“And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets." Hebrews 11:32
This chapter begins with a definition of faith. It is, without question, both the shortest and the best definition of faith ever written. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The entire chapter, following verse 1, is devoted to giving us examples and illustrations that prove the truthfulness of that definition. Therefore, when Paul got to the last section of the chapter, the last group of examples, he begins verse 32 by telling us that nothing more is needed to prove his inspired definition. By all that we have seen, it is evident that “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” That is why he opens verse 32 with a question, implying that the answer is obvious. – “What shall I say more?” Then, he says, “Time would fail me,” if I were to give you all the examples that might be given from Holy Scripture that illustrate my point. — “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” It would be redundant to continue. Further examples are not needed. Then, he rattles off more examples in verse 32, as if to put an exclamation point to what he had just written. These examples of faith are all taken from the period of the Judges. Seven things stand out as obvious lessons we ought to lay to heart.
1.
God does not see things the way we see them.
We judge only by outward appearance; and judging by outward appearance we always judge wrong. Had any of us been writing this chapter, we would probably have omitted Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah. We would have included, instead, Deborah, Caleb, Hannah, and Asaph. That is because we can only look upon and judge things by outward appearance. – “The Lord looketh on the heart!”
2.
It is not our faith that gives us acceptance with God
and wins his approval, but Christ, the Object of our faith.
My faith did not save me. Christ did! Faith did not redeem me, justify me, put away my sin, or forgive me. Christ did. It is the weakness of these men, the weakness of their faith, particularly of Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah that gets our attention when we read about them in the Scriptures. Yet, they are honored of God just as fully as Abraham, Moses, and David, because they all stood before God “accepted in the Beloved!”
3. God’s choice of any, God’s election, has nothing to do with what he sees in us. – It is altogether a matter of grace, pure, free, sovereign grace.
Gideon
was a poor man, from a poor family; but God chose Gideon to lead his people.
Barak was a weak, timid man, who would not act except by the counsel of a woman.
Yet, the Lord used him to deliver his people. Jephthah was a bastard (cursed,
unfit, legally banned), a man who had to bear the shame of his mother’s
debauchery all his life, a man who spent his days in utter vanity, until God
called him by his grace. Samson was a spoiled brat, and acted like a spoiled
brat right through his adulthood; but the Lord God used him mightily. David was
the weakest and most insignificant of Jesse’s sons; but he was God’s chosen
man. Of the six named in this verse, only Samuel seems to have been a man of
obvious usefulness and of commendable character from his youth. David was as
well; but he did not appear to be outwardly. Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 and
rejoice.
4. Faith in Christ does not prohibit anyone from honest employment in any field of service to God and men.
A.W. Pink wrote, “Five
of the six men named in our text were judges who ruled over Israel, though they
came from very humble callings. From this we may learn that faith is a
spiritual grace suited not only unto the temple, but also to the judicial bench
and throne; that it is needed not only by those who occupy positions in the
private walks of life, but also by those who fill public office. Governors
equally with the governed require to have a true faith in the living God:
instead of disqualifying them for the discharge of their important duties, it
would be of inestimable value to them.”
5. That which distinguishes God’s elect from other people is God’s grace alone.
We cannot view these men and their deeds
properly until we view them in the light of what is revealed in this chapter.
The Book of Judges gives us the historical narrative of their lives and deeds.
Hebrews 11 gives us the light to see that which set them apart from others.
Others have vanquished lions, put armies to flight, and subdued kingdoms. But
yet their deeds were motivated and performed by base, sensual things. The
exploits of Gideon and Barak, Samson and David, were things performed by faith,
for the glory of God, and for the benefit of his people. That which is honored
here is not the mere names of men, but the work of God in and through men. Their faith was the gift of
God. Their righteousness was the righteousness of another. Their strength was
the strength of Christ, made perfect in their weakness (1 Cor. 4:7). It is our
God and our God alone who makes one to differ from another.
6. God’s people in this world are still sinners in constant need of mercy, grace, and forgiveness.
These men believed God; but their faith
was far from perfect. They believed God; but they had much instability. They
trusted Christ; but they were terribly unbelieving at times. They were godly
men; but they had much sin in their lives. Their faith, like ours, was mixed
with fear, at war with unbelief, weakened by lust and carnal reasonings. They
were men of like passions with us. The best of men are only men at best. There
is much for us to learn from these examples of faith. Our only hope of
salvation is God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ. Our only acceptance with
God is the blood and righteousness of Christ. Our perseverance in faith is the
result of God’s perseverance in grace. Because he changes not, we are not
consumed. Though there is much about us which breaks our hearts, humbles us
with shame, and makes us constantly aware of our utter insufficiency for
anything good, our total unworthiness even to call upon the name of God in
prayer, we have no cause for despair, if we trust Christ (Ps. 32:1-2; Rom. 4:8;
8:1, 33-39; 11:29; 1 John 1:9-2:2).
7.
Grace shines brightest when things
appear darkest.
God never leaves himself without a
witness. In every age and circumstance, in every place and situation, when the
Lord God intends to perform his works of grace he has just the right person,
prepared by his own grace, to perform his work. These men all lived in dark,
dark times; but grace shined brightly through them in the dark age in which
they lived and served God.