Faith of Our Forebears
Hebrews 11:1-40
Published in Pulpit Digest, Jan/Feb 1996.
Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the management I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the Faith of Our Forebears Hall of Fame . We trust that you will enjoy your visit. If there is anything I can do to make your visit more enjoyable, please do not hesitate to approach me during the course of the tour. However, before we commence, I would like to point out a few simple instructions which will make your visit more meaningful.
First, I request that at all points of the journey you remain together as one group. This is not a journey to be undertaken alone. There are perils along the way, times when you will be tested. You will discover, possibly to your great surprise, that there is tremendous strength and encouragement in your common bond.
Second, I ask you as your guide to pay careful attention at all times to my instructions and to entrust yourself to my leadership. At times they will seem perplexing, even irritating. But I assure you, you are in good hands.
Bearing in mind those simple instructions, I trust that you will have a very enlightening experience. Now ladies and gentlemen, I ask you to place your hand on the shoulder of the person directly in front of you and to follow me as we head to our first destination.
We have arrived at our first vantage point. Is everybody comfortable? I know it is a little dark in here right now, but I assure you that is all part of the Faith of Our Forebears experience. You will appreciate it more fully as the tour proceeds.
On your left is the first display. Indeed it is one the finest in the entire tour. Here at Faith of Our Forebears we believe in starting with the very best. The opening sets the pattern, creates the tenor for everything which follows. Excuse me while I illuminate it for you.
There you are ladies and gentleman - the formation of the universe . . . You are right to gasp as you do, it is a marvellous scene. Order out of chaos, life ex nihilo . What is seen made from things that are unseen.
On your right, you will notice of course the celebrated figure of Abel. We are immediately struck by Abel’s physique, his tall well-developed body, necessary attributes of any shepherd. You will also notice his flock. Fat and succulent, they are extremely well cared for, having grazed in lush green pastures. They are the best from his flock. And they are his offerings to God. His finest sheep, offered to Him as an act of worship.
In one sense it is a tragic story, for you are aware that he was slain by his brother Cain in a fit of jealousy. He was barely a youth when he died. He never received what was promised. But he did I assure you. Tragedy was not the final word of this episode.
God Himself gave approval to his gifts and he received a great inheritance.
Now if you will take your neighbour’s shoulder once more we will proceed.
You will have realised by now the importance of our preliminary instructions.This journey is one which we can not undertake on our own. You can attempt to do so if you like, but I am afraid you will become hopelessly lost and stumble aimlessly in the darkness. This is one of those experiences which we must embark on together.
No, I am sorry madam. I am not able to turn on any lights. I would if I could, believe me. I know that your trip would be infinitely more pleasurable. But I am afraid there aren’t any lights. It is the nature of the journey. This trip must be negotiated in darkness.
Now, if you will turn to your right. You will notice Enoch. Enoch is the only member of the Hall of Fame who did not taste death.
There is a fable, I admit that it is fictitious, the story goes that one day Enoch and God went for a walk. An extra long walk, they walked on and on; until God said to Enoch, ’You are a long way from home; you had better just come in and stay.’ And he went. 1*
It is only a story, but it appeals to me and I can see that it appeals to you as well. God was pleased with Enoch and that is the reason he is such a prominent person in the Hall of Fame.
Now if you will follow me once more. Remember the instructions, it is vitally important that we stay together at all times. Keep your hand firmly placed on the person ahead of you.
Yes sir, you were asking? . . . Sir, that is a good question. The reason this journey is negotiated in darkness is because the management of the Faith of Our Forebears Hall of Fame firmly believe that the trip is one which can only experienced by faith.
No sir, not fate, I said faith, F-A-I-T-H.
Yes sir indeed, we do realise that you were joking. And believe me we appreciate your humour. We tend to get a little . . . what would you say . . . anxious on this tour, and we do feel much better for a laugh.
Now if you will look behind you, I am sure you will immediately recognise Noah. Those who are feeling a little silly right now will appreciate this one. Noah, of course, was instructed by God commanded to build an ark to save his family from the impending flood. Noah lived in a land locked country, I am sure you can imagine how ridiculous he felt in the face of the mockery of his neighbours. That of course is why he is in these very corridors, because he respected God’s warning even when he struggled to make sense of it.
We’d better move on, time is slipping away. We are now leaving this room and heading for an unknown destination. We commence a whole new phase in our tour.
No, I’m sorry madam, it is impossible for you to go back. I do understand how difficult this must be. Believe me. But once the journey is begun we cannot turn back. Can I suggest that you simply take it one step at a time. Remember the instructions, madam. If we all stick together and if you carefully follow my instructions, then I’m sure you find yourself transformed by the whole experience.
On your left here you see Abraham. This station is one of my favourites, if you don’t mind me expressing my personal opinions. He looks very dignified with his brilliant white hair and stately beard. Almost gleaming you could say. And why shouldn’t he?
You will also notice Sarah and Isaac. I like this, the family setting, it is a marvellous scene. It captures, in my humble opinion, the extraordinary nature of the whole episode. Abraham and Sarah are quite advanced in years. We can easily imagine how hard it must have been to believe the promise.
You will notice also how different they look to the others in the scene. They lived their whole lives as foreigners in a strange land. As people on the move, on the way to something else, they were continually looking, waiting for the land God had prepared for them
Next to them you will notice the rather chilling scene. Abraham, in the land of Moriah, offering Isaac as a burnt offering to God. I must admit I always feel uncomfortable at this one. I know it was a test, that sacrifice was not God’s intention, but there is something about this scene which sends a shiver up my spine. And that is precisely why Abraham figures in the Hall of Fame. He trusted God even when His request defied reason and jeopardised the very promises God had already made.
But we must not dally. As we continue you will notice the figures of Isaac and also his son Jacob. Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. Jacob, when he was dying blessed each of Joseph’s sons.
Now I ask you to be careful and to listen to my instructions very carefully. We are about to negotiate a series of steps. I know it will be quite difficult in the dark. I emphasise the need for extreme caution. We will descend slowly. Please take your time and be very careful. One slip could be dangerous.
On your right, you will notice Joseph. You are aware of course that he was sold by his brothers into slavery in Egypt. It is difficult for us to imagine the despair Joseph must have experienced in this loss of basic human freedom. God gave Joseph wisdom so extraordinary that his fame spread throughout all the earth. His wisdom enabled him not only to survive in Egypt, but he was elevated to a position of great authority in the land.
But his most notable achievement was believing the promise that God would set His people free from slavery in Egypt. He never saw it of course, he died in Egypt. But he believed the promise and his ancestors experienced its fulfilment.
I must warn you that the next section becomes quite difficult. It is very steep and will test both young and old alike. I urge you to take it slowly. And remember your instructions. I will go ahead of you at a manageable speed. Trust me, I will safely lead you through.
You see before you another of my favourites. We have a whole procession of episodes here, starting with the infant Moses hidden in the bulrushes.
Every time I visit this station I can hear the cries of wailing mothers echoing through these chambers. And an icy wind blowing. Perhaps you too can feel it too? These children, infant Jewish boys, were executed in a despotic form of population control. The modern term for it I believe is Ethnic Cleansing. It was a treacherous act of cowardice by a king, frightened and threatened by swelling Jewish ranks. And a desperate last ditch attempt by his parents, anxious to give their child a chance at life and willing to trust God to protect him.
Next to it you see Moses the leader. He was a great leader, a man of principle. It would have been easy for him to remain in the royal palace, to live in luxury and ignore the plight of his people. But he followed God’s call, obediently leaving its confines to become the leader of the Jewish people.
You’ll will notice Moses again in the final two scenes. Firstly, leading the children of Israel through the Red Sea. Then guiding them through the wilderness. They were hard years. Moses ability as a leader was tested, and so was his patience. The Israelites complained bitterly that God had led them out into the desert to die. There must have been times when he was ready to give up. But he knew the Promised Land awaited them. Though he never saw it himself, he never gave up hope that one day they would enter.
I’m sorry sir, I didn’t catch that . . . Sir, I don’t blame you for one moment. There are many people who come through the Hall of Fame who wonder if there is a management.
And sir, I must be honest. There are times when I wonder that very same thing myself.
It does look chaotic, I freely admit that. But I assure you sir, your perseverance is not in vain. What you are experiencing does have a purpose. But unfortunately, sir, we cannot always see or understand as fully as we would like . . . We must proceed, time is slipping away.
On the right you will see the walls of Jericho. Or rather what remains of the walls of Jericho.
And here is Rahab the prostitute. Her faith in God was a gamble, for she would surely have executed as a traitor if her trust proved to be misplaced.
Oh, I am afraid we are running badly behind schedule. I am so sorry, it’s entirely my fault, we’ve taken much too long at the start. We only have time for a cursory glance at the remaining scenes.
There’s Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jepthah David and Samuel.
The prophets.
Daniel, who shut the mouths of lions and quenched the fury of flames
Women who have received back their dead, raised to life again.
Those who faced jeers and floggings.
While still others were chained and put in prison.
Some who were stoned, sawn in two, put to death by the sword.
Those who went about in sheepskins, persecuted and mistreated
These were all commended for their faith. That is the reason we honour them in the Faith of Our Forebears Hall of Fame. Being sure of what they hoped for and certain of what they did not see, these people were commended for their faith, even though none of them received what had been promised.
Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank you for your company, for the spirit with which you have entered into the Faith of Our Forebears experience and for your willingness to entrust yourself to my care and direction.
On your departure, you will find refreshments and a recreation area. Please make use of the facilities. Relax and enjoy the stillness before your departure.
For this is the end of the Faith of Our Forebears Hall of Fame, but not the end of our expedition. I am sure you have already made the discovery for yourself - that we are participants in this tour, not spectators. The stories you have seen and heard are also your stories. Their experience is your experience.
Please rest awhile and gather your strength. For as you leave this hall, the journey will continue in your own life and experience.Faith will be required and perseverance will be the order of the day.
The God who controls the universe, the unseen Lord of heaven and earth, has made promises to us regarding the future. Promises that are sealed in the death and resurrection of Jesus, God’s own Son. It is a guaranteed promise that gives us reason to be living for the future. God has promised and God will deliver.
We are encouraged not to throw away our confidence because the going is hard, but rather to persevere. For in God’s time and in God’s way, we will receive what God has promised. Divine promises will be fulfilled, not in the short term but in the long term.
As people of faith, we are not throwing away or shrinking back. But persevering and believing. For now the people of God will live by faith - trusting, hoping in that which is unseen; relying upon the one who made the promises.
1. Dr Campbell Morgan, "Enoch walked with God". Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopaedia of 7700 Illustrations, (Rockville: Assurance Publishers, 1979), p. 1570.
