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 Previous Return to Hebrews Next 

THE PAST ENCOURAGES THE PRESENT

Hebrews 11:7c-10

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    The primary exhortation to the Hebrew Christians to whom the book was written is:  “Be faithful!”

 

B.      The writer has already used examples from the past to encourage his readers.

1.      Israel who did not enter into the Promised Land because of unbelief (Heb. 3:7-19).

2.      Hebrews 6:12

 

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

 

C.     In Hebrews 11, the writer turns to the examples of faithful individuals from the past.

1.      This is another tactic used to encourage his readers to be faithful.  If they could be faithful, so can you.

2.      “If these Hebrews would learn of saving faith, then let them take a closer look at the record in their possession, and let their own Scriptures teach them what is involved in saving faith” (Wacaster, 434). 

3.      Therefore, we have entitled the chapter:  “The Past Encourages the Present.”

a.      Some refer to this chapter as “The Hall of Fame of the Faithful.”

b.      The words “by faith” occur 18 times in the chapter.

c.       We are given 25 examples of men and women who lived by faith. 

a.      (Wacaster, 428).

 

D.    Outline of the chapter:

 

i.                    FAITH (Heb. 11:1-3)

ii.                  FATHERS (Heb. 11:4-22)

iii.                FOUNDER (Heb. 11:23-31)

iv.                FEARLESS (Heb. 11:32-38)

v.                  FASTENING (Heb. 11:39-40)

 

I.                   FAITH (Heb. 11:1-3)

 

II.                FATHERS (Heb. 11:4-22)

 

A.    It is interesting that the inspired writer does not go back to Adam and Eve as the first example of faith.

 

B.      Abel (Heb. 11:4)

 

C.     Enoch (Heb. 11:5-6)

 

D.    Noah (Heb. 11:7)

1.      The Alert (Heb. 11:7a)

2.      The Actions (Heb. 11:7b)

 

 

 

3.      The Aftereffects (Heb. 11:7c)

a.      Salvation

 

…to the saving of his house…

 

1)      Genesis 8:14-16, 18

 

And in the second month, on the seventh and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.  And God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee.

 

2)      Noah’s faith saved him.  Note:  It was a faith coupled with obedience.

3)      Question:  Was Noah saved by works? 

a)      No.  He did not devise his own plan of salvation.

b)      Yes.  He followed God’s plan of salvation.

b.      Condemnation

 

…by the which he condemned the world…

 

1)      Noah’s actions stood in stark contrast to those of the world.  Those of his day gave not heed to his message (II Pet. 2:5).

 

And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.

 

2)      His actions condemned the world.

3)      LESSON:  When Christians live as God directs, they, too, condemn the world.  It is almost surprising that we can say nothing to the ungodly, yet they will hate us.  Our actions condemn them (See John 3:19-20).

 

And this is condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

 

c.       Acquisition

 

…and became the heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

 

1)      II Peter 3:13

 

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

 

2)      Noah’s obedient faith proved that he was a son of God.  As a son, Noah has an inheritance waiting for him in the new heavens and new earth.

 

E.      Abraham (Heb. 11:8-19)

1.      Abraham’s Departure (Heb. 11:8)

a.      The Confidence:

 

By faith…

 

1)      Background

a)      Abraham was the son of  Terah (Gen. 11:26).

b)      He had two brothers, Nahor and Haran (Gen. 11:26).

c)      He lived in Ur of the Chaldees (Gen. 11:31).

d)     His family had been idol worshipers (Josh. 24:2).

 

And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor:  and they served other gods.

 

e)      His wife’s name was Sarai, and she was barren (Gen. 11:29-30).

2)      God spoke to Abraham directly as a patriarch.

a)      Upon hearing the Word of God, he developed a deep faith in the living God.

b)      How difficult was it for Abraham to develop his deep confidence in God?

c)      Had Abraham heard of Jehovah mentioned by his father and grandfather?

d)     Question:  Was his call the first time God ever spoke to him?  If his call was the first time to ever hear from God, it makes his obedience even more profound.

b.      The Call:

 

…when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance…

 

1)      Abraham was in Ur when he received the call from God (Gen. 12:1).

 

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee.

 

2)      Question:  Would you consider this call a “big deal”?

a)      It was his first command.

b)      It involved his wife, father, and Lot.

c)      It involved leaving his family, his home, his friends, and all with which he was familiar.

3)      Abraham himself would never take possession of the land.

a)      The only portion he would ever own was the cave of Machpelah (Gen. 23:12-17).

b)      It would be his descendants who would ultimately receive the entirety of the land for an inheritance.  This, Abraham inherited it through them.

c.       The Compliance:

 

…obeyed; and he went out…

 

1)      Abraham did not balk at God’s command.

Abraham did not argue with God.

Abraham did not try to come up with another plan.

2)      Genesis 12:4


So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him:  and Abraham was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. 

 

3)      Question:  Would we have been as compliant as Abraham?

d.      The Challenge:

 

…not knowing whether he went.

 

1)      This would add difficulty to the command.

2)      Can you imagine trying to explain this to your wife, your family and friends?

2.      Abraham’s Dwelling (Heb. 11:9-10)