Hebrews Chapter Eleven Verses 29-40

HEBREWS CHAPTER ELEVEN VS 29-40 (USING KJ TEXT, STUDY BOOK WILL REFERENCE A DIFFERENT VERSION FOR READING)

Heb 11:29  By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. 

Heb 11:30  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 

Heb 11:31  By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. 

Heb 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: 

Heb 11:33  Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 

Heb 11:34  Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 

Heb 11:35  Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 

Heb 11:36  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 

Heb 11:37  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 

Heb 11:38  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 

Heb 11:39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 

Heb 11:40  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. 

Main Point: First using notable people from the scriptures, the writer then makes his main point: “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise”  - This is a tell of what was happening within the Christian ranks.
The writer re-iterates the fact that these did not receive the promise! (13,39)

6. How was faith visible in the following people’s lives:

The people of the exodus: Read Exodus 14. In the Hebrew writer’s telling, they exhibited faith by traveling through the Red Sea and when they defeated Jericho. In retrospect, the Israelites complained to Moses concerning their perceived impending doom at the hands of Pharaoh and his army. It took the threat of certain death for them to comply. By the time Jericho happened, they were a different people. Hardened by several decades of wandering, they were ready to fight. But does that mean that they were ready to turn their hearts over to God?

Rahab: Joshua 2 – Rahab helped the Israelites because she recognized Jehovah as the source of their military successes. Her bargain with the Israeli spies ensured not only her safety and her families safety, but set the stage for her inclusion in the messianic anscestry.

The rest: Gideon – Judges 6-7 – Gideon was a reluctant warrior at first. Israel had been given over to their enemies for BAAL and Ashereh worship. Once convinced by signs from God, Gideon became strengthened enough to lead 300 soldiers against thousands.

Barak, Samson, Jepthah: Barak, the soldier actually lacked faith. But he knew God was with Deborah so he would fight if she would come. She did, and they routed the army and ultimately, king Sisera was killed by Jael (another female). Samson, a brute and Nazarite would quite often act unbecoming a chosen one of God. He is most noted for his final act of faith while being made sport of by his enemies. He called to God for one last effort to destroy his (and God’s) enemies. Jepthah is most known for his rash vow, but the vow was based on asking God to bring success in his military campaign.

Samuel and David were catalysts though which God would bring Israel to its most powerful position in the region. Samuel was dedicated to God from birth and lived his life with that moniker. David was noted as a man “after God’s own heart” made songs to God and exemplified the trust God seeks from mankind.

The prophets of God spoke to the people whatever God wished. These were the true prophets and were mostly hated and persecuted because the people wanted to practice idolatry.

All of these in their faithful acts understood that there would be something better after this life on earth….or at least that trust in God transcends anything another person may say about them, or anything anyone would try to do against them.

They all ignored the sufferings imposed on them by others, knowing they belong to God and ultimately will gain presence with Him in another dimension. Their sight was set on their eternal place with God, not the immediate, temporal state of being human.