Faith (11:1-40)

Faith belongs to that overarching theme that is the vastness and magnificence of God’s inheritance for us.  Faith is not a spatial or temporal concept that is limited in scope or time.  Faith is for the greatness of the future that is God’s (and thus ours in Christ).

We often want or have faith for small things without considering the bigger implications.  For example, we want faith for a job, but we seldom consider the bigger issue of being salt and light in the workplace; we struggle with faith for finances, yet without concern for the fruit of generosity!  Being fit for the Kingdom means that we consider the harvest, not just the ploughing.  We don’t have faith just for the straight line (although it is certainly necessary, especially when we lose sight of the marker), but for the harvest that will come.                 

Faith must be exercised from the believer’s position, which is a personal confidence in an open heaven.  A reminder is needed that this letter, Hebrews, was written to people in danger of falling away.  Perhaps their certainty in an open heaven had diminished.  So the writer has to remind them again about faith - a confident faith that is expressed even when facing blatant unbelief (cf. 4:2).

It is not easy to give a concise definition of faith, as it is more easily seen in its fruit, but an attempt may be to state that it is a “confident, certain assurance”; it is found in adhering to the promises of God, depending on the Word of God and being faithful to the Son of God.

The writer takes much of this portion of the letter to admonish the readers through the power of example.  These are broken down into ‘covenant watersheds’: those of life, promise and redemption.  It is the flow of the redemptive story of God right through from the beginning of Creation.

Life (11:3-7) - God gives life at Creation.  Abel is a constant witness to that life, even paying the ultimate price for it.  Enoch is an example of a constant walk in that life, eventually superseding life itself!  Noah lived in constant obedience to that life, a constant pattern of faith in the face of unbelief.  Faith in the life that comes from God brings the very reward of life (v.6).

Promise (11:8-22) - God gives promises.  He gave promises to Abraham.  Abraham accepted and lived in the reality of those promises even though he never got to see them in his 175 years. 

Why is it that as modern Christians we always assume that we will walk in temporal inheritance?  Maybe we need reminding that faith has no time guarantee, only a result guarantee.  We cannot accurately predict the exact time of harvest, but we can predict the fruit (cf. Jesus’ rebuke in Lk.12:56).  If we have an apple tree, we may not know the precise date when apples will be perfectly ripe for plucking, but we will know with certainty that it will be apples that are plucked!  Abraham did not look at the process of salvation, but at its conclusion.  He lived in the promise, even if he never got to see its conclusion.  Could we have as much faith?  To be fit for the Kingdom requires it, so that we don’t get disillusioned when the ‘inheritance’ does not seem to be happening.

Abraham could not “look back” because he had responded in faith to God.  We are all aliens and strangers here, so we don’t attach ourselves too firmly to this life.  We look forward to a promise, and we are prepared to consider what lies beyond our own horizon.

Isaac was the recipient of God’s favour.  He blessed his sons - he blessed one generation.  It is worth noting that he blessed both his sons, even though only one continued in a godly manner.  Parents with children that have wandered from God need to remember this principle: our children are precious and all need blessing!

Jacob was the recipient of God’s legacy.  The twelve tribes will be there in eternity as the very gates of heaven itself - now that is some legacy!  Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph - two generations.  Our legacy is seen not in just those who come after us but in those that come after them too.

Joseph was the recipient of God’s redemptive purpose.  He would begin the redemptive plan for Israel that would happen 400 years in the future.  He blessed multiple generations.  The promise of God binds us in a faith that transcends generations.  We must have faith for those who come after us.  We may not see them walk in their promises in our lifetime, but we pray for it nonetheless.

Redemption (11:23-38) - God rescues.  He rescued through Moses, a man whose faith was set apart, courageous, sacrificial, reward-seeking, persevering, passed-over and passing through.  Moses was faced with choices to deny or to accept what God was doing.  To be fit for the Kingdom means that, like Moses, we need to make the right choices.

We need a reminder, too, not just of the great heroes of redemption, but all the many who have gone before, those who I like to call, “Conquerors, Kings and Kin-folk” - the triumphs and tragedies of real people living in real faith.

There are those with mountain-moving faith (Jericho - note the faith of the people, it was a collective faith!  Never underestimate the power of the faith of people acting together).  There are those with unbounded faith, a faith with no barriers - Rahab was not your regular saint, and in fact the only thing she knew was that the Israelite God was stronger than whatever god she was used to, and God counted that as righteous.  God regards our faith in His greatness over our position in life, age, sex or wealth!  Then there were those with a minority-majority faith (Gideon); no matter how puny they thought they were, with God they were the majority.  And then there was conquering faith (David); a prayer-filled faith (Samuel); even a lion-killing faith (Samson)! 

This is the kind of faith we have been redeemed for and which we must walk in.  We have the privilege of more than just a promise, and we in no way miss out on the reward of faith.  And that is the common thread - “by faith”.  By faith we receive life - eternal life; by faith we receive the promises - yes and amen, fulfilled; by faith we receive redemption - the salvation of our souls.  “We are not of those who shrink back” (10:39); we are of those of faith; those who endure; those who receive.  We are fit for the Kingdom because we live in faith: confident, assured and certain, looking to the life, promise and redemption of God in Christ Jesus.