“…for [Moses’] eyes were fixed on the reward” (Hebrews 11:26).

We’ve come to a great transition in the Book of Hebrews as the writer moves from teaching to application. He has masterfully presented Jesus Christ’s superior ministry (6:13-10:18). Having proved that Jesus is better than any and every alternative and cautioned them against forsaking him and his followers, the writer begins this section with a stern warning: Do not sin willingly and persistently because God severely judges his New Covenant people! He then moves on to motivate them to draw near to God in enduring faith by connecting the believer’s faith to the believer’s endurance.  

Ed Underwood Study Notes

(Hebrews 11:23-31)Faith in the Mosaic Era! 

The key Greek term hypomone, endurance (10:36; 12:1, 3), which occurs nowhere else in Hebrews, brackets the section. The Greek word pistis, faith, occurs 24 times in chapter 11, begins and ends the chapter. The refrain “by faith” emphatically teaches Christians that faith in God is essential if we want to endure in our service to Christ. After celebrating the character of faith in chapter 11, the writer invites the reader to the endurance that secures the reward our redeemed heart desires (12:1-13, see also10:34-39).

First Century Jews viewed history as the story of the God of Israel working through the heroes of the Old Testament to move His plan forward. Now the writer tells them why these heroes were great. It wasn’t their ancestry or their performance. Behind every act that God commends is a heart of faith. It’s a list that would surprise and maybe even embarrass these Jewish Christians. But it’s a list of those who lived great lives from God’s perspective because they believed what He said, even when they couldn’t see it. 

The story of God’s people in the Scripture is a collection of individual stories of those who walked through life believing God for things great and small. In spite of their pain, in spite of their doubts, in spite of the opposition and persecution, their reality was what God said rather than what people said or life looked like. Hebrews 11:1-12:13 is an invitation to all who read these words to live our own story, and a reminder that the story of God’s redeeming work is not complete without new stories of faith. The stories are categorized by epochs of Israel’s past. The second period is the patriarchal era.

Moses and the heroes of the Exodus from Egypt and conquest of Jericho exemplify a faith that overcomes hostility and persecution. The commonality of the acts cited is to believe God instead of fearing the king. This would have been important to the struggling little assembly of Jewish Christians facing severe persecution: 

 

 

Like those God used to lead the Exodus and conquer Jericho, overcome hostility and persecution by keeping your eyes fixed on what God has promised. 

Enduring faith lives for what God has promised in the future rather than what the world offers today.

 

I. Faith that endures believes God in the face of powerful hostility and persecution, just like the heroes of the Mosaic era (Hebrews 11:1-3; 23-31).

 

A. Three characteristics of faith (1-3): Faith is the confidence that views things yet future and unseen as if they will turn out just the way God has said they will (1). Faith pleases God. It’s clear from the Old Testament that God commends men and women who walk by faith (2, see the rest of the chapter). Faith looks forward because it understands that the God of the Hebrews put everything that is in motion by His word. This means that all that we have seen, are seeing, and will see is due to His unseen power. Faith knows that God creates all that is visible from His word, which is invisible. Faith is a way of viewing life (3).

 

“Faith is thus an effective power directed toward the future. It springs from a direct, personal encounter with the living God. The forward-looking capacity of faith enables an individual to venture courageously and serenely into an unseen future, supported only by the word of God.” (Lane, Hebrews 9-13 in Word Biblical Commentary, vol. 47B, p, 329)  

 

B. The writer illustrates this faith he just described with stories of some heroes of the Old Testament from the Mosaic era (Exodus 1-Joshua 2, 23-31).

 

1. Moses’ parents exercised faith that overcame their fear of a tyrant (23).

 

2. As a young man Moses chose the reward associated with the promised Messiah over the temporary fame, power, and wealth associated with Pharaoh’s promise to make him an heir (24-27, Cf. Exodus 2:11). Note: The verb translated “for his eyes were fixed” was used of keeping one’s attention fixed on something, as an artist fixes her attention on the object or model that she is reproducing in painting or sculpture. The imperfect tense means that this was a continuous action, a series of deliberate decisions to turn his attention from his fear of Pharaoh and desire for what the king offered to his faith in the promises of God concerning the future Messiah.

 

3. By faith Moses inaugurated the Passover (28; Cf. Exodus 12:7, 15).

 

4. By faith the Exodus generation stepped onto the dry ground and crossed the Red Sea (29).

 

5. By faith the next generation followed God’s absurd instructions to conquer Jericho (30).

 

6. By faith the prostitute Rahab overcame the hostility and threats of her king and welcomed the spies of Israel to escape destruction (31; Cf. Joshua 2:9-11). Note: The whore Rahab’s simple faith (I know that the Lord has given you this land.) was greatly honored by God. She was grafted into the line of Messiah (Matthew 1:5, wife of Salmon, mother of Boaz), held up as an example of faith (Hebrews 11:31), and lifted up as one whose good works demonstrated a faith that glorifies God (James 2:25).

 

II. If you want your life to count in ways that please God, then you must live by faith. You must draw near to God with enduring faith.

 

Question: What do all of these heroes of faith during the Mosaic era have in common? Answer: They all exhibited a faith in the power, care, and promises of God that overcame their fear of hostility from a king and the persecution believing God invited into their lives. 

 

1. Throughout history authentic Christianity has been unpopular with the rich and powerful. Most generations of Christ followers and most Christian communities have been persecuted for their faith. 

 

2. In many parts of the world it’s as costly to follow Christ today as is was for original recipients of the letter to the Hebrews. Their faith is not celebrated and it is not a political right. Their faith is persecuted and they live in fear of hostility and persecution from the culture and the authorities.

 

B. We live in a world that is becoming increasingly dangerous for followers of Christ. Cultural antagonism, legal opposition, state-sanctioned persecution, and anti-Christian terrorism are on the rise. Only those who are trusting in what God has said about His power, love, and the destiny of His children will endure the challenges, fears, and horrors of persecution.