Hebrews #33: an exposition of Hebrews 11:30-31. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 7, 2014.
Intro:
Sometimes you are put in impossible circumstances. It came around every year. It was ridiculous. There was no point to it. It was the same every year but we had to go through the motions. It was called, “The President’s Physical Fitness Test.” I don’t think the president ever look at the things! Push-ups, sit-ups, running and the dreaded pull-up. Every year Mr. Robinson called me up in front of the class and forced me to hang on that bar trying to pull myself up. Every year I’d hang there a few seconds before dropping to the floor. He would say, “Oh I thought you were going to make it this time. You were so close.” He was a good man. Trying to be encouraging. It wasn’t close. It was always humiliating. It’s one things to be the “fat kid” who gets embarrassed once a year in gym class in the face of an impossible task – it’s quite another to lead troops into battle against overwhelming odds.
Joshua and the people of Israel where on the outskirts of Jericho. Israel had crossed the Jordan in miraculous fashion and war was just hours away. Just ahead of the encamped Israelites towered the great city of Jericho. Most of the Israelites had never seen a walled city. Joshua was restless. I’m sure he would have loved to talked to Moses but Moses was dead. The mantle of leadership now rested on Joshua. Joshua slipped out of camp to talk with God in the quiet of the night. Something flashed before him. There stood a warrior in full battle dress. His sword drawn. A less courageous man would have run but not Joshua. Instead he asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
This encounter would become a milestone in the life of Joshua and the people of God. It also forms the backdrop for a portion or our text this morning.
Text: Hebrews 11:30-31
The writer is seeking to encourage these struggling believers by giving them examples of those who have gone before. Those who overcame overwhelming odds by the grace of God. Men and women of genuine faith. This morning we come to two examples. One of faith overcoming by unusual means the other of faith through an unlikely person. Our text is just two verses but we will spend time in the Old Testament book of Joshua to understand the context.
This text serves to remind us that…
Thesis: Biblical faith accomplishes remarkable things through unlikely people and by unlikely means.
2 things
- Courageous faith overcomes incredible odds in a most unlikely way. (11:30)
- Real, courageous, genuine faith is often found in the most unlikely person. (11:31)
Conclusion:
This struggling band of believers found themselves up against overwhelming odds. They needed to know God is about to deliver. They needed to know that even though they were no match for the mighty Roman Empire God is more than able. This is the life of faith. “If God be fore us who can possibly stand against us?” The struggling believers needed to know faith is not the possession of the spiritually elite. It can be found in a Canaanite prostitute.
The good news for them and for us is that Biblical faith accomplishes remarkable things through unlikely people and by unlikely means.