words were not always heeded nor were
they convincing (see 1 Samuel 10:19-22).
In addition to all of these judges, the preacher in Hebrews also
draws attention to the prophets of the Old Testament. While these are legion, a
few examples are worth noting. Jonah, for instance, shared a message of grace with
a wicked city that ignited a revival. However, he was hesitant and didn’t even
believe in what he was doing after the fact (see Jonah). Elijah for his part called
down fire from heaven to show off God’s power before pagan priests (1 Kings 18).
And yet, he feared for his life immediately after this mountaintop experience
upon hearing an empty threat (1 Kings 19). Daniel, though a righteous example
of faithfulness and dependency on God, was taken from his homeland, relentlessly
tested, and even thrown in a lion’s den! (see Daniel 1-6).
In all of these examples imperfect people with their own
share of weaknesses, failures, limitations, trials, and personal issues were
used of God in extraordinary ways. This again reiterates what has resonated
throughout Hebrews 11—God is the hero of His unfolding story and imperfect but
faithful people are the tools used to accomplish His will.
The List of
Accomplishments-11:33-34
When these imperfect people placed their faith in God, so
much was accomplished for His glory. In verses 33 and 34b the preacher recalls
the geopolitical victories that were won when he says, “who by faith conquered
kingdoms….became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.” Whether it was a
bunch of wilderness refugees walking around Jericho as it was in Joshua’s day, 300
scared-stiff soldiers led by a reluctant warrior under Gideon, or a brand new
nation fighting the iron-clad Philistines with farming equipment, God’s people
won overwhelming victories over their enemies in the Promised Land and beyond. These
were not taught in the ways of warfare nor were they led by well-trained
emperors. However, these were led by the one true God who saw them through each
and every confrontation when they were obedient in faith and followed Him.
However, not only were these victorious on the battlefield,
these were also blessed on the moral front. The preacher continues to delineate
the list of accomplishments by saying, “performed acts of righteousness,
obtained promises” (11:33b). Examples of this include Samson who redeemed
himself by sacrificing his life for the sake of his people in one last stand and
David who redeemed a kingdom that lost its way under Saul, thereby obtaining a covenantal
promise that from his line would come a forever king to rule over the world.
God saw fit to bless the many acts of righteousness these faithful followers committed
with promises that continued well into the future.
Not only that, but faith in God accomplished the miraculous
in a myriad of the situations represented by this short list of Old Testament
characters. According to the preacher, faith, “shut the mouths of lions,
quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were
made strong,…” (11:33c-34a). Whether it was supernaturally protecting Daniel in
the lion’s den from hungry cats, sending fire down from heaven following Elijah’s
prayer on mount Carmel, sparing David’s life in the face of Goliath, or turning
Gideon from a cowering mouse to a mighty leader of men, God is pleased to show
off His power when the obedient call upon Him in faith.
When imperfect people obey the Lord in Faith, the sky's the
limit as to what can be accomplished through God’s power. It is the preacher's
hope that these inspiring accounts and impressive accomplishments encourage the
congregation to which he is writing to call upon the Lord and expect His power
to do great things as a result.
The Treatment they
Suffered-11:35-38
However, although the road of faith may have victory as its
destination, it also guarantees a bumpy ride along the way. Such was the case
for those in the “Hall of Faith.” The preacher, after populating the list of
honorable mentions and counting their accomplishments, next describes the
treatment that these and others suffered—“…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,…” (11:35-38).
These 3rd-party oppressions demonstrate how the road of faith is
often a treacherous path of discomfort, displeasure, and disdain. Truly, all of
those mentioned in Hebrews 11 felt pain on both a spiritual, physical, and
relational level. However, these were willing to count the cost and fear God
more than anything that could come against them—even death! A fearless
congregation is what this preacher was hoping to inspire as he encourages them
here in Hebrews 11.
In addition to the external conflict that often pot-holed
the roads leading to victory in the lives of those mentioned in Hebrews 11, there
were also personal sacrifices made by these individuals in an effort to follow
God. The preacher describes how these honorable mentions, “went about in
sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, ill-treated (men of whom the world
was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the
ground” (11:37b-38). In other words, adorning the simplest/cheapest of clothes
and living in the humblest of abodes, those who followed God often gave up
everything in order to follow the Lord. Such was the plight of those like the
Israelites in the wilderness following the Exodus, David as he eluded Saul in
desert caves, and the prophets who proclaimed the Word of God in the divided
kingdom or in exile. If these imperfect people could give up comfort and
prestige for the sake of the one true God, the preacher in Hebrews is hoping
His congregation would be willing to do the same.
The End they
Found-39-40
As it pertains to the treatment that these suffered, the
preacher next describes the end that each found in their earthly lives.
Negatively, “all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not
receive what was promised” (11:39). For instance, David never got to see this
forever king he was promised before his death, Daniel did not witness the earth’s
destiny as he predicted in Daniel 9, all of the prophets did not witness the
Messiah to which they pointed in their own time. The story God was writing and
is continuing to write was and is far greater than these individual lives.
Therefore, the faith that these demonstrated was not dependent on promises
fulfilled, but on the God who guaranteed that they were as good as done. “Hall
of Faith” faith does not have to see the end; it just has to know the One who
controls the end.
Though those of old may not have realized the fruition of
what was promised them, they were a part of a plan that includes “us”—yes, even
us. This is what is meant in verse 40 when the preacher says, “because God had
provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made
perfect.” In other words, the delay in the promises of God is good news for
first century believers and today’s believers because we are included in the
legacy of faith and can anticipate alongside those who came before us what is
to be expected of God. Then, at the end of it all, we along with all who have
come behind us—the first century saints to which this was written and the old
testament inductees in the “Hall of Faith”—all will be made perfect.
So What?
The elements found in this passage have the potential of
inspiring our faith today by reminding us of the following principles: God is
pleased to use imperfect people to do extraordinary things; when such people obey
the Lord in faith, the sky's the limit; though victory is assured for those
who have faith—so too is a bumpy ride; faith trusts God’s story and plan without
having to see the ending. These concepts have been introduced and repeated
several times in our journey through Hebrews 11.
Are these principles evident in your life, in my life, in
the life of this church? Are we trusting God to do the extraordinary or have we
settled for the ordinary? Do we believe the sky's the limit or have we lowered
expectations and, by proxy, our view of God? Do we cringe and complain when
things get difficult or uncomfortable, betraying the fact that we fear
something more than God? Are we bothered when we don’t see what we want to see
on our terms and in our timing? In order for us and for this church to be the
kind of place that God would be pleased to use in extraordinary ways, we must
endorse faith—“Hall of Faith” kind of faith. Such faith cannot help but be
blessed of God and infused with His saving power!
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