I feel like I'm too busy writing history to read it. --Kanye West
I used to love to study history. It was so interesting to me, the things that people did that made them famous. Some stumbled into fame, but most worked hard to make a difference in their world. George Washington led men into battle, successfully leading a revolution by overseeing the Revolutionary War, then helped shape the new government that transitioned America from being a territory of a foreign monarch into a self-sustaining democratic republic. George Washington Carver overcame slavery and racial discrimination to gain an education that allowed him to develop innovations in agriculture, compile and promote uses of alternative crops such as peanuts and sweet potatoes, and offer advice to such luminaries as Henry Ford, Calvin Coolidge, and both Roosevelts (Teddy and Franklin).
Some people, however, do not enjoy the study of history. They claim it is a waste of time to remember names and dates in order to regurgitate them on some academic exam, only to forget them soon after. The names and dates of the past, they believe, are not as important as the people, places, and things that are going on right now. The events of today that will somehow shape the future, or will soon be forgotten, consume their thoughts and feelings, their hopes and dreams.
In my men's Bible study that meets every Friday morning, bright and early at 6:00 a.m. (before the workday kicks in and the weekend starts), we have been studying the book of Hebrews. We have camped for several weeks on chapter 11, the Hall of Fame of Faith. After six or eight weeks of study, we have finally gotten through that one chapter.
In a way, Hebrews 11 is a historical study, a place where the writer mentioned the names of people throughout Israel's history, with special attention given to the importance of faith to their lives and legacies. A list of people mentioned specifically includes Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Rahab in some detail. Other names mentioned in passing are Gideon, Barak (an assistant to the only female Judge in the Bible, Deborah), Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel. Each of these people made a difference in the world, and in history, through the faith that they each individually had in God.
Now, some may say, "So what? I'm not a king like David; I'm not strong like Samson; I haven't heard God's voice like Noah, Abraham, or Moses. What does all this have to do with me?" Fair question, and one that I think the writer of Hebrews addresses in verses 33 and 34. Each of these people are mentioned by name for their faithful obedience
who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. --Hebrews 11:33-34If we look at our existence not just in the physical realm, but also in the spiritual, we can begin to see the purpose of our calling. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." This is why Paul advised us to take up the whole armor of God. We can, by faith, make a difference in the spiritual realm.
Who by faith conquered kingdoms.... The King James Version translates the word conquered as "subdued." The Greek term actually means "to struggle against, to overcome." Remember, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood..." 1 John 5:4 says, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith." Fellow Christian, this means you! The Ruler of this present darkness, Satan himself, comes against you with all his demonic forces to make you weak, ineffective, and demoralized. Let me remind you, Believer, and Jesus has defeated the enemy--greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. "Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:5).
...performed acts of righteousness.... The word translated perform is a word that actually means "work; produce; acquire." The King James Version translated this term as "wrought"; when we think of wrought iron, we think of metal that has been shaped, hammered and twisted until it becomes something both beautiful and useful. The word righteousness can mean two things: In a broad sense, it is the condition acceptable to God; but in a narrow sense, it is the virtue of justice which gives each his due. Philippians 2:12 admonishes us to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Part of that work is to point out error (not in a judgmental way so as to condemn someone to hell, but rather to bring them to the knowledge of God.) If someone will not heed our warning and mend their unrighteous ways, we are to follow Jesus's admonition in Matthew 10:14, "Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet."
...obtain promises.... You can obtain something in one of two ways: either you can work for it, or you can come upon it by chance. The promises of God are outside of ourselves, and by the Providence of God (by His grace and mercy), they are available to you free of charge--you don't have to work for them. As for the promises themselves, they are an announcement or proclamation of life in fellowship with Christ. As a child of God, a joint-heir with Jesus Christ the Son of God, you have access to more than you know. "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21). Again, Beloved of God, that means you.
These divine promises do not come without peril. There may be obstacles placed in our path. There may be persecution for doing the right thing. Seeing the next phrase, shut the mouths of lions, I am reminded of the story of Daniel. However, we know that 1 Peter 5:8 says, "Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." If we are faithful, we can not only ignore the growling we hear from Satan, but we can actually shut it up completely. Be vigilant, my friend. Never let your guard down.
Many martyrs throughout history have been burned alive for their faith. The phrase quenched the power of fire reminds me of Joan of Arc. Some may remember her as one who was burned at the stake for her faith. But it was her words that are her lasting legacy. When asked at her trial whether she believed she was in the grace of God, she said, "If I am not, may God place me there; if I am, may God so keep me." Like the Old Testament story of Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego, the fire had no power to command them to renounce their faith. The fire was ineffective; their faith remained.
Though many have been killed for their faith, many more have escaped death in order to accomplish God's purpose. In the 1950's, there was a Dutch missionary who called himself Brother Andrew. His mission was to smuggle Bibles into Eastern Europe, past what was called "The Iron Curtain." His 1967 book God's Smuggler is a testament to one man's faith and the good that can be done for God if we are obedient to Him. Truly we can escape the edge of the sword by God's hand.
You may be thinking, "But my faith is so weak." In our text, we see the phrase from weakness were made strong. The Apostle Paul got a word of knowledge from God, a divine message that he shared with us in 2 Corinthians 12. Paul was being beset by "a thorn in the flesh." Whether this was a physical ailment, or (as the phrase was commonly used in the Old Testament) a reference to nay-sayers, people who would follow him around and refute everything God had told him to say, we don't know for certain. What we do know is God's response: "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness'. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Do not lose faith. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of darkness. Thankfully, God has equipped us with the tools to overcome.
