The examples given in this section demonstrate incredible faith in the face of hardship and hostility. These believers realized that having faith in God and being obedient to Him result in greater blessings.
The first example given is Moses's family. The Pharaoh at the time had commanded that all of the Hebrew male babies born in Egypt were to be thrown into the Nile River (Exodus 1:22): By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict (v 23). But Moses's family had faith in God. They hid Moses in a basket and floated it on the Nile River. Pharaoh's daughter found the basket and adopted Moses as her own.
Moses could have led an easy life in Pharaoh's palace, but when he grew up, he chose to associate with the Hebrews who were greatly persecuted by Pharaoh: By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin (vv 24-25).
Moses was able to make this choice, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt (v 26). He knew that disgrace for the sake of Christ (God0 was far more valuable than what the world could offer and that a better heavenly reward was available to him if he obeyed God. Although he suffered shame and ill-treatment, he was looking to the reward awaiting him in heaven (v 26).
Moses had many interactions with Pharaoh before he left Egypt with the Israelites. As we learned in verse 1, faith is the conviction of things not seen. Although Moses could not see God, he trusted His instruction. When he finally led the Israelites out of Egypt, by faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen (v 27). He was unafraid of Pharaoh because he had encountered God who is unseen (Exodus 3). He kept his focus on God and so continued without fear, knowing that God is greater.
In Exodus 12, God delivered His final plague on Pharaoh so that the Israelites could go free. God killed the first-born sons in all of Egypt, except for those that sprinkled sacrificial blood on the top and sides of their doorposts. By faith Moses and the Israelites observed God's commands and kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them (v 28). Their firstborn sons were spared.
When the Israelites had left Egypt, Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army out to bring them back. God parted the Red Sea, making dry land so that the Israelites could pass through, and when the Egyptians tried to pursue them, God released the sea and they were drowned (Exodus 14). By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned (v 29). Moses and the Israelites experienced doubt and great hardship that would cause many to be paralyzed in fear, but their faith in God allowed them to continue.
These last verses show the victory of Jericho: By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days (v 30). God told the Israelites to circle the walls of Jericho for seven days. This might have seemed a tedious task. However, they had faith in God and did as he asked them and after seven days, the walls of Jericho fell down.
Rahab, a prostitute, lived in Jericho at this time but her life was spared because she welcomed Hebrew spies in peace into her home: By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace (v 31). When she did so, she asked that her life be spared, trusting in God rather than the walls of her city. Rahab was not a Hebrew, but her faith in God saved her life. She is a picture of those who cast their hope on a God they can't see rather than the world they can see (See Joshua 2, 6).
FAQs
Faithful believers still do what is right even in the face of persecution. The examples given in this section demonstrate incredible faith in the face of hardship and hostility. These believers realized that having faith in God and being obedient to Him result in greater blessings.
What is the lesson of Hebrews 11 23? ›
This passage in Hebrews gives examples of believers who exemplified godly faith. According to this passage, true "faith" is a forward-looking trust, in the face of the unknown, based on what the believer knows of God.
What is the message of Hebrews 11 31? ›
“By faith Rahab… did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies” (Heb 11:31). Hebrews makes it clear that it was “by faith” that Rahab did not perish. But the evidence, the proof that her faith was genuine, was that she gave a friendly welcome to the spies.
What is the main point of Hebrews chapter 11? ›
God gives forgiveness, peace, and spiritual provision. He promises a "city with foundations," in which we will live forever (Heb. 11:10). Faith is the evidence of these things in our lives, the conviction that draws strength from them to follow God.
What did God mean when he said they shall never enter my rest? ›
God swore that those who do not continue in faith will not enter His rest. This rest refers to possessing the reward of our inheritance as believers. On the seventh day of creation, God rested because His works were finished from the foundation of the world (v 3).
What are the lessons we can learn from David's fall and repentance? ›
The fall of David in 2 Samuel 11 is one of the saddest accounts in all of Scripture. Yet it also has great value as it offers us hope about the greatness of God's forgiving grace—while also warning us about the terrible consequences of sin, even forgiven sin.
What does Hebrews 11-24-25 mean? ›
The Choice Faith Makes
“By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin” (Heb 11:24- 25).
What does Hebrews 11-32-34 mean? ›
The Pauline Author recognizes that he cannot acknowledge all of the faithful believers, but he names some of the incredible trials they endured for their faithfulness. In the previous sections, the Pauline Author recounted stories of the early believers from Adam and Eve through Moses.
What is the spiritual lesson of the book of Hebrews? ›
Lesson 2 – You should work hard, because the warnings are serious. Lesson 3 – You can trust, because God calls you to live by faith. Lesson 4 – You can endure, because this world is not your home. Lesson 5 – You can be satisfied in Christ, because Jesus is Greater than all.
What Hebrews teaches us? ›
Hebrews pictures Jesus as better than the angels, as bringing better lives to humanity through salvation, as offering a better hope than the Mosaic Law could promise, as a better sacrifice for our sins than a bull or a goat, and as providing a better inheritance in heaven for those who place their faith in Him (Hebrews ...
The message of Hebrews for the global church is that Jesus is better than every other thing believers are tempted to fall back into, such as their formers ways of sin, culturally comfortable patterns of thinking or living, or non-Christian ethical codes.
Why is Hebrews 11 called the Hall of faith? ›
Simply put, chapter 11, called the “Hall of faith” or “Faith Hall of fame,” is a list of men and women who were determined to follow God. Though they lived in different times and faced different circ*mstances, each of them chose to show loyalty to the Lord.
What does the sermon Hebrews 11 outline? ›
We must believe there is a God, and He is the God of the Bible b. Though we do not see Him, we have conviction in "things not seen" - He 11:1b 2. Includes confidence "that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" a. We must believe that God acts on the part of those seek after Him - cf.
How do I enter into the rest of God? ›
5 Steps to Finding Rest in God
- Step One: Call to Him During Sleepless Nights (Psalm 4) Answer me when I call to you, ...
- Step Two: Trust God With Your Future (Psalm 16:1-2; 7-11) ...
- Step Three: Allow Him To Lead You (Psalm 23) ...
- Step Four: Give All Your Worries to Him (Psalm 127) ...
- Step Five: Quiet Your Soul Before God (Psalm 131)
He wants us to trust God and pursue the rest and recovery he offers. The word for “sleep” could also be translated “rest,” and the phrase “he gives sleep to his beloved” could be translated, “he provides for his beloved during sleep (or rest).” In other words, taking time to rest and recover is an act of trust in God.
How does Jesus give us rest? ›
Jesus frees people from condemnation by forgiving all sin through his sacrifice on the cross. In doing so Jesus grants Christians renewed access to God that individuals could never earn or accomplish on their own. No longer estranged from God due to sin, people can now enter into real restful communion with God.
What does for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance mean? ›
It means that God won't change His mind about what he has called you to do. If God has called you, that calling is still there, whether or not you have obeyed. And if God gave you a gift, that gift is still there! Whatever God has called you to do, He has also gifted you to do it.
What does it mean that God gave us the ministry of reconciliation? ›
"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
What is repentance from dead works and faith in God? ›
Repentance means a reversal. Therefore, repentance from dead works means we stop trying to be saved by looking for favor from God through our works, but we realize that these things are obtained by faith.
What does it mean with the mouth confession is made unto salvation? ›
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:9-10). Note that Paul said “if” one confesses with the mouth and believes in their heart they shall be saved. The opposite of that is that if they do not do those two things, they will not be saved.
