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Faith Inside The Obedience Zone (Hebrews 11:20-29)

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As we near Christmas season, the gift purchases begin and so do hiding of boxes. Pro-tip: You remember where you hide the gifts if you hide them all in the same place.

But this reminds me of children staring around corners or through door peepholes to obtain a glimpse of what they might receive.

I don’t have any confessions about secret sneak-peaks at Christmas gifts, but I do recall being at James Fowler’s house one afternoon. You see, the Fowler house is right next the AACO fairgrounds. And the fairground hosts Monster Truck night. Well, not only did we hear the announcers over the loudspeaker, but those truck engines were revving and tires spinning dirt. We just had to walk through the woods to catch a glimpse and see with our own eyes.  

Hebrews 11 is like a peep-hole into the OT. We hear limited details and see only a glimpse of the action, but it is enticing us to open the door and read the full report. In other words, Heb11 encourages us to trust the Scriptures. By trusting and treasuring the Scriptures when we read it, we are refreshed in the testimony of past believers, so that we learn lessons from their mistakes and follow their example in the faith.

EXAMINE      Faith Inside The Obedience Zone (Hebrews 11:20-29)

20 By faith Isaac

Even if we read the Genesis account, we know little about Isaac’s life compared to Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph.

  • Promised son to Abraham & Sarah  
  • Obedient son with Abraham’s plan to offer sacrifice to God
  • Gains a wife by Abraham’s planning
  • Has 2 sons: Esau & Jacob, but Isaac loves Esau because he ate of his game (Ge 25:28)
  • Isaac dug wells, farmed, and fearfully conflicted with the Philistines
  • Isaac grew old, his eyes were dim and body weak (Ge 27:1)

This is the setup to Isaac, which Heb11 excludes but informs our present understanding of the life of faith.

20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.

Heb11 is indicating Isaac’s faith as a model, even at his weakest moment! He’s aged; he’s physically frail; he’s an imperfect parent; yet, he’s blessing and praying for his children.

  • Isaac knew the LORD’s prophecy that Jacob should surpass Esau and the older to serve the younger (Ge 25:23). And Esau doesn’t really value God’s blessing anyways, bc he trades it to Jacob for stew (Ge 25:32) and marries a Hittite woman (Ge 26:34). Ironically, Isaac favored Esau. But, in a deceptive maneuver, Rebekah plots for Jacob to receive Esau’s birthright blessing, and Isaac asks God to make Jacob prosperous (Ge 27:28-29).
  • Isaac blessed Esau in a backward, noting he will serve and war with Jacob, but eventually escape his rule (Ge 28:40).

> The point is that our faith can bless others even if its weak or a work in progress. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had multiple mess-ups. So will we. But followers of God must invoke blessings upon others. – – – @spbc we say, “We are thermostats” AND “We are sent” bc we believe in blessing our community and neighbors.

Pr 3:27 “Do not withhold good from those whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.”

> Why do you withhold your gifts?

Our faith can bless others even if its weak or a work in progress.

21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.

So, Jacob is more familiar than his father. Jacob is the deceptive cheater. He’s the heel grabber and birthright stealer of his brother. He’s a momma’s boy who shaves, dresses nice, smells like spice, and is obsessed the HVAC control (loved inside). He falls in lust with a beautiful woman named Rachel, but is tricked first into marrying not so easy on the eyes Leah.[1] He creates and flees conflict rather than solves it. Eventually, he encounters God, and it changes his whole perspective from grabbing for material gain to being grace-driven, as he walked wounded with a limp after wrestling with God. From that point forward, he strives his best to be a godly father to his 12 sons and 1 daughter. At the end of Jacob’s life, he too invokes blessings upon his children and grandchildren. When blessing Joseph’s sons, rather than equate blessing with birthright, he extends the greatest blessing to Ephraim before Manasseh.

All of this Bible history and ancient cultural blessing may not sound applicable to us today. But consider…  

  • British royalty: When Queen Elizabeth died, her oldest son Charles became King. Charles’ two sons: William (w/Kate) and Harry (w/Meghan). Everyone knows William is being groomed as next king, while Harry is estranged from family and wandering in the land with fruits and nuts. BUT IMAGINE if King Charles extends the throne to Harry – – this is Jacob!
  • Prodigal children: When families have more than one child, there is always bound to be presumed favoritism, and internal relational conflict and competition. In some scenarios, the parental pressure is overwhelming and a child responds with rebellious and reckless lifestyle choices. But when this happens, does that mean the parents love the prodigal child any less? – – – you say, “no,” YET if we’re honest sometimes this is true! Human hostility and divisiveness take their toll. BUT, the power of grace is able to transform storm struggles into still waters and sour circumstances into sweet compassion.   

> Like Jacob, we must learn the faith that pleases God is not striving to gain. God’s blessing is more than boundary lines in the Middle East or power from high positions in a prominent country. God’s purpose for us is the glory of generous service and lavish grace toward the humble.

22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

So, with Joseph we have much record of his beautifully tragic life. You remember his story:

  • Jacob’s oldest and favorite son. So much that Jacob made a Versace robe for Joseph.  
  • Joseph hosts a press conference to announce to his brothers a dream he had, “I’m going to be a world leader and each of you will bow down to me.” But the brothers laughed and mocked Joseph. Later they beat their brother and threw him in a pit as they sold him to slave-traders. But they took the adorable robe and ripped it into pieces saying an animal attacked Joseph and he died.
  • Joseph ends up a slave in the Egyptian capital with Potiphar. Much happens and I’ll leave details to your own reading and our future series, but a repeated phrase occurs throughout his life: “The Lord was with Joseph.” If we were Joseph’s friend we might be tempted to say, “God is not with you” but that would be because our focus was on Joseph’s circumstances and not his character. If we focus on outside circumstances we’d be tempted to lose our cool, or much more our faith. But Joseph’s contentment was in God’s sovereign control.
    • This is case so often in Bible. God’s nearness is accessible more in the valleys than on the mountains.
      • David’s greatest psalms are from problems and pain.

      • Job’s faith increased in trials.

      • Mary & Martha grieving loss of Lazarus.

      • Peter’s faith refined through fire – – able to sleep in jail cell.

      • Paul’s faith purified through suffering and threats.

      • Ps 34:18; 147:3 “The LORD is near the people who have it all-together brokenhearted.

      • Isa 42:3 “A bruised reed God will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench”
    • Maybe you feel broken, damaged, and abandoned. Your life is shattered in so many pieces you don’t know where to start to fix anything. You question if you can even be repaired or can restart. The heavy rock has rolled over the opening with no rays of light to peek through… but Jesus specializes in rolling stones away.
    • God doesn’t break things to discard them; He does so to draw them close. Our God is a healer to the hurting, a mender of the wounded, a rebuilder to those disrupted and damaged by life’s storms.
  • Eventually Joseph gets promoted as a chief official over Egypt and overseeds food supply of the citizens and life resources for the country.
  • THEN, during a famine, Joseph’s brothers leave their home and arrive in Egypt seeking food and provision. But the brothers don’t recognize Joseph, though he remembers each of his brothers. AND instead of anger, bitterness, or revenge, Joseph responds, “‘Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? You meant for evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.’ And Joseph spoke kindly to them.”
  • Can you imagine? How different would your life outlook be if you wholly trusted in God’s control of your circumstances – and had faith that God’s plan is wise; God’s purpose is good; and God’s promises will faithfully protect you????

God doesn’t break things to discard them; He does so to draw them close. Our God is a healer to the hurting, a mender of the wounded, a rebuilder to those disrupted and damaged by life’s storms.

Which brings us back to HEBREWS 11

The author of Hebrews had copious amounts of content

  • By faith, Joseph believed the dreams God gave
  • By faith, Joseph maintained a pure heart before a seductive princess.
  • By faith, Joseph preserved integrity in a foreign land.
  • By faith, Joseph was grateful to God even when imprisoned.
  • By faith, Joseph boldly declared God’s truth to ungodly Pharaoh.
  • By faith, Joseph didn’t hold grudges or exact revenge, but forgave those who betrayed him.

YET, of all the incredible traits of Joseph’s character, the author of Hebrews says: 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

Joseph was removed from God’s promised land when he was 17 (Ge 37:2) and lived in Egypt until his death at 110 (Ge 50:26). But Joseph believed God’s promise to Abraham’s offspring to live in Canaan. He didn’t want his body to be among unbelievers in bondage to foreign gods; enslaved to sin with the stench of death. No, Joseph wanted his body to be present with redemption, freedom, and resurrection life – a land flowing with milk and honey.

So, Moses preserved Joseph’s bones (Ex 13:19) and so did Joshua (Jos 24:32), and after 430 years the coffin was finally buried! But Joseph’s bones preached a sermon for each generation over multiple centuries that God is faithful; hold on to God’s promises; don’t give up; better days are coming.

Joseph’s bones preached a sermon for each generation over multiple centuries that God is faithful; hold on to God’s promises; don’t give up; better days are coming.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. 29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.

Moses is a key figure in the OT & shows up in NT with Jesus transfigured. His leadership of God’s people away from slavery in Egypt is an everlasting picture of God’s salvation away from bondage and burdens of sin, and which we regularly partake with Communion. Through Moses, God gave the Israelites and believers today the “10 Commandments.” BUT the author of Heb11 starts with the faith of his parents!

The key to seeing God do great works and sending great movements often starts with parents performing small obedient acts to God. Moses’ parents did not allow their baby to be aborted or sacrificed, but trusted God by placing him in the water.

> What’s your small step of obedience that could lead to significant impact?
We’re called to faithfulness and let God worry about the fruitfulness.

APPLY/TAKEAWAY

Obedience

  • To bless forward instead of bind backwards. To forgive / heal / learn & grow by passing the faith lessons onto others.
  • To let go of presuming upon God’s method of blessing your life to His better purpose. Your validation and identity is not by earning or measuring up, but simply being radically dependent upon your Heavenly Father.

Parents, bless your children.

  • Works of service
    • Parenthood illuminates theology
    • So much will go unnoticed, and this is good and pleasing to God.
  • Words of affirmation
    • I love you, always.
    • I believe you can…
  • Worthwhile generosity
    • Listening and learning to provide
  • Warm touch
    • Essential to infants… & elderly &   
         … everyone. We’re made to feel.
  • Welcoming time [love = T-I-M-E]
    • Spontaneous informally
    • Planned intentionally
    • Undistracted & attentive

*Parents, Jacob-types might be present in your house, but strive not to manufacture them. Avoid favoritism or severely forcing your dreams upon them. Many aches, tears, and division are caused by parents living vicariously through their children.

Being a church that blesses children.

  • Learn names and get to know their personalities and passions
  • Serve in CM/YM whether regularly (church programming) or sporadically (babysit / meals / resources)
  • Mentor from your skills
  • Pray for/with
  • Financial support

Faith is a ongoing journey, not a final destination. It’s a decision to follow God each day that is behind the scenes weaving a complex and messy tapestry. Yet, on the other side of this life will reveal God’s beautiful plan with faith becoming sight. Follow Jesus, you won’t regret it and He won’t let you down.

[1] https://www.logos.com/grow/tender-eyed-leah-meaning/. Also her name meant “cow,” which no matter how valued agrarian culture was, still could not bode well for her appearance.  

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