Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 131-132; Hebrews 11

I love, love, love Hebrews 11. I love it from the first verse to the last verse. I could spend a month just studying this one chapter of the Bible. How can I choose just one verse to focus on?

• Do I choose the definition of faith – that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen – that we find in verse 1?
• Or how about that the universe was created by the word of God, that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible, like we read in verse 3?
• But what about verse 6, that without faith it is important to please God, for whoever would draw near to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him?
• Or maybe I should choose one of the stories of faithful men and women, like Noah or Moses or Rahab?

No, I’m not going to choose any of those. Rather, I want to take you to some of the less popular verses which are found at the end of this chapter, the stories of faithful men and women whose stories aren’t so famous as Abraham and Joseph. I want you to really consider the men and women who aren’t featured in our children’s Sunday school lessons.

Let’s begin reading at verse 32.

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection.

Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Hebrews 11:32-40

Sisters, Brothers, life isn’t always easy, but God is always good. Trust Him.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for all of these examples of faithful men and women who have gone before us. Thank You for the wonderful stories of miracles like Abraham and Sarah having a baby in their old age, and Moses parting the Red Sea. Help us to remember that even in those joyous stories there is great pain – Sarah’s pain enduring decades of barrenness, Moses’s years growing up apart from his mother along with forty years in the wilderness. And, Lord, there’s also all those stories of men and women who were mocked, tortured, and killed, who never received in this life the rewards and promises they hoped for. Oh, but Father, today they are in Your glorious presence. Today they see You face to face. And someday we will, too, if we do not lose heart. Give us strength to hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, because You, O Lord, are faithful to keep Your promises. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

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