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Presented, October 30, 2005 am

 

FAITH – THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR (10)

Faith that time would fail to tell of – Hebrews 11:32-34

 

In our study of faith thus far we have noted a number of individuals who demonstrated their faith through various acts in their lives that are specifically mentioned.  Now the author notes the fact that there are many others that could be added to this list.  In vs. 32 he mentions 7 names and a number of events associated with their lives and others.  In our lesson today we will notice the first four names mentioned in this verse.    Let us notice the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jepthah.

 

I.                     Faith that Time Would Fail to Tell Of

a.        What is interesting about these names is that some of them are not as familiar as the examples we have examined thus far.  But their faith was just as great.

b.       God cares about YOUR faith.  That is actually the purpose of this entire study and the author’s inclusion of it in His epistle.  We may never achieve the name status of Abraham or Moses or any of these other examples we have studied – but to God IF we have faith – we are just as important.  AND He notices what you do and how you live.
Matthew 9:13 – Christ came to save sinners
Galatians 3:27-29 – Available to all

 

II.                   Faith Conquering our Enemies

a.        The period of the judges – after Israel conquered the Promised Land (Joshua) they then continued to live in the land serving God in a cyclical fashion.  The book of Judges describes a period of Israel’s history where they served God for a few years and then they would rebel.  He would send an oppressive nation to punish their unfaithfulness (often locally – not the total nation).  After a few years they would repent and pray to God.  He would then appoint a deliverer (a JUDGE) who would deliver them.  Then they would serve God for a time – the cycle starts over.  The process is described in Judges 2:11-23.  One reason given for this behavior is found in Judges 21:25, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
The first 4 examples mentioned in our verse of study were judges and had similarities in their acts of faith, so we will notice the account of each of them but study their faith together.

b.       Gideon delivers Israel.  The account of his life and faith is found in Judges 6-8. 

                                                   i.      In 6:1 we read that again Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and they were delivered into the hands of the Midianites.  They oppressed Israel destroying their crops and livestock so that Israel was impoverished hiding in caves, dens and in the mountains.  When Israel cried out to the Lord, a prophet replied that in spite of all the Lord had done for them, they did not obey His voice.  Then He appears to Gideon, and commissioned him to deliver Israel.

                                                  ii.      It is interesting that Gideon asked for a sign (6:17).  This was NOT a lack of faith, but a sign of his willingness to obey the Lord IF IT WAS HIM.  There is nothing wrong with seeking proof – God has provided the proof we need to believe in Him and believe Him.  That is why before we believe anything we ought to seek authority – IN GOD’S WORD (Acts 17:11).
THE Lord provided a sign for him: bring fire out of a rock to consume a sacrifice.  Gideon immediately responds in reverence.

                                                iii.      The first thing Gideon was to do was to tear down the altar to Baal that his father owned, which was the god of the city.
Understand that before you can serve God – you HAVE TO tear down the altars of the world.
Gideon obeyed and sacrificed to God.  This also served as a wake up call to Israel to get rid of their idols IF they wanted the Lord’s help.  They comply.

                                                iv.      Gideon then seeks confirmation that the Lord would deliver Israel – and the Lord complies TWICE (6:36-40)

                                                  v.      Chapter 7 records that Midan and others had gathered together in a camp to battle against Israel again.  Gideon is called upon to find an army to fight them.  There are 32,000 who appear.  The Lord said there was too many – so 22,000 returned home on their own.  The Lord STILL said there were too many (10,000) so he devised a test where all the soldiers gathered and were instructed to drink.  All who got on their knees to drink water were sent home, while those who lapped water like a dog from their hand were kept – that was 300 valiant men.  These 300 men one night surrounded the camp of the Midianites, each with a horn and a pitcher with light under it.  Gideon placed them in 3 groups around the camp.  We are also told that there was great fear in the camp, the people concerned about Gideon.  AT the appropriate time, Gideon gave a signal and the 300 broke their clay pitchers and blew their horns.  The people in the camp panicked, arose and killed each other not knowing who was next to them.  Those who fled were pursued by some of Israel and defeated.  Thus Israel was delivered from the Midianites.   This was the beginning of Israel’s deliverance – AT THE HAND of a man of faith.
ONE might ask, why 300?  Because that made it clear that the Lord had a hand in their deliverance – thus instilling trust in Him.  By faith, we NEED TO give credit to the Lord for that which He has done for us – “If it is His will” (James 4:15)

                                                vi.      Gideon’s faith was a faith that “through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness” and “obtained promises”, “escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” (33-34)

c.        The faith of Barak.  Found in Judges 4.

                                                   i.      Judges 4:1 beings by saying, “The children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord”, so they were delivered into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan who oppressed them harshly for 20 years.  As I understand it, Barak is not actually the judge.  Deborah the prophetess was.  Barak was one of her generals.  He was instructed by her to take 10,000 men and fight against Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army.   Barak agrees to go ONLY if Deborah goes with him.  She agrees but as a result he is told that the defeat of Sisera will come at the hand of a woman.  Sisera had a much more powerful army with some 900 chariots of iron.  Nevertheless, Israel fought and with the help of the Lord, defeated Canaan that day.  We are told in vs. 16, not a man of Sisera’s army was left.  But Sisera fled on foot to the tent of a woman named Jael.  She lulls him to sleep and then drives a tent peg through his temple – thus finishing the defeat of Israel’s oppressors on that occasion.  This became the beginning of strength which led to Israel’s deliverance from Jabin and Canaan.

                                                  ii.      What about the faith of Barak on this occasion.  Consider in his faith we find

1.        Faith in one not so well known.

2.        One willing to serve under others and acknowledge his weaknesses and need for leaders with faith in his life.

3.        A faith that did not seek self-glorification

4.        And a faith that, “subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises…escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” (33-34)

d.       The faith of Samson.  His work is found in Judges 13-16

                                                   i.      Samson was a judge toward the end of that period of Israel’s history.  Of the 4 men we are studying today, he is probably the best known.  His life is also the most colorful of the four.  We begin by noting that Judges 13:1 says, “Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord” and they were delivered into the hands of the Philistines who would trouble them for 40 years.

                                                  ii.      He was born with a special purpose to a woman who was barren and had no children.  Samson was a son of promise and he was to live the life of a Nazarite which meant he could not drink any product of the grape, eat anything unclean and he was instructed to never cut his hair.  These instructions came directly from the Lord.

                                                iii.      Samson becomes very strong and a thorn in the Philistines side.  He spends time tormenting them and teasing them.  During his life he acts presumptuously and arrogantly.  Also he does NOT keep his vows faithfully.  He takes a wife of the Philistines (probably to gain advantage in dealing with them).  On one occasion he poses a riddle to the Philistines based on having found honey in the carcass of a lion.  On the 7th day, not having an answer they threaten his wife if she does not find the answer.  She does and as a result, Samson has to pay 30 changes of clothes.  He gets them by going to Ashkelon and killing 30 men (Philistines).  On another occasion because they had killed his wife he takes vengeance on those involved.  When the Philistines come to arrest him, he is bound and delivered to them.  At the appropriate time we are told, “the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him” (14) and he broke the ropes and with the jawbone of a donkey he killed a thousand men.

                                                iv.      Perhaps what he is best known for is his relationship with Delilah.  Note that NOWHERE in the text does it say she was his wife.  It is possible Samson was “living with her”, which would NOT be pleasing to the Lord.  16:5 records the Philistines bribing her to find the source of his strength.  She pesters him over and over, lying at times about the source of his strength.  When he lies, she tries what he says and it results in Philistines being killed.  Finally after continual harping and whining he gives in telling her that the source of his strength is his uncut hair.  On that occasion, while asleep his hair is cut.  When he awakes his strength is gone (God is NOT with him).  They put his eyes out and take him away.

                                                 v.      Samson is put on display during a major feast of the Philistines in which they were sacrificing to Dagon their god.  Samson is tied between two pillars.  16:28 records his prayer, “O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!"  The Lord answers his prayer and he pulls the pillars out from under the more some 3000 men and women gathered to watch him “perform” killing all of them and perishing himself.  We are told he killed more in his death than in his life (16:30)

                                                vi.      Samon’s Faith :

1.        Was NOT a great faith at first – while he believed in God always, he did NOT always believe God.  His life was filled with disobedience.

2.        BUT, by faith he repented at the end of his life – and the Lord heard him.  IT is in that event that I believe Hebrews 11:32 can attribute great faith to Samson.

3.        In his faith we can learn that God WILL forgive us if we ask in faith obeying His will – 1 John 1:7-8.  God had made provisions, even for his rebellious children to return to Him (cf. The prodigal son – Luke 15).

4.        Also his faith, “Subdued kingdoms…obtained promises… out of weakness were made strong.”

e.        The faith of Jepthah.  Recorded in Judges 11 & 12.

                                                   i.      Judges 10:6 says, “Then the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baal and the Ashtoreths.”  So the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites.  .

                                                  ii.      They are again rebuked because of their continued rebellions saying, “go to the gods of these nations you have been worshipping, let them deliver you.”

                                                iii.      Jepthah is described as a Gileadite, a mighty man of valor and the son of a harlot and a family outcast.  He flees to a land where he associates with other outcasts and rogues.  But when faced with trouble, his brothers come to him and ask his help in delivering them from the Ammonites.  Reluctantly he agrees.  After negotiations with the Ammonites fail he prepared to battle with them.

                                                iv.      On his way to battle, Jepthah makes a vow to the Lord saying, “If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD's, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering." (11:30-31)  This vow would become a source of sorrow to him and his greatest TEST of faith.  Vs. 32-33 tells us that the Lord delivered them into his hand.  He won greatly – taking some 20 cities with a great slaughter.  BUT, when he returns home, the first thing to come out of his house is his daughter.  Remember the vow he made – the first thing that came out of his house would be offered as a burnt offering.  He had to give up his daughter.  There is debate over exactly what happened because God has ALWAYS condemned human sacrifice – but as we read the rest of this chapter we know that he kept his vow to God and it resulted in his only hope of heritage being lost (she was his only child).  As a result of keeping this vow we are told, “it became a custom in Israel that the daughters of Israel went four days each year to lament the daughter of Jepthah the Gileadite.” (40)

                                                 v.      Jepthath’s faith:

1.        Caused him to treat well those who had mistreated him (the golden rule – Matthew 7:12)

2.        Kept his promises to God no matter how difficult it was.

3.        “subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness,…out of weaknesses were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens”

 

Let us learn from these examples that we can ALL have faith.  As stated earlier, God does NOT measure faith by fame, but how we trust Him in all we do and as we leave this life.  What about you?  How is your faith?