Sunday Night Bible Study Hebrews 11:24-31 September 25, 1994 Hebrews 11:24-31 Introduction The importance of faith The Jewish believers who were reading the original letter had been going through a great deal of persecution since they started believing in Jesus as their Messiah. Some of them had even been tempted to just give up in trusting in Jesus and go back to Judaism like they were before they were saved. But the writer has over and over again stressed the importance of faith, of trusting and continuing to trust in Jesus. Then the writer defined faith: :1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It's the "title-deed" or the assurance of things that are promised by God, and it's having a conviction about the unseen world. It's that ability God gives us to trust in something our eyes don't see. We'll see over and over how faith was used in the lives of the old testament saints, how they learned to trust in things they didn't see. 24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. :24 when he was come to years NIV: "when he was grown up" Exodus 2:1-10 Pharaoh decreed that all male newborns be killed. Moses' parents put him in a basket, floating in the river. Pharaoh's daughter saw the basket, took the child. Moses' sister (Miriam) offered to find a Hebrew nurse for the child. Moses' mom got to nurse Moses, even being paid for it. After being weaned, Moses is raised in Pharaoh's court, as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. Exodus 2:11-15 When he was "come of years" probably has to refer to: Exodus 2 11. And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that [there was] no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. 13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? 14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known. 15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. Acts 7 22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds. 23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one [of them] suffer wrong, he defended [him], and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: 25 For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. 26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? 27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday? 29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. He was forty years old when it happened. :24 by faith Moses ... refused Moses' actions that were influenced by his faith was to refuse the world and identify with Christ. Here's the choices we're often confronted with in this present life. Lesson: Saying no to sin. Follow the world or follow Jesus Do we follow Jesus and receive temporary suffering? Or do we follow the world and receive temporary pleasure? We are going to constantly be facing this question throughout our lives until we either die or Jesus comes back. Here's the choices: The World Jesus pleasures of sin for a season suffer affliction with God's people treasures of Egypt the reproach of Christ Sound like an easy decision? RWP: {The reproach of Christ} There is today as then (#Heb 13:13|) a special reproach (oneidismos already, #10:33|) in being a follower of Jesus Christ. There is no middle ground - you're either for Jesus or against Him. You can't sit on the fence. 1Jo 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. In a way, it's not easy to follow the Lord. It's not easy to say, "I'm not going to sin anymore". When we chose that path, we also are chosing a path of affliction and reproach. :26 he had respect unto the recompence NIV: he was looking ahead to his reward. Here was Moses' faith, "seeing the unseen". He was looking to the reward from God of following Him. This is the "how he did it". This was the secret to Moses' determination. Lesson: Keep looking ahead. Heb 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Php 3:13-14 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Heb 11:15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Romans 8 16-25 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected [the same] in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only [they], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, [then] do we with patience wait for [it]. Are you aware of the things that God has put before you to do? Are you aware of what things are to be left behind? Don't be looking back at things like sin, keep looking forward to Jesus. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. :27 he forsook Egypt Here, since Hebrews 11 is put together chronologically, we have to assume that the write is talking about Moses when he fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian. But there is an apparent contradiction here: Ex 2:14-15 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known. 15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. When we read this, we assume that the reason that Moses fled from Pharaoh was out of fear of Pharaoh (2:14). But here in Hebrews it seems to get a little cleared up. Moses wasn't afraid of Pharaoh in Exo.2:14, he was afraid of word getting around that he was a murderer. Lesson: Fear is the opposite of faith. Faith is trusting in the unseen. Fear is seeing the seen and reacting to it. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Do you think God is pleased when we are motivated by fear? We need to look at our decisions - are we making choices out of fear or out of faith? 2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. :27 he endured, as seeing him who is invisible RWP: This is the secret of his choice and of his loyalty to God and to God's people. This is the secret of loyalty in any minister today who is the interpreter of God to man This is the essence of faith. Seeing the invisible. Knowing He's there. A key to endurance: God is there! It's the fool that says in his heart, "God isn't there, God doesn't see..." 28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. :28 through faith In KJV, this kind of sticks out because the translators switched from "by faith" to "through faith". They did this also in verses 3, 11. But in all three instances (11:3,11,28) the Greek is the same as the other verses, we would be better to translate all three instances as the other verses, "by faith". 11:33 is different - it uses a different Greek preposition. It should be translated "through faith". :28 he kept the passover The Passover was another example of a "faith" thing. It was having an assurance of things hoped for. God promised to wipe out all the first born in every family, except those families that kept the Passover. This had never been done before, it was only a "hoped for" thing. The Passover: Each family was to take a little lamb from the flock, one which was unblemished. On the tenth of the month, you took the little lamb into your house. On the fourteenth of the month you kill it and spread it's blood over your doorway. And on that evening, when the Angel of Death passed through the land, he went from house to house, killing all the firstborn children, except where blood had been shed in the place of the firstborn child. And God accepted the blood of the lamb in place of the blood of your firstborn child. Sound Wierd? Sound Gross? God's judgment is going to fall upon each person. Heb 11:27 - man dies, then comes judgment. If you don't have a Lamb's blood shed in your place, you will face eternal death. Same principle. Same faith. 29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry [land]: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. :29 they passed through the Red sea It's not that they didn't see the pathway through the Red Sea that demonstrated their faith. They could see the pathway. But who had ever crossed through a sea on dry land before? Who would know if the walls of water would hold up for 6 million people to go through? Lesson: Faith isn't just limited to invisible things, but also never-tried-before-things. :29 the Egyptians ... were drowned The Egyptians thought that if the Israelites did it, they could do it to. That's a reasonable assumption if natural laws are at work. But there were supernatural things going on here. Note: For those who try to downplay the miraculous by saying that Israel went through the "Reed Sea", a swampy, marshy land, they have another miracle to deal with. If the water was only 6 inches deep, then how come Israel could get through it with all their women, children, and livestock, while the army of Egyptians drowned? 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. :30 the walls of Jericho fell down Note: There's a time gap of forty years between the last verse and this verse. There isn't one thing mentioned about the faith of the Israelites in the wilderness. Heb 3:18-19 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Joshua 6:1-5. Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. 2 And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, [and] the mighty men of valour. 3 And ye shall compass the city, all [ye] men of war, [and] go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. 5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long [blast] with the ram's horn, [and] when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. Jos 6:16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city. Jos 6:20 So the people shouted when [the priests] blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. God told them ahead of time what to do and what would happen. They had the assurance of things hoped for, and so they did it. The order of the march: Armed men, priests with trumpets, then the Ark, then the rear guard of armed men. Some have taught how this is a picture of the power of praise. I could see that if the Ark was out in front. Jehoshaphat is a picture of the power of praise (2Ch 20). This is simply their marching configuration. Army in front and back, with the ark in the middle. The trumpets are there to let everyone know who's coming. Lesson: The power of God in the midst of His people. Isa 12:6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great [is] the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. Zep 3:17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. God has given us much authority and power through His name. It's not the power of nuclear bombs or jet airplanes. It's an invisible, authoritative power that affects not only the invisible realm of the spirit, but also the physical dimension around us as well. And it's not OUR power, but HIS power that can tear down walls. The Israelites didn't get up and push the wall down. God did. Application: If you need more power in your life, put God in the center of your life! Don't put Him off on the outskirts of your life when He wants to get at your very heart! You'll see it at work. Things will happen. People will wonder what's going on. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. :31 Rahab perished not Jos 2:1-8 Two spies sent in by Joshua (instead of twelve!) They go to the house of a harlot in Jericho. When the king's men come looking for the spies, she hides them and send the king's men on their way. She sticks out her neck for the two spies. Jos 2:9-13 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. 10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that [were] on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we had heard [these things], our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he [is] God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: 13 And [that] ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death. Here's where we see her faith. She was able to see that God was doing something in these people. She wanted to be a part of it. She wanted to be on God's side, not against Him. Jos 2:14-21 The spies make an agreement with her As long as she doesn't tell on them, they'll save her and all in her house. She's to tie a scarlet thread outside her window on the city wall to identify her house. Everyone in her house on the last day will be saved. Kind of sounds like the Passover - all within the house with the blood on the doorway were saved. Kind of sounds like Salvation - all who come into the house of Jesus will be saved from the day of judgment. Some Bible scholars refer to the "Scarlet Thread of Redemption" that runs through Scripture. That God saves those who trust in Him! Did it happen? Jos 6:22-25 But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her. 23 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel. 24 And they burnt the city with fire, and all that [was] therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. 25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel [even] unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. In fact, not only was her house saved, but as Rahab and her family married into the people of Israel, we find her name popping up elsewhere as well. Mt 1:5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, Apparently Rahab was the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth, from whose line came David, from whom came Jesus! How can I have more faith? We can identify with the man who brought his son to Jesus for healing: Mr 9:23-24 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things [are] possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. It's great to see all these champions of faith believing in God. But for me it gets kind of tough sometimes. How to gain more faith: 1. Soak in God's Word Ro 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Get into God's Word, look at His great deeds Psalm 77 - a real depressing Psalm! Ps 77:10-12 And I said, This [is] my infirmity: [but I will remember] the years of the right hand of the most High. 11 I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. 12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. As you continue to spend time in God's Word, you also get a better glimpse at God's heart of love for you. 2. Stick out the trials 1Pe 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: The words "trial" and "tried" speak of the testing of precious metals, which is done by fire. The trials we face are the heat under the smelting pot of our faith. God needs to keep the heat on us from time to time to refine our faith. As the heat continues, the impurities come to the surface, where God as the master goldsmith can remove them from our lives. Baby giraffes...birth of a giraffe... In a View from the Zoo, Gary Richmond tells about the birth of a giraffe: "The first thing to emerge are the baby giraffe's front hooves and head. A few minutes later the plucky newborn calf is hurled forth, falls ten feed, and lands on its back. Within seconds, he rolls to an upright position with his legs tucked under his body. From this position he considers the world for the first time and shakes off the last vestiges of the birthing fluid from his eyes and ears. The mother giraffe lowers her head long enough to take a quick look. Then she positions herself directly over her calf. She waits for about a minute, and then she does the most unreasonable thing. She swings her long, pendulous leg outward and kicks her baby, so that it is sent sprawling head over heals. When it doesn't get up, the violent process is repeated over and over again. The struggle to rise is momentous. As the baby calf grows tired, the mother kicks it again to stimulate its efforts...Finally, the calf stands for the first time on its wobbly legs. Then the mother giraffe does the most remarkable thing. She kicks it off its feet again. Why? She wants it to remember how it got up. In the wild, baby giraffes must be able to get up as quickly as possible in order to stay with the herd, where there is safety. Lions, hyenas, leopards, and wild hunting dogs all enjoy young giraffes, and they'd get it too, if the mother didn't teach her calf to get up quickly and get with it... I've thought about the birth of the giraffe many times. I can see its parallel in my own life. There have been many times when it seemed that I had just stood up after a trial, only to be knocked down again by the next. It was God helping me to remember how it was that I got up, urging me always to walk with him, in his shadow, under his care."