In this Prayer challenge I am going to work through chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews in the New Testament of the Christian Scriptures. I am excited to take this challenge with you, and hope it blesses us both.
Today, read the whole chapter of Hebrews 11.
If you have time to listen to the whole book of Hebrews, I would highly recommend it.
It will take about 50 minutes to listen to the whole book. I prefer to listen when driving, so I often listen to my Bible on Tuesday when I drive into the city. It is about 20 minutes in and out. So, that gives me about 40 minutes of reading time. I often will stop and grab a snack and sit in my car to finish a chapter of book. For me a mom of many, this is a nice quiet time for me to meditate on God’s Word. I hope you have a quiet time and place where you can meditate on God’s Word often. If not, think on it today, and see if you can find some time to just listen to God’s Word. I use audio Bible, but youtube works, or any other Bible app.
Below I have included chapter 11 for you to read and ponder. Feel free to highlight and take notes, ask questions, and consider what is being said here in this passage. Throughout this challenge we will be working through the verses and considering what we can learn from the people mentioned in this passage.
In Jewish and Christian tradition often people will pray blessings over their children or others like, “May you be like Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah.” or “May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.” During this study, we are going to look at the faith of each the individuals mentioned and ask God to give us faith too.
Today, as you read through the chapter ask the Holy Spirit to prepare your heart to learn exactly what He is aiming to teach you.
Shalom
Hebrews 11
Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. For by this, the elders obtained testimony. By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.
By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.
By faith, Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn’t see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God. Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. 9 By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked for the city which has the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised. Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son, 18 to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,” concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.
By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.
By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. By faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up. By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days.
By faith, Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee.Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.
These all, having had testimony given to them through their faith, didn’t receive the promise, God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Things to remember as you read and study God’s Word.
The words in our English Bible are translated from the original language of manuscripts found and preserved by men. Remembering this fact helps us understand that sometimes it can be difficult to understand exactly what the original writer was sayin to his original audience.
We are not the original audience that was written to, but we can learn from these ancient documents many things about God, who we are, and how and why He created us.
There were not chapters and verses in the original documents. Most of the books of the Bible were letters and were written in such form.
The book of Hebrews has an unknown author, and is not actually addressed to a specific group, but is assumed to be written to the Jewish believers in Yeshua.
All scripture is indeed written for the benefit and blessing of all the children of God to be equipped and useful.
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