Lent: A Journey to Hope in Uncertain Timesಮಾದರಿ

Hebrews 11 is sometimes referred to as The Hall of Faith. In it, the author of Hebrews describes several pillars of the Jewish tradition (our faith forefathers) and their actions to live out their faith. While there are questions surrounding the authorship of Hebrews and the intended audience, we do know the author assumed the recipients of their letter knew Israel’s history very well. The author uses this knowledge to demonstrate what faith looks like through examples found in the first five books of the Old Testament. All these men and women highlighted in the passage practiced surrender by stepping out in faith and doing what God commanded, even if it didn’t make sense to those around them.

One such example is Noah. The account of Noah’s life can be found in Genesis 6 to 9. God instructs Noah to build an ark because rain is going to flood the earth. Noah would surely have been ridiculed as he spent day after day building the structure God laid for him. Nevertheless, he built it because he was confident in what he hoped for—confident that God’s command would make sense and obedient enough to surrender even when it did not.

REFLECT

• Verse 13 speaks of these examples of faith and says, “They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.” How does this description of their actions demonstrate surrender?

RESPOND

• In many ways, this chapter outlines what hope looks like when it manifests itself in surrendered action. How do the examples laid out in the following passage speak to you?