Category: Faith

Bible

Eyes to See (Hebrews 11:23)

Chris

One of the greatest people in the history of Israel is Moses. Through him God delivered His chosen people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. He led them through the desert, gave them the Ten Commandments and all the laws of God.

But Moses’ life almost ended long before God could have done any of these through him. When he was born there was a law in Egypt to kill the male children born to Hebrew women. Moses should have died after he was born. Hebrews 11 tells us how Moses was spared the death that waited for him.

By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. (Hebrews 11:23)

It was the faith of Moses’ parents that saved him. They trusted God more than they feared the laws of Egypt. Before that, their faith gave them a gift that we should learn to use in our own lives.

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Bible

Planning for the Future (Hebrews 11:22)

Chris

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones. (Hebrews 11:22)

What do you plan for? How far down the calendar do you look from day to day? What do you know is coming, even when it feels very far away in terms of months, days or hours?

In this way, all of our future planning is based on faith. We have confidence in what we do not see: time. We are sure of what we hope for: that day or season that we love. God wants us to plan for our futures with faith in Him and His promises to us.

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Bible

“A Holy Adoption” (Hebrews 11:21)

Chris

Like his father, Isaac, Jacob understood the power of God’s blessings and covenant. As he neared his own death he made plans to pass along God’s covenant to his own sons.

Jacob, though, was already seeing the blessing take shape. Where his grandfather, Abraham, had passed the promise to his one son of promise, Jacob had twelve sons. Though Isaac had blessed one son over the other and foreseen two separate nations, Jacob looked at his sons and saw the fathers of one nation.

But the book of Hebrews does not address the blessings and prophecies spoken by Jacob over his sons in Genesis 49. Instead we are pointed towards a special blessing given to two grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph.

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Bible

“Evidence of Things Not Seen” (Hebrews 11:20)

Chris

Isaac was the child of promise, the first and perhaps only child of Abraham and his wife, Sarah. It was through him that God’s promise to Abraham was passed down and fulfilled, though we are told that Abraham had other children before he died (see Genesis 25:1-2). Isaac married Rebekah and they had twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau, the hunter, a man of strength and good looks, was the elder and was loved by his father. Jacob, the younger, the homebody, was loved by his mother.

As Isaac neared his death, he recognized that the blessing and covenant of God must be passed to the next generation. Far greater than any earthly gift we might look for in the will of a passing family member, the blessing of God was an inheritance to be cherished, desired and protected. Because of his faith in God and His promise, Isaac made a special effort to pass this gift along to his children.

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Bible

Devotion: Hebrews 11:13-16

Chris
Each month I have the opportunity to speak and share music a couple of times at the chapel of our local nursing home.
This is the devotion I shared on a recent visit there.

Hebrews 11 is often referred to as “The Hall of Fame of Faith.” We are taking some time to look at the individuals and other teachings about faith in this chapter of Scripture.

So far we have defined faith (v.1), and spoken of several individuals who lived by faith. Abel offered a better sacrifice than his brother. Enoch walked with God and was taken into Heaven without having to die. Noah heard God’s warnings and built the Ark to save his family from the Flood. Abraham obeyed God, leaving his home when God said “Go,” he waited for the land that God promised him, and he trusted in God to do what he promised.

Then we run into verse 13 that tells us something that seems out of place about these people of faith.

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