The Faith Chapters

This morning I've been reading in Hebrew 11 which starts right off by telling us that faith is the evidence of things not seen. It says: “...Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Then it goes on to tell of those who, by the grace and mercy of God, moved according to the calling of the Lord on their lives despite not being able to totally understand or see.

"By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not seen, moved with godly fear.”

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”

“By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age because she judged Him faithful Who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars in the sky in multitude - innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore."

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, 'In Isaac your seed shall be called,' concluding that God was able to raise him up even from the dead...”

“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.” (more things not yet seen)

“By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.” He saw through the eyeglasses of faith that his descendants would journey to the promised land and he wanted his bones to go with them.

“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” He looked at the reward with faith rather than with his eyes.

The chapter also talks about Moses's flight from Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of the wall of Jericho. Then is says: “And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.”

Through faith they saw Jesus; they saw their own Salvation by His blood.

There are several more verses and then Hebrews chapter 12 begins with the word “Therefor” binding it to chapter 11. “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” The people of the Old Testament who looked through the eyeglasses of faith at Christ are themselves a testament to us that we may look both behind and before at the same Jesus. He gives those eyeglasses to us just as He gave them to them.

For a long time I thought that when I was unable to totally see what God was doing, faith would leap in and take the place of seeing, like Plan B. I had that backwards. These people in Hebrews 11 had faith, so they did not NEED to see. Seeing with their eyes was a poor substitute for faith in God. Faith is the ONLY plan, and – praise God – we have this plan intact because it is a free gift to us: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” - Eph. 2:8 and “So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” - 1 Cor. 2:5.

Whatever you are doing this weekend, take a few minutes to read Hebrews 11 and 12 together. We can have faith because our God is faithful.

“If we are faithless, He remains faithful.” 2 Tim. 2:13