Surrounded by a Cloud of Witnesses

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV).

 

We’ve looked extensively at the heroes of our faith in the use of the previous chapter (cf. Hebrews 11). It should remind us that the old covenant saints, in their lifetimes, never received what was promised. This was because God was not willing to perfect them apart from new covenant believers. Nevertheless, they died in faith, trusting that God would bring all His promises to final fulfillment (vv. 39–40). Remember, Jesus is the one who brings all of God’s promises to final fulfillment. He brings the new covenant through the perfect sacrifice of Himself (cf. Hebrews 8:1–10:18). He is the one who will perfect God’s people.

 

However, though we live in a better era after Christ than those who lived before His sacrifice, our positions are not wholly dissimilar. We still must wait for the return of Christ to bring His kingdom to consummation (cf. Hebrews 8:13; 9:28). As such, we still must persevere in faith until Jesus comes back. We must press on just as the saints of old did.

 

This is the point that the author of Hebrews makes in today’s reading. We are called to “run with endurance the race that is set before us” (v. 1). This is an image of an athletic competition, of Olympic footraces familiar to the original audience of this book. We see then that the life of faith is like a race that must be run with endurance so that the finish line may be crossed and the prize received.

 

One motivation to run this race is the great “cloud of witnesses” surrounding us. In a race, the stadium is filled with great throngs of people in the bleachers cheering on the contestants to victory. In the race that is the Christian life, the old covenant saints are our cheerleaders. They cheer us on through the example of their faithful endurance, waiting for the promises of God to come. They encourage us to run with endurance. Yet we will only run with endurance if we throw off all hindrances. The things that hinder us, today’s passage tells us, are the sins that cling so closely. They will weigh us down like heavy clothing, preventing us from running with freedom and endurance. We must therefore “lay aside” these sins. We must turn away from them and look instead to Jesus.

 

Examples of Faith - Countless Others - Pt. 9

 

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— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. (Hebrews 11:32-34 ESV).

 

The Bible is clear that God’s elect are secure in their salvation. Those whom God has predestined and called will also be glorified (cf. Romans 8:29–30). Not one of the Father’s children can be snatched from His hand (cf. John 10:28–29). If God has begun the good work of salvation in us, He will always bring it to completion (cf. Philippians 1:6). God does not only work outside of us in order to ensure our salvation, He also uses our faith. We demonstrate our election and make our calling sure through the exercise of our faith (cf. 2 Peter 1:10). When we exercise faith, we show that God is working in us to preserve our souls through the exercise of this very faith (cf. Hebrews 10:39).

 

Perhaps the most important aspect of true faith is that it always perseveres. It continues to trust God even during the most difficult and impossible circumstances. The author of Hebrews has shown us this by referring to the examples of old covenant saints including Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Rahab (Hebrews 11:1–31). In today’s reading, our author begins to conclude his section on the old covenant models of faith. He begins to speak more generally because his point has been made and it is no longer necessary to give his audience individual examples of true persevering faith.

 

Most remarkable about these verses is not the list of mighty deeds performed by Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and others. Rather, we note that no one on this list evidenced perfect faith at every time and every point in his life. Samson jeopardized the people of God for the sake of a beautiful woman (cf. Judges 16:1–21). David committed adultery and indirectly, murder (cf. 2 Samuel 11–12). Most of these men had serious deficiencies.

 

True persevering faith does not mean that we never sin or that our faith is perfect. It does mean that when we sin we repent and then resolve to press forward, ever clinging to the promises of God. As Calvin says, “In all the saints, something reprehensible is ever to be found; yet faith, though halting and imperfect, is still approved by God. There is, therefore, no reason why the faults we labour under should break us down or dishearten us, provided we by faith go on in the race of our calling.” Trust in Him!

 

Examples of Faith - Rahab - Pt. 8

 

By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. (Hebrews 11:31 ESV).

 

As Christians we are well-informed about the necessity of faith. We are justified by faith alone. We persevere in salvation through faith alone. Our glorification comes only after living this life of faith. Even though we know that faith is necessary if we are to please God (cf. Hebrews 11:6), sometimes we have trouble understanding exactly what true faith looks like. Happily, God, in His providence, has provided examples of true persevering faith for us in redemptive history.

 

Today’s reading discusses the faith of Rahab, the woman who hid Israelites spying on the city of Jericho shortly before the conquest of Canaan (cf. Joshua 2). It took great faith for her to risk her own safety and hide the spies. This faith was rewarded when she and her family were spared the destruction that came to the city (cf. Joshua 6:22–25).

 

Rahab is a remarkable character for several reasons. First, she is the only other woman besides Sarah mentioned specifically in the catalog of faith found in this chapter. Thus, we can see that she occupies a place of prominence among the other great heroes of the faith such as Abraham and Moses. Her inclusion demonstrates that both women and men are required to exercise persevering faith and are both honored citizens in the kingdom of God. Rahab’s prominence is also markedly displayed in Matthew 1 where she is only one of two women mentioned in the genealogy of Christ.

 

Rahab was also a Gentile. She was not one of Abraham’s physical descendants and yet was accepted into Israel, God’s people. She foreshadows the great ingrafting of Gentiles into the church now happening under Christ. Like her, those who are outside the people of God today can join His kingdom if they place their faith in Christ alone.

 

Finally, knowing that Rahab was a prostitute is a reminder of God’s mercy. John Owen says that Rahab is “a blessed example both of the sovereignty of God’s grace and of its power; of its freedom and sovereignty, in the calling and conversion of a person given up through her choice to the vilest of sins. Nobody, no sin, should lead to despair when the cure of God’s sovereign, almighty grace is engaged.” There is no sinner, no matter their sin, that cannot be forgiven if they would but turn to Jesus for salvation.

 

Examples of Faith - the Walls of Jericho - Pt. 7

 

By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. (Hebrews 11:29-30 ESV).

 

Repeatedly, the author of the letter to the Hebrews tells us that true faith must, and always does, persevere until the end of life. The author draws parallels between our present new covenant position and the position of the first generation of Israel who left Egypt. That first generation left Egypt gladly and professed faith by agreeing to be in covenant with God (cf. Exodus 24:3). However, that generation fell away because they did not have true faith (cf. Hebrews 4:2). They came to the edge of the Promised Land but then believed the report of the faithless spies who doubted God’s ability to give them Canaan. As a result, they were cut off from God’s promises and sent to wander for forty years in the desert (cf. Numbers 13:25–14:38).

 

The author also reminds us of this story so that we will not “drift away” like the first generation of Israel but rather maintain our trust in the Lord. For all those with true faith will inherit the promises, and only those who persevere until the end have true faith. Today’s reading again draws parallels with an early generation of Israel. However, this time it is not the faithless first generation but the faithful second generation of those who left Egypt. The walls of Jericho fell because of the faith of that generation (v. 30).

 

We read of the fall of Jericho in Joshua 6. In this chapter, the second generation comes upon the imposing city of Jericho with its fortified walls. God commands the people to march around the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day they are told to march around the city seven days and then let out a shout. This might seem somewhat ridiculous, for how can the shouts of men bring down a wall? Nevertheless, the people are promised that the city will fall if they obey. And when they obey, the walls come tumbling down.

 

John Calvin reminds us that it was not man’s actions that destroyed the walls. He explains that “the walls did not fall through the shout of men, or the sound of trumpets; but because the people believed that the Lord would do what he had promised.” Persevering faith is like the faith of the second-generation Israelite who believed, despite seeming impossibilities, that God honors the obedient faith of his servants.

 

Examples of Faith - Crossing the Red Sea - Pt. 6

 

By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. (Hebrews 11:29-30 ESV).

 

Living by faith is not for the faint of heart! There are so many distractions that seek to draw us away from God. Personal attacks tempt us to place our comfort above our eternal reward. Success and stability entice us to avoid taking risks for the kingdom of God. Sometimes, even faithful people succumb to these temptations. Despite this fact, however, true believers will, over time, live a life more and more characterized by choices in favor of the hardships and uncertainties of faith over a pattern of choices that favor the comforts of this world.

 

Perhaps no other group of people manifests this reality more than the saints from the old covenant church. Noah, while certainly not perfect, endured mocking and by faith built the ark (Heb. 11:7). Abraham, though he stumbled from time to time, nevertheless sacrificed the child of promise when the One who made the promise commanded him to do so (v. 17). Moses, who at times appeared to have only a small faith, nevertheless abandoned the comforts of Egypt in order to be counted among God’s people (v. 25). These examples are all the more remarkable because they made these choices without ever receiving the final form of the promises of God (v. 13). They lived in an era hoping for the great Melchizedekian priest to come and inaugurate the new covenant through the perfect sacrifice of Himself (cf. Hebrews 7–10). Despite seeing these things only from afar and only in shadows, they nevertheless endured in faith.

 

Like the original audience of the book of Hebrews, we are not at such a disadvantage. Like this audience, we live in the latter days — the days in which Jesus has begun the fulfillment of God’s promises. In these days we are true to the example of the old covenant saints as we persevere in our faith in Christ, the reality for which they waited.

 

In our reading today we see the nation of Israel who by faith crossed the Red Sea while the Egyptians who tried to do the same were destroyed. The Egyptians were destroyed that day because they tried to pass through the sea even though they were the enemies of God and had no trust in Him at all. Like the Egyptians, all those who take advantage of the paths and blessings that the Father has provided without true faith will also face the wrath of God.

 

Examples of Faith - Moses - Pt. 5

 

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. (Hebrews 11:23-29 ESV).

 

Amram and Jochebed, the parents of Moses, displayed great faith when they refused to fear and obey the edict of Pharaoh to kill all the Hebrew boys but rather hid and saved their son (cf. Exodus 6:20). Later, as today’s reading explains, Moses showed the same faith-motivated courage when he went out from Egypt, not fearing the king (v. 27). Of course, the author of Hebrews refers to Moses’ leading the people of Israel out of Egypt in the exodus (cf. Exodus 12:33–42). After the death of the firstborn in Egypt, Pharaoh finally released the Israelites from slavery. Since Pharaoh earlier said that he would let the Israelites go but then changed his mind, Moses could have put the exodus on hold, assuming reasonably that Pharaoh would change his mind and come after them. Yet, Moses did not let the real possibility of danger keep him from trusting God’s promise to redeem His people. He led them out anyway. True faith does not let the threat of danger keep us from obeying the Lord.

 

Immediately before the exodus, Moses by faith also kept the Passover, sprinkling the blood of the lamb on the doorposts and lintels of the Israelite houses, which spared the Israelite firstborn sons from death (v. 28; also see Exodus 12:1–32). This took great faith in God’s promise, for the means of rescue promised was not as evident a display of divine power as the earlier plagues. All Moses had was the word of the Lord that He would indeed save Israel by means of the blood, but as we have seen, true faith is always satisfied with God’s words. John Calvin comments, “It might have seemed strange, that Moses should set a few drops of blood, as a remedy, in opposition to God’s vengeance; but being satisfied with God’s word alone, that the people would be exempt from the scourge that was coming on the Egyptians, he did not hesitate.” Thus, Israel was spared.

 

The final example of faith in today’s passage takes us to Exodus 14, where the Israelites crossed safely through the parted Red Sea but Egypt’s army was drowned (v. 29). Both Israel and Egypt started the path through the sea on dry land, but the path remained only for Israel; God brought the sea crashing down on the Egyptians. The Egyptians went through the sea not because they trusted God but because they wanted to destroy Israel and saw an opportunity to do so. Those who try to follow the path of God’s people without trusting in the Lord will likewise be destroyed (cf. Matthew 7:21–23). Many people profess faith in Jesus and outwardly do the kinds of things that Christians do. Yet if one does not actually possess faith in Christ, all this will be for nothing. What kind of faith do you have?

 

Examples of Faith - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph - Pt. 4

 

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. (Hebrews 11:17-22 ESV).

 

Though we have the privilege of living under the new covenant, we still wait to receive some of the things that have been promised. These things — the new heavens and the new earth, perfect holiness, uninterrupted fellowship with God — are not yet here in our day-to-day experience. But they are a positional reality, anticipating the future. Jesus has done the work necessary to achieve all these things. Those of us who are in Christ are seated with Him in the heavenlies (cf. Ephesians 2:4–7). Therefore, this promised inheritance really is ours even though God has delayed its full manifestation in our everyday lives.

 

Only through true persevering faith are we granted these promises, first as a positional reality and then later as an experiential one. A prime example of persevering faith is found in today’s passage. In our reading today, we are reminded that by faith Abraham offered up Isaac. These verses refer to Genesis 22, where Abraham faithfully obeyed God’s command to sacrifice Isaac on the altar. We should ask why this offering such an act of faith? Remember that Isaac was the child of the promise (v. 18); and, God promised Abraham many descendants but seemed to delay a long time in fulfilling this promise. After many years Isaac was born (cf. Genesis 21:2), and through him the promised nation would come (v. 12). Imagine how hard it was for Abraham to obey God through this sacrifice. God was asking Him to do something that might invalidate the promise. For if Isaac, the child of promise, was killed, how could God be true to His Word to make a nation from Isaac?

 

Abraham trusted God regardless of his logic. He knew that God would keep His promise and name descendants through Isaac even if he was sacrificed. His confidence in God made him know that God would be true to His promise in Isaac even if He had to raise Isaac from the dead (v. 19). He knew that though it might seem impossible, following the command to kill Isaac would not nullify God’s promise. John Owen says that “sometimes, through God’s providence, there may appear to be inconsistency between God’s commands and his promises. Nothing but faith bowing the soul to divine sovereignty can reconcile this.” True faith, like Abraham’s, believes that God can do the impossible.

 

God’s command that the Messiah must die (cf. Isaiah 53) seemed at first glance to be inconsistent with His promise that Messiah would rule the earth (cf. Zechariah 9:10). But now we see that both are perfectly consistent. We must resolve in our hearts to trust God even if His will may sometimes seem inconsistent to our limited understanding.