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Bible Study Passages HEB 11:13-38
One of the questions everyone asks is: Why do bad things happen to good
people? Another: Why does evil prosper and the righteous suffer loss?
Often the answers to our questions are too difficult to understand or so easy they insult our intelligence. Either way we may be better off not knowing the answers to things that trouble us. Answers may come in bits and pieces so we can live in peace.
We can, however, find comfort in our troubles by examining the testimony
of the Apostles. By seeking out answers in scripture to keep us
going spiritually.
Hebrews Chapter 11 is one of my favorite chapters in scripture.
I can find comfort in knowing that others have walked in my shoes of trials and their faith in God strengthened them.
HEB 11:13-16 All 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. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, 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.
HEB 11:32-38" And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon,Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,
who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched 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. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-- the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground."
HEB 11:39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them
received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better
for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Hebrews Chapter 11 is known in Baptist circles as "The Faith Hall of Fame" In this chapter we find how even the greatest in scripture suffered in the face of strong opposition and yet kept their faith in God.
We learn about some of the opposition they faced and even how they lived. How many were tortured,sawed in two and killed for refusing to renounce their faith in God. Others who lived in deserts, caves and holes in the ground
I can only imagine the emotional turmoil and spiritual battles these people
faced within. How many times they were tempted to change their minds about God.
The only comfort these people had was in knowing that God had something better planned for them. Blessings they only knew from a distance would one day be a reality for all eternity.
In a sense, they knew that they were only aliens and strangers just passing
through, longing for a better country. That better country is Heaven. This
knowledge kept them strong no matter what they were going through.
Today so many Christians are dissilusioned by their trials not understanding why their faith in God is rewarded by hard times. Many are angered and frustrated not realizing that what they face is part of the faith.
Many are turned off by wide spread hypocrisy and churches that have lost the desire to influence the world. Finally, many are aggravated at the sight of others that don't live up to their potential as Christians.
Many Christians are persecuted in the world in similar manner as those in Hebrews 11. I remember that girl at Columbine who was shot after proclaiming her faith in God.
Life as much as we would like to ignore it is full of many harsh realities. Many harsh injustices. In the face of it all, we may ask where the assurance of God's promises are.
Why didn't I get this? Why didn't I get that? Where was God when I lost my job? Why does God make it so hard?
I've discovered through the years that God sometimes has to shake us.
It is usually to make us realize that we've strayed from Him. The perverbial 2x4 up beside the head. It always hurts however, nothing else gets through. We never forget the hard lessons.
The only true answer is in realizing that we are not alone in our suffering. We only need to study about the lives of others who faced hard times and what kept them strong. Faith in God and the knowledge that our ultimate rewards are in Heaven.
Hebrews 11:39-40 says that the prophets were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what was promised. God had planned something better for US so that together we would be made perfect. This is the testimony of the Apostles.
One of the questions everyone asks is: Why do bad things happen to good
people? Another: Why does evil prosper and the righteous suffer loss?
Often the answers to our questions are too difficult to understand or so easy they insult our intelligence. Either way we may be better off not knowing the answers to things that trouble us. Answers may come in bits and pieces so we can live in peace.
We can, however, find comfort in our troubles by examining the testimony
of the Apostles. By seeking out answers in scripture to keep us
going spiritually.
Hebrews Chapter 11 is one of my favorite chapters in scripture.
I can find comfort in knowing that others have walked in my shoes of trials and their faith in God strengthened them.
HEB 11:13-16 All 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. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, 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.
HEB 11:32-38" And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon,Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,
who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched 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. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-- the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground."
HEB 11:39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them
received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better
for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Hebrews Chapter 11 is known in Baptist circles as "The Faith Hall of Fame" In this chapter we find how even the greatest in scripture suffered in the face of strong opposition and yet kept their faith in God.
We learn about some of the opposition they faced and even how they lived. How many were tortured,sawed in two and killed for refusing to renounce their faith in God. Others who lived in deserts, caves and holes in the ground
I can only imagine the emotional turmoil and spiritual battles these people
faced within. How many times they were tempted to change their minds about God.
The only comfort these people had was in knowing that God had something better planned for them. Blessings they only knew from a distance would one day be a reality for all eternity.
In a sense, they knew that they were only aliens and strangers just passing
through, longing for a better country. That better country is Heaven. This
knowledge kept them strong no matter what they were going through.
Today so many Christians are dissilusioned by their trials not understanding why their faith in God is rewarded by hard times. Many are angered and frustrated not realizing that what they face is part of the faith.
Many are turned off by wide spread hypocrisy and churches that have lost the desire to influence the world. Finally, many are aggravated at the sight of others that don't live up to their potential as Christians.
Many Christians are persecuted in the world in similar manner as those in Hebrews 11. I remember that girl at Columbine who was shot after proclaiming her faith in God.
Life as much as we would like to ignore it is full of many harsh realities. Many harsh injustices. In the face of it all, we may ask where the assurance of God's promises are.
Why didn't I get this? Why didn't I get that? Where was God when I lost my job? Why does God make it so hard?
I've discovered through the years that God sometimes has to shake us.
It is usually to make us realize that we've strayed from Him. The perverbial 2x4 up beside the head. It always hurts however, nothing else gets through. We never forget the hard lessons.
The only true answer is in realizing that we are not alone in our suffering. We only need to study about the lives of others who faced hard times and what kept them strong. Faith in God and the knowledge that our ultimate rewards are in Heaven.
Hebrews 11:39-40 says that the prophets were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what was promised. God had planned something better for US so that together we would be made perfect. This is the testimony of the Apostles.
