Lesson 6Is Your Faith in Action? |
In this part of the study of Hebrews 11, we will examine all of these people together: Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Esau, and Joseph. They are talked about by name and in some cases, more information is given. It is the purpose of this study in “FAITH IN ACTION’ that if people are named in the faith chapter, we need to examine these people so we can learn from them. Remember that we are really determining if our faith is in action or not in action. We are living in a period in which mankind is looking for a moral compass or a light that will guide mankind in the right direction. Yet, if we are honest, as
Who was Sarah? What did she do? Let’s see if we can find answers to these questions and learn why she is in the faith chapter. Please note that she is the first female to be mentioned by name in this chapter. Yet the name used here in Hebrews is not the name she was born with nor is it the name that Abraham called her during most of their marriage. Therefore, we need to look into this new name and the meaning of it if we are to understand fully why she is in this chapter. The name she was born with was Sarai (saw-rah’ee) which means princess. Then God tells Abraham to call her Sarah (saw-raw’) for she will be the mother of many nations. This name change takes place at the same time God changes Abraham’s name, marking a new start in their relationship with God and mankind. Read what God says about Sarah, how Abraham reacts, and then how God confirms His plan through Sarah in Genesis 17:15 19. Now we know who she was.
Now let us see what Sarah did to get her placed in this chapter. We find the answer to this in Genesis 21:9 -12. Sarah saw Ishmael mocking Isaac and knew that if Abraham was to die, Ishmael would kill Isaac and this was against the promise God had made to them. The word mocking means to play with as a toy; also it is an intensive or intentional action verb. Remember that Ishmael is 14 years old and was being taught to lead the family. Also, remember that Abraham’s and Sarah’s names were changed when Abraham was 99 years old and they were told that the next year Sarah would have a male son.
Who was Isaac? What did he do? As we look at who Isaac was, we need to remember who his parents were. We know that they were Abraham and Sarah, but I think we forget or do not think of the affect that their relationship with God would have on a child from the moment that Sarah realized she was pregnant and that God had kept His word to her (Genesis 17:19). Please take a moment to think of the feelings and emotions that were going through her, which also meant that Isaac was receiving them. All this child knew was that he was a gift from God to complete the promise that God had made to his father. Every time his mother fed, washed, or met any of his needs she would share his story. Also remember that the name Isaac means “he laughs or laughter” (Genesis 21:6). Therefore, Isaac grew up knowing that a great nation would come out of his line and that it would be a blessing to the world. Can you picture that, being told your life would bless the whole world and not just your family?
Read Genesis 22; we find that God did test or prove both Abraham and Isaac. God tells Abraham to go and he will show him the place to make the burnt offering. From this chapter we see that Abraham was teaching his son on how to have a right relationship with God. Based on Josephus’ book 1 chapter 13, Isaac was 25 when he was offered up for a burnt offering. Not only do we find his age, but also there is a conversation that takes place. As you read it, think of what they are feeling during this talk.
- “As soon as the altar was prepared, and Abraham had laid on the wood, and all things were entirely ready, he said to his son, "O son, I poured out a vast number of prayers that I might have thee for my son; when thou wast come into the world, there was
nothing that could contribute to thy support for which I was not greatly solicitous, nor any thing wherein I thought myself happier than to see thee grown up to man's estate, and that I might leave thee at my death the successor to my dominion; but since it
was by God's will that I became thy father, and it is now his will that I relinquish thee, bear this consecration to God with a generous mind; for I resign thee up to God who has thought fit now to require this testimony of honor to himself, on account of
the favors he hath conferred on me, in being to me a supporter and defender. Accordingly thou, my son, wilt now die, not in any common way of going out of the world, but sent to God, the Father of all men, beforehand, by thy own father, in the nature of a
sacrifice. I suppose he thinks thee worthy to get clear of this world neither by disease, neither by war, nor by any other severe way, by which death usually comes upon men, but so that he will receive thy soul with prayers and holy offices of religion, and
will place thee near to himself, and thou wilt there be to me a succorer and supporter in my old age; on which account I principally brought thee up, and thou wilt thereby procure me God for my Comforter instead of thyself.
Now Isaac was of such a generous disposition as became the son of such a father, and was pleased with this discourse; and said, "That he was not worthy to be born at first, if he should reject the determination of God and of his father, and should not resign himself up readily to both their pleasures; since it would have been unjust if he had not obeyed, even if his father alone had so resolved." So he went immediately to the altar to be sacrificed. And the deed had been done if God had not opposed it; for he called loudly to Abraham by his name, and forbade him to slay his son; and said, "It was not out of a desire of human blood that he was commanded to slay his son, nor was he willing that he should be taken away from him whom he had made his father, but to try the temper of his mind, whether he would be obedient to such a command. Since therefore he now was satisfied as to that his alacrity, and the surprising readiness he showed in this his piety, he was delighted in having bestowed such blessings upon him; and that he would not be wanting in all sort of concern about him, and in bestowing other children upon him; and that his son should live to a very great age; that he should live a happy life, and bequeath a large principality to his children, who should be good and legitimate." He foretold also, that his family should increase into many nations and that those patriarchs should leave behind them an everlasting name; that they should obtain the possession of the land of Canaan, and be envied by all men. When God had said this, he produced to them a ram, which did not appear before, for the sacrifice. So Abraham and Isaac receiving each other unexpectedly, and having obtained the promises of such great blessings, embraced one another; and when they had sacrificed, they returned to Sarah, and lived happily together, God affording them his assistance in all things they desired.” [Antiquities 1.13.3 - 4 The New Complete Works of Josephus]
Now we know who Isaac was. We have also looked at one of the things he did, but we need to look more into his life to get a better picture of Isaac. In examining more of Isaac’s life, we can see how it fits into our life with God and the work He is working through us to reach others for His kingdom. In fact, all of the people we are studying are showing us how to live out Matthew 28:18 – 20 with confidence, no matter what things we will face during God’s work through us.
After the death of Abraham, Isaac becomes the head of the family. We are told in Genesis 26:1, that there was a famine in the land. This famine is compared to the one of Abraham’s time, which means that it was a big one. You may ask why this is important. Because the famine pushes Isaac to move the whole family. Remember that they kept livestock so that meant that they all had to be moved. Some of you may be saying, “I thought God was blessing Isaac.” You are correct, but sometimes God allows things to take place that will bring us closer to Him. How is it possible for Isaac to get closer to God knowing his history with God? Up to this time, there is no record of Isaac talking to God and God talking to Isaac. Therefore, Isaac has been living on his parent’s relationship with God. This is like many Christians today, living on someone else’s relationship with God. What is God doing in your life right now to get you to have a personal relationship with him? How many people will be affected by the choices that you make? Therefore, Isaac starts moving all that he controls out of the land, moving towards Egypt. On the way, he stops in Gerar.
In Gerar the LORD appeared and spoke to him which marks the first time, the LORD did any of these things with Isaac. Read Genesis 26:2 – 5 and see what God tells him. Also, note the words God uses with Isaac and tell me if they do not sound like something previously stated. If you read the rest of Genesis 26, you will see that Isaac had the same problem his father did about his wife. You will also see that God blessed him in the face of the Philistines each time they tried to stop the blessings. In fact, God had to remind Isaac, “… fear not, for I am with thee and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.” There is also an additional part of Isaac’s life that needs to be examined and we find that in Genesis 25:19 – 28.
In reading these verses, we find that Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah. You may be asking why is this important? Just hold on a little bit and see. Isaac goes to God about Rebekah not being able to have children. Remember he knows the promise of God that was to come through him. He did not go get a different lady to have his children. In Genesis 25:21, the LORD was listening to him about his concerns for her and allowed Rebekah to have children. In this verse, you get the feeling that she gives birth right away, which is not the case. In verse 26, we are told that Isaac was 60 years old when Esau and Jacob were born. Can you see the faith of Isaac during this time? Do you think you would have this kind of faith? How would you have been living during this time with you faith? Remember Isaac knows what he is called to be and do. Like Isaac, we have a calling on our lives too, but a lot of us do not know what that calling is. Do you know what your calling is? Before I tell you what your calling is, answer these questions. How is your faith as it stands in your life? How do people see you as it relates to what you say you believe? To find your calling for your life go to Matthew 28:18 – 20 you will also note that it does not say it will be easy.
In Genesis 25:22 – 23, Rebekah asked the LORD a question about her condition and the LORD answers her question. I can find nowhere that the LORD gives this information to Isaac. It has been said by some that one of the children would be weak. If you read verse 23, you cannot find that statement. What you do find is that there are two nations inside of Rebekah and one will be stronger than the other. In addition, the elder one will serve the younger one and you can see this playing out in their lives. Can you name the two nations that are in Rebekah? We will talk about them later.
It is time to dig deeper into Jacob and Esau and how they got into the faith chapter. We know that they are the children of Isaac and Rebekah and that Rebekah is told that they will be two nations. We also know that the older will serve the younger, but how do these things get them into Hebrews 11. We know that Esau sold his birthright for some red pottage. A lot of Christians do not understand birthright and the power that goes with it. Let’s look at this birthright and the power that goes with it. As the first-born male in the family, you are the next in charge after the father’s death. This means that all that the father has is yours upon his death, which meant that your brothers and sisters were in your care and could not expect to receive anything from their father but a blessing at his deathbed. So without being the first born you would look forward to receiving your father’s blessing on your life.
Because Esau despised his birthright and loss the position as head of the family, he also loss the first blessing of his father, which went to Jacob. Read Genesis 27:28 – 29. Yes, Jacob with the help of his mother came in and got the blessing that Isaac thought he was giving to Esau. Esau did receive a blessing from Isaac; read Genesis 27:39 – 40. As we move forward, please remember these blessings that were given to Esau and Jacob.
As Jacob leaves his parents to get a wife with Isaac’s blessing, he stops to sleep in the area of Beersheba. This is the first record of God talking with Jacob and making a promise to him in Genesis 28:12 – 15. We also find Jacob’s response to this dream in verses 16 – 22. From his response, we learn a lot about Jacob and his knowledge of God. We learn that he knew his family history and that God was working through this family to bless all of mankind. We also see that Jacob had reverence and fear of God, understanding how powerful God is. During this time away from Esau, Jacob and Esau both increase in prosperity and in the size of their family. Also during this time, Joseph is born to Rachel Jacob’s wife. At this time, Jacob asked his father-in-law to let him go back to his own country. Do you remember why Jacob left his country? Do you remember the blessings Isaac gave to both of his sons?
Esau is in the faith chapter because he did as his father had told him, knowing that God blessed his father. Read Genesis 36, to see the descendants of Esau and as you read it you will see that God is faithful to all that honor His word.
Now we come to the story of Joseph and why he is in the faith chapter. Most of us know the story of Joseph and how he ended up in Egypt. Through his faith in God, Joseph made the Israelites promise to carry his bones from Egypt to the Promised Land. Read Genesis 50:24 – 25. In these three people, we learn that if God is for you, who is able to stop His plan from working in your life. Remember that the book of Hebrews was written to encourage the faith of the followers of Jesus Christ to hold on to that which they said they believed. So the question is, will you hold on to that which you say you believe in the midst of your storms or trials?
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