Study 12 The Hall of Faith, Part 2 Chapter 11:22-40
This woman was a 'brand new believer'. You can tell by her conversation with the spies that she is a believer. God could have worked out the whole situation without her having to lie. What we are supposed to see here is her faith. She believed. She acted. God recorded it. He is pleased by real faith.
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
These all died … without having seen the fulfillment of the promise. They had heard about the coming Messiah for years … but they never got to see him. They had heard he was going to be King of kings and Lord of lords. But they never saw the day.
They died … in faith, How do we know they died … in faith? We know because faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. What evidence did they display? They lived like visitors here on earth. Their obviously different life style (including some who lived in tents) showed they ' were in the world but were not of the world'. Can people tell by the way that you live, by the values you have, by the things that you love, by the things that you hate, by the connections you make or don't make … that you are a visitor here?
These all died in faith … not having received the promises
That is, they have not received ALL of the promises. They have received some.
Some things that were realized or fulfilled include Abraham, after waiting so long for the promised son, lived to see generations unfolding during his lifetime. But the permanent homeland, the city with foundations whose builder and maker is God … he did not live to see and he does not have it yet. He did experience the change from the place he went to at death … called Paradise, and also named after him, Abraham's Bosom3 …. to the place where he went to at Christ's resurrection … Paradise in the third heaven4. He ascended at the same time as all of the dead believers who were raised at Christs resurrection5, following Christ to heaven.
Heb 9:28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
We have not seen that day either. We will see it together with them one day.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1Jos 2:8 ¶ Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof,roof,
9 and said to the men: "I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.
10 "For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
11 "And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
12 "Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token,token,
13 "and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death."
14 So the men answered her, "Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you."
15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall.
2And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof.
(Joshua 2:3–6)
3Luke 16:22
42 Corinthians, 12:2
5Mt 27:52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
- 7. Joseph. What do we remember about Joseph? He was the youngest brother for a while, he was favored by his father who made him a special coat of many colors. He had some peculiar dreams which provoked his brothers into selling him as a slave to Egypt. The boys lied to their father and falsified evidence which would show that their brother had been likely killed by an animal. Joseph experiences some very difficult situations in Egypt but finally has opportunity to be elevated to second in command in all of Egypt. He was a man of prayer. I think we can also see evidence that he was a man of faith. He trusted God. For some reason Paul includes no stories of faith at all except this last remark, Heb 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
- Dying - with faith ... or without? Alzheimer's and perhaps other forms of memory loss, are usually a short-term memory loss problem. That is, a person may ask you a question and then, forgetting that they already asked you, ask again just a minute later. Procedural memory is not as much of a problem. Old rythms often are remembered very well. If we should develop Alzheimer's how do we want to look? Do we want to remember all the words of some great hymns and songs? Do we want to remember and be able to recite special portions of scripture? Do we want to spend time in prayer? We will not have these 'rhythms' to fall back on if we do not build them into our lives now.
- God is faithful. Consider these verses:
1Co 1:8 (God) will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1Co 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Heb 6:10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
It is wonderful and reassuring to know that Jesus, our High Priest in heaven knows, feels and understands our needs, our situations, and our weaknesses. Dementia is a weakness. Jesus will carry us through. Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
- Ge 50:24 And Joseph said to his brethren, "I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob."Ge 50:25 Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here."
Ex 13:19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you." How many years went by from Joseph's death, until the day Israel was lead out of Egypt by Moses? The scripture says that Israel spent 430 years there. Joseph lived to be 118. That leaves about 312 years to the exodus. Everyone from Joseph's generation were long gone. But apparently they kept the wish of Joseph alive all through the next generations. This would provide them with hope. “We will be leaving … we just don't know when.” (Sounds like something that all Christians could say, right?)
God honored Joseph's word's. These were almost his last words that he said before dying. There is nothing particularly special about a person's last words that gives them any more importance or significance than words spoken during one's lifetime. Buy what I think we all might long for, is that it could be said about us that we maintained our faith right down to the end. But what about the dear saint who, in their last days develops dementia or Alzheimer's and has no 'dying words of faith' to utter? - 8. The parents of Moses. Israel was being cruelly oppressed by Pharaoh. He commanded his army to throw baby Israelite boys into the Nile river. This was his form of population control. Moses parents defied the Egyptian government and hid him for a number of months. The parent's saw that 'he was no ordinary child'(niv). I agree with most commentators who believe that God had in some way made this clear to the parents. In other words, they were not just going by 'looks'. So therefor, in hiding him, and then, in placing him in the river, their faith becomes evident. They are believing something that God had told or promised them.
- 9. Moses –
- refused to be known as the son of Pharoah's daughter. Moses had been taught by his mother for several years ... and he believed. He believed in Israel's God. He believed they were the promised people of God. That is faith. The evidence of his faith? Identifying with the people of God ... the suffering, despised people. (v25, 26)
- Listened to, obeyed the voice of God in the matter of bringing Israel out of Egypt. The fact that he faced the anger of the Pharaoh is evidence of belief in Moses' heart. He believed every word of God and acted on it. That is real faith. (27)
- Kept the Passover. This is part of the same story but Paul deals with it separately. Aaron, Moses older brother, was the first-born male. He would have been killed by the death angel, had he not applied blood to the door posts. What about Moses first-born son? Was he in danger also? Maybe and maybe not. He was not present. Moses had left his children and wife with her parents when he came back to Egypt to free the Israelites. Would the death angel have reached that far? At any rate ... Moses listened to the instruction of God regarding the Passover, believed God ... and acted.
- 10. The People – Stood at the shore of the Red Sea, were aware of Pharaoh's army bearing down upon them, and when a path was cleared right through the sea, they walked across ... by faith.
- 11. The People – (years later) crossed into the promised land ... enemy territory, possessed by Giants ... and obeyed God's instructions – march around the city once a day for a week, then walk around it seven times on the last day ... and then stand back. They believed. They did it. And their faith is recorded right here.
- 12. Rahab (the prostitute) – was visited by two Israeli spies (not very good spies, at that) discovered who they were ... had some kind of conversation and hid them from detection1.
The guards, who heard a report of spies being in the city and being lodged at her house, came and questioned her. She lied to them2.
This woman was a 'brand new believer'. You can tell by her conversation with the spies that she is a believer. God could have worked out the whole situation without her having to lie. What we are supposed to see here is her faith. She believed. She acted. God recorded it. He is pleased by real faith.
- 13. Gideon. Paul gives no details, but no doubt these believers knew the stories well. Gideon, called on by God to get lead an army against the Midianites. God thins his army from thousands down to … 300 men. Gideon needs to be sure that he is hearing right. He asks God not to be angry … but he needs to be sure … so … God, I want to put this fleece out here on the ground for the night. Please cause all the ground to be wet in the morning, except for my fleece. Then I'll know that it is really you talking to me. God does it. Gideon again goes to God … Please to be angry … but I still am not sure. I want to do it again … this time God, please reverse it. God does. Gideon take the small army and defeats Midian. The very fact that he moved out with this army … was an act of faith. Real faith produces real action. God is pleased with real faith.
- 14. Barak – During a time when Israel had no man … man enough to lead Israel, Deborah was in the position of 'judge'. This was the position of leadership … like Prime Minister. At this time Israel had been 'conquered' to a degree by king Jabin, a Canaanite. God tells Deborah that their period of 'discipline' is over and explains to her the procedure of how to rise up against Jabin. She calls for Barak … Israel's general. He has been largely unemployed for ten years. Listening to Deborah he conditionally agrees with her strategy. He says, I will do it … if you go with me. She says, OK but guess who won't get the credit for the victory. Guess who will get the credit? The fact that Barak listens to what God is 'supposed to have said'. He believes. He acts … and in spite of all he may not have been … fearful to do this without Deborah being there … not willing to step forward himself and be the man who would be Israel's judge … in spite of all that … he is credited for having faith. He believed. He acted. God likes real faith that always expressed itself in action.
- 15. Samson … in all his pride and joking and teasing his wife and others about the 'gift' God had given him … is credited with faith. In his last hour … weak, captured, blinded … and lead to the large auditorium, chained to the centre supporting posts … Called on God one last time … believed God … and acted. He died in the result of the building coming down. God is pleased with real faith.
- 16. Jephthah – His father, Gilead … had visited a harlot … got her pregnant and Gilead, then, took the child and raised him. He got married … had children ...who when they were grown, cast Jephthah out of the house because he 'wasn't one of them'. Years later, Israel is in trouble with the Ammonites who claim to want their land back, that Moses had taken away from them 3 or 4 hundred years earlier. Gilead's family … the same ones who kicked out Jephthah, now looks him up and asks him to help fight off Ammon. He says, What, you didn't want me around … now you are in trouble and suddenly bygones are bygones? They seriously promise that he will come and lead them in the battle against Ammon … they will make him permanent leader of Israel. He agrees to the deal. He goes to Ammon and straightens them out on their faulty memory of history. Ammon wants to fight anyway. Jephthah goes to God for help. Promises God that if they win, he will sacrifice the first thing that walks through his door when he gets back. Kind of dumb promise, it seems like. But he followed through. It happened to be his teenage daughter. He moans with regret when he sees her rushing out to meet him. He explains to her what he has promised to God. She says, you have to do what you have to do. You promised God. In actual fact, it is quite clear that in his vow, what was said was … if it was a fit sacrifice … he would sacrifice it … if it was something he could consecrate to God … that is what he would do. That is what he did, consecrate his daughter unto the Lord … a virgin for the rest of her life. Jephthah believed God. He followed through with actions. God mentions Him in the book of Hebrews as having the kind of faith that He likes.
- 17. David … and Samuel the prophet … I agree with the writer … we don't have enough time to go into their lives. You may have been a little unfamiliar with some of these, but if there is anyone you should know anything about it would be David and Samuel. Men of faith. Men of action. God was pleased with their faith.
- 18. Verses 33-34 mention a list of others by only describing actions. We may be unsure of who is being referred to in most of the list, but we know who stopped the mouth of lions, we know who was not burned up in 'the fiery furnace'. Verses 35-38 adds to the list.
Heb 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
These all died … without having seen the fulfillment of the promise. They had heard about the coming Messiah for years … but they never got to see him. They had heard he was going to be King of kings and Lord of lords. But they never saw the day.
They died … in faith, How do we know they died … in faith? We know because faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. What evidence did they display? They lived like visitors here on earth. Their obviously different life style (including some who lived in tents) showed they ' were in the world but were not of the world'. Can people tell by the way that you live, by the values you have, by the things that you love, by the things that you hate, by the connections you make or don't make … that you are a visitor here?
These all died in faith … not having received the promises
That is, they have not received ALL of the promises. They have received some.
Some things that were realized or fulfilled include Abraham, after waiting so long for the promised son, lived to see generations unfolding during his lifetime. But the permanent homeland, the city with foundations whose builder and maker is God … he did not live to see and he does not have it yet. He did experience the change from the place he went to at death … called Paradise, and also named after him, Abraham's Bosom3 …. to the place where he went to at Christ's resurrection … Paradise in the third heaven4. He ascended at the same time as all of the dead believers who were raised at Christs resurrection5, following Christ to heaven.
Heb 9:28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
We have not seen that day either. We will see it together with them one day.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1Jos 2:8 ¶ Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof,roof,
9 and said to the men: "I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you.
10 "For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
11 "And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
12 "Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the LORD, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token,token,
13 "and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death."
14 So the men answered her, "Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the LORD has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you."
15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall.
2And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof.
(Joshua 2:3–6)
3Luke 16:22
42 Corinthians, 12:2
5Mt 27:52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.