Letting your faith do the walking Part 13
The Faith of a Nation
Hebrews 11:29-30
Introduction
We live in a nation that was founded on faith. I heard just this week that after research of all the founding documents that were written by our founding fathers the conclusion was made that with out a shadow of doubt our founding document was the Bible, because in every document written by our founding fathers there were multiple references to the Holy Scriptures. Atheist can try to lie and cover that up, but the truth is the truth.
No other nation on the face of this earth has been through what the nation of Israel has been though. They truly have a dramatic, miraculous past. Tonight as we consider the nation of Israel and there dramatic, miraculous past we want to see what we can learn from there faith as a nation.
Read Scriptures: Hebrews 11:29-30
I. Israel’s faith was a faith that obeyed God against overwhelming forces.
Vs. 29 “By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.”
The forces confronting the Nation of Israel were actually three-fold: there was the pursuing mighty army of the Egyptians, the Red Sea in front of them and the mountain ranges on both sides, and there own murmuring and complaining and unbelief.
The famous words recorded in scripture, Exodus 14:11 “They said to Moses, was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die.”
It is easy for us now we have the whole story, well they didn’t have that benefit, and these people were very frightened. They were hemmed in with no way to escape, and an enraged King and army were in hot pursuit. There was no chance that the Egyptians would have taken any live prisoners back to Egypt, remember Egypt had lost there first born sons to the death-angel. Israel was doomed and the people knew it. The odds were over-whelming unless God steps in and delivered them.
Moses was steps forward in his faithful stand for God and says as recorded in Exodus 14:13-14 “Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."”
The salvation of the Lord was being proclaimed, and that message stirred the hearts of the people. In obedience to God’s command, (Exodus 14:21-22) Moses lifted up his rod and moved it across the face of the waters. When he did a strong east wind began to blow over the face of the waters. It blew so strongly that the waters divided. Imagine the scene: two towering walls of water with a stretch of dry land running down between them.
But the people’s salvation was on the other side. If they could reach that point, they were safe. They had been grumbling, but the message of God’s servant Moses had stirred there hearts to believe God. Now there were witnessing the very power of almighty God, as he was removing the overwhelming odds.
He actually rolled the sea back and made a road of dry land for them to march across to safety. The believed God, and they began to march forth-marching in the faith of God who had promised that He would lead them to the promised land.
Listen what a clear picture of salvation for us today! No matter the odds, God will overcome the odds and save us if we only believe and begin to march forth following Jesus as God commands us.
II. Israel’s faith was a faith that delivered and brought protection.
Vs. 29 “By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.”
The Nation of Israel believed God; therefore they were delivered despite overwhelming odds against them. But not only this: they were protected through the whole experience. Their enemies pursued them. It was night when Israel crossed the Red Sea and when the Egyptian army reached the shore.
The Egyptians were spiritually blind to God’s working and were hardened in their sin. If you think about the children of Israel was not an army, but a defenseless body of people fleeing the might and power of the greatest army in the world during this time in history. The Egyptians saw no reason to rush and slaughter them. The army acted blindly, rashly, and unthoughtfully.
They went right in after the Israelites. But God protected those who believed and trusted in Him. The east wind died down and the two walls of water closed in and covered them, drowning every one of them. God’s people were protected, completely protected by the hand of God.
God performed the miracle of salvation and deliverance for the people, but it was because of their faith. God always provides a way of deliverance for those who believe Him.
III. Israel’s faith was a faith that believed the unusual.
Vs. 30 “By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.”
This verse moves forward after the forty years of wandering in wilderness had finally ended, Moses has died and now Joshua is the leader of the Nation of Israel, they have crossed over the Jordan river to take possession finally of the Promised Land of God.
Jericho is the very first battle to take hold of the Promised Land. Jericho was a fortress, completely surrounded by a wall and apparently manned by a strong people.
How Israel to take the city? Humanly speaking the job was utterly impossible. Their only hope was God, and God was willing to give them victory over their enemies. It was just a matter of whether or not they would believe and trust God’s plan for victory.
God’s plan was brilliant: The people were to march around the walls of Jericho once a day for six days. Seven priests were to lead the march with the Ark of the Covenant and then the people following it. The march was to be in total silence for six days. On the Seventh day, the people were to march around the city seven times. After the seventh march, the priests were to blow seven trumpets and the people were to shout as loud as they could.
Now that is a battle plan. God said that if the people would do this follow His instructions and His promise then the walls of Jericho would fall down. Now of course most of the citizens of Jericho would be on top of the wall because of the change of events on the seventh day, expecting this would be the day the Israelites would attack. The enemies were conquered because the people followed God’s instructions and promise.
God has conquered the enemy of our souls, in order for us to get in on that victory we to come by faith and believe his and follow instructions. What Israel did must have seemed foolish to the citizens of Jericho, but when those walls began to fall, they were no longer laughing. The cross seems like foolishness to a lost and unbelieving world, but one day there will be no more laughing and mocking but sheer terror, the bible says “it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of an angry God.”
Conclusion
Tonight are you trusting and following God’s instructions for your life, or are you trying to make your own way in this life. Why don’t you just let your faith do the walking, and follow His instructions.
(Thanks sermoncentral, preacher’s sermon and outline Bible)
