Hebrews 11:32-40

Hebrews 11:32-40

Having followed the fateful up to the conquest of the promised land, the author moves on to a quick overview of the time of the judges through the prophets. Certainly there is not enough time for us to cover in detail all the heroes of the faith. But we can offer a summary that helps us put this in perspective for both ourselves and the original readers.

We see here the story of great men and women who did great things, experienced great power, and suffered great hardship because of their great faith in anticipation of the great promise. The heroes of the history of Israel were not heroes because they kept the rituals of the temple worship or the codes of the law. Their ritual and moral faithfulness came out of what made them heroes, namely their faith. Indeed, we can see that at times they violated both the ritual and the law, but it was their faith that brought them through and brought them back.

Special note should be given to the suffering and hardship that they endured. So much of our faith today is based, falsely, on the promise of ever-growing prosperity, wealth, health, and success. In this Hall of Fame of faith, we do see success, but to a greater degree, we see suffering. The last three descriptive words in verse 37 will suffice for a description of what they suffered. Those words are “destitute, afflicted, and ill-treated.” The word destitute literally means “depleted, having nothing, having used up everything, and that was not enough. Afflicted means pressed or crushed; it is related to the word for a crowd or thick mob pressing in. Ill-treated is a compound word from “ill” and “bad,” meaning to be held in someone's power in which you are treated badly. The description is no small inconvenience. Faith, both then and now, has often required suffering. But it is by faith that the promise is received.

For these Hebrew Christians, who were tempted to leave Christ for Judaism, it is shown that all the heroes of the Old Testament were living in faith for the coming of Christ. These Jewish Christians are invited to join in this throng of heroes, indeed to complete this hero band in Christ. Nothing could be greater for a Jew than to be numbered among the likes of Abraham, David, the Judges, and the Prophets, and this is done by faith in Christ, who is both the promise and the promise giver. 

“Lord, grant me a faith that I will be numbered among the heroes of the faith.  AMEN”