As we continue our brief study on the subject of faith, let us consider heroes and champions of the faith found in scripture.
The Hall of Faith
Hebrews chapter 11 is often called “The Hall of Faith” because it contains a list of heroes of the faith. Men and women who overcame enormous obstacles because they believed and trusted in God. These examples of faith will help us better understand this non-tangible but powerful virtue called faith.
Abel
Our first example is Abel. The account of his short-lived life can be found in the fourth chapter of Genesis. He had an older brother named Cain. Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain was a tiller of the ground. In the process of time, Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought an offering of the firstborn of his flock.
The Lord had respect for Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. For this cause, Cain became angry and killed his brother.
There are several views why Cain’s offering was rejected, but we know from scripture, God looks at the heart, and desires worship in spirit and in truth. If Cain brought his offering with the wrong attitude, alone would disqualify him and his offering from being accepted by the Lord.
Abel brought his offering by faith, according to the book of Hebrews. As we already shared, it is impossible to please God without faith. So, Abel offered his sacrifice by faith, while Cain did not. Abel acknowledged the Lord from his heart – Cain did not.
Abel also considered the need for a blood sacrifice that pointed to the coming of Christ who would crush the serpent’s (Satan) head (Genesis 3:14-15). This was an act of faith in God’s promise of salvation and victory over the devil.
Noah
The next hero of faith we will discuss is Noah, who received a warning from God, prepared an Ark and saved his household from the most catastrophic event the world had ever seen. He responded to God’s warning of an impending worldwide destruction and acted in faith by preparing the Ark.
Noah’s faith was initiated by God, who gave him a prophetic warning. That ‘word’ was like a rhema word (John 15:7) that put faith in his heart to do the seeming impossible task of building an ark to save his household and the animals that were spared. Remember, as we shared in our last post, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (rhema) of God.
Someone once said, “Faith is a fact, but faith is an act.” We will see this played out again and again in our biblical examples. Dormant faith is not bible faith. Faith acts on the word of God, whether resting in His promise in complete trust and peace or stepping out to do some seeming impossible task or directive.
Abraham
Our next “Hall of Faith” hero is Abraham, who is called the “father of many nations.” (Genesis 17:4-5)
God called Abram (Abraham’s prior name) and commanded him to leave his country in the land of the Chaldees, to a land he would give to him and his descendants. Without any physical evidence Abram (Abraham) obeyed, left his father’s country, and wandered 1000 miles to a strange land he had never seen. This took much faith, but because he believed the word of the Lord and received it, faith was imparted. This faith enabled him to walk out God’s instructions.
The book of Hebrews summarizes this account as following:
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; Hebrews 11:8-9
Abraham was able to endure numerous difficulties of this life-long journey because he received the word of God and obtained faith. We too can endure the many hardships and trials of life by standing on the revelation of God’s word that has been implanted into our hearts. This can only come as we spend time with Him in prayer, praise and worship, and meditation in His word.
Sarah
Let’s look at another example from the “Hall of Faith.”
By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. Hebrews 11:11-12
Sarah, Abraham’s 90-year-old wife, received strength to conceive and bare a son. At that time, she was well past the age of childbearing, yet because she had respect for the Lord’s promise, she acted by faith, was joined to her husband, and conceived and bore Issac, who was the promised heir.
By examining these passages, it appears Abraham and Sarah had given up on having children in the natural UNTIL the Lord gave them His promise of becoming a mighty nation. This promise gave Sarah faith to “try” again, and her faith received the needed strength to conceive, carry, and deliver a son.
Moses
Our next hero of the faith is Moses. He was the prophet God choose to bring Israel out of Egyptian bondage.
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command. By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. Hebrews 11:23-26
This is a great pictorial analogy of our walk with Christ. We must refuse and choose. We must turn away from things of this world that are contrary to Him, and choose to walk with Him, even when it means suffering rejection, accusations, and mistreatment.
Moses did not choose the easy way of the palace in Egypt. He chose to obey God, knowing it would cost him his comfort, prestige, privilege, and worldly power. He saw, spiritually speaking, the Kingdom of God as the true riches and the purpose of his life.
We must turn our focus from the natural to the spiritual. The things of this world, to the things of eternity with Jesus Christ our Lord. This is always a choice, and one we should re-examine often. We must always ask ourselves, “Is my all on the altar?” “Am I a living sacrifice to God” “Am I being conformed to this world or Christ?” (Romans 12:1-2).
We must choose who or what we will serve. Joshua made that decision and exhorted the people of Israel to do the same.
And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15
Walking by faith is a choice and a righteous response to the grace of God. Noah responded to the grace of God by building the ark to save his household.
Abraham responded to the grace of God by leaving his country and family and going to a strange land his heirs would inherit.
Sarah responded to the grace of God by believing the promise and receiving strength to conceive a child when she was well past childbearing.
Moses responded to the grace of God by refusing to be called the son of Pharaoh and accepting the mandate of the Lord to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt.
How will you and I respond to the grace of God offered to us through Jesus Christ and God’s word? Will we choose His way or our own? Living by faith is cooperating with God’s plan, accepting His ways, adopting ourselves to His plan and purpose every day of our lives. This is a lifestyle, not a “one and done.”
The scripture is filled with a plethora of wonderful examples of men and women who through faith:
“… subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens (foreigners).
Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword.
They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. (Hebrews 11:33-40)
Faith has the power to make champions out of ordinary people. It is the substance, assurance, ground, for things hoped for when there is no supporting physical evidence. Faith is a fact from God, but an act on our part.
Until next time, may God our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, richly bless and keep you.
James Brown CST 08/10/2023