A Tested Faith Series

HEBREWS 11:35-40

A TESTED FAITH [LEAVING A LEGACY SERIES]

[Romans 8:35-38]

Many have been the triumphs faith has obtained against incredible odds and many have been the times when the faithful suffered because they chose to remain faithful. This section deals with many unknown men and women who were not delivered from difficult circumstances; yet God honored their faith. In fact, faith grows more when it endures than when it escapes. These verses show that faith produces worth and approval in those who undergo severe afflictions, adversity, and trials. Faithfulness in suffering produces character and virtue, and ultimately it produces a better resurrection (CIT).

In visiting these experiences of suffering we learn that trials should not nullify faith but rather strengthen faith. The reason for trials is because an untested faith is an unsure faith. The original renders were experiencing adversity for their faith. They needed to know this was nothing new but God’s way of purifying and strengthening faith down through the centuries. We also need this understanding.

The first four verses present a remarkable sample of spiritual stamina and endurance which proved the reality of faith. Verse 39 and 40 point to the future where tested faith will be rewarded.

I. TESTED FOR A BETTER RESURRECTION, 35.

II. TESTED TO PROVE WORTH, 36-38.

III. TESTED TO GAIN APPROVAL, 39-40.

In a swift transition of thought, the writer will move from faith’s obvious triumphs to what seemed to be its defeats in verse 35. But these seeming defeats were only temporal, not an eternal reality. “Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain resurrection;”

Elijah brought back to life the child of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-23), and his successor, Elisha, did the same for a Shunammite woman’s son (2 Kings 4:18-37). These mothers and these prophets believed God for resurrection, and He performed it. (Today we distinguish between resurrection and resuscitation. The resurrection is of the dead to judgment and resuscitation is bringing the dead back to physical life.)

The women suffered for a while, but the pain was alleviated when their child was restored to life. God does not always work in this way however. Many of the afflictions mentioned in Hebrews 11:35-38 were long-term, some even lasting a lifetime. God gave power through faith to see some of His people through their problems, not to escape them. Just as it is sometimes God’s will for His people to conquer over a struggle, it is also sometimes His will for His people to continue in their suffering. He will give them victory too, and the greatest victory is spiritual - which is the only kind of victory He guarantees. It often takes more courage to hold on than to fight on and where there is need for more courage there is need for more faith.

Now our author moves on to his second topic about the great things that faith will enable believers to undergo and suffer. “Tortured” is from the Greek tumpanzo where our word tympani meaning kettle drum is derived. The torture referred to is stretching one over a wheel shaped rack of torture then beating one often to death.

There can be little doubt that the idol worshiping Kings of Israel and Judah tortured numerous people for their loyalty to the pure worship of YAHWEH [but this probably refers to the persecutions under Antiochis Epiphanes during the intertestmental period. 2 Maccabees 7:1-42 records a likely incident where a mother and her seven sons were martyred. “All eight endured barbarous torture because they refused to disobey God’s laws. One moving incident in the story occurred when the pagan king asked the mother to encourage the last of the seven sons to renounce his faith and eat swine’s flesh. The mother, who has seen six other sons die, said to her son, “Fear not this tormentor, but, being worthy of your brethren, take your death, that I may receive you again in mercy with your brothers.” The son refused to obey the king’s command, and the king treated him with greater rage than all the other sons.” (Lea, Thomas. Hebrews. Holman NT Commentary. Vol. 1999. Nashville. p. 205). God’s faithful are willing to be beaten to death rather than compromise their faith in Him.

Sometimes affliction is escapable; sometimes it is not. To the person of faith, no affliction is escapable that requires denial or compromise of God’s Word. What is easily escaped for the worldly person is not for the faithful. When it is suffered because of God’s Word and standing for Him, God’s people will take torture, “not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection.” Here is the pinnacle of faith, willingness to accept the worst the world has to offer, even death - because of trust in the best God has to offer which is a better resurrection. [MacArthur, John. Hebrews. Moody Press. Chicago.1983. p. 367]. Faith that is cruelly tested is supremely rewarded. Temporary affliction leads to eternal blessing (2 Cor. 5:17-18).