Hebrews 11:17-12:3
Examples of men who walked by faith (continued):
E. The remainder of the chapter shows us: The Warfare of Faith -
The enemies of faith include:
a. The flesh (vs.17-21), cp. 1Pet 2:11
b. The world system (vs.22-28)
c. The Devil's dominion (vs.29-31)
11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac:
and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten [son],
Abraham did not receive the fulfilment of God's promises in his lifetime (v.13).
But in his old age, he did receive a son (Isaac) through whom the fulfilment would eventually come (in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, at His first & second comings).
To Abraham, this son became the focus & joy of his life. ("Isaac" means "laughter".)
Had Abraham's heart, which once yearned for God alone, been stolen by this son?
God tried (tested) Abraham: Would he trust & obey, even
when God's Word was contrary to his natural (fleshly) affections & expectations?
his only begotten- GK=monogenes, unique, one of a kind, irreplacable.
Abraham had other sons (eg., Ishmael). But none like Isaac. Gen 17:18,19
On this son, the promises (for which Abraham had lived) were hinged. (v.18)
11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: {Gen 21:12}
11:19 Accounting that God [was] able to raise [him] up,
even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Abraham believed that the God who commanded him to offer Isaac as a burnt sacrifice, would somehow keep His previous promise (v.18) even if it required resurrection from the dead.
Abraham's obedience was so quick & complete, that Isaac was as good as dead.
Only the Lord's intervention allowed Abraham and Isaac to "worship and come again...".
Gen 22:1-19; Rom 4:17-21
11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
Isaac's natural (fleshly) preference was to favor Esau over Jacob.
Esau was a ruddy man's man, a rugged outdoorsman.
Jacob was a momma's boy, who had a reputation as a deceiver.
But Isaac recognised that God's choice was otherwise, and surrendered to it.
Gen 27:26-40
He blessed -- Jacob before Esau (though Esau was the firstborn)
-- regarding things yet future, yet to be seen. (cp. vs.1,3)
11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph;
and worshipped, [leaning] upon the top of his staff.
Jacob blessed Joseph's sons contrary to the natural (fleshly) order:
Ephraim before Manasseh (the first-born), over Joseph's protests to the contrary. Gen 48:13-20
Jacob's request regarding his burial may also be in view here.
Like the blessing of Joseph's sons, his request demonstrated his faith in God's promise of inheritance in the land in which he had been a stranger. Gen 47:29-31
11:22 By faith Joseph, when he died {lit., drawing to his end},
made mention of the departing of the children of Israel;
and gave commandment concerning his bones.
made mention- GK=mnenenouo, called to mind, remembered.
Based on God's Word, Joseph foretold Israel's departure from Egypt, 350 years future.
gave commandment concerning his bones-
ie., 'When you depart, take my bones with you.' Gen 50:24-26
Why didn't Israel return immediately to the promised land? Because of the world:
They were in political favor & economic prosperity.
Why didn't Israel bury Joseph in Canaan as soon as he died? Because of the world:
He was a national hero, held in highest honor by Egypt. (cp. Gen 50:26)
But eventually, a Pharaoh would arise who had no respect for Joseph,
and Israel would be used as slaves for most of their time in Egypt.
Long before Israel developed a desire to depart, Joseph believed God's Word despite the contra-indication of contemporary political favor. cp. Ex 13:19; Josh 24:32
11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents,
because they saw [he was] a proper child;
and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
Moses' parents, in a time of political disfavor,
feared God and obeyed Him rather than the king. Ex 1:15,16,22; 2:2
a proper child- OT word: pleasant, agreeable. NT word: polished, comely, fair.
Apparently, baby Moses' appearance & demeanor somehow confirmed to his parents that God's will was superior to Pharaoh's.
11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years,
refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Moses, in a time of political opportunity,
refused- He threw away that which may have placed him in line for Egypt's throne.
Ex 2:10; Acts 7:21-24
11:25 Choosing {ie., having chosen} rather to suffer affliction with the people of God,
than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Moses chose to identify with the people of God, though to do so would be costly.
Ex 2:11-15
To do otherwise, would have been sin. Sin has its pleasures, but they soon pass.
As a member of the royal family, Moses had access to all kinds of pleasures, but he chose not to live for the present. Psa 73:1-3,15-20; James 5:1-7
11:26 Esteeming the reproach of {the} Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:
for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
the Christ- the Messiah, the anointed One.
by whom & in whom God's promises would come to fruition.
Faith has always looked to Him. Psa 89:50,51
The world has always reproached Him (held Him in distain). cp. Heb 13:13
Moses 'had respect'...- GK=apoblepo, to look away from all else to gaze at one object. [WEVine]
...to the recompense of the reward - or, 'unto the payment of wages'.
To Moses, the treasures of Egypt were as nothing, compared to the treasure in Heaven.
cp. 2The 1:4-10; Heb 10:35
11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king:
for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Moses forsook- Gk=kataleipo, to leave behind.
Twice, Moses left Egypt behind for the wilderness.
The first time, he tended Jethro's sheep; later, he shepherded God's people.
Moses endured- GK= kartereo, to be steadfast (related to GK kratos, strength)
In the contest with Pharaoh & in the trials of the wilderness, things looked hopeless, but he looked to God, the source of his strength. cp. vs.1,3; Ex 33:14,15; Psa 16:8
For Moses, the 'things seen' included Pharaoh's wrath, stern taskmasters, afflictive burdens, hard bondage, mortar and brick; the things 'not seen' included God's eternal purpose, His unfailing promise, His continual Presence, and the approaching day of salvation. [adapted from CHM]
11:28 Through faith he {hath} kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood,
lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
the passover- salvation through the blood of the lamb (looking forward to Christ).
lest [the destroyer] touch them- Moses recognised that
the sentence of death for sin applied to Israel as well as to Egypt.
through faith- Moses & believing Israel applied the prescribed remedy.
Ex 12:12,21-23,28,29
11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry [land]:
which the Egyptians assaying {ie., attempting} to do were drowned.
Faith in & obedience to God's Word set Israel apart from Egypt, though both took the same path:
For Eqypt it was the way of self-will & self-strength leading to death.
For Israel it was the way of God's mercy & God's power leading to victory.
God brought His people out of Egypt (representing captivity under the Devil's dominion)
by the blood of the lamb (v.28), and by the power of His own arm.
Ex 14:13-31; 15:1-20
11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down,
after they were compassed about seven days.
the walls of Jericho- represented the strongholds of Satan's dominion.
fell down- not by human might, power, or strategy.
Joshua obeyed the orders of the Captain of the Lord's host [army].
compassed about [for] seven days- For six days, and most of the seventh,
obedience to God's Word must have seemed very foolish to those on Jericho's walls.
by faith- Israel held on to what could not be seen up to the moment of the shout.
Josh 5:13-6:5; 2Cor 10:3-5
11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not,
when she had received the spies with peace.
Rahab was a child of Satan's dominion-
-- she grew up among a godless people ("them that believed not").
-- she was personally impure (a harlot).
by faith- she turned from these to the true and living God.
Read her testimony: Josh 2:9-11
received the spies- Her action, in behalf of the people of the true God,
and at considerable personal risk, demonstated her faith.
perished not- God saved her and did His work in her life.
Her past sins & associations were forgiven.
Her name is included in the ancestral line of Jesus. (Mat 1:5)
The specific examples above are sufficient to guide the believer in the life of faith in obedience to God's Word. But countless others have lived by faith. Each person's story is unique in trials & blessings. But all looked beyond this life. (vs.13-16)
11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of
Gedeon, and [of] Barak, and [of] Samson, and [of] Jephthae;
[of] David also, and Samuel, and [of] the prophets:
You will recognise some of these men & women of faith.
We will not dwell on any of them.
Representative references are provided so you can read more.
Gideon- Judg 6:11; 7:1-25
Barak- Judg 4:6-24
Samson- Judg 13:24-16:31
Jephtha- Judg 11:1-29; 12:1-7
David- 1Sam 16 through 2Sam 24
Samuel- 1Sam 7:9-14
11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, {eg. David}
wrought righteousness, {eg. the judges & the kings, 2Sam 8:15}
obtained promises, {eg. the Davidic covenant}
stopped the mouths of lions, {eg. Daniel, Dan 6}
11:34 Quenched the violence of fire, {eg. Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego, Dan 3}
escaped the edge of the sword, {eg. David & Saul, 1Sam 18:10-12}
out of weakness were made strong, {eg. Samson, Judg 16:28-30}
waxed valiant in fight, {eg. David against Goliath, 1Sam 17:20-52}
turned to flight the armies of the aliens. {eg. Gideon, Judg 7:20-22}
11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: {eg. Elijah, 1Kin 17:17-24}
Note the division here: Up to this point, the men of faith have known victory.
But now we see that men of faith may also know defeat in this life.
and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance;
{ie., the deliverance offered in exchange for compromise of the truth}
that they might obtain a better resurrection:
{ie., better than that of those who turn back, cp. 10:39}
11:36 And others had trial of [cruel] mockings and scourgings,
yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
moreover...- While mockings & scourgings may, at least, be momentary and temporary,
imprisonment may be long lasting, and may be in addition to the former trials.
11:37 They were stoned, {eg., Zechariah, 2Chr 24:20-22}
they were sawn asunder, {eg., Isaiah by King Manasseh, according to Jewish tradition}
were tempted, {ie., to turn back- In the face of such trials, the flesh is weak.}
were slain with the sword: {contrast v.34}
they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; {ie., the clothing of the destitute}
being destitute, afflicted, tormented; {tormented= ill treated, oppressed}
11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:)
they wandered {ie., as outcasts}
in deserts, and [in] mountains, and [in] dens and caves of the earth.
In the course of time, innumerable Christian martyrs would be added to this list.
Daniel was delivered from the lions' den.
But countless Christians were devoured in Rome's Colisseum.
Shadrack, Meshach & Abednego emerged from Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace.
But hundreds of believers, like John Huss (in 1414 A.D.), were burned at the stake for preaching that God's Word (scripture, not church or pope) is our final authority.
There is diversity in faith's experience (but not in its substance).
Some were delivered in joyful victory. Others suffered public shame & contempt.
11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report {ie., testimony} through faith,
received not the promise:
these all- There is singularity in faith's substance: the Word of God-
the testimony {or Word} of God (see note at v.2) was -
-- received ("having obtained").
-- believed ("though faith"). 1The 2:13
these all...received not the promise- cp. (11:13-16; 10:36)
11:40 God having provided some better thing for us,
that they without us should not be made perfect.
not without us- God's promises & their fulfilment unite true believers of all ages.
some better thing...be made perfect- In OT times, men of faith waited in the shadows
of God's salvation. But now, in Christ, the reality has come. Together, in Him, we have a better hope, a better covenant, perfect sanctification, eternal inheritance...
cp. Heb 7:19,22; 8:6; 9:8-15; 10:11-14; Luk 2:29-32
12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us],
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
a cloud of 'witnesses' (GK=martus, lit., testimony bearers)- The picture is
not of spectators in a stadium looking down on the players to see whether they stand or fall, but rather of a crowd of runners together, in a great marathon, moving toward a common goal. Those mentioned in ch.11 did not reach the goal in their lifetimes. But even in death, they speak. Their testimony encourages us to endure. Together, they say:
"The Word of the Lord stands sure" and "He is faithful that promised".
let us lay aside-
  • every weight- ie., our individual weaknesses, the things we usually call our besetting sins.
    The world will not help us live for God. We dare not impede ourselves.
  • the sin which doth 'so easily beset us' [lit., 'so readily stands round us']-
    is the sin of unbelief (which is common to us all). cp. Heb 3:12-19; 4:1-2
let us run-
  • with patience (10:36).
  • the race set before us- Your course may encounter different obstacles than mine.
    But we must all keep our eyes on that heavenly city (11:10), and on the One who has gone before us and will come again for us (12:2).
    1Cor 9:24-27; Php 3:13-14
12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith;
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame,
and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
looking- GK=aphorao, to turn the eyes from other things to one object alone.
unto Jesus...-
  • the author- Jesus is the basis of the faith. (cp. 2:10)
    He is the Word of God, the Lamb of God, the Right Hand of the LORD.
  • the finisher {perfecter}- Jesus will bring all of God's promises to completion.
    He will bring our race, our life of faith, to a perfect conclusion.
    Rev 1:17; Php 1:6; 2Cor 1:20
  • who...endured...- Jesus is the ultimate example of what it means to live by faith.
    Psa 69:20; Isa 49:5-9; 50:6,7; 53:10-12; Heb 10:5-12
  • who... is set down at the right hand... of God-
    Jesus is our surety of God's promises. Heb 6:19,20; 7:22,25-28
    As He looked to the Father, so we are to look to Him.
    As His faith was rewarded, so our trust in Him will not be disappointed.
    cp. Isa 45:22-24; Rom 9:33; Titus 2:13,14; Jude 1:21
12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself,
lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
consider Him...- or, 'weigh Him well...'
The Lord Jesus walked the rough road before us. He endured. He overcame.
cp. Mat 10:24,25; Joh 15:18-24; Heb 5:7-10; Rev 3:21
lest ye...faint...- In ourselves, we have no strength to endure. We must look to Him.
cp. Isa 40:30,31; Mat 28:18-20; 2Cor 3:5; 4:7-10,16-18; Jude 1:24,25
Oh, Lord, how do you see us?
Are we running the race well? -living by faith in your sure Word?
Or are we hobbling along, hamstrung by our own fleshly thinking,
by the corrupt culture in which we live, and by the opposition of the evil one?
Have you not told us -that your promises are for "him that overcomes" these things?
and -that "he that overcomes" is the one "who believes that Jesus is the Son of God"? (1Joh 5:5)
Oh, Lord, restore us to that well founded faith. For we live in perilous times,
and there is no other place to stand, no other way to live that pleases you.

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