Today’s Reading: Hebrews 11:17-40

By faith, Abel…by faith, Enoch…by faith, Noah…by faith, Abraham…by faith, Sarah…

By faith, Abraham obeyed God even when it did not make sense, even when it broke his heart to do so. He had waited for so long to be a father, and now God was asking him to sacrifice the fulfillment of God’s promise of a son. It did not make sense that God would want him to do it, but Abraham trusted in the God who could raise Isaac back to life again. Abraham had received the promise that he would have many descendants through Isaac, so he held tight to that promise while not letting it keep him from obediently responding to what God was asking him to do.

By faith, Isaac spoke blessings over both of his sons, Jacob and Esau. In the same way, Jacob blessed each of Joseph’s sons. As Joseph was dying, he spoke hope over the entire people of Israel — that they would leave Egypt someday. He knew God had used him to spare God’s people from starvation and death, and by faith, he trusted that God would use someone else to get them to the land promised to Abraham.

By faith, Amram and Jochebed hid their baby boy for three months. Pharoah had commanded that all of the newborn Hebrew boys be thrown into the Nile River, but Moses’ parents knew that their son was special and needed to live. By faith, they placed him in a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch, placing it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. By faith, they watched as the daughter of Pharoah found their son and adopted him as her own. Even though she was unable to raise her son, God gave Jochebed more time with him as the princess hired her to nurse the baby.

By faith, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter, and chose to share in the oppression of God’s people instead of the worldly pleasures available to him in the palace. Because of his faith, God used Moses to rescue His people from Egypt.

He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. – Hebrews 11:26-27

By faith, Moses told the people to sprinkle the blood of the Passover lamb on their doorposts so that the angel of death who not kill their firstborn sons. By faith, Moses placed his staff in the Red Sea and watched as God provided dry land for the people of Israel to escape the Egyptian army that was pressing in on them.

By faith, Joshua led the people of Israel around the fortified city of Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down. By faith, Rahab was not destroyed in that battle, even though she was a prostitute.

How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Women received their loved ones back again from death.

But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. – Hebrews 11:32-38

I have so much to learn from the faith of those who have come before us. Like Abraham, I can respond to God’s instructions in obedience. Like Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, I can speak a message of hope over others while also intentionally speaking blessings over my family. By faith, I can obey God rather than man, and I can trust God with the future of my girls. I can keep my eyes on the invisible God, trusting in Him for both my protection and my provision.

When God’s instructions do not make sense to me, I will obey. When people criticize my faith and mock the righteousness to which God is calling me, I can keep my eyes focused on my eternal reward. No matter how I am mistreated or persecuted, I will cling to my faith in God, knowing that He is faithful to keep His promises.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. – Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

What is your faith story? Who inspires you and who will you inspire? I encourage you to take time today to soak in the beautiful examples of faith provided through the scriptures but also lived out among us. Consider what story will be told of you. By faith, ______…