As I read the book of Hebrews, I am struck by the author’s style and technique as he/she presses a point that he/she so desperately wants us to understand; to grasp and take as treasure.
The writer begins Chapter 11 with this verse:
” Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Right up front, the author lays out what they believe to be the sure definition of faith. Faith is comprised of three constituents: confidence, hope and assurance. (don’t miss the Trinitarian elements there)
After laying out the definition of faith, the author makes a short but profound statement: “this is what the ancients were commended for.” In this one statement, the author takes all of the Old Testament stories, pulls them to the forefront and wraps them in the all-sustaining characteristic of faith.
Be reminded that the Book of Hebrews was written in the late 1st Century; just a generation after the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Also, remember, the Book of Hebrews was written to an audience who were being tested and persecuted because of their “faith” in the Christ-story that had transformed their lives. And be reminded, some of those first readers of the Book of Hebrews were being martyred for their allegiance (faith) to this story.
As a first century reader, wondering if “this thing” to which I’m committing my life is true; wondering if it is strong enough to hold me in the mist of turmoil; questioning if it can sustain me even in the face of persecution—-the writer cuts through all of that and exclaims, “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Further the writer says, let me show you what I mean. He/she then takes off on a “riff.” (A riff is a technique some musicians use—it’s taking the recognized melody of a song and dancing all around it. In a riff, you can still hear the melody; it’s very present. But, it’s wrapped in beauty and flourish.) Sometimes a preacher will take off on a riff. I’ve been known to do it. It’s repeating the thought, but wrapping it in beauty and giving it a flourish. It’s being repetitive on purpose.
Throughout Chapter 11 of the Book of Hebrews, the writer riffs on these two words: “By faith.”
“By faith Abel brought God a better offering that Cain did.”
“By faith Enoch was taken from this life so that he did not experience death.”
“By faith Noah built an ark to save his family.”
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going”
“By faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.”
“By faith By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.”
“By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.”
“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.”
“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter”
“By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land…”
“By faith the walls of Jericho fell…”
“By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient”
After riffing the “by faith” passage, the writer confesses, ” I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised.”
The writer of Hebrews is pressing his/her point; it is a point in which he/she believes; it is a point which he/she knows is the foundation on which the readers can base their lives in the midst of turbulent times. Most of the readers would have known those stories by heart. So, the writer is saying, they are more than just stories—they’re true. So true that you can base your life on them.
The God of scriptures is faithful. So faithful that it is on God’s faithfulness that we can rest our faith!
My friends, this is why our stories are so important and integral to our faith. This is why it is important for us to know the biblical stories. This is why it’s foundational for us to tell and re-tell the stories of God at work in our midst.
It is our stories of God at work in our lives that buttress our hope; it is our hope that secures our confidence and it our confidence that assures our faith.
My friends, in these turbulent times keep the faith! Just have faith!