Is faith the assurance of things hoped for, the proof of things not yet seen? Did the patriarchs and matriarchs have a faith that pleased God? Do we believe that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him? Let’s discuss this in Hebrews 11.
What is faith? Did faith make the ancient patriarchs and matriarchs pleasing to God?
Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see. It was their faith that made our ancestors pleasing to God. (Hebrews 11:1-2 CEV)
What is one of the most important things that we realize in faith? Was the universe created?
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:3 ESV)
Did Abel act on faith? Is that what made his sacrifice better than his brother’s?
By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith. (Hebrews 11:4 HCSB)
Did Enoch have faith? Did this please God?
By faith Enoch was taken away without experiencing death. He could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he won approval as one who pleased God. (Hebrews 11:5 ISV)
What must we believe? Is diligence in seeking God important?
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 KJV)
Did Noah act on faith? Did he make great preparations for a barge to carry his family?
By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (Hebrews 11:7 LSB)
Did Abraham act on faith? Did he obey God in faith or just believe without action?
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as a stranger in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:8-10 NASB)
Did Sarah have faith? Did she have a child in her old age?
And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. (Hebrews 11:11-12 NIV)
Did they all have a heavenly hope? Did they seek a heavenly country?
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:13-16 NKJV)
Did Abraham act on faith? Would any of us have so readily done such a thing?
It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead. (Hebrews 11:17-19 NLT)
Did Isaac, Jacob and Joseph act in faith? What about our faith, is it faith in action or empty belief?
By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. (Hebrews 11:20-22 WEB)
Did Moses’ parents act in faith? Did they disobey pharaoh’s murderous orders?
By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months when he was born, because they saw that the child was beautiful and they weren’t afraid of the king’s orders. (Hebrews 11:23 CEB)
Did Moses act in faith? Did he prefer God's people to his status in Egypt?
Then after Moses grew up, his faith made him refuse to be called the king's grandson. He chose to be mistreated with God's people instead of having the good time that sin could bring for a little while. Moses knew that the treasures of Egypt were not as wonderful as what he would receive from suffering for the Messiah, and he looked forward to his reward. Because of his faith, Moses left Egypt. Moses had seen the invisible God and wasn't afraid of the king's anger. His faith also made him celebrate Passover. He sprinkled the blood of animals on the doorposts, so that the first-born sons of the people of Israel would not be killed by the destroying angel. (Hebrews 11:24-28 CEV)
Did Israel act in faith in the Exodus? Were crossing the sea and destroying the walls of Jericho acts of faith?
By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. (Hebrews 11:29-30 ESV)
Did Rahab act in faith? Was her faith greater than her sinful lifestyle?
By faith Rahab the prostitute received the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed. (Hebrews 11:31 HCSB)
Did many others act in faith? Is the old testament filled with deeds of faith by very imperfect people?
And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, received promises, shut the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, escaped death by the sword, found strength in weakness, became powerful in battle, and routed foreign armies. Women received their dead raised back to life. Other people were brutally tortured, but refused to be ransomed, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Still others endured taunts and floggings, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, sawed in half, and killed with swords. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins. They were needy, oppressed, and mistreated. The world wasn’t worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and from caves to holes in the ground. (Hebrews 11:32-38 ISV)
Did they all receive a good report through faith? What promise did they not yet receive without us? Will they and we be made perfect together?
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:39-40 KJV)
Is faith the assurance of things hoped for, the proof of things not yet seen? Did the patriarchs and matriarchs have a faith that pleased God? Do we believe that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him? You decide!
