The Weekend Word
Hebrews 11:20-30
20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.
- Isaac blessed both Jacob and Esau
- See Genesis 27
- What about Rebekkah – she knew the promise
- Where is faith in this passage? When Isaac realized that he was wrong – and he kept the blessings in place. He knew either it was God’s plan or God would now use it as his plan.
- He knew he had done it wrong. V 33 his reaction – “Then Isaac trembled very violently.”
21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.
- What do you think the blessings were like?
- Would they be something like – “the words have been said over me and the water has been poured on me”?
- Faith sometimes means going against “traditions” – not blessing the 1st
- The promise of eternal life & heaven is sure and secure. But do we really hold on to it?
- Are you going to heaven? How many times have you heard someone say (or perhaps yourself) “I sure hope so.”
- God does not want us to be unsure, so he gives us the sacraments. How do you know you are going to heaven? “I have been baptized.”
- How do you know your sins are forgiven? “I have taken his body and blood in my mouth as instructed.”
22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
- Joseph was looking for a resurrection
- Joseph was not going to follow conformity – his bones belonged to Israel.
- Joseph lived in Egypt from 17 to 110 yrs old
- After all those years in Egypt, he still understood the promises given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
- Were you that well trained at 17? Today?
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
- This example is not about Moses but about his parents
- Where is the faith? It’s not in putting Moses in the water – but keeping the baby Moses for those first 3 months, defying the king’s commands.
24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
- Bringing up Moses to these Hebrews who are considering leaving the faith because of persecution, is absolute genius.
- What OT figure put up with more garbage than Moses.
- But he knew something better was coming.
- When it came time to ACT on his faith – he did.
- Acts 7 gives the inspired version of the exodus account.
- Moses thought this would lead to a revolution which he would lead.
26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
- He was thinking of Christ?
- Again, the NT writers interpret the old.
- What were the riches of Egypt? Think of the exhibits we see today that go on tour, all the gold, jewels etc.
- Now try to imagine the reaction of these Hebrews to Moses giving that all up for Jesus – and they being chastised for leaving.
27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
- What was Moses like when he confronted the king? – Bold
- Again this theme of endurance.
28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
- Obedience to the will of God.
- 1st Passover – blood on the house
- More than symbolism – this is a great look ahead at a timeless reality.
- Any Jewish 1st borns killed? How about any who did not believe and did not put blood on the doorposts? Could an Egyptian have been saved?
29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.
- How high was the water stacked up on each side?
- How loud was the wind?
- Moses is a part of the “they” – “the people”
- God literally led them to the Red Sea – cloud – pillar of fire
- Which to anyone who knew the geography, would have seemed like a dead end at the Red Sea.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
- Now we are into the 2nd generation of wilderness wanderers.
- What happened to the 1st generation? Died in the desert.
- Talk about BIG FAITH – after the 6th time around, how many do you think wanted to quit? “Hey boss, walking around this place one more time isn’t going to do anything – let’s pack it up.”
- How outrageous was the command to walk around Jericho?
- Is it any more outrageous than today we are told to forgive someone who is unforgivable? Or we are told to pray a blessing over our enemies?
“•The promise of eternal life & heaven is sure and secure. But do we really hold on to it?”
Jesus puts it like this:
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”
What is “abide”? Abide = to remain (not to depart); to continue to be present; to be held, kept, continually; to wait for.
And here:
“As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”
Jesus says to us to hear, but also to hold fast to his Word in our hearts. Then with patience we will bear fruit. The flipside is leaving his Word. Luke 8:16-18 warns the apostate that “even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”
The word faith gets tossed around this passage quite a bit. What does it mean? We know as Christians that faith has never saved anyone – so what is being said here?
the two illustrations – abiding and planting deal with different aspects – in my humble theology
the grafted branch deals with bearing fruit that comes from abiding in the Word
the good soil deals with germination … and so, once again, there is the problem of eternal security… once the seed roots and takes hold in good soil – which to me is the heart of the one hearing the word – can one tear that out and kill what God has begun?
so i pray that Faith just grows in all who love God and are called, no matter how the devil seeks to destroy it
just interjecting some Fundy thots here… now i’m gone
The point of faith … many have faith and it doesn’t save them. A Muslim can say he has faith – so what’s the big deal?
This goes back to what I said a couple of weeks ago about substituting the word Jesus where you see faith and see if it not only doesn’t clear things up but actually makes sense of those statements.
“28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.”
This verse is so profound as an early sign of how God deals with his people, then and today. The question for us is: Why the blood sprinkled on the doorposts and lintels of the Israelite houses? Could not the Lord distinguish the Israelites from the Egyptians without the blood? Was God testing the Israelites’ faith? Was this a work that the Israelites needed to do to merit mercy from the Destroyer?
Moses tells what the blood was for: “The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are.” The blood was four the peoples’ benefit (i.e., it was grace). When the Lord was striking down all the Egyptian firstborns and “there was a great cry in Egypt”, how could the Israelites be sure they were safe? Could they rely on their address? Their piety? Their faith and trust? Were they Jewish enough? How could they be sure?
God gave them a sign. God attached his promise to a sign. Look at your lintel and your doorposts. I have attached my promise to pass over you to that sign. Look at that sign and trust my promise to you. Get out of the speculations of your mind. Stop wondering if you are Jewish enough, pious enough, obedient enough. God saved them because He is the faithful one; faithful to His promise. The Israelites could say that evening to their children who were frightened almost to death from the screams of the Egyptians all around them: Look at the Lintel and doorposts and know that the Lord is for you. You are safe.
I am saved – How do I know? I am baptized.