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| Via: http://tinyurl.com/pbkkyw9 |
“And what more shall I say? For time would fail
me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets…
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what
was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us
they should not be made perfect.” -Hebrews 11:32, 39-40
We all
have heroes. The author of Hebrews
dedicated a whole chapter of his letter to address heroes of the faith. Before he can tell us what it means to be a
“hero of the faith,” he begins his chapter by defining what faith is. He writes, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not
seen.” - Hebrews 11:1
Within
his discussion he gives us the importance of faith. He writes, “ And without faith it is impossible to please him,
for whoever would draw near to God must
believe that he exists and that
he rewards those who seek him” – Hebrews 11:6.
Faith is belief in God, and that belief in God brings some sort of
reward. Faith is not just belief, but
true faith sees faith as something to be valued. This faith was found in all of the writers
heroes of faith.
He walks through the Old Testament recounting classic stories of the
faith! Anyone who has been to church or
a VBS has probably heard a few of these stories. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Samson,
Gideon…..Jephthah? Some of you might be asking, “Who? Jephthah?
Who is that?” While others of you
might be asking, “Jephthah? The guy from
Judges who sacrificed his daughter? How
was he a hero of the faith?” The answer
may just surprise you…
