Trusting God in Adversity
Hebrews 11 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewWe will focus on the forward looking nature of faith, but we will also consider that faith does not judge God by the present. He is faithful.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
Life for the believer is not easy, and inheriting God’s promise is not immediate.
We continue to await the fulfillment of Jesus’ return.
We need encouragement.
This means we need reminders to help us understand what we have joined as believers.
Abraham has served as the primary example. It is from Abraham’s faith where the majority of the major points about faith have been raised.
Faith matures.
It trusts that God has the power to resurrect.
It obeys God.
It accepts sojourning. This means it accepts this life as temporary and views the life to come as the place of true citizenship. In the meantime, it lives in accordance with the place of true citizenship.
After extended thought on Abraham, the writer of Hebrews returns to a series of brief, simple statements.
The writer has already treated the Patriarchs together in Heb. 11:10.
Now Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph will get their own brief emphasis.
Perhaps what is most important for framing what follows in Heb. 11:13-15.
Isaac’s Example of Faith
Isaac’s Example of Faith
Isaac followed the example of Abraham, Noah, Enoch, and Abel.
What follows, however, occurred in anticipation of his death.
The writer does not focus on all of the details of Isaac’s life, but we already know that, like his father before, he did not receive the promise.
A brief note on promise: there have been two uses of the term. One refers to the promise of the future city and the resurrection and return of Jesus. The second, in the immediate context, refers to promised land and son to Abraham.
When Isaac blessed both Jacob and Esau, he demonstrated faith because he anticipated that there would be a future time when God would fulfill the promise.
Gen. 27:27-29:
There is the expectation expressed that they, and especially Jacob, will partake of the fatness of the land. This would imply:
He will be, or the family through him would be, the dominant group in the land. He would, then, have a claim to what it produces. This may also explain how the blessing to Jacob necessarily implies ruling over Esau and what he produces. (The latter would be secondary to the point of the writer of Hebrews).
This would be a different kind of residency in the land than either Isaac or Abraham enjoyed. They were nomads rather than settled farmers. Is this a legitimate way to understand the wording of Genesis?
Gen. 27:39-40:
Esau’s would have a different kind of life. The promise of the land would fall to Jacob.
Esau, however, would live.
His offspring would, eventually, liberate themselves from the superiority of Jacob and his offspring.
Perhaps what is in view is that Isaac trusted the promise to Rachel that the younger would rule over the older.
This seems unlikely but possible.
Introduction (Part 2):
Introduction (Part 2):
It is tempting to see the writer use Isaac and Jacob because they were the patriarchs of Israel.
This may be an accurate way to think about it.
Yet, the use of Joseph, at the end suggests something else.
Heb. 11:13, instead, probably receives additional illustration: “these all died in faith.”
Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph: what the writer of Hebrews focuses upon occurs at the end of their lives.
So, we see them going to their deaths but showing faithful confidence in God’s promises.
1 Corinthians 15:58: gives us an example that the goal is not elaborate. The goal isn’t to change the world. It is to hold firm. The resurrection and the promise of the future helps us to do so.
Heb. 12:12-17.
Jacob’s Example of Faith
Jacob’s Example of Faith
Like the previous example, Jacob’s actions demonstrated his faith.
His actions were taken “while dying.”
The writer of Hebrews “smashes” Jacob’s interactions with Joseph and his sons together to make the point.
Jacob did two things:
Blessed each of Joseph’s sons.
Gen. 48:1-5: sets the background.
Gen. 48:15-22.
He worshipped God.
Gen. 47:29-31.
Joseph’s Example of Faith
Joseph’s Example of Faith
All of these follow a pattern, and Joseph fits within that of his father and grandfather.
What he did also occurred “while dying.”
He did two things in anticipation of the fulfilled promises:
He reminded Israel about the exodus…it was yet to come.
He gave instructions about his bones.
These happen in Gen. 50.
Ex. 13:19
Josh. 24:32
