"Hebrews 11:32-38" from eBible.com: Online Bible Search & Bible Study Community

Hebrews 11:32-38

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Chapter 11

By Faith

1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.2This is what the ancients were commended for.

3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

5By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age–and Sarah herself was barren–was enabled to become a father because heOr By faith even Sarah, who was past age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.16Instead, they were longing for a better country–a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,18even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspringGreek seed will be reckoned.”Gen. 21:1219Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.

23By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.26He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

29By faith the people passed through the Red SeaThat is, Sea of Reeds as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

31By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.Or unbelieving

32And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,34quenched 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.35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.37They were stonedSome early manuscripts stoned; they were put to the test;; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated–38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.40God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Topics: faith in what we dont see

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Mardi - (eBible Novice) 10 months ago.

FAITH IN WHAT WE DON’T SEE Hebrews 11:32-38 How difficult it is at times to trust in God and believe unwaveringly in His promises. The harsh reality is that often times the child of God must suffer many persecutions because of their faith. They through patience must wait seemingly forever on the things hoped for but not seen. The wife who believes that her alcoholic husband will be saved and delivered or the mother waiting on the return of her son from prison, or perhaps the child who has been abandoned, that wonders when his parent will come back. In many of these cases it would appear cases time is not their friend rather an enemy. What about the injustices of this world? Many of us can’t even phantom the level of cruelties which are capable from the hearts of men. Should we be most amazed at the wickedness of human nature, that it is capable of thinking up such awful cruelties to inflict upon their fellow-man? Or stand in ewe at the excellence of Divine grace, which is able to sustain, yes even raise up the faithful under such acts of cruelties, and to carry them safely through them all? Many times we think, “Oh how awful it was back in the early days of the Church when Christians were persecuted for their faith, thrown in Lions dens, sawed in half, torn apart on torture racks, beheaded, boiled in oil and left out on an island to die alone. Times aren’t so much different today. Just look around you it’s everywhere, in the newspapers, on the radios and televisions, people talking about it over their workstations, in the restaurants on the streets at the bus stop. Some of the evil imaginations of men, their compulsion to inflict these thoughts and desires upon an innocent human being, whether child or adult it makes not difference. How does one live in a world which has such little respect for human life and even less for someone who calls themselves A Christians. I am persuaded that it is only by the grace of God that one can truly survive the wickedness of this world. My heart is saddened for those who, have come to know the God we serve, and are relying only on intellect to survive. You know street smarts, that which you acquire from life’s brutalities, which teach one hopefully how to avoid the next attack, or how to get them before they get you, and by all means trust no one. What can we glean from the book of Hebrews today? That even though based on the writers account, “Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours.” (Hebw 11:39-40) That in fact one day we would all see that which we have believed, and sure enough we have, for we have seen the Son of God Himself, Jesus Christ. Now we are approaching that time of season we call Christmas… but in fact isn’t Christmas everyday that a soul (man, women boy or girl) comes to know Jesus Christ; a birth takes place and another child of God is born again. No, it’s not just a season it’s an everyday event. Blessings and Peace Mardina