Heb HebrewsEvrei, chaptercapitolul Epistle to the HebrewsEpistola către Evrei, chaptercapitolul 11

Faith and Assurance

Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. Rom 8:24This is why the ancients were commended.

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.Gen 1:1; Psa 33:6

The Faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah

(Genesis 4–9)

By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.Gen 4:4; Mat 23:35

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.Gen 5:24

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.Gen 6:22; Ezk 14:14

The Faith of Abraham and Sarah

(Genesis 15–22; Romans 4:1–12)

By faith Abraham, when called to go to the place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. Gen 12:4By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.Heb 12:22

By faith Sarah, even though she was beyond the proper age, received power and was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised. Gen 17:19; Gen 21:2; Rom 4:19And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.Gen 15:5; Gen 22:17

All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.Gen 23:4; Gen 47:9

Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.Exo 3:15; Mat 22:32

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar . He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son, Gen 22:9even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” Gen 21:12; Rom 9:7Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.

The Faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph

(Genesis 27–50)

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.Gen 27:27

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.Gen 47:31; Gen 48:14

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.Gen 50:24

The Faith of Moses

(Exodus 2–15; Acts 7:20–22)

By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.Exo 2:2; Act 7:20

By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Exo 2:11He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin. He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.

By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible. Exo 10:29; Exo 13:17By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn .Exo 12:3; Exo 12:7

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.Exo 14:21

The Faith of Many

By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.Jos 6:20

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.Jos 2:1; Jos 6:25

And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, Jdg 4:6; Jdg 7:15; Jdg 11:11; Jdg 13:24; 1Sa 7:10; 1Sa 17:45who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, Dan 6:22quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.1Sa 14:6; 1Ki 19:3; Isa 38:9

Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 1Ki 17:22; 2Ki 4:36Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.Gen 39:20; Jdg 16:25; Jer 20:2

They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to the test, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated. 1Ki 21:13; 2Ch 24:21; Jer 26:23The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.1Sa 22:1; 1Ki 17:3

These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. Luk 10:24God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.