(Hebrews 11:32-38)…..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: 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. 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.
Notice, that there is not even enough time for the author to describe the faith of others in detail – but what the author of Hebrews does provide is seen in this passage. Through faith – people such as these…….
Subdued kingdoms Read: (Joshua 12:7-24) (2 Samuel 5:4-25) (2 Samuel 8:1-14) Worked righteousness Read: (1 Samuel 12:4) (2 Samuel 8:15) (1 Kings 3:28) Obtained promises Read: (Joshua 21:43-45) (Joshua23:14) Stopped the mouth of lions Read: (1 Samuel 17:34-37) (Daniel 6:21-22) Quenched the violence of fire Read: (Daniel 3:23-25) Escaped the edge of the sword Read: (1 Samuel 23:19-29) (1 Kings 19:8-10) Out of weakness were made strong Read: (Judges 16:29-30) (Isaiah 38:1-8) Became valiant in battle Read: (1 Samuel 17:50) Turned to flight the armies of aliens Read: (2 Chronicles 20:1-30) (2 Kings 19:1-36) Women received their dead raised to life again Read: (1 Kings 17:17-24) (2 Kings 4:8-37)
Others were tortured – not accepting deliverance – to obtain a better resurrection – Others had trials of mockings – scourgings – chains and imprisonment – (1 Kings 22:24-28) (Jeremiah 20:1-3) (Jeremiah 37:11-21) (Jeremiah 38:1-13)
Some were stoned Read: (2 Chronicles 24:20-22) Some were sawn in two – tradition says this is referring to Isaiah the prophet
Some were tempted Read: (Daniel 1:8-21). Some were slain with the sword Read: (Jeremiah 26:20-23) Some wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins Read: (2 Kings 1:8) Some were destitute – afflicted – tormented Read: (2 Kings 17:1-6) (2 Kings 18:9-10)
If (Hebrews 11) was still being written today, what would be said of each of us? Would we be considered great people of faith. May we live for Christ with such a passion as these saints did through history.