BY FAITH, THEY SAW GOD’S GREAT WORK

Hebrews 11:29-40 / Keywords 11:29

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

 

11:29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days. 31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. 32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-- 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

 

1. The Israelites crossed the Red Sea as on dry land by faith (29). They also saw the great walls of Jericho fall when they obeyed God and walked around the city for a week (30). As a Gentile woman, Rahab helped the Israelite spies by faith in God. She and her family avoided perishing with the rest of the city (31).

 

2. There are many other people of faith the author could not mention by name. They were judges, kings, and prophets (32). They accomplished great things. They saw the great work of God when they kept their faith in God and obeyed his words. The victories they received in the world were answers to their prayer and assurance of God's faithfulness (33). However, ultimately, their hope was in God's kingdom and the promise of eternal life (35,38).

 

3. None of them received what was promised to them while living in the world. But they found the strength to persevere through the world's persecution by faith. God found their faith commendable (39). What God had planned for them was something that they had never imagined. It was completed through the Messiah, who carried out the salvation plan (40).

 

Prayer Father, I find my strength to overcome obstacles of the world when I come to you. Please help me to be strengthened by you today and fight a good spiritual battle.

One Word Overcome the world by faith