Faith Exemplified (Hebrews 11:1-40): Part 4

More Heroes of Faith

“And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets” (Hebrews 11:32, NKJV).

The brevity of these allusions seems to take for granted the readers’ familiarity with these OT characters. Gideon led 300 men against the Midianites (Judg. 6:11; 7:1-25). Barak led Israel in victory over Sisera and the Canaanites (Judg. 4:6-24). Samson defeated thousands of Philistines (Judg. 13:24–16:31). Jephtha led the men of Gilead to victory over the Ammonites (cf. Judg. 11:1-29; 12:1-7). David, a valiant warrior and respected leader, was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 7:46; 13:22). Samuel was a prophet and judge (1 Sam. 3:1-21; 7:2-14). And “the prophets” would include Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.

What was Accomplished by Faith

These faithful ones, “who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again” (Hebrews 11:33-35a).

These heroes of faith faithfully served God as he accomplished his purpose:

o   Conquered kingdoms (v. 33a), e.g., Joshua, Gideon, Barak, David, Joab.

o   Performed acts of righteousness, enforced justice (v. 33b), lived lives characterized by just and fair treatment (cf. 2 Sam. 8:15).

o   Obtained promises (v. 33c), cf. Gen. 21:1-2; Josh. 21:45.

o   Stopped the mouths of lions (v. 33d), cf. 1 Sam. 17:34-35; Dan. 6:23.

o   Quenched the violence of fire (v. 34a), cf. Dan. 3:28.

o   Escaped the edge of the sword (v. 34b), cf. 1 Sam. 18:11; 19:10-12 (David); 1 Kings 19 (Elijah); Jer. 26 (Jeremiah).

o   Made strong out of weakness (v. 34c), cf. Judg. 16:28-31 (Samson); Isa. 38:1-6 (Hezekiah); Judg. 6:11-40 (Gideon).

o   Valiant in battle (v. 34d), 1 Sam. 17 (David vs. Goliath); Judg. 7:1–8:28 (Gideon).

o   Turned to flight the armies of the aliens (v. 34e), cf. 2 Chron. 20:15; Judg. 7:22.

o   Raised the dead (v. 35a), cf. 1 Kings 17:17-24 (Elijah and Zarephath widow); 2 Kings 4:18-37 (Elisha and the Shunamite).

What Faith Enabled Men and Women of Faith to Endure

“Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth” (Hebrews 11:35b-38).

Willingly brutalized to attain “a better resurrection” (v. 35b; cf. v. 16). During the intertestamental period torture was administered by Antiochus IV Epiphanes (cf. 2 Macc. 6:18-31). Trial of mockings, cf. Matt. 27:31; Luke 22:63; Acts 2:13; 17:32. Scourgings, cf. John 19:1; Acts 22:24. Chains and imprisonment (v. 36), cf. Gen. 39:20; 1 Kings 22:24-28; Jer. 20:2; Acts 24:27. Stoned (v. 37a), cf. 2 Chron. 24:20-21 (Zechariah); Acts 14:19 (Paul). Sawn in two (v. 37b):¹ according to tradition this is how Isaiah died at the hands of Manasseh.

Slain with the sword (v. 37c; cf. v. 34b), cf. 1 Kings 19:10, 14 (prophets); Jer. 26:20-23 (Urijah); Acts 12:2 (James). Wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins (v. 37d), cf. 2 Kings 1:8 (Elijah); Matt. 3:4. Destitute, afflicted, tormented (v. 37e). Wandered in deserts, mountains, dens and caves of the earth (v. 38b).

God’s estimation of these great heroes and heroines of faith is succinctly stated: “of whom the world was not worthy” (v. 38a). God has demonstrated his love and given sufficient opportunity to his entire human creation. Those who have foolishly rejected him and his will and have maliciously maltreated those who have faithfully submitted to and served him, have proven themselves to be contemptible and undeserving by comparison.

The Reward of Faith

“And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us” (Hebrews 11:39-40).

All who are inducted into faith’s “hall of fame” have obtained a good testimony through faith, even though they did not receive the ultimate promise of God in this life. God has provided something far better,² and while they were not made perfect apart from us, are we “worthy” to be counted among them?

--Kevin L. Moore

Endnotes:

     ¹ Textus Receptus includes “were tempted” (cf. NKJV).

     ² See K. L. Moore, “The Rest that Remains,” Moore Perspective (5 Aug. 2015), <Link>.

Related Posts: Part 3: Heb 11:20-31

 

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Faith Exemplified (Hebrews 11:1-40): Part 3

The Faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph

“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones” (Hebrews 11:20-22, NKJV).

Despite being alluded to in the midst of these examples of faith, neither Esau, nor Manasseh, nor Ephraim is counted as one of them. They had the same opportunities and blessings but failed to rise to the occasion. Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, on the other hand, were enabled to accomplish great things and fulfill God’s purpose because their unyielding faith looked beyond immediate circumstances in anticipation of God’s promises (cf. Gen. 27:1-40; 48:14-20; 47:29-31; 50:24-25; Ex. 13:19; Josh. 24:32).

The Faith of Moses

“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them” (Hebrews 11:23-28).

The faith of Moses was first exhibited by his parents (v. 23), Amram and Jochebed (Ex. 6:20). His mother is the second woman noted in this chapter of faith, who helped lay the foundation of the faith that Moses would demonstrate later in life.

Moses’ faith affected his decisions (vv. 24-26). He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Moses’ faith affected his priorities. He chose suffering rather than the temporary pleasures of sin, esteeming affliction (the same kind of abuse and rejection Christ would suffer) more valuable than earthly treasures.

Moses’ faith affected his emotional disposition (v. 27a). He did not fear the king’s wrath. His reliance on God engendered courage that was greater than his fears. Moses’ faith affected his resolution: he endured (v. 27b). Moses’ faith affected his behavior (v. 28). He was obedient to God’s revealed will.

“By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned” (Hebrews 11:29).

Moses’ faith affected his leadership. The discussion of Moses’ faith smoothly transitions into a description of the Israelites’ faith under his capable, God-centered direction. Consequently, their fate was determined by their obedient faith, while the fate of the Egyptians was determined by the absence thereof.

The Faith of the Conquerors of Jericho

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace” (Hebrews 11:30-31).

The biblical account of the forty years of wilderness-wandering is passed over. These years were not characterized by faith but by rebellion and unbelief (cf. 3:16-19). The narrative resumes with the conquest of the land of Canaan. Jericho was not conquered by military force but by faith (cf. Josh. 6:1-21).

Rahab is the third woman highlighted in this chapter. She had more faith than the other Jericho inhabitants (cf. Josh. 2:11; Jas. 2:25-26). She did not perish with “the disobedient [ones]” [apeithéō];¹ faith and obedience are inseparably linked. Despite her sinful past, her obedient faith enabled her to be used by God as a contributor to the family tree that ultimately produced the savior of the world (Matt. 1:5).²

--Kevin L. Moore

Endnotes:

     ¹ Not simply “those who did not believe” (NKJV; cf. mg. “disobedient”; NASB); see also 3:18-19; 4:6.

     ² See K. L. Moore, “The Lineage of Jesus According to Matthew,” Moore Perspective (3 Feb. 2013), <Link>.

Related Posts: Faith's Hall of Shame, Faith Exemplified Part 1, Part 2, Part 4

 

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Honoring Dr. Earl D. Edwards (13 April 1933 – 13 September 2025)

For ninety-two treasured years the Lord has richly blessed the world through his godly servant Earl D. Edwards. Missionary, gospel preacher, Bible teacher, evangelist, elder, professor, scholar, author, mentor; Christian husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather. This gallant man of God departed from this temporal life following a day of door-knocking to set up Bible studies and less than a week after his last sermon. He kept a record of the sermons he preached over the years, from 2nd June 1952 to 7th September 2025, totaling 7,629.

Impact on My Life (and Countless Others!)

Bro. Edwards started teaching at Freed-Hardeman College when I was an undergraduate student in the Social Work program and developing an interest in missions. He invited me to participate in a Spring Break campaign to Toronto, Canada, working mainly in an Italian community. This was the first time I had ever been outside the United States, and it significantly broadened my horizons. We learned basic Italian phrases for door-knocking, inviting people to study the Bible and to attend a gospel meeting, which bro. Edwards preached in Italian. He asked me to lead the singing, in Italian, which I reluctantly did, strictly following the words on the page!

My interest in missions continued to grow, so my final semester I enrolled in bro. Edwards’ “World Missions” class, which I think was the only missions class offered at the time. My research project focused on the Lord’s work in New Zealand, and the things I learned coupled with bro. Edwards’ influence led me to make the decision on the last day of class to devote my life to full-time evangelistic work in New Zealand.

Years later bro. Edwards brought the first Freed-Hardeman campaign group to NZ while I was working with the church in Wellington, which instilled in me the inspiration to organize and coordinate future FHU-NZ campaigns. He then invited me to serve as Freed-Hardeman’s missionary-in-residence and offered a scholarship to study in the Graduate School of Theology. I got to take some of his classes and still treasure his class notes. When my thesis advisor got sick, bro. Edwards stepped in for a time to offer critiques and then served on the oral comps panel. He didn’t make it easy but was gracious!

Worthy of Honor

For years bro. Edwards has been affectionately referred to as the fifteenth apostle. Although spoken in jest, and I’m pretty sure he didn’t like the comparison, the admiration and respect he has earned from all who knew him made the comparison somewhat legitimate. He never seemed to slow down. He was always busy in the Lord’s work. Like the apostle Paul, he “labored more abundantly than they all” and would be the first to admit, “yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Cor. 15:10).

While we are eternally grateful for his life, service, and the incredible impact he has made, we are also thankful that he has now entered his long-anticipated and well-deserved rest, joining Ms. Gwen, Ms. Lora, and a host of heroes and heroines of faith who have gone on before him. In fact, if the eleventh chapter of Hebrews were written today, I’m pretty sure Earl D. Edwards would be included.

--Kevin L. Moore

Related: Obituary: Earl D. Edwards 

 

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