BETTER FAITH - Part 5 of 7
Hebrews 11:30-40
GAINED APPROVAL or “obtained a good testimony” – the most important thing in the world is gaining approval from God Almighty. Faith is the means by which men of old gained Divine approval.
I. RAHAB DID NOT PERISH (Joshua 2)
· Rahab knew that God had delivered Jericho into the Israelites hand (8-11)
· The two spies she harbored swore an oath to her to spare her family (12-21)
· The covenant: they will be spared, she will say nothing
· Her faith was not based on her righteousness but the promise of God
II. WALLS OF JERICHO FELL DOWN (Joshua 6:3-20)
· Carried the ark around the city 1 time for 6 days and 7 times on the 7th day., by 7 priests, with 7 trumpets (6:2-4)
· On the 7th time they all shouted and the priests blew the trumpet (6:15-21)
· The walls fell down and the city was destroyed but Rahab and her family lived
· Israel’s faith was not based on reason but on the promise of God
III. BARAK (Judges 4-5)
· Barak told he will defeat an army but he replied that he would not go without the prophetess Deborah who carried the word of God – that faith comes from hearing by
· The prophetess said “Arise! For this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hands; behold the Lord has gone out before you.”
· Jael drove a tent peg into the temple of Sisera the commander of Canaan army
· Barak’s faith was not based on his army but on the word of God
IV. GIDEON (Judges 6-8)
· Midian brought Israel low because they were evil and God was disciplining (6:1-6)
· God sent a prophet and an angel – both carrying the word of God (6:8,12)
· Gideon was the youngest in the “least” family but God noticed his strength (6:15)
· He defeated Baal, “Let Baal defend himself if he is god!” (6:28-32)
· Gideon seeks signs to confirm the word of God concerning him defeating Midian (6:36)
· Gideon’s doubts confirmed by the dream of the enemy (7:13)
· God shows that it is He who is mighty and the strength is in Him. Gideon and 300 men defeat the Midianite army
· Gideon’s faith was based on the promise of God not his own strength, “Have I not sent you?” (6:14)
V. JEPHTHAH (Judges 11:1-12:7)
· Jephthah is ran out but then called upon to lead Gilead in battle (11:1-11)
· He speaks with the king of Ammon to say that they did not take the land of the Amorites but rather God gave it to them and Ammon is wrong for making war (11:24)
· Jephthah made a vow with God that if God delivered Jephthah that when he returned home he would offer whatever comes out of his house as an offering (11:29-31)
· His one and only daughter came out dancing with tambourines and with Jephthah in distress she reminded him to keep his vow (11:34)
· Jephthah’s faith was not based on his own preferences or comfort but on a promise – maybe he too believed God could raise people from the dead.