As we go through Hebrews 11, we find that the people that lived by faith “were strangers and temporary residents on the earth”. Some experienced overcoming miracle working power, but others, “were approved through their faith” but never saw the promise fulfilled. All of them were looking forward to the future, to the hope they had in God. And the message in all of this is that God is still working. They are “not made perfect without us” and God has “something better for us”. So lets stay on track, strengthen ourselves, fix our eyes on Jesus and accept the training and discipline of the Lord and run with “patient endurance” the length of our marathon.

They Aspire to a Better Land

العبرانيين 11:11–19
It says in Hebrews 11:6 (LEB) “the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him”. But when does that reward come? For these, it was generations to see the fulfillment of Gods plan. It says in Hebrews 11:13 “These all died in faith without receiving the promises, but seeing them from a distance and welcoming them, and admitting that they were strangers and temporary residents on the earth”. These were all looking forward to the future, to the hope they had in God.

Greater Wealth Than the Treasures of Egypt

العبرانيين 11:20–29
Isaac, يعقوب, and Joseph blessed their sons in Hebrews 11:20-22 for their futures even though they would not see the answer. Moses refused an inheritance as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, the wealth of Egypt in Hebrews 11:23-26. Instead, Moses, by faith, persevered, “saw the invisible one”, kept the Passover and led the children of Israel out in Hebrews 11:27-29.

What More Shall I Say?

العبرانيين 11:30–35
There are many great accounts of those that overcame, as it says in Hebrews 11:33 “through faith”. These are great miracles that happened in the moment like the walls of Jericho falling in Hebrews 11:30. Their answer came as an overcoming victory and their enemies were destroyed, often right in front of them.

Of Whom The World Was Not Worthy

العبرانيين 11:36–40
Then it says in Hebrews 11:35b “others were tortured, not accepting release, in order that they might gain a better resurrection”. Not everyone was released, as it says in Hebrews 11:36-39 “they did not receive what was promised”. These suffered in the world, not because of their bad actions, but for their righteousness. العبرانيين 11:39 goes on to say “they all were approved through their faith”. But even these, in Hebrews 11:40 “would not be made perfect without us”, “because God has something better for us”. God’s plan includes us, even us to the end time, and we all together will show His beautiful master plan.

كولوسي 1:26–27 (LEB) the mystery which has been hidden from the ages and from the generations, but has now been revealed to his saints, 27 to whom God wanted to make known what is the glorious wealth of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory,

A Great Cloud of Witnesses

العبرانيين 12:1–4
العبرانيين 12:1 reminds us of “a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us”. لذا “putting aside every weight and the sin … run with patient endurance (the marathon to the finish)”. Then in Hebrews 12:2 we are told to be “fixing our eyes on Jesus the originator and perfecter”. And in Hebrews 12:3 we are to “consider the one (يسوع) … so you will not grow weary and give up”.

God is Dealing With You as Sons

العبرانيين 12:5–11
If we were in training for an athletic event, we would be listening to our trainer, maybe even seeking their advice. But somehow, when we are disciplined, we take it personally, we might get mad or be offended. And because of the negative connotation this word can have, here is a definition, “To discipline a person or a group means to put them in a state of good order so that they function in the way intended. Discipline, in spite of a popular misconception, is not inherently stern or harsh. Bible translators chose “disciple” as an appropriate term for one who learns by following.1

But discipline isn’t always easy, in fact it says in Hebrews 12:11 Now all discipline seems for the moment not to be joyful but painful, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness for those who are trained by it.

This tells us two things: first, discipline is training and second, discipline produces “the peaceful fruit of righteousness” which we don’t naturally have. It then says in Hebrews 12:10 “he (إله) does so (disciplines us) for our benefit”. And it says in Hebrews 12:6 “the Lord disciplines the one whom he loves”. لذا, for us, in Hebrews 12:5 “do not make light … or give up” which are our natural responses when we feel the pressure of discipline.

Make Straight Paths

العبرانيين 12:12–21
If God is teaching, training, building discipline in us, then here in Hebrews 12:12-14 we have our part to play to “strengthen”, “make straight”, و “pursue”. And as it says in Hebrews 12:15 “take care that no one falls short of the grace of God”. This is a place where we are told to “take care” instead of being told to “cast our care on Him”. But these are two different instances. We “cast our care on Him” for what we need in the world. He asks us to “take care” when it comes to the condition of other believers. We are to encourage them, to help them. And if we don’t, bitterness can come in.

Study Verses

  • العبرانيين 11:20–29
  • العبرانيين 11:36–40
  • العبرانيين 12:5-11

Today’s Reading

  • العبرانيين 11:11-40
  • العبرانيين 12:1-21

References

  • 1. Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Discipline. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, p. 631). جراند رابيدز, مي: Baker Book House.

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