Lesson 8Is Your Faith in Action? |
As we move forward in the study of Hebrews 11, we come to these verses 30 and 31. As you read them you see that the focus is on Rahab. The question comes to mind, why not Joshua? Was not Rahab just one of the people and events in Joshua’s life? Did not God tell Joshua many things before he entered the promised land? Read Joshua 1:2 – 9. So why is the focus on Rahab?
We will get into that but we need to look at Joshua for a moment. Remember that Joshua was with Moses from the first battle in Exodus 17:8 – 16. Also in the book 3 chapter 2 of “The Complete Works of Josephus” we read this:
- “1. The name of the Hebrews began already to be every where renowned, and rumors about them ran abroad. This made the inhabitants of those countries to be in no small fear. Accordingly they sent ambassadors to one another, and exhorted one another
to defend themselves, and to endeavor to destroy these men. Those that induced the rest to do so, were such as inhabited Gobolitis and Petra. They were called Amalekites, and were the most warlike of the nations that lived thereabout; and whose kings exhorted
one another, and their neighbors, to go to this war against the Hebrews; telling them that an army of strangers, and such a one as had run away from slavery under the Egyptians, lay in wait to ruin them; which army they were not, in common prudence and regard
to their own safety, to overlook, but to crush them before they gather strength, and come to be in prosperity: and perhaps attack them first in a hostile manner, as presuming upon our indolence in not attacking them before; and that we ought to avenge ourselves
of them for what they have done in the wilderness, but that this cannot be so well done when they have once laid their hands on our cities and our goods: that those who endeavor to crush a power in its first rise, are wiser than those that endeavor to put a stop
to its progress when it is become formidable; for these last seem to be angry only at the flourishing of others, but the former do not leave any room for their enemies to become troublesome to them. After they had sent such embassages to the neighboring nations,
and among one another, they resolved to attack the Hebrews in battle.
2. These proceedings of the people of those countries occasioned perplexity and trouble to Moses, who expected no such warlike preparations. And when these nations were ready to fight, and the multitude of the Hebrews were obliged to try the fortune of war, they were in a mighty disorder, and in want of all necessaries, and yet were to make war with men who were thoroughly well prepared for it. Then therefore it was that Moses began to encourage them, and to exhort them to have a good heart, and rely on God's assistance by which they had been state of freedom and to hope for victory over those who were ready to fight with them, in order to deprive them of that blessing: that they were to suppose their own army to be numerous, wanting nothing, neither weapons, nor money, nor provisions, nor such other conveniences as, when men are in possession of, they fight undauntedly; and that they are to judge themselves to have all these advantages in the Divine assistance. They are also to suppose the enemy's army to be small, unarmed, weak, and such as want those conveniences which they know must be wanted, when it is God's will that they shall be beaten; and how valuable God's assistance is, they had experienced in abundance of trials; and those such as were more terrible than war, for that is only against men; but these were against famine and thirst, things indeed that are in their own nature insuperable; as also against mountains, and that sea which afforded them no way for escaping; yet had all these difficulties been conquered by God's gracious kindness to them. So he exhorted them to be courageous at this time, and to look upon their entire prosperity to depend on the present conquest of their enemies.
3. And with these words did Moses encourage the multitude, who then called together the princes of their tribes, and their chief men, both separately and conjointly. The young men he charged to obey their elders, and the elders to hearken to their leader. So the people were elevated in their minds, and ready to try their fortune in battle, and hoped to be thereby at length delivered from all their miseries: nay, they desired that Moses would immediately lead them against their enemies without the least delay, that no backwardness might be a hindrance to their present resolution. So Moses sorted all that were fit for war into different troops, and set Joshua, the son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, over them; one that was of great courage, and patient to undergo labors; of great abilities to understand, and to speak what was proper; and very serious in the worship of God; and indeed made like another Moses, a teacher of piety towards God. He also appointed a small party of the armed men to be near the water, and to take care of the children, and the women, and of the entire camp. So that whole night they prepared themselves for the battle; they took their weapons, if any of them had such as were well made, and attended to their commanders as ready to rush forth to the battle as soon as Moses should give the word of command. Moses also kept awake, teaching Joshua after what manner he should order his camp. But when the day began, Moses called for Joshua again, and exhorted him to approve himself in deeds such a one as a his reputation made men expect from him; and to gain glory by the present expedition, in the opinion of those under him, for his exploits in this battle. He also gave a particular exhortation to the principal men of the Hebrews, and encouraged the whole army as it stood armed before him. And when he had thus animated the army, both by his words and works, and prepared every thing, he retired to a mountain, and committed the army to God and to Joshua.
4. So the armies joined battle; and it came to a close fight, hand to hand, both sides showing great alacrity, and encouraging one another. And indeed while Moses stretched out his hand towards heaven the Hebrews were too hard for the Amalekites: but Moses not being able to sustain his hands thus stretched out, (for as often as he let down his hands, so often were his own people worsted,) he bade his brother Aaron, and Hur their sister Miriam's husband, to stand on each side of him, and take hold of his hands, and not permit his weariness to prevent it, but to assist him in the extension of his hands. When this was done, the Hebrews conquered the Amalekites by main force; and indeed they had all perished, unless the approach of the night had obliged the Hebrews to desist from killing any more. So our forefathers obtained a most signal and most seasonable victory; for they not only overcame those that fought against them, but terrified also the neighboring nations, and got great and splendid advantages, which they obtained of their enemies by their hard pains in this battle: for when they had taken the enemy's camp, they got ready booty for the public, and for their own private families, whereas till then they had not any sort of plenty, of even necessary food. The forementioned battle, when they had once got it, was also the occasion of their prosperity, not only for the present, but for the future ages also; for they not only made slaves of the bodies of their enemies, but subdued their minds also, and after this battle, became terrible to all that dwelt round about them. Moreover, they acquired a vast quantity of riches; for a great deal of silver and gold was left in the enemy's camp; as also brazen vessels, which they made common use of in their families; many utensils also that were embroidered there were of both sorts, that is, of what were weaved, and what were the ornaments of their armor, and other things that served for use in the family, and for the furniture of their rooms; they got also the prey of their cattle, and of whatsoever uses to follow camps, when they remove from one place to another. So the Hebrews now valued themselves upon their courage, and claimed great merit for their valor; and they perpetually inured themselves to take pains, by which they deemed every difficulty might be surmounted. Such were the consequences of this battle.
5. On the next day, Moses stripped the dead bodies of their enemies, and gathered together the armor of those that were fled, and gave rewards to such as had signalized themselves in the action; and highly commended Joshua, their general, who was attested to by all the army, on account of the great actions he had done. Nor was any one of the Hebrews slain; but the slain of the enemy's army were too many to be enumerated. So Moses offered sacrifices of thanksgiving to God, and built an altar, which he named The Lord the Conqueror. He also foretold that the Amalekites should utterly be destroyed; and that hereafter none of them should remain, because they fought against the Hebrews, and this when they were in the wilderness, and in their distress also. Moreover, he refreshed the army with feasting. And thus did they fight this first battle with those that ventured to oppose them, after they were gone out of Egypt. But when Moses had celebrated this festival for the victory, he permitted the Hebrews to rest for a few days, and then he brought them out after the fight, in order of battle; for they had now many soldiers in light armor. And going gradually on, he came to Mount Sinai, in three months' time after they were removed out of Egypt; at which mountain, as we have before related, the vision of the bush, and the other wonderful appearances, had happened."[Antiquities 3.2 The New Complete Works of Josephus]
Yes, Joshua had faith, but he also had experience with God and through God. All that he experienced was being told to other nations (people) and it was affecting the world. So as you live out your faith, know that it is affecting someone. This is why I believe that Rahab is included in this chapter.
So let us look at this very closely because God had a reason to give her a place in this chapter of Hebrews. As we read in Joshua 2:1 – 24, we find that these spies went into Jericho and lodged in Rahab’s house. They are in a place where people talk and act very loosely. A question comes up how did the people of this land know what the children of Israel looked like? We see that Rahab does not say your LORD or your God, but says “…I know that the LORD hath given you the land...” This is a very powerful statement and let’s us see into the heart and mind of Rahab. Now we can see why she hid these spies and lied to her people. She makes the spies to swear unto her by the LORD. Look at the value she is placing in the LORD which was not her “god.” But because she and her people had heard what God had done for the children of Israel, she believed. So the question is, why did not the whole nation believe? Not only did she believe, but she acted on her faith and held that faith until it was fulfilled in Joshua chapter 6. We do not know how long this was but we do know that she kept that line of scarlet thread in the window. How long will you hold on to the faith you say you have in God? Can you picture her and her household feeling the affects of the wall coming down around them? The household had to trust her and the promise she got from the spies. Remember, they had to stay in the house to be safe. Not only does her faith cause her to save these spies, but it causes her to change her career and become part of the line of Jesus Christ. So would you say that she had FAITH?
As we go back to Hebrews 11, and start reading verses 32 – 40. There are some people you may not have heard about and others you think you know very well. Please go back and read their life stories now from the viewpoint of faith in action. We are going to look at one of these folks more closely before we end this series of faith in action.
Yet before we do this, read Hebrews 11:38 – 39. Now remember that this letter was for CHRISTAINS who were going through some hard times, through persecutions. Look at how God is using this writer to encourage the readers to move forward and stand strong in their faith. Not only to move and stand, but to know that God is using us in the bigger picture or purpose (His plan for mankind). In all the things these people went through, the world was not worthy of them. Plus, these believers presented in Hebrews did not yet receive the promise. However, today we have the promise and we are acting like we should not have to go through anything to advance the kingdom of God. How many people went through so many obstacles and difficulties to get us into this relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ. In fact, look at what Jesus went through to enable us to call God Our Father!!! In our faith are we moving and doing the will (desire) of God in the face of all obstacles?
As we have examined some of these people in the Hebrews 11 we see that the one common thing they shared was their trust in God which was not based on their circumstances. In fact, it was not even based on their race or occupation or any of the things we deem important in life to change people’s lives. We even had Joseph who perhaps in your mindset should have gotten even with his brothers for what they did to him. Yet he saw it as God’s way of getting him in the position to do the work God had called him to. It is more than a trust in God that he had, but an understanding that we are tools of God. As a tool of God, He has a right to use and place us in any situation that he knows is best for His plan to be completed.
There is one more person I really would like us to examine. You will find him listed in Hebrews 11:32 and his name is Jephthah. I can hear some of you saying, WHO??!. Remember God had him placed in this chapter for a reason. Is in this chapter for several reasons. As we examine him please remember this chapter is to encourage the Christians to hold on and move forward with their faith.
You may be asking who is this Jephthah? He was the ninth judge of Israel and his father was Gilead. So read Judges chapters 11 through 12.
We find out that his mother was a harlot and half-brothers threw him out of the family. We also see that he was man that believed in God and taught his family about God. He did not let his past problems stop him from doing the will of God for the nation of Israel. Nor did he let it keep him from teaching his family about God even when family members caused him to lose his inheritance. Are you letting things keep you from carrying out God’s plan for your life? If so, please take some time to ask yourself why? Do not do this in your head, but write it down along with your answer(s). In doing this please be in prayer about all of it.
WALK YOUR FAITH IN ACTION NOT IN WORDS.
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