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November 1
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The Heroes of Faith
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“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval” (Heb. 11:1–2).
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Christian faith produces righteous deeds.
Hebrews 11 has been called “The Heroes of Faith,” “The Faith Chapter,” “The Saints’ Hall of Fame,” “The Honor Roll of the Old Testament Saints,” and “The Westminster Abbey of Scripture.” Those are appropriate titles because this chapter highlights the virtues of faith as demonstrated in the lives of great Old Testament saints. It also reminds us that without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Such a reminder was necessary for the first-century Hebrew people because Judaism had abandoned true faith in God for a legalistic system of works-righteousness. Its message is also valid today because our devotion to Christ can easily degenerate into a religion of rules and regulations.
While affirming the primacy of faith, the writer of Hebrews doesn’t undermine the importance of righteous works. Quite the contrary. He exhorts us “to stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (10:24) and to pursue holiness so others will see Christ in us and be drawn to Him (12:14).
Yet, righteous works are the by-product of true salvation, not its means. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). Apart from faith, all attempts to please God through good works alone are as useless and offensive to Him as filthy rags (Isa. 64:6). That’s why Paul gladly set all his Jewish legalistic practices aside, counting them as “rubbish.” He wanted only “the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith” (Phil. 3:8–9).
This month we’ll study the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11. As we do, remember that they weren’t perfect people. But their faith was exemplary, and by it they gained God’s approval. I pray that’s true of you as well.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God for the gift of faith. ✧ Undoubtedly you know people who are trying to please God by their own efforts. Pray for them, and take every opportunity to tell them about true salvation through faith in Christ.
For Further Study: Select one of the individuals mentioned in Hebrews 11, and read the Old Testament account of his or her life.
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November 2
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The Hope That Assures
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“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for” (Heb. 11:1).
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Faith is the solid ground on which we stand as we await the fulfillment of God’s promises.
An elderly man, on his seventy-fifth birthday, received an invitation to fly over the little West Virginia town in which he had spent his entire life. Although he had never before flown, the man accepted the gracious offer.
After circling the town for about twenty minutes, the pilot safely returned his passenger to the ground. The man’s grandson greeted him excitedly, asking, “Were you scared, Grandpa?” “No,” he replied sheepishly, “but I never did put my full weight down.”
Unlike that hesitant grandfather, true faith trusts fully in its object. For the Christian, that means resting in God and His promises. That’s the primary characteristic of each faithful individual listed in Hebrews 11. They all believed God and responded accordingly.
People often confuse faith with a wistful longing that something, however unlikely, will come to pass in the future. But “assurance” in Hebrews 11:1 speaks of essence and reality—the real thing as opposed to mere appearance. Faith, then, involves absolute certainty.
For example, the Old Testament saints had the promise of a coming Messiah who would take away sin. They believed God, even though their understanding of Messiah was incomplete and somewhat vague. They knew their hopes would be fulfilled, and that assurance dominated their lives.
It’s the same for New Testament believers. Peter said, “Though you have not seen [Christ], you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8–9).
Man’s natural tendency is to trust only in the things he can see, hear, touch, or taste. But our physical senses may lie, whereas God cannot (Titus 1:2). It is far better to believe God and to trust in His promises.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Which promises of God are especially meaningful to you today? Thank Him for them, and reaffirm your commitment to living on the basis of His Word.
For Further Study: Skim Hebrews 11, and note all the divine promises you find there. To gain a fuller understanding of each one, find other Scripture references that mention the same promises.
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November 3
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Having a Faith That Responds
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“Faith is … the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).
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True faith goes beyond assurance to action.
When the writer said, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen,” he used two parallel and almost identical phrases to define faith.
We’ve seen that faith is the assurance that all God’s promises will come to pass in His time. “The conviction of things not seen” takes the same truth a step further by implying a response to what we believe and are assured of.
James addressed the issue this way: “Someone may well say, ‘You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.’ … But are you willing to recognize … that faith without works is useless? … For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead” (James 2:18, 20, 26). In other words, a non-responsive faith is no faith at all.
Noah had a responsive faith. He had never seen rain because rain didn’t exist prior to the Flood. Perhaps he knew nothing about building a ship. Still, he followed God’s instructions and endured 120 years of hard work and ridicule because he believed God was telling the truth. His work was a testimony to that belief.
Moses considered “the reproach of Christ [Messiah] greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward” (Heb. 11:26). Messiah wouldn’t come to earth for another 1,400 years, but Moses forsook the wealth and benefits of Egypt in order to pursue the messianic hope.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, when faced with a life-threatening choice, chose to act on their faith in God, whom they couldn’t see, rather than bow to Nebuchadnezzar, whom they could see all too well (Dan. 3). Even if it meant physical death, they wouldn’t compromise their beliefs.
I pray that the choices you make today will show that you are a person of strong faith and convictions.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Ask God to increase and strengthen your faith through the events of this day. ✧ Look for specific opportunities to trust Him more fully.
For Further Study: Read Daniel 3:1–30. How was the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego tested?
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November 4
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Gaining God’s Approval
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“By [faith] the men of old gained approval” (Heb. 11:2).
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God makes His approval known to those who trust in Him.
The book Catch-22 tells of a squadron of World War II fliers stationed on the fictitious island of Pianos in the Mediterranean. Before a flier could transfer off the island, he had to complete twenty-five extremely dangerous missions over southern Europe.
One flier, Yosarian, was especially anxious to leave. After completing his twenty-fifth mission, his commanding officer began raising the number of qualifying missions. Insanity became the only justification for a transfer. But the commander decided that whoever feigned insanity to obtain a transfer proved his sanity by that sane act!
Realizing it was all a cruel game with no way out, Yosarian devised a plan to build a raft and float to Sweden. Even though there was a whole continent between him and Sweden and the ocean currents would take him in the opposite direction, he couldn’t be dissuaded. He took a leap into the absurd with a hopeless and impossible plan to escape a hopeless and impossible situation.
In their relentless quest for meaning in life, many people become spiritual Yosarians. Rejecting God, who is the only sure and rational answer to life, they jump headlong into alcohol, drugs, witchcraft, astrology, reincarnation, or countless other absurdities.
Many acknowledge God but try to gain His approval through self-righteous deeds apart from true faith. In either case the results are the same: no faith, no salvation, no hope, no peace, and no assurance.
But those who take God at His word and approach Him in true faith receive His approval and enjoy His blessings. Theirs isn’t a blind leap into the absurd but a living hope in the God who made man and who alone can fulfill man’s deepest longings. They know the joy and satisfaction of a life spent in service to Christ and have the peace and assurance that all is well—both now and for eternity.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Pray for those you know who have rejected God or are trying to gain His approval on their own. Explain to them the meaning and purpose Christ alone can bring to their lives.
For Further Study: According to 2 Timothy 2:24–26, what is the spiritual state of those who oppose the gospel, and how are we to approach them?
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November 5
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Knowledge Through Faith
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“By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible” (Heb. 11:3).
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God’s greatest truths are discovered by simple faith.
As a man or woman of faith, you have insights into life that unbelievers can’t know. You know how the physical universe began, where it is heading, and how it will end. You know Who governs the universe and how you fit into the total scheme of things. You know why you exist and how to invest your life in matters of eternal consequence.
Unbelievers can’t possibly appreciate those things because “a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” (1 Cor. 2:14).
Some of the most basic issues of life remain a mystery to most people because they refuse God’s counsel. For example, the most brilliant thinkers have never agreed on the origin of the universe. Theirs is a futile attempt to explain what is beyond the realm of scientific investigation.
But such things aren’t beyond the realm of knowing—if a person is willing to be taught by God’s Word. The Bible clearly states that God spoke the physical universe into existence, creating visible matter from what was non-physical or invisible (Rom. 4:17). No humans observed that event. It cannot be measured or repeated. It must be taken by faith.
Any attempt to explain the origin of the universe or the nature of man apart from God’s Word is foolhardy. The unregenerate mind, no matter how brilliant it might be, cannot fathom such things.
So never feel you have to apologize for trusting God’s Word. Let the confidence of the psalmist be yours: “I have more insight than all my teachers, for Thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, because I have observed Thy precepts” (Ps. 119:99–100).
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Suggestions for Prayer: Read Genesis 1–2 as a reminder of the power and wisdom of God in creating the universe. From those chapters select specific things for which you can praise Him.
For Further Study: Memorize Psalm 19:1. Can you think of ways that the natural creation brings glory to God? (See also Romans 1:18–20.)
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November 6
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Leaving a Righteous Legacy
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“By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks” (Heb. 11:4).
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The character of your life will determine the legacy you leave to others.
Bible scholar James Moffatt wrote: “Death is never the last word in the life of a … man. When a man leaves this world, be he righteous or unrighteous, he leaves something in the world. He may leave something that will grow and spread like a cancer or a poison, or he may leave something like the fragrance of perfume or a blossom of beauty that permeates the atmosphere with blessing.”
That’s illustrated in the lives of Adam and Eve’s first sons—Cain and Abel. Cain was an unrighteous man who sought to please God by his own efforts. God rejected him (Gen. 4:5). Abel was a righteous man who worshiped God in true faith. God accepted him (v. 4).
In a jealous rage, Cain murdered Abel, becoming the first human being to take the life of another. He forever stands as a testimony to the utter tragedy of attempting to please God apart from true faith. For “without faith,” Hebrews 11:6 says, “it is impossible to please Him.” Cain tried and failed—as have millions who have followed in his footsteps.
Abel, on the other hand, was the first man of faith. Prior to the Fall, Adam and Eve had no need of faith in the same way as their descendants. They lived in the paradise of Eden and had direct contact with God. Their children were the first to have need of faith in its fullest sense.
Cain’s legacy is rebellion, heartache, and judgment. Abel’s is righteousness, justice, and saving faith. His life proclaims the central message of redemption: righteousness is by faith alone.
What legacy will you leave to those who follow? I pray they will see in you a pattern of righteousness and faithfulness that inspires them to follow suit.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Praise God for righteous Abel and all who have followed his example. ✧ Ask Him to guard you from ever rebelling against His Word.
For Further Study: Read Genesis 4:1–16 and 1 John 3:11–12. ✧ What was God’s counsel to Cain after rejecting his offering? ✧ Why did Cain kill Abel? ✧ How did God punish Cain?
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November 7
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Worshiping God His Way
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“By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain” (Heb. 11:4).
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True worship requires coming to God on His terms.
At the heart of every false religion is the notion that man can come to God by any means he chooses—by meditating, doing good deeds, and so on. But Scripture says, “There is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). That name is Jesus Christ, and we come to Him by confessing and repenting of our sin, trusting in His atoning death on the cross, and affirming His bodily resurrection from the grave (cf. Rom. 10:9–10). There is no other way to God.
Centuries before Christ’s death, God provided a means of worship and sacrifice. Genesis 4:3–5 says, “It came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard.”
Apparently God had designated a special time for sacrificing because “in the course of time” (v. 3) literally means, “at the end of days”—at the end of a certain period of time. Additionally, He initiated a particular pattern for worship and sacrifices. Otherwise Cain and Abel would have known nothing about how it was to be done.
God required a blood offering for sin. Abel came in faith, acknowledged his sin, and made the appropriate sacrifice. His offering was better than Cain’s because Cain neglected the prescribed sacrifice, thereby demonstrating his unwillingness to submit to God and deal with his sin.
There was nothing intrinsically wrong with Cain’s offering. Grain, fruit, or vegetable offerings were included in the Mosaic Covenant. But the sin offering had to come first. Like so many today, Cain wrongly assumed he could approach God on his own terms. In doing so, he became the father of all false religions, and his name became synonymous with rebellion and apostasy (cf. Jude 11).
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Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God for graciously providing salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. ✧ Be careful never to approach Him irreverently or presumptuously.
For Further Study: Read Jude 11. How did Jude describe the false teachers of his day?
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November 8
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The First Disciple
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“Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. And Abel … brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard” (Gen. 4:3–5).
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True discipleship is characterized by obedience to God’s Word.
In John 8:31 Jesus issued an important statement to a group of people who were showing an interest in Him: “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine.” Sadly, they rejected His words, proving themselves to be less than true disciples. Jesus went on to explain why: “He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God” (v. 47). They listened but didn’t really hear. They were interested but not truly committed. They were hearers of the Word but not doers (James 1:22).
In contrast, Abel did what God told him to do. He was, in effect, the first disciple. He was probably a better person than Cain—more friendly, moral, and dependable. But that’s not why God accepted his sacrifice and rejected Cain’s. Abel trusted God, and his faith was counted as righteousness. Like Abraham, whose faith was evidenced by his willingness to obey God and to sacrifice his son Isaac (James 2:21–22), Abel’s faith was evidenced in his obedient offering. He didn’t rely on his own goodness but acknowledged his sin and made the prescribed sacrifice.
Perhaps God indicated His acceptance of Abel’s sacrifice by consuming it with fire, as He did on other occasions in Scripture (Judg. 6:21; 1 Kings 18:38). But whatever means He used, God made his pleasure known to Abel.
Abel’s brief life conveys a simple three-point message: we must come to God by faith; we must receive and obey God’s Word; and, sin brings serious consequences. If you hear and heed that message, you’ll walk the path of true discipleship and will be assured of God’s pleasure.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Make it your goal to please the Lord in everything you do today. Seek His wisdom and grace to do so faithfully.
For Further Study: Read the following verses, noting what they say about pleasing God: 2 Corinthians 5:9; Ephesians 5:6–10; Philippians 2:12–13; Hebrews 11:6; and Hebrews 13:15–16, 20–21.
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November 9
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Walking by Faith
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“By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God” (Heb. 11:5).
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When you walk by faith, you enjoy intimacy with God.
Our second hero of faith is Enoch. Genesis 5:21–24 records that “Enoch lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Methuselah. Then Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah, and he had other sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”
What a wonderful epitaph: “Enoch walked with God.” His life exemplifies the walk of faith. Adam and Eve had walked with God in the Garden of Eden, but their sin separated them from such intimacy. Enoch experienced the fellowship with God they had forfeited.
Enoch’s faithful walk pleased God greatly. And after more than three hundred years on earth, Enoch was translated to Heaven without ever experiencing death. It’s as if God simply said, “Enoch, I enjoy your company so much, I want you to join Me up here right now.”
Like Enoch, there is coming a generation of Christians who will never see death. Someday—perhaps soon—Jesus will return for His church, and “then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up … in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:17). Enoch is a beautiful picture of that great future event, which we call the Rapture of the church.
As you walk with God, He delights in you. You’re His child, and your praises and fellowship bring Him joy. Psalm 116:15 says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones.” Death simply ushers you into His presence for all eternity.
Let the joy of intimacy with God, and the anticipation of seeing Christ face to face—either by Rapture or by death—motivate you to please Him more and more each day of your life.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God for the promise of Christ’s return.
For Further Study: Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18. ✧ What events surround the Rapture of the church? ✧ How were the Thessalonians to respond to Paul’s teaching about the Rapture? ✧ How should you respond?
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November 10
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Walking with God
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“Enoch walked with God” (Gen. 5:24).
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Walking with God includes reconciliation, obedience from the heart, and ongoing faith.
When Scripture speaks of walking with God, it’s referring to one’s manner of life. For example, Paul prayed that the Colossian believers (and us) would be “filled with the knowledge of [God’s] will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,” so they could “walk [live] in a manner worthy of the Lord” (Col. 1:9–10). To the Ephesians he said, “Walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind … [but] be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you” (Eph. 4:17; 5:1–2).
The Old Testament describes Enoch as a man who walked with God. Though relatively little is said about this special man, we can derive implications from his life that will help us better understand what it means to walk with God.
First, Enoch’s walk with God implies reconciliation. Amos 3:3 says, “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” (niv). Two people can’t have intimate fellowship unless they agree. Obviously Enoch wasn’t rebellious toward God but had been reconciled with Him through faith.
Second, walking with God implies loving service. Second John 6 says, “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments.” We obey Christ, but our obedience is motivated by love, not by legalism or fear of punishment.
Third, a godly walk implies continuing faith, “for we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). Colossians 2:6–7 adds, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith.” By grace Enoch believed God and pleased Him all his life.
Do those who know you best see you as one who walks with God? I trust so. After all, that’s the distinguishing mark of a true believer: “The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked” (1 John 2:6).
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Suggestions for Prayer: Praise God for granting the reconciliation, faith, and love that enables you to walk with Him day by day.
For Further Study: What do the following verses teach about your Christian walk? Romans 8:4; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 John 1:7.
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November 11
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Believing in God
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“Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is” (Heb. 11:6).
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Nothing you do can please God apart from faith.
Throughout history, people have tried everything imaginable to gain favor with God. Most turn to religion, but religion apart from Christ is merely a Satanic counterfeit of the truth.
Many trust in their own good works, not realizing that even their best efforts are offensive to God (Isa. 64:6; Phil. 3:8). And the more we try to justify ourselves, the more we offend God, because “by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight” (Rom. 3:20).
Some trust in their family heritage or nationality. The Jewish people thought they were pleasing to God simply because they were descendants of Abraham. But John the Baptist warned them, saying, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with your repentance; and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham” (Matt. 3:7–9).
Apart from faith, man cannot please God. And the first step of faith is simply believing God exists. That isn’t enough to save a person—even the demons have that level of faith (James 2:19)—but it’s a start, and by God’s grace it can blossom into full saving faith.
God has given ample evidence of His existence. Romans 1:20 says, “Since the creation of the world [God’s] invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made.” David said, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and the firmament is declaring the work of His hands” (Ps. 19:1).
Creation itself proclaims the existence, power, and glory of God, and yet most people “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18) by rejecting the Creator and by denying their accountability to Him. Rather than bowing to the true God, they pay homage to “Mother Nature” or evolution. How foolish!
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Suggestions for Prayer: Praise God for the beauty of His creation. ✧ Worship Him as the giver of every good gift (James 1:17).
For Further Study: Read Romans 1:18–32. Is there a connection between denying God, practicing idolatry, and committing gross immoralities? Explain.
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November 12
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Seeking God’s Reward
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“He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).
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All who come to God in faith will receive the reward of eternal life.
We’ve seen that without faith it’s impossible to please God. And the first step in faith is believing that God exists. In addition, we must also believe that He answers our prayers—more specifically, that He redeems those who come to Him in faith.
Scripture repeatedly tells us that God not only can be found but also desires to be found. David said to his son Solomon, “If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever” (1 Chron. 28:9). The Lord says in Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jesus said, “Everyone who asks receives; and he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks it shall be opened” (Luke 11:10).
At first glance those verses may seem to contradict Paul’s teaching that “there is none who seeks for God; all have turned aside” (Rom. 3:11–12) and Jesus’ statement that no one can come to Him unless the Father “draws” him (John 6:44). But really they’re two sides of the same theological coin.
On one side you see man believing God and receiving Christ for salvation. On the other you see God enabling man to do so. Prior to salvation, a person is spiritually dead and utterly incapable of responding to the gospel. God must grant him or her saving faith. That’s why the Bible contains statements like, “To you it has been granted for Christ’s sake … to believe in Him” (Phil. 1:29); “As many as had been appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48); and “The Lord opened [Lydia’s] heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul” (Acts 16:14).
God is the Great Rewarder, extending His love and grace to all who call upon Him. “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed” (Rom. 10:11).
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Suggestions for Prayer: If you’ve been praying for someone’s salvation, don’t become discouraged. Only God can grant saving faith, but He gives us the privilege of participating in His redemptive work through faithful prayer and evangelism (Rom 10:1).
For Further Study: Memorize Ephesians 2:8–9.
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November 13
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Obeying in Faith
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“By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Heb. 11:7).
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True faith works.
When James said, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26), he stated a principle that’s consistent throughout Scripture: True faith always produces righteous works.
The people described in Hebrews 11 made their genuine faith known in the things they did. The same applies to us today. Paul said, “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:11–12).
Perhaps better than anyone else in history, Noah illustrates the obedience of faith. Scripture characterizes him as “a righteous man, blameless in his time … [who] walked with God” (Gen. 6:9).
I remember a sportscaster interviewing a professional football player and asking him what he thought of his team’s chances of winning the Super Bowl. The player replied, “We believe that if we just do what the coach says, we’ll win.” The team had absolute confidence in their coach, but they realized they had to do their part as well.
That illustrates the quality of faith Noah had in God, whom he trusted absolutely as he pursued a task that seemed utterly foolish and useless from a human perspective. Imagine instantly surrendering all your time and effort to devote 120 years to building something you’d never seen (a vessel the size of an ocean liner or battleship) to protect you from something you’d never experienced (rain and flooding). Yet Noah did it without question.
Noah’s faith is unique in the sheer magnitude and time span of the task God gave him to do. He didn’t argue with God or deviate from his assignment. Is that true of you? Are you pursuing your ministry as faithfully and persistently as Noah did his? Is your faith a faith that works?
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Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God for the ministry to which He has called you. If you sense there’s more you could be doing, ask Him for guidance. ✧ Pray for added faithfulness and tenacity in serving Him.
For Further Study: Read the account of Noah in Genesis 6:1–9:17.
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November 14
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Building a Picture of Salvation
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“By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household” (Heb. 11:7).
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The ark is a beautiful picture of salvation by grace through faith.
God called Noah to a gargantuan task. Conservative figures estimate that the ark was about 438 feet long, seventy-three feet wide, and forty-four feet high. That makes it almost one and a half times the length of a football field and more than four stories high. Its three decks totaled almost 96,000 square feet, with a total volume of about 1.3 million cubic feet. Naval engineers concur that its shape and dimensions constitute an incredibly stable ship design.
But beyond the enormity of its size and the precision of its measurements, the ark is a wonderful illustration of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. For example, Noah was instructed to cover the ark inside and out with pitch (Gen. 6:14). The Hebrew word for pitch has the same root as the word for atonement. The pitch kept the waters of judgment from entering the ark, just as Christ’s atoning blood keeps judgment from the repentant sinner.
The ark was large enough to hold two of each species of animals plus every person who turned to God for safety. Only eight persons chose to be saved on God’s terms, but had more come, surely God would have accommodated them. It is His desire that none perish, but that all “come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Those who perished in the Flood did so because they rejected God’s means of salvation.
Similarly, Jesus’ blood is sufficient to atone for every sinner and every sin since man’s fall in the Garden of Eden. No one who comes to Him will be cast out (John 6:37), and yet so few avail themselves of His gracious provision (Matt. 7:14).
Noah was a man who “walked with God” (Gen. 6:9), and yet he wasn’t without sin. That’s obvious from his drunken and immodest behavior after the Flood (9:20–21). But Noah, like every true believer, was justified by God’s grace, his faith being counted as righteousness. That has always been the basis of salvation (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:5).
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Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God for His amazing grace, by which He saved you and continues to cleanse you from every sin.
For Further Study: Read Romans 4:1–8. ✧ What is the main point of that passage? ✧ Who is the primary example?
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November 15
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Rebuking the World
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“By faith Noah … condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Heb. 11:7).
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Your actions and words should rebuke our godless society.
Genesis 6:5 says, “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Before moving in judgment against the most evil and corrupt society in history, God appointed Noah to build an ark, which became a symbol of life and salvation to all who believed God. For those who disbelieved, it represented impending death and judgment.
Concurrent with constructing the ark, Noah preached about coming judgment. Peter called him “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5), and every board he cut and every nail he drove in was a living illustration of the urgency of his message.
God’s warning was stern and His message horrifying, but His patience and mercy prevailed for 120 years. As Peter said, “The patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark” (1 Peter 3:20). The people had ample warning of judgment, but they chose to disregard Noah’s message.
As sad as the account of Noah’s day is, perhaps the greatest tragedy is that man’s attitude toward God hasn’t changed since then. Jesus said, “The coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matt. 24:37–39).
Like Noah, you are to proclaim righteousness to an evil and perverse generation by your works and by your life. Be faithful to do so even if people don’t want to listen. After 120 years of diligent work and faithful preaching by Noah, only eight people entered the ark. But God’s purposes were accomplished, and the human race was preserved.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Sometimes you’ll encounter people who scoff at God’s judgment and mock your testimony. Don’t be discouraged. Pray for them, and be available to minister to them whenever possible.
For Further Study: Read 2 Peter 3. What effect should the prospect of future judgment have on your present behavior?
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November 16
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Stepping out in Faith
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“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going” (Heb. 11:8).
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The life of faith begins with a willingness to forsake everything that displeases God.
Abraham is the classic example of the life of faith. As the father of the Jewish nation, he was the most strategic example of faith available to the writer of the book of Hebrews. But the people to whom Hebrews was written needed to understand that Abraham was more than the father of their race; he also was, by example, the father of everyone who lives by faith in God (Rom. 4:11).
Contrary to popular first-century Jewish thought, God didn’t choose Abraham because he was righteous in himself. When called by God, Abraham was a sinful man living in an idolatrous society. His home was in the Chaldean city of Ur, which was located in ancient Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
God’s call to Abraham is recorded in Genesis 12:1–3: “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Note Abraham’s response: “So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him” (v. 4). He listened, trusted, and obeyed. His pilgrimage of faith began when he separated himself from the pleasures of a pagan land to pursue God’s plan for his life.
So it is with you if you’re a man or woman of true faith. You’ve forsaken sinful pleasures to follow Christ. And as your love for Christ increases, there’s a corresponding decrease in worldly desires.
I pray that your focus will continually be on fulfilling God’s will for your life and that you’ll always know the joy and assurance that come from following Him.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Ask God for the grace and spiritual fortitude to walk by faith today.
For Further Study: Memorize 1 John 2:15 as a reminder to remain separate from the world.
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November 17
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Focusing on Heaven
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“By faith [Abraham] lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow-heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11:9–10).
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Focusing on Heaven is the best way to endure difficulties on earth.
Following God’s call isn’t always easy. He expects us to trust Him explicitly, and yet He doesn’t ask our advice on decisions that may impact us dramatically. He doesn’t tell us His specific plans at any given point in our lives. He doesn’t always shelter us from adversity. He tests our faith to produce endurance and spiritual maturity—tests that are sometimes painful. He makes some promises that we’ll never see fulfilled in this life.
If following God’s call is a challenge for us, imagine how it was for Abraham, who had no Bible, no pastor, no sermons, no commentaries, and no Christian encouragement or accountability. But what he did have was the promise of a nation, a land, and a blessing (Gen. 12:1–3). That was good enough for him.
Abraham never settled in the land of promise. Neither did his son Isaac or his grandson Jacob. They were aliens, dwelling in tents like nomads. Abraham never built houses or cities. The only way he would possess the land was by faith. Yet Abraham patiently waited for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
As important as the earthly land was to him, Abraham was patient because his sight was on his heavenly home, “the city … whose architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11:10). He knew beyond any doubt that he would inherit that city, whether or not he ever saw his earthly home in his lifetime.
Similarly, being heavenly minded gives you the patience to continue working for the Lord when things get tough. It’s the best cure I know for discouragement or spiritual fatigue. That’s why Paul says to “set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Col. 3:2). If your mind is set on Heaven, you can endure whatever happens here.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Praise God for your heavenly home. ✧ Seek His grace to help you keep a proper perspective amid the difficulties of this life.
For Further Study: Read the portion of Abraham’s life recorded in Genesis 12–17.
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November 18
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Looking to the Future
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“By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised; therefore also there was born of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore” (Heb. 11:11–12).
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Your faith in Christ will influence future generations.
I’ve been blessed with a wonderful Christian heritage. In fact, I’m the fifth generation of preachers in our family. The faith of my predecessors has had an enormous impact on my life—either directly or indirectly. I have the same responsibility they did to influence others for good, as do you.
Hebrews 11:11–12 gives a very personal example of how one man’s faith influenced an entire nation. Verse 11 is better rendered: “By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise” (niv).
God had promised Abraham that he would become the father of a great nation (Gen. 12:2). But Sarah, Abraham’s wife, had always been barren, and both of them were advanced in years. At one point Sarah became impatient and decided to take things into her own hands. She persuaded Abraham to have a son by her maid, Hagar (16:1–4). That act of disobedience proved to be costly because Ishmael, the child of that union, became the progenitor of the Arab people, who have been constant antagonists of the Jewish nation.
Despite his times of disobedience, Abraham believed that God would keep His promise. God honored Abraham’s faith by giving him not only Isaac, the child of promise, but descendants too numerous to count. One man’s faith literally changed the world!
Similarly, the faith you exercise today will influence others tomorrow. So, be faithful and remember that despite your failures, God “is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us” (Eph. 3:20).
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Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God for those who have had a righteous influence on you. ✧ Pray for greater opportunities to influence others for Christ.
For Further Study: Read the account of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 18–21 and 23.
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November 19
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Living a Satisfied Life
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“All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them” (Heb. 11:13–16).
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Resting in God’s promises brings true satisfaction.
I remember watching in horror and disgust as angry mobs swept through Los Angeles, killing people and setting thousands of buildings on fire. Under the cover of chaos, countless people ransacked and looted every store in sight. I saw entire families—moms, dads, and little children—loading their cars and trucks with anything they could steal.
That was the most graphic demonstration of lawlessness I’ve ever seen. It was as if they were saying, “I’m not satisfied with the way life’s treating me, so I’m entitled to grab everything I can—no matter who gets hurt in the process.”
Perhaps we don’t realize how selfish and restless the human heart can be until the restraints of law and order are lifted and people can do whatever they want without apparent consequences. Then suddenly the results of our godless “me first” society are seen for what they are. Instant gratification at any cost has become the motto of the day.
That’s in stark contrast to people of faith like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who trusted in God even when their circumstances were less than they might have expected. God promised them a magnificent land, but they never possessed it. They were, in fact, strangers and refugees in their own land. But that didn’t bother them because they looked forward to a better place—a heavenly city.
Their faith pleased God, and He was not ashamed to be called their God. What a wonderful testimonial! I pray that’s true of you. Don’t let earthbound hopes and dreams make you dissatisfied. Trust in God’s promises, and set your sights on your heavenly home.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God for the blessing of a satisfied heart.
For Further Study: Memorize Psalm 27:4.
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November 20
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Passing the Test
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“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac; and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called.’ He considered that God is able to raise men even from the dead” (Heb. 11:17–19).
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A willingness to sacrifice something precious to you is proof of genuine faith.
John Bunyan had a little blind daughter, for whom he had a special love. When he was imprisoned for preaching the gospel, he was deeply concerned about his family, especially that little girl. He wrote: “I saw in this condition I was a man who was pulling down his house upon the head of his wife and children. Yet, thought I, I must do it; I must do it. The dearest idol I have known, what ere that idol be, help me to tear it from Thy throne and worship only Thee.”
Despite his personal grief, Bunyan was willing to sacrifice the most precious thing he had, if God so willed. So it was with Abraham. Every promise God had made to him was bound up in his son Isaac.
Abraham believed God’s promises, and his faith was reckoned to him as righteousness (Gen. 15:6). But the moment of truth came when God instructed him to offer his son as a sacrifice. Abraham realized that to kill Isaac was to put to death God’s covenant. So he reasoned that surely God would raise Isaac from the dead. He believed in resurrection before the doctrine was revealed in clear terms.
God tested Abraham, and Abraham passed the test: he was willing to make the sacrifice. And that’s always the final standard of faith. Jesus said, “If any one wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24). Romans 12:1 says, “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
I pray that you are willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary to minister most effectively for Christ.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God for those you know who are passing the test of a sacrificial faith. ✧ Pray for the courage and grace to follow their example.
For Further Study: Read the account of Abraham’s test in Genesis 22.
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November 21
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Defeating Death
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“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones” (Heb. 11:20–22).
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Faith triumphs over death.
Commentator Matthew Henry said, “Though the grace of faith is of universal use throughout the Christian’s life, yet it is especially so when we come to die. Faith has its great work to do at the very last, to help believers to finish well, to die to the Lord so as to honor Him, by patience, hope and joy so as to leave a witness behind them of the truth of God’s Word and the excellency of His ways.”
God is honored when His people die triumphantly. When we’ve lived a life to His glory, and have joyfully left the world behind to enter into His presence for all eternity, He is pleased, for “precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones” (Ps. 116:15).
Many believers who have dreaded facing death have experienced a special measure of God’s grace that made their final hours the sweetest and most precious of their lives.
Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph are examples of men who faced death with great faith and confidence. Each “died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (Heb. 11:13). They hadn’t seen all God’s promises fulfilled, but by faith they passed them on to their children.
These men didn’t have perfect faith. Joseph was exemplary, but Isaac and Jacob often vacillated in their walk with God. Yet, each ended his life triumphantly. That’s the reward of all who trust God and cling to His promises.
Like every believer before you, you haven’t seen the fulfillment of all God’s promises. But certainly you’ve seen far more than Isaac, Jacob, or Joseph did. How much more, then, should you trust God and encourage those who follow you to do the same!
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Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God for His marvelous grace, which triumphs over sin and death.
For Further Study: Read the final words of Jacob and Joseph in Genesis 48:1–49:33 and 50:22–26.
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November 22
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The Reluctant Patriarch
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“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come” (Heb. 11:20).
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When you disobey God, you forfeit joy and blessing.
Isaac is a fascinating Old Testament character. He was Abraham’s long-awaited son, the covenant child, the child of promise. Yet aside from that, he was rather ordinary, passive, and quiet. Just over two chapters of Genesis center on him, whereas the other patriarchs (Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph) command about twelve chapters each.
In the final analysis, Isaac believed God and submitted to His will. But overall, his spiritual character seems more reluctant than resolute.
After a famine prompted Isaac to move his family to Gerar (a Philistine city on the border between Palestine and Egypt), he received a vision from the Lord. In it God passed on to Isaac the covenant promises He had made to Abraham: “Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham. And I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 26:3–4).
You would think such promises would infuse Isaac with boldness and confidence; yet no sooner had he received them when he lied to the men of Gerar about his wife, Rebekah, because he feared they might kill him to have her (v. 7).
It was only with great difficulty and prodding that the Lord finally brought Isaac into the Promised Land, where He once again repeated the covenant promises (vv. 23–24).
Later in his life Isaac even sought to bless his son Esau after Esau had sold his birthright to Jacob (27:4; 25:33). Only after he realized that God’s choice of Jacob was irreversible did Isaac acquiesce.
Isaac is a vivid reminder of how believers can forfeit joy and blessing by disobeying God. But he’s also a reminder of God’s faithfulness—even toward reluctant saints.
Is your obedience reluctant or resolute?
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Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God for His unwavering faithfulness to you. ✧ Seek His forgiveness when your obedience is reluctant or withheld altogether. ✧ Ask Him to teach you to love Him in the same unwavering, resolute way He loves you.
For Further Study: Read about Isaac in Genesis 25:19–26:33.
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November 23
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From Jacob to Israel
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“By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped” (Heb. 11:21).
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Jacob’s life typifies the spiritual pilgrimage from selfishness to submission.
Jacob’s life can be outlined in three phases: a stolen blessing, a conditional commitment, and a sincere supplication.
From the very beginning it was God’s intention to bless Jacob in a special way. But Jacob, whose name means “trickster,” “supplanter,” or “usurper,” tricked his father into blessing him instead of his older brother, Esau (Gen. 27:1–29). As a result, Jacob had to flee from Esau and spend fourteen years herding flocks for his Uncle Laban.
As Jacob traveled toward Laban’s house, God appeared to him in a dream (Gen. 28:10–22) and made him the recipient of the covenant promises first made to his grandfather, Abraham, and then to his father, Isaac.
Jacob’s response is revealing, for he “made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the Lord will be my God’” (vv. 20–21, emphasis added). Jacob’s conditional vow said in effect, “God, if You’ll give me what I want, I’ll be Your man.”
Despite Jacob’s selfish motives, God did bless him, but He humbled him too. By the time he left Laban’s house, Jacob was ready to yield to God’s will unreservedly. Note his change of heart in Genesis 32:10: “I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which Thou hast shown to [me].”
Then the Lord appeared in the form of a man and wrestled with Jacob all night (v. 24). Jacob refused to let Him go until he received a blessing. That wasn’t a selfish request, but one that came from a heart devoted to being all God wanted him to be. That’s when the Lord changed Jacob’s name to “Israel,” which means “he fights or persists with God.”
Like Abraham and Isaac before him, Jacob never saw the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises. Yet on his spiritual journey from Jacob to Israel, from selfishness to submission, he learned to trust God and to await His perfect timing.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Pray for grace to consistently pursue God’s will and for patience to wait on His timing.
For Further Study: Read Jacob’s story in Genesis 27–35.
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November 24
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Acknowledging God’s Sovereignty
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“By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones” (Heb. 11:22).
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God uses your present circumstances to accomplish His future purposes.
Like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Joseph was an heir to the covenant promises of God. His hope was firmly fixed on God, and he knew that someday his people would be at home in the Promised Land.
Although he spent all his adult life in Egypt, never seeing the Promised Land for himself, Joseph’s faith never wavered. At the end of his life, he instructed his brothers to remove his bones from Egypt and bury them in their future homeland (Gen. 50:25). That request was fulfilled in the Exodus (Ex. 13:19).
But Joseph’s faith wasn’t in the promises of future events only, for his life was marked by exceptional trust in God and personal integrity. His understanding of God’s sovereignty was unique among the patriarchs. Even though he suffered greatly at the hands of evildoers (including his own brothers, who sold him into slavery), Joseph recognized God’s hand in every event of his life and submitted to His will.
Joseph said to his brothers, “Do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life … and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God” (Gen. 45:5, 7–8). Later, after their father’s death, he reassured them again: “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to … preserve many people alive” (Gen. 50:19–20).
The genius of Joseph’s faith was his understanding the role that present circumstances play in fulfilling future promises. He accepted blessing and adversity alike because he knew God would use both to accomplish greater things in the future.
Joseph is the classic Old Testament example of the truth that God works all things together for good to those who love Him (Rom. 8:28). That’s a promise you can rely on too.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Reaffirm your trust in God’s sovereign work in your life.
For Further Study: Read about Joseph’s life in Genesis 37–50.
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November 25
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Accepting God’s Plan
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“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict” (Heb. 11:23).
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God makes His plans; you walk in them by faith. He doesn’t need your help or counsel—just your obedience and trust.
It has been wisely said that trying to improve on God’s plan is more pretentious than trying to improve the Mona Lisa with an ink pen. All you’d do is ruin the masterpiece.
The story of Amram and Jochebed, the parents of Moses, is about two people who refused to ruin the masterpiece. They trusted God implicitly and did everything possible to see His plan for their son come to fruition.
Because of the number and might of the Hebrew people in Egypt, Pharaoh enslaved them and ordered that all male Hebrew babies be put to death. In direct defiance of that wicked edict, Moses’ parents hid their baby for three months, then placed him in a waterproofed basket along the banks of the Nile River near the place where Pharaoh’s daughter bathed. One can only imagine the faith it took for them to risk their own lives, as well as the life of their baby, by placing him in that basket and introducing him into the very household of the one who wanted all male Hebrew babies slain.
By God’s providence, Pharaoh’s daughter found the baby, took pity on him, and adopted him into her family. More than that, the Lord used Moses’ quick-thinking sister, Miriam, to arrange for Jochebed to nurse and care for her own son! That gave Moses’ family the opportunity to teach him about God’s promises for Israel to inherit the Promised Land, become a mighty nation, and be a blessing to all nations. They helped instill within Moses the faith in God that would later characterize his life.
You may never be called on to make the kind of sacrifice that Moses’ parents made, but no matter what the risks, remember that God always honors your obedience.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God for His plan for your life. Seek wisdom and grace to live accordingly.
For Further Study: Read about Israel’s oppression and Moses’ birth in Exodus 1:1–2:10.
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November 26
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Rejecting the World’s Passing Pleasures
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“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin” (Heb. 11:24–25).
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The world has little to offer compared to the riches of Christ.
For forty years Moses enjoyed the best of everything Egypt had to offer—formidable wealth, culture, education, and prestige (Acts 7:22). Yet he never forgot God’s promises toward his own people, Israel.
Then, “when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel. And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian. And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him; but they did not understand” (vv. 23–25).
Somehow Moses knew he was to deliver his people from Egyptian oppression. Although it would be another forty years before he was fully prepared for the task, by faith he forsook the pleasures and prestige of Egypt and endured ill-treatment with God’s chosen people.
Humanly speaking, Moses made a costly choice. He seemed to be sacrificing everything for nothing. But the opposite was much more the case since Moses considered “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the [greater] reward” (Heb. 11:26).
Sometimes obedience to Christ seems very costly, especially when evil people prosper while many who faithfully serve God suffer poverty and affliction. Asaph the psalmist struggled with the same issue: “Behold, these are the wicked; and always at ease, they have increased in wealth. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure” (Ps. 73:12–13).
But be assured that the eternal rewards of Christ far outweigh the passing pleasures of sin. The wicked have only judgment and Hell to look forward to; you have glory and Heaven. So always choose obedience, and trust God to guide your choices, just as He did with Moses.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Praise God that the righteous will one day be fully rewarded. ✧ Seek God’s grace to be obedient when you’re faced with difficult choices.
For Further Study: Read Stephen’s account of Moses in Acts 7:20–39.
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November 27
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Bearing the Reproach of Christ
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Moses considered “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen” (Heb. 11:26–27).
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When you suffer for Christ, you bear His reproach.
How could Moses, who lived 1,500 years before Christ, bear His reproach? Christ is the Greek form of the Hebrew title Messiah, meaning “the Anointed One.” Many Old Testament personalities were spoken of as being anointed for special service to the Lord. Some have suggested that Moses was thinking of himself as a type of messiah, for he delivered his people from the Egyptian bondage. They would translate verse 26 as, “Considering the reproach of his own messiahship as God’s deliverer.”
However, it seems best to see this verse as a reference to Jesus Himself, the future great Deliverer. We don’t know how much knowledge Moses had of Jesus, but certainly it was more than that of Abraham, of whom Jesus said, “Abraham rejoiced to see My day; and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56).
The Messiah has always been identified with His people. When they suffer for righteousness’ sake, they suffer in His place. That’s why David said, “The reproaches of those who reproach Thee have fallen on me” (Ps. 69:9). Speaking from a New Testament perspective, Paul made a similar statement: “I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus” (Gal. 6:17).
There’s also a sense in which Christ suffers with His people. When Jesus confronted Paul, who was heavily persecuting the church, He said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? … I am Jesus whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:4–5).
Moses chose to turn his back on Pharaoh’s household and to identify with God’s people because he knew that suffering for Christ was far better than enjoying the riches of Egypt. At some point in time you too will be persecuted for Christ’s sake (2 Tim. 3:12), so be prepared. When that time comes, follow Moses’ example of faith and courage, knowing that God will be your shield and your reward (cf. Gen. 15:1).
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Suggestions for Prayer: Follow the examples of the apostles by thanking God for the privilege of bearing a small portion of the reproach that the world aims at Christ (Acts 5:27–41).
For Further Study: Memorize Psalm 27:1 as a source of encouragement when facing difficulty.
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November 28
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Accepting God’s Provisions
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“By faith [Moses] kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the first-born might not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned” (Heb. 11:28–29).
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The man or woman of faith gratefully accepts all God’s provisions, no matter how pointless some of them may seem.
When the time came for Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, everything on the human level said it couldn’t be done. Pharaoh wasn’t about to let two or three million slaves just pack up and leave. His formidable army was ready to ensure that no such exodus occurred.
But when God devises a plan, He always makes the necessary provisions for carrying it out. On this occasion, His provision came in the form of ten terrifying plagues designed to change Pharaoh’s mind.
The tenth and worst plague was the death of all the first-born (Ex. 11:5). To protect themselves from this plague, the Israelites sprinkled the blood of a lamb on the doorposts and lintels of their homes. When the angel of death saw the blood, he passed over that house. Thus the Passover was instituted.
The blood from those first Passover lambs had no intrinsic power to stave off the death angel, but its presence demonstrated faith and obedience, thus symbolizing the future sacrifice of Christ (cf. John 1:29).
Pharaoh got the message and allowed the Israelites to leave. But soon afterwards he changed his mind and commanded his army to pursue them. Again God intervened by parting the Red Sea, allowing His people to walk across on dry land. He then drowned the entire Egyptian army when it followed the Israelites into the sea.
That was a graphic demonstration of a lesson every believer must learn: God’s provisions are always best. They may sometimes seem foolish to the human intellect—just as “the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness” (1 Cor. 1:18)—but the man or woman of faith trusts God and receives His provisions gratefully.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God for the wise and gracious provisions He has made for your salvation and ongoing Christian walk.
For Further Study: Read the account of the Passover and the parting of the Red Sea in Exodus 11–14.
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November 29
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Conquering in Conflict
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“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days” (Heb. 11:30).
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Faith is the key to spiritual conquest.
Forty years had elapsed since the Israelites refused to enter the Promised Land. That unbelieving generation had perished in the wilderness. Now Joshua was leading a new generation into the land. The first obstacle they faced was Jericho—a well-fortified city that was near the mouth of the Jordan River.
Some city walls of that day were wide enough at the top to allow two chariots to ride side by side. That was probably true of Jericho because of its strategic location. That, coupled with the caliber of its army, made the city virtually impregnable—especially to unsophisticated Israelites, who lacked military training.
But what is impossible for man is easy for God. And the stage was set for Him to demonstrate His power and for the Israelites to demonstrate their faith and humility.
One can only imagine how embarrassed the Hebrew people felt as they marched around Jericho once a day for six days. That certainly is not your typical military strategy. But on the seventh day, after marching around the city seven times, with the priests blowing their rams’ horns, the priests gave one final blast, the people all shouted out loud, and the walls of the city collapsed (Josh. 6:20). Faith had reduced a formidable obstacle to a crumbled ruin.
Can you identify some spiritual obstacles you’ve faced recently? How did you handle them? You’ll always have them to deal with in your Christian walk, but don’t fret. See them as opportunities to exercise faith and to see God’s power on display in your life. Continue to trust the Lord and to demonstrate your faith by courageously doing what He has called you to do.
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Suggestions for Prayer: Ask God to help you humbly trust in God’s power when you face spiritual conflicts.
For Further Study: Read about the conquest of Jericho in Joshua 6:1–21. Note each occasion where the people obeyed one of Joshua’s commands without hesitation.
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November 30
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An Unlikely Heroine
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“By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace” (Heb. 11:31).
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Rahab illustrates the depth and breadth of God’s amazing grace.
Our final Old Testament hero of faith is an unlikely addition to the list. Not only was she a prostitute, she also was a Gentile—and a Canaanite at that.
The Canaanites were an idolatrous, barbaric, debauched people, infamous even among pagans for their immorality and cruelty. Yet in the midst of that exceedingly wicked society, Rahab came to faith in the God of Israel.
Joshua 2:9–11 records her confession of faith to the two men Joshua had sent into Jericho as spies: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And when we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath” (emphasis added).
Rahab demonstrated the genuineness of her profession of faith by risking her life to hide the spies from the king of Jericho, who sought to capture them.
Because Rahab lied to protect the spies (vv. 4–5), some people question the validity of her faith. Surely genuine believers wouldn’t lie like that—or would they? Abraham did. Sarah did. Isaac did. Jacob did. But the important thing to understand is that God honored their faith, not their deception.
As with all the heroes of faith before her, Rahab’s faith wasn’t perfect, nor was her knowledge of God’s moral law. But because she trusted God, she was spared during Jericho’s conquest, and then was given an even greater honor. She became the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth, the great-great-grandmother of David, thereby becoming an ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:5).
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Suggestions for Prayer: Praise God for receiving even the vilest sinner who turns to Him in faith.
For Further Study: Read all about Rahab in Joshua 2:1–24, 6:22–25, and James 2:25.
