Hebrews 11:1-40

How can I get to heaven?

Hebrews

Ian Mackervoy

Chapter 11

5 The better way 11:1-13:25

The way of trust and hope 11:1-40

The meaning of *faith (trust in God) 11:1-3

v1 *Faith, that is, trust in God, is the foundation of what we hope for. It is being completely sure of what we do not yet see. v2 The people who lived long ago by trust in him, pleased God. v3 By our trust in God, we understand that he made the world by his word of command (Genesis 1). He made all the things that we see out of things that do not appear.

Verses 1-3 In chapter 10 the writer urged his readers to continuous trust in God. Now in chapter 11, he encourages us with many examples of men and women in the Old Testament who trusted God.

The life of *faith, that is, a life of trust in God at all times, is what pleases him. Our trust in God is very important. For example, that is how we know that he made the world and everything in it. He spoke a word of command. In Genesis 1:3, God said, ‘Let there be light’. And it was so. He made to exist what did not exist before. We can know these facts, because God tells us. We have to trust that what he says is true.

The *faith of men before the flood 11:4-7

v4 Because of his trust in God, Abel made a better *sacrifice to God than the one made by Cain. God accepted Abel as a *righteous man when he spoke well about his *sacrifice. Abel died, but by his trust in God he still speaks (Genesis 4:1-8). v5 By his trust in God, Enoch went straight to heaven without having to die. Nobody could find him, because God had taken him away. Before God took him, God said that he was well pleased with him (Genesis 5:24). v6 If a person does not trust in God, he cannot please him. All who come to God must believe that he exists. They must believe that he rewards all who want to find him. v7 God warned Noah about things that he had not yet seen (Genesis 6:11-14). He trusted what God said would happen. He made a large boat so that his family would be safe. In this way, Noah showed up the rest of the world as evil. God made Noah right with him because of his trust.

Verse 4 The writer tells us of some of those who in the past have trusted God. Cain and Abel were sons of Adam (Genesis 4:3-7). They each brought a *sacrifice to God. God accepted Abel’s *sacrifice, but not because of what he offered. It was because God saw that Abel had *faith. Cain’s *sacrifice did not please God. This was not because of what he offered. It was because Cain’s heart was not right with God. Cain had to overcome this *sin first (Genesis 4:7). Then God would have accepted his *sacrifice also. Cain was angry and jealous. So he killed Abel (1 John 3:12). God did not forget Abel’s innocent death. It was not unlike the death of Jesus (see Hebrews 12:24).

Verse 5 Enoch was a very good man. His *faith was so strong that we read that he walked with God (Genesis 5:24). He lived so close to God that he pleased God. Because of his *faith, God took him straight to heaven. Although the people looked for him, they could not find him. God had taken him straight to heaven and he did not die.

Verse 6 It is not possible to please God, if we do not trust him. Our trust in him must be sure about two things. We must be certain that God exists, and that he will reward those who look for him.

Verse 7 In the days of Noah the people had turned from God. He saw that Noah was the only one who, like Enoch, walked close to God and did what was right (Genesis 6:9). By his life of *faith, Noah pleased God. God decided to destroy all the wicked people by a great flood. He warned Noah about his plans and told him to build an *ark (a large boat) (Genesis 5:13-14). While he was building the *ark, Noah warned the people about the flood that God would send. They laughed at him, and nobody believed him. It had never happened before! Only Noah and his family were safe in the *ark when the flood came. The wicked people drowned. Noah trusted God, and so was right with God. Therefore Noah would receive the good things that God has promised to those who trust him.

The *faith of Abraham and Sarah 11:8-19

v8 God called Abraham to go away to a place that he would have as his own. Because Abraham trusted God, he did what God told him to do (Genesis 12:1). He set off, although he did not yet know where he was to go. v9 Because of his trust in God, he lived like a stranger in the land that God had promised to give him. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who received the same promise. v10 For he was expecting the city with foundations that God would arrange and build. v11 Sarah, his wife, was too old to have children. Yet she trusted God when he said that she would have a child. She had a son. v12 Abraham also was too old to be the father of a child. Yet from this man, who was as good as dead, came a large family. They were as many as the stars of the sky and as the sand by the sea (Genesis 15:1-5).

v13 These all died, still strong in their trust in God. They did not receive the things that God had promised. They only saw them far away and were glad. They said that they were strangers here. The earth was not their real home. v14 People who say such things show that they look for a country of their own. v15 If they had been thinking of the land from which they came, they could have gone back there. v16 No, they greatly desired to go to a much better place, that is, a place in heaven. So God is not ashamed to be their God. He has prepared a city for them.

v17 Abraham trusted God when God tested him. When God asked him, he was ready to offer his only son Isaac as a *sacrifice. Yet in this son were all the promises of God. v18 For God had said to him, ‘It is by Isaac that your family will come’ (Genesis 21:12). v19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead to life. So it was just as if he did receive Isaac back from death.

Verse 8 We now look at Abraham, who is the great example of *faith. God called him to leave the country where he lived (Genesis 12:1). He had to leave his friends and neighbours and most of his family. God did not then tell Abraham where he was to go. He just said, ‘Go to the land that I shall show you’. So Abraham set off, because he knew that he could trust God. We like to know where we are going and we like to choose the way. Abraham obeyed God’s command, although he did not yet know where he was to go. He knew it was right to trust God and to obey him. To leave the life that we know and go into the unknown future, because God calls us to do so, this is *faith.

Verse 9 When Abraham arrived in the land that God had promised to him, he lived there as a foreigner. He had no rights or possessions in that land. Later he did buy a small piece of land in which to bury those who died. He had no house to live in, but with his family he lived in tents. His son Isaac and Isaac's son Jacob also had no permanent place in the land. But God gave them the same promises.

Verse 10 Abraham was content to live as a foreigner in the land. He knew that one day God would do all that he said that he would do. Abraham looked forward, beyond his death, to his true home in heaven. He would no longer be a stranger, but he would belong there. By *faith he saw a city which God planned and built. God has made the foundations of it, so we know that they will never fail. It will not be like living in tents, but will be a permanent home for the people of God.

Verses 11-12 When God told Abraham that he would have a son (Genesis 15:1-5), both he and his wife Sarah were really too old. At first, Sarah laughed at the idea (Genesis 18:9-15). But Abraham trusted God to do what he promised. Sarah received strength for the birth. Isaac was born. And God promised that Isaac would be the first of a very large family. They would be like the stars in the sky and the sand by the sea - too many to count.

Verse 13 God made similar promises to all the people that the writer has mentioned. But they did not receive what he promised in this life. Yet they were still content to trust God. They realised that earth was not their true home. They lived like strangers and foreigners here.

Verses 14-15 The kind of people who say that they are strangers here are looking for a country of their own. They could have been at home here, but they knew that God’s promised home for them was far better. Abraham and his family could have gone back to the country where they came from. But God had called them to leave it. To return would be to refuse to do what God wanted. God calls all his people to leave behind their old lives and go on to live for God and the life to come.

Verse 16 No, people like Abraham, who trust God completely, want to go to the much better place that God has made ready for them in heaven. God has built the city that Abraham looked for (v 10). God is not ashamed to be the God of people like these. He honours their *faith and accepts them as his own. God calls us to have the same *faith and to live as they did. He gives to us the chance to join him in that city.

Verses 17-18 Now comes the greatest test of Abraham’s *faith. God told him to offer his son Isaac as a *sacrifice to him. Isaac was his only son by Sarah his wife. (Abraham did have another son by Hagar, who was Sarah's maid: see Genesis 16). Isaac was the only son of the promise. It was through Isaac that God said that his promises would come. So Abraham had a real problem. If he were to kill Isaac, would not the promises fail? If he did not do what God asked, would the promises still be there for his people? Abraham had to trust God that somehow God would find a way to keep his promises.

Verse 19 Abraham decided to do what God told him to do and *sacrifice Isaac. He took him and tied him on an *altar. He had fire ready. He lifted his knife. Then God told him to stop. So Isaac did not die (Genesis 22). Abraham had been ready to obey God and to kill Isaac, so now it was like receiving him back from the dead. Jesus, the only Son of God, did die and he did come back to life from death. All the promises of God to us are in his Son Jesus. We shall receive those promises, if we trust God completely, as Abraham did.

Other examples of *faith 11:20-38

v20 Isaac trusted God, so he told Jacob and Esau about the good things to come (Genesis 27:27-40). v21 Jacob trusted in God. When he was dying, he blessed both the sons of Joseph (Genesis 48). He leaned on his stick and praised God. v22 By his *faith in God, when his end was near, Joseph spoke of the *exodus of the people of *Israel from *Egypt. He told them to carry his bones with them (Genesis 50:24-25).

v23 The parents of Moses trusted in God, so they hid him for three months after his birth. They could see that he was not an ordinary child. They were not afraid of the orders of the king (Exodus 2:1-10). v24 When he grew up, Moses refused to accept that he was the son of the king’s daughter. He did this because he trusted in God (Exodus 2:11-15). v25 He chose to suffer with the people of God. He could have chosen to have an easy life and enjoy *sin, for a short time. v26 He decided that to suffer insults for the Christ was worth much more to him than the riches of *Egypt. He kept thinking about the reward. v27 Because he trusted in God, he left *Egypt and did not fear the anger of the king. He was strong, for it was as if he could see him whom nobody can see. v28 By *faith in God he kept the *Passover and put blood on the door-posts. This was so that the *angel of death would not touch the oldest son in each of their families (Exodus 12).

v29 The people trusted God and so they all went across the Red Sea in safety, as if on dry land. When the *Egyptians tried to do the same, they drowned (Exodus 14:29-31). v30 It was by trust in God that the people marched round the city of *Jericho. After 7 days the walls fell down (Joshua 6). v31 Rahab was a woman who had used her body for sex to get money. She welcomed the men who came from Joshua to discover how to attack her city. She trusted in God, so she did not die with the rest who did not obey God (Joshua 2).

v32 What more shall I say about those people who trusted God? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the *prophets. v33 By their *faith in God they overcame kings. They made fair laws. They gained what God promised. They shut the mouths of lions and so did not die. v34 They put out fierce fires, and they escaped from men who wanted to kill them with the sword. When they were weak, God made them strong again. They were so strong in war that they overcame foreign armies. v35 Women received back their dead, whom God raised to life again. Some people suffered death by cruel enemies. They could have escaped by saying that they no longer trusted God. But they refused, so that they might gain a better life. v36 Some people suffered insults and attacks, and some people went to prison in chains. v37 Enemies threw stones at them, or cut them in pieces, or killed them with the sword. Some people had to wear the skins of sheep and goats because they were so poor. People who did not trust God were bad to them and caused them to suffer. v38 Those who did trust God were too good for this world. Some people wandered over deserts and mountains. Some people lived in caves and holes in the ground.

Verse 20 Because he believed what God had promised, Isaac blessed his two sons, Jacob and Esau. He told them about the good things God had planned. It was in Jacob that the promises of God were to come. Just as Abraham had done, so Isaac looked for the future beyond this life.

Verse 21 When he was dying, Jacob blessed the two sons of Joseph. It was the custom to give the best blessing to the older son. But, because he believed what God had shown him, he gave the greater blessing to Ephraim, who was younger than Manasseh.

Verse 22 Joseph, a son of Jacob, trusted in the promise that God gave to Abraham. When he was at the end of his life, he spoke of the *exodus. He knew that the land of *Egypt was not to be the home of the people of *Israel. God had promised them the land of *Canaan. Joseph believed the promise of God and looked to the time when God would lead them back to that land. He told his family that when they went there they were to take his bones with them. He wanted them to bury him in the *promised land (Genesis 50:24-25).

Verse 23 Many years after Joseph died, there was a new king in *Egypt. He was afraid that there were so many Hebrews, they might take over the country (Exodus 1). So he made them slaves. Then he gave orders to kill all the *Hebrew baby boys at birth. The parents of Moses saw that he was an unusual child. They trusted in God and were not afraid of the king. So they hid Moses for three months. When they could no longer hide him, they put him in a basket. They put the basket among the plants by the river. The daughter of the king found him there. She took him home and brought him up as her own son.

Verses 24-25 When Moses grew up, he refused to be the son of the daughter of the king. This was not a quick decision of a youth. He was now a man of about 40 years old. He knew that he was a *Hebrew by birth. He trusted in God. So he decided to leave all that he had, or could have had, as a royal prince. He chose to go back to his own people. They were poor slaves who had to suffer much. He chose to suffer with them, rather than have a comfortable life without God. A life without God would have been *sin.

Verse 26 God made Moses aware that one day the Christ would come. Many would not accept him. Those who did would share in the shame that Christ suffered. Moses knew that to be one of the people of God was worth far more than all the riches of *Egypt. Riches may last for this life, but are of no value for the life to come. With Christ there are rewards in a new life after death. Moses trusted in God and desired those rewards more than to have riches now.

Verse 27 Moses left *Egypt twice. The first time was after he had killed an *Egyptian. He was afraid that the king would hear about it (Exodus 2:11-15). So he went to live in the land of *Midian. He was there for 40 years (Acts 7:30). Then God told him to go back to *Egypt, and bring God’s people out of *Egypt (Exodus 3). He was no longer afraid of the king.

For a long time the king refused to let the Hebrews go (Exodus, Chapter s 7-11). Through all those difficult days Moses was strong. It was as if he could see God, whom nobody can see. He was so strong because he trusted in God. It was as if he walked with God. The Bible says that God talked with Moses face to face, as a person speaks with his friend (Exodus 33:11).

Verse 28 By *faith Moses obeyed God when he led the *Jews to have the first *Passover. This was a special meal that God told them to eat. They had to kill a lamb for the meal for each family. They had to put some of its blood on the door-posts and over the doors of their houses. The *angel of death went through the land of *Egypt. He killed the first son in each house. But when he saw the blood round the doors of a Hebrew’s house, he ‘passed over’ that house and did not kill the first son there. That is why they called the event the ‘*Passover’. Ever since that time the *Jews have eaten the *Passover meal each year. They remember that God rescued them from being slaves and brought them out of *Egypt (Exodus 12).

Verse 29 As the *Jews left *Egypt, they came to the Red Sea. God made a path through the sea for them. They had to go forward trusting in God that they would get to the other side. So they went across the sea on a dry path. When the *Egyptians tried to cross the sea, the water drowned them all (Exodus 14:29-31).

Verse 30 40 years later the *Jews came to the city of *Jericho. They had to attack it and destroy it. God told them to march round it once each day for 6 days. On the seventh day God told them to march round 7 times. They believed God and did what he told them to do. Then on the seventh time on the seventh day, the walls of the city fell down (Joshua 2).

Verse 31 Before the Hebrews attacked *Jericho, they sent men there. They were to look at the city and report back to their leaders. When they came, Rahab took them into her house. She kept them safe while they were there. Then she sent them away by a safe route. She had lived a bad life, but now she helped the men because she had *faith in God. When *Jericho fell, the men saved her life (Joshua 2).

Verse 32 In the history of the *Jews there were a lot of examples of those who lived by *faith. There were too many to include in this letter. The writer mentions the names of 6 of the most famous men along with the *prophets. These are Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel. We do not know the reason for the order of these names. If we put them in pairs the second one of each pair came first. Barak was before Gideon. Jephthah was before Samson. Samuel was before David.

The writer does not tell us about these men here. We can read about them in the Old Testament. Each of them had to overcome such troubles that they could only do so with the help of God. They were able to win because they trusted in God.

Verses 33-34. The list of things done in verses 33 and 34 are not just what those 6 men did. These describe the sort of things that those who trusted in God have done. We can put them into three groups of three each:

• They overcame kings. They were fair rulers. They received what God promised them.

• Those who overcame kings could include those whom we call the Judges (in the book of Judges). They were the leaders of the Hebrews, after they entered the *promised land. For example, Gideon, with only a small number of men, overcame the *Midianites (Judges 6:11-8). Barak was able to defeat the *Canaanites (Judges 4:6-5). Samson fought with the *Philistines (Judges 13:2-16). Jephthah rescued the *Jews from the power of the *Ammonites (Judges 11:1-12).

• They shut the mouths of lions so that they could not bite them. The flames could not hurt them. They escaped the sword.

Both Samson (Judges 14:5-6) and David (1 Samuel 17:34-35) killed lions. The best example of this must be Daniel. He was in a cage of lions, but they did not hurt him. He trusted in God and God sent an *angel to shut the mouths of the lions (Daniel 6). Then there were Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 3). They refused to *worship the king’s image, because they trusted in God. The king threw them into the flames, but the fire could not burn them.

God made them strong when they were weak. They were strong as they fought their enemies. They were able to overcome armies that came against them.

Verse 35 Here are some examples where a mother received her child back from the dead. There was a widow who helped the *prophet Elijah (1 Kings 17:17-24). When her son died, Elijah cried to the *Lord. God heard him and the child lived again. Another lady lived in *Shunem, a place in *Israel. She had a room built on top of her house for Elisha the *prophet. When her son died, she went to Elisha. God brought her boy back from the dead too (2 Kings 4:18-37).

There have been many who have suffered and died for their *faith. They could have saved themselves by turning from their *belief in God. Yet to them the life to come in heaven with God was much more important than the life here on earth. We too must not turn from our trust in God, no matter what it costs us.

Verse 36 There are many more who suffered, but did not have to die because of their *faith. We Christians should expect that we may have to suffer for Jesus. People may say bad things about us or do bad things to us, because we are Christians. We should accept this and be happy that we can suffer on behalf of Jesus.

Verses 37-38 The writer lists more ways in which those who trusted God had suffered. To other people, they had no worth. The truth is that they were worth far more to God than the whole world, although they were poor. Many had no homes here on earth, but they knew they had a wonderful home in heaven.

The promise of God to those who trust him 11:39-40

v39 God spoke well of all of these, because they trusted him. Yet none of them received during their life on earth what God had promised. v40 God has a better plan. He will not make them perfect without us.

Verses 39-40 God gave honour to all of these people, because they trusted him. God did not forget those who served him. They are all now safe with God. They received many good things from God. Yet they did not receive all that God promised while they lived on earth. There is something more which is yet to come for them.

God has planned something better, which will include us. His plan is for all who have ever trusted in him. All who belong to Jesus will have a share in God’s plan. He has not told us what that plan is in detail. But we know that in his plan he will make perfect all of us who know Jesus, together with all these heroes of *faith.

faith ~ to trust someone or something; belief and trust in God and in Jesus his Son; belief that the Bible is true.
belief ~ what we accept as true... see faith.
faith ~ to trust someone or something; belief and trust in God and in Jesus his Son; belief that the Bible is true.
belief ~ what we accept as true... see faith.
sacrifice ~ an offering to God, often an animal or bird, by the Jews to ask God to forgive their sins. Jesus gave himself to die as a sacrifice for our sins.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children. It is also a name for the people of Israel.
sin ~ to sin is to do wrong, bad or evil; not to obey God; sins are the wrong things that we do.
Israel ~ God changed the name of Jacob to Israel (Genesis 35). The sons of Jacob were the beginning of the nation of Israel. The land that God promised to them is the land of Israel.
sin ~ to sin is to do wrong, bad or evil; not to obey God; sins are the wrong things that we do.
ark ~ a large boat such as Noah built.
altar ~ the special table, for burning animals or other gifts offered to God.
exodus ~ a word used to refer to the time when God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt.
Israel ~ God changed the name of Jacob to Israel (Genesis 35). The sons of Jacob were the beginning of the nation of Israel. The land that God promised to them is the land of Israel.
Egypt ~ a country where the Israelites were slaves before the exodus.
Israelites ~ the people of Israel.
Israel ~ God changed the name of Jacob to Israel (Genesis 35). The sons of Jacob were the beginning of the nation of Israel. The land that God promised to them is the land of Israel.
Egypt ~ a country where the Israelites were slaves before the exodus.
Israelites ~ the people of Israel.
exodus ~ a word used to refer to the time when God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt.
Israel ~ God changed the name of Jacob to Israel (Genesis 35). The sons of Jacob were the beginning of the nation of Israel. The land that God promised to them is the land of Israel.
Passover ~ the meal that the Jews had at the time of the Exodus. Each year they still have this meal to remember the Exodus.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children. It is also a name for the people of Israel.
Israel ~ God changed the name of Jacob to Israel (Genesis 35). The sons of Jacob were the beginning of the nation of Israel. The land that God promised to them is the land of Israel.
angel ~ a spirit person made by God to serve him and take his messages. There are angels who sinned and now serve the Devil.
spirit ~ that part of a person which we cannot see but which can speak to other spirits or to the soul; there are other spirits which can be good or evil.
sin ~ to sin is to do wrong, bad or evil; not to obey God; sins are the wrong things that we do.
soul ~ the part of a person that we cannot see that is in us during our life and lives after we die; it is our inner life (not the body); it is that part of people that God speaks to through their spirits.
Egyptians ~ people who belong to the land of Egypt.
Egypt ~ a country where the Israelites were slaves before the exodus.
Israelites ~ the people of Israel.
exodus ~ a word used to refer to the time when God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt.
Israel ~ God changed the name of Jacob to Israel (Genesis 35). The sons of Jacob were the beginning of the nation of Israel. The land that God promised to them is the land of Israel.
Jericho ~ a city that the Israelites destroyed when they came into the land that God had promised them (Joshua 6).
Israelites ~ the people of Israel.
Israel ~ God changed the name of Jacob to Israel (Genesis 35). The sons of Jacob were the beginning of the nation of Israel. The land that God promised to them is the land of Israel.
Canaan ~ the land that God promised to Abraham (Genesis 12:7).'promised land ~ the land that God promised to give to Abraham and his family.
Hebrew ~ a Jewish or Israelite person. The language of the Jewish people.
Midian ~ a nation that fought against Israel.
Israel ~ God changed the name of Jacob to Israel (Genesis 35). The sons of Jacob were the beginning of the nation of Israel. The land that God promised to them is the land of Israel.
Jews ~ people who were born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children. It is also a name for the people of Israel.
Israel ~ God changed the name of Jacob to Israel (Genesis 35). The sons of Jacob were the beginning of the nation of Israel. The land that God promised to them is the land of Israel.
Midianites ~ people of the land of Midian.
Midian ~ a nation that fought against Israel.
Israel ~ God changed the name of Jacob to Israel (Genesis 35). The sons of Jacob were the beginning of the nation of Israel. The land that God promised to them is the land of Israel.
Canaanites ~ the people who lived in the land of Canaan and who fought.
Canaan ~ the land that God promised to Abraham (Genesis 12:7).
Philistines ~ a nation that fought with the Israelites.
Israelites ~ the people of Israel.
Israel ~ God changed the name of Jacob to Israel (Genesis 35). The sons of Jacob were the beginning of the nation of Israel. The land that God promised to them is the land of Israel.
Ammonites ~ a nation who fought against the Israelites.
Israelites ~ the people of Israel.
Israel ~ God changed the name of Jacob to Israel (Genesis 35). The sons of Jacob were the beginning of the nation of Israel. The land that God promised to them is the land of Israel.
worship ~ to give honour to God with praise, thanks and respect.
Lord ~ a title for God, or Jesus, to show that he is over all.
Shunem ~ a town in Israel.
Israel ~ God changed the name of Jacob to Israel (Genesis 35). The sons of Jacob were the beginning of the nation of Israel. The land that God promised to them is the land of Israel.
belief ~ what we accept as true... see faith.
faith ~ to trust someone or something; belief and trust in God and in Jesus his Son; belief that the Bible is true.