Examples of Demonstrated Faith

 God is omniscient, knowing the future and is omnipotent, having the power to make everything happen as he planned.  When we believe that he also loves us, it is not hard to obey his commands, believing that everything will turn out properly, as Romans 8:28 tells us.  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  This kind of faith makes it possible to obey God even when everything seems to contradict his command. 

 

Though it had never rained, Noah built the ark as God commanded because of his faith, as Hebrews 11:7 tells us.  “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”   The rest of mankind could have followed his example, but did not because they didn’t believe God, and as a result they all died.  

 

Because he believed God, Abraham believed God, leaving his family and property to go to a country he knew nothing about,  simply because God told him to, as Hebrews 11:8-10 tells us.  “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”  He lived in the land for a hundred years as a nomad, never owning any land except the grave site where Sarah was buried.   

 

At ninety, Sarah was far past her childbearing years when Isaac was born, and had given up hope of having a child, but because she believed God, she was able to have the child, who would father the nation of Israel, according to Hebrews 11:11-12.  “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.”

 

Although they believed God, it would be six hundred fifty years before any of Abraham’s descendants would own the land God had promised.  Their faith and obedience demonstrates that They put God’s promises ahead of any earthly benefits, as Hebrews 11:13-16 explains.  “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”

 

Time after time, Abrahams descendants were called on to again demonstrate their faith by obeying God’s command, before they received the land, as Hebrews 11:17-31describes.  “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.  Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

 

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.  By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.  By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

 

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.  Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

 

By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.  By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.”

 

Even after they had received the land, the Israelites demonstrated their faith by obedience, and were blessed because of it as Hebrews 11:32-38 describes.  “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: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

 

Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”

 

While God miraculously spared many of those who believed him, others were killed because of their obedience.  Real faith will obey God even when obedience places our lives at risk.  Shadrach Meshach and Abednego understood this when they told Nebuchadnezzar, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”  They were committed to trusting God even if he allowed them to die.  Even when they had done all that, they had not received all the promises as Hebrews 11:39-40 tells us.  “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” 

 

The Old Testament saints have not received the fulfillment of the promises so that those who have believed since Christ’s crucifixion can also share those promises.  It requires the same kind of faith to please God today as it took in the Old Testament.