Faith Chapter Concludes

Watchword: Daily Text

August 17, 2013

Hebrews 11:29-12:2

Today’s reading concludes the great faith chapter.  It begins by recounting the story of Rahab, the harlot of Jericho who hid the two Israelite spies and was rewarded by gaining safety for her family and ultimately was grafted into the lineage of Christ. Then we are reminded of Gideon who rousted the Midianites with 300 men and faith in God.  The writer names the names of the great … I love the language of the KJV in vs. 34 as the writer describes the deeds and the faith of these Old Testament heroes : “Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in the fight …” (Hebrews  11:34, KJV).  We love to read of the triumphs of faith and think if we just believe hard enough … long enough… think what God will do and He often does, praise His name!!  But there are others and the writer of Hebrews in this great faith chapter will not let them go unmentioned – those who submitted to the “greater yes” of God’s will and that may take more faith than the exploits  and triumphs of which we just read.  The writer notes “trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment :They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented…” (Hebrews 11:36-37, KJV).  Submitting to suffering of any type in the plan of God rather than pleading for deliverance is the heart that God desires from His children.  Our ultimate example in suffering is the Lord Jesus, who suffered for our sins on a the cross – a cross of shame. He knows what it is to suffer, and He bears with us in our pain.

Watchword:  Suffer patiently – Jesus is there