Hebrews Chapter 11
There is a phrase that is repeated throughout scripture that has always caught my eye. It is the phrase that God says often “then they will know that I am God.”
Exodus 6:6-7 Say therefore to the people of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
This phrase is always a phrase where God has, or will perform some great action on the behalf of His people. God wants us to see that He is God, that He is real, and that He acts upon our behalf. There is only one thing that He wants from us and that is faith in Him, to believe. As you read through this famous chapter called the “hall of faith” you will see that word faith occurs many times.
Let's Reflect
1. How many times do you find the word faith?
2. One of my favorite verses in all the Bible is verse 6. If any person doubts, that there is a God, and asks God earnestly to show Himself to them – He does. I invite you to share that “dare” with the unsaved people you talk to. Encourage them to just ask God to show Himself to them and tell them to get prepared, because He will. What does God do for those who have faith in Him, who seek Him?
3. Think about this – all other religions of the world would have you believe in that religious system blindly. There is no evidence of, no substance to religion. As you read this chapter do you see evidence for your faith in the one true God?
4. Even when we read of times when it would seem impossible, God did the possible. For example, Sarah was too old to have a baby. But this was not beyond the ability of God who was Abraham and Sarah’s creator. He opened her womb, and she was able to have a baby in her old age. Can you imagine the increase of Sarah’s faith in God when she first felt that baby move in her womb? And from what seemed like an impossible birth God completed His promise. According to verse 12 what was the fulfillment of that promise?
5. We see the faith of Abraham – he was willing to sacrifice their long-awaited son, because he believed God would some how redeem this act of faith. What did Abraham believe God would do because he knew God could not lie? See verse 19.
6. Verse 26 tells us that Moses who was raised in the palace of Egypt was willing to give up that rich lifestyle because he had faith. What did he consider great wealth?
7. The persecution of Christians is thankfully something we do not hear too much about in our country, but it certainly happens in other countries. The Bible records many accounts of those who lost their lives for their faith. It would seem that they were treated unfairly, and they were, but God has something greater for them. They may lose their life on this earth but what will God provide for them?
The point of the whole chapter is that all of these people were considered great because they walked by faith and yet they did not receive the great promise – the promise of the Messiah. So those of us living today who have received the promised Messiah have even more reason to live by faith as we await His return. How is your faith in waiting for your Messiah, doing today?
