11:11,12Sarah was Abraham’s wife. They were unable to have children through many years of their marriage. God promised Abraham a son, but Sarah doubted that she could become pregnant in her old age. At first she laughed, but afterward, she believed (Genesis 18). For more information on Sarah, see her Profile in Genesis 19, p. 35.
Life Application Study BibleHebrewsChapter 11
Hebrews 11
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 2104, 2105, 2106, 2107, 2108
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11Hebrews 11
1John 4:18).10:32-36 Hebrews encourages believers to persevere in theirChristian faith and conduct when facing persecution and pres-sure. We don't usually think of suffering as good for us, but itcan build our character and our patience. During times of greatstress, we may fee! God’s presence more clearly and find helpfrom Christians we never thought would care. Knowing that Jesusis with us in our suffering and that he will return one day to putan end to all pain helps us grow in our faith and our relationshipwith him (see Romans 5:3-5).10:35-38 The Bible gives us a clear choice between two lifedirections. Because life often forks off in two directions, youmust take the higher road, even though it looks more difficultand treacherous. That road gets steep in places. The climb takesa toll on your energy. It gets lonely. Not many on it, but morethan you imagined, and some because of your example. It getsslippery; the devil blows ice on the narrow passages. Despite itsdangers, the higher road is bound for the peak, and you'll makeit—God has a lifeline around you. When you are tempted to falterin your faith or to turn back from following Christ, keep focusedon what he has done for you and what he offers in the future(see Romans 8:12-25; Galatians 3:10-13). Then keep climbing.10:36 For the time being, these believers needed patient endur-ance, that is, to remain steadfast, to hold firm. Because Christlives in us, we can have that kind of endurance. Jesus predictedthat his followers would be severely persecuted by those whohated him (Matthew 10:22). In the midst of terrible persecution.
Great Examples of Faith
11 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. 3By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. 4It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith. 5It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.”* For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. 7It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith. 8It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith— for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. 10Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. 11It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed* that God would keep his promise. 1?And soa whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them. 13All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. 14Obviously people who say such things are looking forward toa country they can call their own. 15If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. '@But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. 17t was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”* Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And ina sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead. 20]t was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau. 21It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.; 22]t was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left. 23]t was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king's command. 24Tt was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25He chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. 27It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. 28It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons. 291t was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned. 30]t was by faith that the people of israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down. 31It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. 32How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. 33By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, #4quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. 35Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. 36Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. 37Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half,* and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. 38They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. 39A]I these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.
Textual footnotes
Life Application Notes 12 notes
11:13-16These people of faith died without receiving all that God had promised, but they never lost their vision of heaven (“a better place, a heavenly homeland”). Many Christians become frustrated and defeated because their needs, wants, expectations, and demands are not immediately met when they accept Christ as Savior. They become impatient and want to quit. Are you discouraged because the achievement of your goal seems far away? Take courage from these heroes of faith, who lived and died without seeing the fruit of their faith on earth and yet continued to believe (see 11:36-39).
11:17-19Abraham was willing to give up his son when God commanded him to do so (Genesis 22:1-19). God did not let Abraham take Isaac’s life, because God had given the command in order to test Abraham's faith. Instead of taking Abraham’s son, God gave Abraham a whole nation of descendants through Isaac. If you are afraid to trust God with the possession, dream, or Person you treasure most, pay attention to Abraham’s example. Because Abraham was willing to give up everything for God, he received back more than he could have imagined. What we receive, however, is not always immediate or in the form of material possessions. Material things should be among the ‘east satisfying of rewards. Our best and greatest rewards await Us in eternity.
11:20isaac was the son who had been promised to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. It was through Isaac that God fulfilled his promise to eventually give Abraham countless descendants. Isaac had twin sons, Jacob and Esau. God chose the younger son, Jacob, through whom to continue the fulfillment of his promise to Abraham. For more information on Isaac, see his Profile in Genesis 19, p. 37.
11:21Jacob was Isaac’s son and Abraham's grandson. Jacob’s sons became the fathers of Israel’s 12 tribes. Even when Jacob (also called “Israel”) was dying in a strange land, he believed the promise that Abraham’s descendants would be like the sand on the seashore and that Israel would become a great nation (Genesis 48:1-22). True faith helps us see beyond the grave. For more information on Jacob and Esau, see their Profiles in Genesis 25, pp. 47 and 49.
11:22Joseph, one of Jacob’s sons, was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers (Genesis 37). Eventually, Joseph was sold again, this time to an official of the Pharaoh of Egypt. Because of Joseph's faithfulness to God, however, he was given a topranking position in Egypt. Although Joseph could have used that position to build a personal empire, he remembered God’s promise to Abraham. After he had been reconciled to his brothers, Joseph brought his family to be near him and requested that his bones be taken to the Promised Land when the Jews eventually left Egypt (Genesis 50:24, 25). Faith means trusting in God and doing what he wants, regardless of the circumstances or consequences. For more information on Joseph, see his Profile in Genesis 37, p. 71.
11:23Moses’ parents trusted God to protect their son’s life. They were not merely proud parents; they were believers who had faith that God would care for him. As a parent, have you trusted God enough to take care of your children? God has a plan for every person, and your important task is to pray for your children and prepare them to do the work God has planned for them to do. Faith allows us to entrust even our children to God.
11:24-28Moses became one of Israel's greatest leaders, a : prophet and a lawgiver. But when he was born, his people were slaves in Egypt, and the Egyptian officials had ordered that all ‘ Hebrew baby boys were to be killed. Moses was spared, however, ‘ and Pharaoh's daughter raised Moses in Pharaoh’s own housevhold (Exodus 1-2)! It took faith for Moses to give up his place ‘I the palace, but he could do it because he saw the fleeting nature _ Of great wealth and prestige. It is easy to be deceived by the tem- » porary benefits of wealth, popularity, status, and achievement, Fand to be blind to the long-range benefits of God’s Kingdom. Faith ‘helps us look beyond the world’s value system to see the eternal {values of God’s Kingdom. For more information on Moses, see + his Profile in Exodus 14, p. 117.
11:32-40These verses summarize the lives of other great men and wamen of faith. Some experienced outstanding victories, even over the threat of death. But others were severely mistreated, tortured, and even killed. Having a steadfast faith in God does not guarantee a happy, carefree life. On the contrary, our faith almost guarantees us some form of abuse from the world. While we are on earth, we may never see the purpose of our suffering. But we know that God will keep his promises to us. Do you believe that God will keep his promises to you?
11:35-39Many think that pain is the exception in the Christian life. When suffering occurs, they say, “Why me?” They feel as though God deserted them, or perhaps they accuse him of not being as dependable as they thought. In reality, however, we live in an evil world filled with suffering, even for believers. But God is still in control. He allows some Christians to become martyrs for the faith, and he ailows others to survive persecution. Rather than asking, “Why me?” itis much more helpful to ask, “Why not me?” Our faith and the values of this world are on a collision course. If we expect pain and suffering to come, we will not be shocked when they hit. But we can also take comfort in knowing that Jesus also suffered. He understands our fears, our weaknesses, and our disappointments (see 2:16-18; 4:14-16). He promised never to leave us (Matthew 28:18-20), and he intercedes on our behaif (7:24, 25). In times of pain, persecution, or suffering, we should trust confidently in Christ.
11:39,40Hebrews 11 has been called faith’s hall of fame. No doubt the author surprised his readers by this conclusion: These mighty Jewish heroes did not receive all that God had promised because they died before Christ came. In God’s plan, they and the Christian believers (who were also enduring much testing) would be rewarded together. Once again Hebrews shows that Christianity offers a better way than Judaism.
11:40There is a solidarity among believers (see 12:23). Old and New Testament believers will be glorified together. Not only are we one in the body of Christ with all those alive, but we are also one with ail those who ever lived. It takes all of us to be perfect in him.
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
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oped and used. To ignore intellectual growth is to live a stunted and naive life. God wants our trust and faith, even while we ponder and wonder about so many matters mysterious to us. Even so, we do not believe in a void nor leap into the dark. Faith is reasonable, though reason alone cannot explain the whole of it. So use your mind to think things through. But leave room for the unexplainable works of God. 11:6 Sometimes we wonder about the fate of those who haven't heard of Christ and have not even had a Bible to read. God assures us that all who honestly seek him—who act in faith on the knowledge of God that they possess—will be rewarded. When you tell others the Good News, encourage them to be honest and diligent in their search for truth. Those who hear the Good News are responsible for what they have heard (see 2 Corinthians 6:1, 2). 11:7 Noah experienced rejection because he was different from his neighbors. God commanded him to build a huge boat in the middle of dry land, and although God’s command seemed foolish, Noah obeyed. Noah’s obedience made him appear strange to his neighbors, just as the new beliefs of Jewish Christians undoubtedly made them stand out. As you obey God, don’t be surprised if others regard you as “different.” Your obedience makes their disobedience stand out. Remember, if God asks you to do something, he will give you the necessary strength to carry out that task. For more information on Noah, see his Profite in Genesis 8, p. 19. 11:8-10 Abraham’s tife was filled with faith. At God’s command, he left home and went to another land—obeying without question (Genesis 12:1ff). He believed the covenant that God made with him (Genesis 12:2, 3; 13:14-16; 15:1-6). In obedience to God, Abraham was even willing to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19). Do not be surprised if God asks you to give up secure, familiar surroundings in order to carry out his will. For further information on Abraham, see his Profile in Genesis 18, p. 33.
they could have hope, however, knowing that salvation was theirs. Times of trial serve to sift true Christians from false or fair-weather Christians. When you are pressured to give up and turn your back on Christ, remember the benefits of standing firm and continue to live for Christ. Patient endurance is not a way to be saved but the evidence that you are really committed to Jesus. 11:1 Do you remember how you felt when you were very young and your birthday approached? You were excited and anxious. You knew you would certainly receive gifts and other special ‘treats. But some things would be a surprise. Birthdays combine assurance and anticipation, and so does faith! Faith is the confidence based on past experience that God’s new and fresh surprises will surely be ours. ‘11:1 The beginning point of faith is believing in God's character: He is who he says. The end point is believing in God's promises: He will do what he says. When we believe that God will fulfill his “promises even though we don’t see those promises materializing ‘yet, we demonstrate true faith (see John 20:24-31). 11:3 God called the universe into existence out of nothing; ‘he declared that it was to be, and it was. Our faith is in the God ‘who created the entire universe by his word. God’s word has awesome power. When he speaks, do you listen and respond? How can you better prepare yourself to respond to God's word? 11:4 Cain and Abel were Adam and Eve’s first two sons. Abel Offered a sacrifice that pleased God, while Cain’s sacrifice was “unacceptable. Abel's Profile is found in Genesis 5, p. 15. Cain’s Profile is in Genesis 6, p. 17. Abel's sacrifice (an animal substitute) was more acceptable to God, both because it was a blood ‘sacrifice and, most important, because of Abel’s attitude when he offered it. 11:6 Believing that God exists is only the beginning; even the demons believe that much (James 2:19, 20). God will not settle for mere acknowledgment of his existence. He wants your faith that leads to a personal, dynamic relationship. But does faith make sense, really? Do you believe because faith makes sense, or because faith doesn’t need to make sense? ‘Some Christians think people cannot understand God and should ‘Not try. Others believe that nothing true is irrational, including true faith. The truth is, God gave us minds that should be devel-
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[— 41:24 f Exod 2:10-12 t 11:26 • Heb 13:13 «41:27 F Exod 12:50-51 11:28 ! Exod 12:21-30 91:29 ; Exod 14:21-31 $11:30 & Josh 6:12-21 ¢ 11:31 + Josh 2:11-12; 6:20-25 Jas 2:25 $417:32 - Judg 4-13 * 4 Sam 1:20; 16:1, 13 + 11:33 1 Sam 17:34-36 - Dan 6:1-27 11:34 2 Kgs 20:7 Dan 3:19-27 11:35 1 Kgs 17:17-24 2 Kgs 4:25-37 11:36 Gen 39:20 ~ Jer 20:2; 37:15 11:37 “1 Kgs 19:10 2 Chr 24:20-22 ‘41:38 1 Kgs 18:4; 19:9 . EEE eee
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