Faith, hope, belief

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets.                                                       Heb. 11.32

The writer mentions these people by name, and others who remain nameless. He tells generally of their experiences, and mainly of the testings and the persecutions that they endured (vv 33-38).

Then he says,

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised (v39).

 Faith is hope; hope is something we don’t see and can’t really envision in the actuality of our surroundings. I believe every Christian has faith. We all live in hope. Some of the things we hope for may come to pass, miraculously, in our lifetime. Others we may not see the fruit of, yet, as with Abraham, they are not lost, dead, or forgotten. The amazing promise God gave to Abraham flourishes still, millennia after his death.

God promises, but the fulfilment of His promise lies with Him. The timing is of His choice. We know the Son will return in glory. No one knows the timing of His return save the Father. Even the Son is unaware of this.

The essence of faith I see as the trust I place in God. He has said, therefore I believe. I hear of miracles occurring for people who have simply believed God. In almost childlike manner they’ve said, “God said so, and it will be so!”

O for a simple faith! Whatever God has for me may I be willing to go forward in Him. Anything He deigns to show me or tell me, may I, in simple faith, believe.

Lord Father,

Strengthen my faith. Please grow a deeper trust in me. Enable me to let go fully to You, to know I am in Your hands.                    Amen.

My book “God Talk” is available through major Internet booksellers.

A taste of the book's content can be seen in the You Tube clip

(Search: Peter Francis - "God Talk").

Rahab

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.                                                                    Heb. 11.31

Rahab took a huge risk in sheltering the Israelite spies. The king himself sent message to her asking her to release the men (Joshua ch. 2). But she bravely told him that the men had visited with her but had left before the city gates closed. All the while she was still hiding the spies. Her position was extremely delicate.

But she knew about the God of Israel. She had heard of the exodus from Egypt, the triumphant crossing of the Red Sea and the defeat of the Amorite kings, Sihon and Og. Like her people, she was fearful of what might happen to them at the hands of the Israelites and their most powerful God.

Yet she had faith in this God. She was prompted to ask the spies to show kindness (Josh. 2.12) to her family. How come she wasn’t terrified of these people, knowing what their past exploits had been? I believe the reason lies in her faith.

The spies honoured her. They swore protection on her and her family. In turn, she protected them. She sent the king’s men away on an empty mission. She advised the spies on the safest action for them.

When the Israelites took Jericho, Rahab and her family were saved. But more than this. Rahab’s son was Boaz who, with Ruth his wife, featured in the genealogy of Christ. God can take our faith and work the most miraculous things through it. What an amazing gift faith is!

Lord God,

I thank You for the gift of faith. I seek always a deepening faith. May great things come from the faith You bless me with. I rejoice in You. I praise Your wonderful name.  Amen.