Hebrews Chapter 11
Hebrews Chapter 11: Faith Defined and Exemplified
Theme: The Nature and Power of True Biblical Faith
Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1, NKJV)
This verse presents one of the most foundational definitions of biblical faith in all of Scripture. Faith, according to this passage, is not wishful thinking or blind optimism. It is the substance (Greek: hypostasis) of things hoped for—meaning it is the foundational assurance, the inner reality that what God has promised will indeed come to pass. This term hypostasis was used in Greek legal documents to refer to the title deed or legal guarantee of ownership. In that sense, faith is the title deed to God’s promises, a confident assurance that what we have not yet received is nonetheless already ours by God’s guarantee.
Faith is also the evidence of things not seen. The word translated "evidence" (elegchos) refers to a conviction that is so strong it functions as proof or demonstration. Faith does not wait to see something before it believes; it believes because God has said it, and it acts accordingly. The world tells us “seeing is believing,” but in God’s economy, believing is seeing.
Faith bridges the gap between the promises of God and the visible realization of those promises. It is the faculty that enables believers to hold to the promises of God even when visible evidence seems to contradict them. As the Apostle Paul wrote:
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7, NKJV)
Hebrews 11:2
“For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.” (Hebrews 11:2, NKJV)
The "elders" here refers to the faithful men and women of the Old Testament—those whose lives were marked by radical trust in the promises of God, even when they did not see their fulfillment. By this kind of enduring and action-oriented faith, they obtained a good testimony, meaning that God Himself bore witness to their faith. This witness is not only recorded in Scripture but is eternally registered before heaven.
This echoes back to Hebrews 10:38:
“Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” (Hebrews 10:38, NKJV)
The implication is clear—faith pleases God, and the absence of it displeases Him. Later in this same chapter we are reminded,
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6, NKJV)
Faith, then, is not passive belief; it is active trust that shapes how one lives, obeys, suffers, and perseveres.
Hebrews 11:3
“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” (Hebrews 11:3, NKJV)
This verse introduces the first example of faith—not from an individual, but from the collective understanding of the redeemed. Faith enables believers to affirm that God created the universe out of nothing (ex nihilo), not from pre-existing materials. The worlds (Greek: aiones) does not just refer to the physical universe, but to the ages, realms, and the entire order of creation—including time, matter, and space. This is a comprehensive declaration that all of creation is the product of divine fiat—spoken into existence by God’s Word.
As Genesis 1:1 declares,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1, NKJV)
And again,
“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” (Psalm 33:6, NKJV)
This faith is not irrational; it is supra-rational—beyond but not contrary to reason. The believer does not need to see a universe being created in real time to know that it was created by divine command. Faith stands on the authority of the revealed Word of God, which tells us that the seen was made from the unseen.
The author is beginning his parade of the faithful by pointing out that the very foundation of biblical worldview begins with trust in God's revelation, especially regarding the creation account. This is foundational, not optional. As the Apostle Paul said:
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20, NKJV)
Faith, then, recognizes the invisible hand of God behind all visible reality and believes His Word over the speculations of man. Those who reject this foundational truth, Paul says, “professing to be wise, they became fools.” (Romans 1:22, NKJV)
Summary
Hebrews 11 begins by defining faith as the confident trust in God’s Word—both for promises yet to be fulfilled and for unseen realities already in existence. It is the lens through which the believer sees the world rightly and responds to God's Word with obedience and endurance. The rest of the chapter will illustrate this with person after person who lived by this kind of faith, often against the grain of their culture, and against all visible evidence, but with the full assurance that God would do exactly as He had said.
Hebrews 11:4–6 – Faith at the Beginning of Man’s History
Hebrews 11:4 – Abel’s Faith
“By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.”
(Hebrews 11:4, NKJV)
Abel’s offering was accepted by God not because of its physical composition, but because it was given in faith, which means it was offered according to God’s revelation and instruction.
a. “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain”
This passage points back to Genesis 4:3–5, where Scripture says:
“And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.” (Genesis 4:3–5, NKJV)
The issue here was not merely between animal versus plant offerings. The New Testament makes it clear that Abel offered in faith, whereas Cain did not. The difference was internal—Abel brought his offering in humble obedience to divine instruction, whereas Cain brought what he desired, in a self-styled manner, divorced from faith. As Calvin put it:
“Abel’s sacrifice was preferred to his brother’s for no other reason than that it was sanctified by faith.”
It is worth noting that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). For Abel to act by faith, he had to be responding to something God had already revealed—likely instructions regarding what kind of offering was appropriate.
b. “God testifying of his gifts”
How did God testify? The most likely answer is supernatural acceptance by fire, as seen in:
Leviticus 9:24: “And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering.”
2 Chronicles 7:1: “And fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices.”
1 Kings 18:38: “Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice.”
This supernatural acceptance of Abel’s offering testified to his righteousness, “not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ” (Philippians 3:9, NKJV).
c. “And through it he being dead still speaks”
Though Abel died at the hands of his brother Cain, his testimony of faith lives on. Abel stands in history as the first martyr, and the first in the line of the faithful. His life reminds us that faith does not always result in earthly reward, but God sees, remembers, and bears witness.
Jesus referenced this in Matthew 23:35:
“That on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel…” (NKJV)
His blood cries out to this day—not for vengeance, as Cain feared, but as a lasting witness to the sufficiency of obedient faith.
Hebrews 11:5–6 – Enoch’s Faith
“By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ‘and was not found, because God had taken him’; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
(Hebrews 11:5–6, NKJV)
a. “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death…”
This comes from Genesis 5:24:
“And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” (NKJV)
Enoch is a remarkable figure. He was the seventh from Adam (Jude 14), and in the midst of a rapidly corrupting world, he walked with God in fellowship, communion, and obedience. His life was characterized by an unbroken relationship with the Lord. Because of this, God did something unique—He translated him to heaven without death.
“Enoch was not found, because God had taken him”—this is the biblical record of a rapture-type event, a clear dispensational foreshadowing of the future rapture of the Church (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:17). Like Enoch, the believer today is called to walk with God until we are caught up to be with Him.
b. “For before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God”
This phrase points to the heart of Enoch’s relationship with God—it was a life of pleasing Him, not merely performing duties. Pleasing God is the ultimate goal of faith, and it is tied not to religious performance but to genuine trust.
c. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him…”
This is a universal principle: no one can please God without faith. It is not simply difficult—it is impossible.
Faith is foundational because:
“He who comes to God must believe that He is” — Acknowledging God's existence is the first step, but not merely intellectually. It implies that God is sovereign, holy, personal, and worthy to be worshiped.
“…And that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” — God does not play hide and seek. He responds to the seeking heart. This echoes Jeremiah 29:13:
“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (NKJV)
This verse also connects to Romans 14:23:
“…For whatever is not from faith is sin.” (NKJV)
Without faith, our works are dead; our religion is hollow; and our walk is meaningless. But with faith, even ordinary actions are pleasing to God.
Conclusion: Abel and Enoch — Two Contrasts, One Faith
Abel’s faith led to death, but his testimony endures.
Enoch’s faith led to translation, skipping death entirely.
One experienced martyrdom, the other rapture—but both are declared righteous because they trusted God.
Hebrews 11:7–10 — The Faith of Noah and Abraham
Hebrews 11:7 — Noah’s Faith
“By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”
(Hebrews 11:7, NKJV)
a. “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen”
The revelation Noah received from God was unprecedented—a global flood, judgment on the entire earth. It is vital to observe that Noah’s faith was not based on what he saw, but on what he heard from God. Noah had never seen rain, let alone a worldwide flood, as Genesis 2:6 indicates that the earth was watered by a mist prior to the flood. Yet he believed God’s word.
Romans 10:17 says:
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (NKJV)
This is true faith—it believes what God says before it sees any evidence with the eyes. Noah believed God against every cultural norm, every scientific opinion of his day, and the visible lack of threat.
b. “Moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household”
Faith is not passive. Noah was moved with godly fear—a reverent, obedient fear that caused him to act. The Greek word eulabeia carries the idea of cautious reverence, not panic or dread.
Noah’s faith led to action. As James 2:17 states:
“Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (NKJV)
For over 100 years, Noah worked in obedience to God, building the ark (Genesis 6:14-22). This was the visible fruit of his invisible trust.
c. “By which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith”
Noah’s obedience stood in sharp contrast to the disobedience of the world. He didn’t condemn the world by preaching wrath (though he may have warned them as a “preacher of righteousness,” 2 Peter 2:5); rather, his lifestyle and faith condemned their rebellion.
This is always true of godly living:
“Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.” (1 John 3:13, NKJV)
Noah also became an heir—a recipient—of the righteousness that comes by faith, which is the same righteousness that justifies believers today (Romans 4:3, Romans 5:1).
Hebrews 11:8 — Abraham’s Obedience by Faith
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”
(Hebrews 11:8, NKJV)
a. “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called”
This refers to Genesis 12:1–4, where God called Abram out of Ur of the Chaldeans. Yet Acts 7:2–4 reveals that Abraham initially obeyed partially. He settled in Haran for a time, not fully leaving his father’s household until his father died.
Still, Hebrews 11 highlights not the delay but the obedience that followed. This reminds us that God often chooses to remember our faith, not our failures, in the final accounting.
Psalm 103:12 confirms this:
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (NKJV)
b. “And he went out, not knowing where he was going”
This is the core of faith: obedience without full disclosure. Abraham did not have a map, just a promise. He followed the Word of God, not knowing the final destination.
God’s promise was clear, but the path was not. That’s how He still leads His people—one step at a time, not by showing us the entire journey.
Proverbs 3:5–6 echoes this walk:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (NKJV)
Hebrews 11:9–10 — Abraham’s Sojourning Faith
“By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;
for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
(Hebrews 11:9–10, NKJV)
a. “He dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country”
The Greek word for “dwelt” here is paroikeo, which means to reside as a foreigner or sojourner. Though God promised him the land (Genesis 12:7), Abraham never possessed it in full. In fact, the only property he ever owned was the burial site at Machpelah (Genesis 23:17–20).
Abraham lived in tents, temporary structures, despite being in the Promised Land. This shows that he did not live for the here and now but for what was to come.
This is the kind of mindset the New Testament calls us to. Philippians 3:20 declares:
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (NKJV)
b. “Dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise”
This promise was not just for Abraham but for his descendants of faith—Isaac and Jacob. They too lived in tents, receiving the promise but not its full realization. This shows that faith is generational, often seeing fulfillment only in the distant future.
c. “For he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God”
Though Abraham lived in tents, he looked for a permanent city, not built by man, but by God Himself. This is a clear reference to the heavenly Jerusalem, the New Jerusalem that will descend out of heaven (Revelation 21:2).
Abraham’s vision transcended earthly promises and pointed to eternal realities. He knew that the literal promises made to Israel would one day be fulfilled, but he also recognized a greater city—a place of permanence, righteousness, and the presence of God.
Summary
Noah’s faith obeyed God when warned of judgment. He acted, prepared, and stood alone—condemning the world by contrast and receiving righteousness by faith.
Abraham’s faith obeyed even without knowing the full plan. He lived as a pilgrim in the land promised to him and looked beyond it to a city not made with hands.
Both men acted in faith, not merely believed abstract truths. Their faith shaped their obedience, their lifestyle, and their perspective on eternity.
Hebrews 11:11–12 — Sarah’s Faith and Its Results
“By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.”
(Hebrews 11:11–12, NKJV)
a. “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed”
Sarah’s inclusion here is profound. Her faith was far from perfect at first. When she first heard the promise of a son in Genesis 18:12, she laughed in disbelief. But later, as Genesis 21:6 reveals, her laughter became one of joy and faith. Her story proves that even doubters can become heroes of faith when they trust in God's promises.
Sarah’s faith was in the faithfulness of God, not her own strength. She knew her body was biologically incapable of bearing children, yet she relied on the One who had made her body. The verb "received" indicates active reception—she opened her heart and body to God’s enabling power.
b. “She bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised”
Faith is ultimately about one thing: judging God faithful. This mirrors what Paul said in Romans 4:20–21, when he wrote that Abraham “did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” (NKJV)
Sarah believed—not in her womb, not in Abraham’s vitality—but in God’s character. The birth of Isaac was not just a biological miracle, it was a theological statement: “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
(Matthew 19:26, NKJV)
c. “Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars”
The miracle was two-fold: both Sarah and Abraham were past their natural capacity. Abraham was “as good as dead” in terms of reproduction, yet God gave him descendants as numerous as the stars (see Genesis 15:5 and Genesis 22:17).
This not only points to physical descendants (Israel), but also spiritual descendants who walk by faith, as Paul explains in Galatians 3:7:
“Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.” (NKJV)
Hebrews 11:13–16 — The Faith of the Patriarchs and Their Heavenly Hope
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.
And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.
But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”
(Hebrews 11:13–16, NKJV)
a. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises”
Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob all died believing, even though the ultimate fulfillment of God’s covenant promises—the coming of the Messiah and the heavenly city—was still far off.
Faith is not always vindicated in this life. These saints didn’t die disappointed; they died in faith, seeing the promises from a distance. As Job 13:15 says,
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” (NKJV)
b. “Having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them”
This phrase reflects the active nature of faith. Faith isn’t passive. These saints:
Saw the promises from afar (spiritual vision),
Were assured of them (spiritual persuasion),
Embraced them (spiritual affection and commitment),
And confessed they were strangers and pilgrims (spiritual detachment from the world).
Philippians 3:20 reaffirms this:
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (NKJV)
c. “They confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth”
This is a conscious choice to live as an alien in the world. They did not build permanent homes in Canaan, but lived in tents as a declaration that this world is not our final home.
As Peter wrote:
“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” (1 Peter 2:11, NKJV)
d. “They seek a homeland… they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country”
Faith leads us to long for heaven, not for this world. Those who live by faith do not dream of going back to “the country from which they came.” Their eyes are fixed forward.
This is the same longing seen in Revelation 21:2:
“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (NKJV)
Their mindset was not nostalgia for what was behind, but a hunger for what was ahead.
e. “Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God”
This is one of the most glorious affirmations in Scripture. When believers live as strangers and pilgrims, trusting in the eternal rather than the temporal, God is not ashamed to be called their God.
He is honored by those who trust in what they have not yet seen.
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29, NKJV)
f. “For He has prepared a city for them”
This refers again to the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1–3), the permanent dwelling place of all the redeemed. God honors faith with eternal reward, not just earthly provision. Their city is built by God, not man.
Summary
Sarah’s faith turned ridicule into rejoicing because she trusted God’s character over her circumstances.
Abraham and the patriarchs lived for a heavenly promise even while dwelling in tents on earth.
Their faith endured to the end, and they died looking forward—not backward.
Their lives challenge us to live for the eternal, to keep our eyes on the city that is to come, and to trust that God is not ashamed to be our God when we live by faith.
Hebrews 11:17–19 — Abraham’s Resurrection Faith in the Offering of Isaac
“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
of whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called,’
concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.”
(Hebrews 11:17–19, NKJV)
a. “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac”
The word “tested” here refers to a divine trial, not a temptation to sin. God tested Abraham not to discover the quality of his faith—God already knew—but to reveal and refine it (see Genesis 22:1–14). The test confirmed Abraham's trust in the character and promises of God over what he could humanly understand.
The verb “offered up” is in the perfect tense in Greek, indicating the act was completed in Abraham’s heart and intention. Though God stopped him, Abraham was resolved. In God’s eyes, it was as good as done.
b. “He who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son”
Though Abraham had another son, Ishmael, God referred to Isaac as Abraham’s “only begotten son” because Isaac was the child of promise (see Genesis 17:19, Genesis 21:12). The term “only begotten” (Greek: monogenēs) stresses uniqueness, foreshadowing Jesus Christ, the uniquely begotten Son of the Father (see John 3:16).
Isaac was the physical manifestation of God’s promise to Abraham, and Abraham was now asked to surrender the very fulfillment of that promise. Obedience here was costly and stunning. This was not just emotional surrender—it was theological.
c. “Of whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called’”
This is a direct quotation of Genesis 21:12, emphasizing the tension in Abraham’s mind. God promised that Abraham’s descendants would come through Isaac. Now, God commanded Abraham to offer him up. The promises and the command seemed to contradict—yet Abraham trusted that God would resolve the contradiction.
Faith accepts God’s promise even when His command seems to dismantle it. As Romans 4:20–21 says:
“He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,
and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” (NKJV)
d. “Concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead”
The Greek word for “concluding” (logizomai) is an accounting term. It means Abraham carefully reasoned it out. This wasn’t blind trust; it was a reasoned confidence based on the character of God. Abraham had never seen a resurrection—but he believed God could do it if necessary.
This is the first recorded instance in Scripture where someone believed in bodily resurrection.
As Jesus said in John 8:56:
“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” (NKJV)
Abraham saw, in type, the death and resurrection of the Son of God.
e. “From which he also received him in a figurative sense”
In a real sense, Isaac was as good as dead, and God gave him back. This event serves as a foreshadowing of Christ’s substitutionary death and resurrection. Isaac carried the wood up the hill (Genesis 22:6), just as Christ carried His cross (John 19:17). Yet at the last moment, God provided a ram—a substitute—pointing to the Lamb of God.
This entire narrative is a shadow of Calvary. Abraham believed in the power of God to raise the dead, and thus he stands as the father of faith (Romans 4:16).
Hebrews 11:20 — Isaac’s Faith and Submissive Trust in God’s Sovereignty
“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.”
(Hebrews 11:20, NKJV)
a. “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau”
The blessing was more than words—it was a prophetic declaration with covenantal authority. Though Isaac was initially in the flesh when he sought to bless Esau (Genesis 27:1–4), believing him to be the rightful heir, God overruled his error.
When Isaac discovered that Jacob had received the blessing, Genesis 27:33 says:
“Then Isaac trembled exceedingly, and said, ‘Who? Where is the one who hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it before you came, and I have blessed him—and indeed he shall be blessed.’” (NKJV)
Isaac realized that God's plan had prevailed, and by faith he submitted.
b. “Concerning things to come”
The blessing pertained to future events—things that Isaac could not yet see. The promises to Jacob would lead to the formation of Israel and ultimately to the coming of the Messiah. Isaac acted in faith once he recognized God’s sovereign hand in the matter.
Even after his misstep, Isaac ultimately said, in essence, “Let God's will be done.” This was his moment of faith.
Summary
Abraham’s offering of Isaac is the mountaintop of Old Testament faith. He believed God could raise the dead if necessary to keep His promises.
Isaac’s faith came after being humbled. His initial favoritism toward Esau gave way to submission when he saw that God’s choice was Jacob.
Both examples reveal that faith means surrendering our plans to God, even when we don’t understand.
Hebrews 11:21 — Jacob’s Faith: Worship at the End
“By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.”
(Hebrews 11:21, NKJV)
a. “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph”
This refers to the episode recorded in Genesis 48:8–20, where Jacob prophetically blessed Ephraim and Manasseh, the two sons of Joseph. His blessing reversed the cultural order of primogeniture by giving the younger Ephraim the greater blessing, though Joseph protested. Jacob was guided by faith, not by sight.
Jacob’s life was one marked by striving, deceit, and many personal failures, yet here, at the end of his life, he expresses clear confidence in God’s covenantal promises. That is the essence of his faith: he believed in the future that God had promised, even though he would not live to see it.
This act of blessing was not mere sentiment or family tradition; it was a prophetic act grounded in the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:1–3; 17:7). By faith, Jacob looked beyond Egypt, famine, and death itself, trusting that God would indeed make of his lineage a great nation.
b. “And worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff”
This part of the verse echoes Genesis 47:31, where Jacob bows in worship while leaning on his staff. The imagery is profound. Jacob, physically weakened and aged, leaned on a staff — the very symbol of his pilgrimage and limping walk since Peniel (Genesis 32:31). That limp was a permanent reminder of his wrestling with God and his surrender.
Now, he worships. Jacob began his life grasping at Esau’s heel, but he ends it leaning on the staff of humility and dependence, worshiping the God who carried him through his long, broken journey.
Summary of Jacob’s Faith
Jacob’s faith wasn't perfect, but it persevered. In the end, he worshiped. He trusted God's promises concerning his descendants and gave a Spirit-led blessing. His faith, matured by hardship and divine correction, shines brightest in his final moments, as he speaks over future generations with prophetic clarity and unshakable trust.
Hebrews 11:22 — Joseph’s Faith: Belief in the Promise Beyond Death
“By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.”
(Hebrews 11:22, NKJV)
a. “By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel”
Joseph’s faith wasn’t shown in his miraculous rise from slavery or his wise governance in Egypt—though that certainly required faith. The Holy Spirit highlights his dying declaration, recorded in Genesis 50:24–25:
“And Joseph said to his brethren, ‘I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.’”
“Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, ‘God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.’”
(Genesis 50:24–25, NKJV)
This was not a vague hope. It was a covenant-rooted expectation. God had made a promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:13–14) that Israel would sojourn 400 years in Egypt and then be delivered. Joseph knew the prophecy. He believed the timeline. His declaration was made with unwavering confidence.
b. “And gave instructions concerning his bones”
Joseph's final command was not about political power or his legacy in Egypt. It was about where his body would rest—not in the pyramids of Pharaoh but in the promised land of God. He didn’t want a shrine in Egypt; he wanted his bones to be a testimony of Israel’s future exodus and God’s unbreakable covenant.
His instructions are fulfilled in Exodus 13:19:
“And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, ‘God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you.’”
(NKJV)
And Joshua 24:32 records the final fulfillment:
“The bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel had brought up out of Egypt, they buried at Shechem…”
(NKJV)
c. Joseph’s Coffin: A Silent Witness
For centuries, Joseph’s coffin remained above ground, a continual sermon to every generation born in Egypt: “We are not staying here.” It was a monument to faith, proclaiming God’s faithfulness and stirring hope in God’s people long before the exodus began.
Spurgeon beautifully reflected:
“Joseph’s faith was not in his reign over Egypt. It was in the sure word of God. His coffin became a pulpit from which he preached for four centuries: ‘God will visit you!’”
Summary of Joseph’s Faith
Joseph’s dying words and his burial request reveal a faith rooted in covenantal certainty. Though he lived in privilege and power in Egypt, his heart remained in the promises of God. Joseph believed that God’s Word was more enduring than Egyptian monuments, and he anchored his identity not in Pharaoh’s court, but in the city whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10, NKJV).
Hebrews 11:23–29 — The Faith of Moses and Israel
1. The Faith of Moses’ Parents
“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.”
(Hebrews 11:23, NKJV)
a. “By faith Moses… was hidden three months by his parents”
This verse refers to Exodus 2:2, where Amram and Jochebed (see Exodus 6:20) defied Pharaoh’s edict to kill all male Hebrew infants. They discerned something special about Moses — not just in appearance but by divine insight — and protected him by faith. This shows that godly parenting begins with faith, not fear.
b. “They were not afraid of the king’s command”
Their actions were a bold defiance of Pharaoh’s order. Faith gave them courage to stand against tyranny, choosing to obey God rather than man — a principle later echoed in Acts 5:29:
“But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.’”
(NKJV)
2. The Faith of Moses in Pharaoh’s Court
“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.”
(Hebrews 11:24–26, NKJV)
a. “Refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter”
Though raised in Egyptian royalty (see Exodus 2:10), Moses made a deliberate, costly choice to identify with God’s covenant people. He refused the comforts and prestige of Egypt, choosing the identity and affliction of Israel — foreshadowing the path of Christ Himself (Philippians 2:5–8).
b. “Choosing rather to suffer affliction… than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin”
Sin does have pleasure, but it is temporary. Moses chose eternal reward over momentary indulgence. This mirrors 1 John 2:17:
“And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
(NKJV)
c. “Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches…”
Even though Moses lived before Christ, his faith aligned with God’s redemptive plan, and thus he shared in Christ’s sufferings in principle. He bore the reproach that comes from identifying with God’s people — something all faithful believers must do (see Romans 8:17).
d. “For he looked to the reward”
Moses lived with an eternal perspective, keeping his eyes on the unseen reward (see 2 Corinthians 4:18). This again reinforces that true faith looks forward to the fulfillment of God’s promises, not merely present comfort.
3. The Faith of Moses When He Left Egypt
“By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.”
(Hebrews 11:27, NKJV)
a. “Not fearing the wrath of the king”
Though Moses had every reason to fear Pharaoh’s rage, he trusted in the sovereignty of God, whose presence outweighed the threats of any king. He is a model of fearless obedience in the face of worldly power.
b. “For he endured as seeing Him who is invisible”
This statement defines faith with crystal clarity. Moses had eyes of faith. Though he could not see God physically, he perceived God as more real than Pharaoh’s power. This anticipates the teaching of Hebrews 12:2:
“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”
(NKJV)
4. The Faith of Moses at the First Passover
“By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.”
(Hebrews 11:28, NKJV)
a. “He kept the Passover”
This references Exodus 12, when God commanded that a lamb be slain and its blood applied to the doorposts. Moses obeyed without precedent or proof — that is faith.
b. “Lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them”
Faith obeys in things unseen. The death angel spared those under the blood. This points directly to Jesus Christ, our Passover (see 1 Corinthians 5:7), whose blood saves us from eternal judgment.
5. The Faith of Israel at the Red Sea
“By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.”
(Hebrews 11:29, NKJV)
a. “By faith they passed through the Red Sea”
This refers to Exodus 14, when Israel was trapped between the sea and Pharaoh’s army. Faith moved them forward into the miraculous — walls of water on either side, sustained only by the Word of God. Their obedience was an act of national faith.
b. “The Egyptians… were drowned”
Courage without faith is not enough. Egypt followed the Israelites into the sea, but without the covering of God’s promise, they perished. Faith is not merely bold action; it is bold trust in God’s word. The same path that saved Israel destroyed Egypt.
Closing Summary: Faith of Moses and Israel
The story of Moses and Israel emphasizes that faith is not abstract belief, but an active response to God’s revelation, even under threat of death, rejection, or loss. From Moses’ parents to the nation’s crossing of the Red Sea, faith drove obedience even when outcomes were unseen.
Faith protects children from worldly destruction (v.23).
Faith renounces earthly reward for eternal gain (v.24–26).
Faith stands firm in the face of tyranny (v.27).
Faith trusts God’s provision in the blood of the lamb (v.28).
Faith walks into the impossible by trusting in the God of the impossible (v.29).
Hebrews 11:30–32 — The Faith of Israel, Rahab, and the Judges
6. The Faith of Israel at Jericho
Hebrews 11:30 (NKJV):
“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.”
a. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down
The conquest of Jericho, recorded in Joshua 6, is one of the clearest examples of victorious obedience through unconventional means. God’s instructions defied all military logic: march, blow trumpets, shout — then the walls would fall. Yet Israel obeyed without hesitation.
This was a daring faith, because they had crossed the Jordan and committed to the campaign without retreat.
b. After they were encircled for seven days
Israel demonstrated obedient faith in the absence of visible progress. For six days, they saw no results. They didn’t question God’s plan — they simply followed it.
This was also a patient faith. They had to trust God’s timing and persist without seeing any immediate sign of breakthrough.
c. For seven days
Their faith was anticipatory. God had told them that the wall would fall on the seventh day. Their shout on that final day was an act of expectant obedience, trusting that God would act when they did what He commanded.
“Faith is not only believing when we see results, but when God tells us to keep walking and we haven’t seen the walls crack yet.”
7. The Faith of Rahab
Hebrews 11:31 (NKJV):
“By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.”
a. By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish
Rahab, a Gentile and a prostitute living in a pagan stronghold, demonstrated faith that stood in stark contrast to the unbelief of her own people. When she hid the spies in Joshua 2, she showed her loyalty not to her city, but to the God of Israel.
Her declaration in Joshua 2:11 (NKJV) says it plainly:
“The LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.”
That is saving faith — she believed in Yahweh alone.
“Faith in Rahab’s case overcame her past, her upbringing, her surroundings, and her social status. The grace of God reached deep to rescue her, and by faith, she responded.”
b. When she had received the spies with peace
Rahab acted on her faith. She risked her life by hiding the spies. She didn’t just believe in her heart — she took real, dangerous steps in response to what she believed.
Even though her faith was not perfect or theologically deep, God honored it. James 2:25 also commends Rahab for her active, living faith.
Her scarlet cord (Joshua 2:18) became a symbol of redemption, foreshadowing the blood of Christ. Her story is one of the most remarkable examples of how saving faith brings a sinner into the family of God — Rahab became an ancestor of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5).
8. Other Heroes of the Faith
Hebrews 11:32 (NKJV):
“And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:”
The writer gives a rapid-fire list of other individuals who lived by faith, each with their own unique story — and failures.
a. Gideon
Judges 6–7
Gideon, though fearful and hesitant at first, obeyed God and led 300 men to victory over the vast Midianite army. His faith overcame his fear, and God used his weakness to display divine strength.
b. Barak
Judges 4
Barak hesitated to go into battle without Deborah, yet when he stepped forward in obedience, God delivered Israel through him. His story teaches that reluctant obedience is still obedience, and God can use it.
c. Samson
Judges 13–16
Samson is an enigma. A Nazirite called by God, empowered by the Spirit, and yet deeply flawed morally. Still, in the end, he returned to the Lord and died in faith, sacrificing himself to defeat the Philistines.
d. Jephthah
Judges 11
Jephthah trusted God to deliver Israel from the Ammonites but made a rash and tragic vow. His faith was genuine, though clouded by ignorance and zeal without knowledge.
e. David
The “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). David’s trust in God was seen in his battle with Goliath, in his life of worship, and in his psalms. Yet his life was also marred by sin — especially the incident with Bathsheba. Still, he remained a model of repentance and faith.
f. Samuel and the prophets
Samuel served God faithfully from his youth, and as a prophet he called Israel to repentance. The prophets — Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others — faced rejection, persecution, and suffering, yet they continued to declare God’s word by faith.
Application: What Do These Examples Teach Us?
Faith is not perfection. God commends real, active, enduring trust, not sinless performance.
Faith responds. Every person listed did something by faith.
Faith works through flawed people. The “Hall of Faith” is filled with people who failed — yet trusted God.
Faith moves forward even when the outcome is unseen or the circumstances make no sense.
Faith waits patiently — as at Jericho, or with Rahab, or in the lives of the patriarchs
Hebrews 11:33–40 — The Triumph and Trials of Faith
9. By Faith, Some Were Victorious Over Circumstances
Hebrews 11:33–35a (NKJV):
“Who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.”
This portion celebrates the visible victories won by faith. God sometimes rewards faith with deliverance, conquest, or miraculous intervention. These examples stand as evidence that faith moves mountains — not by self-determination, but by believing in a faithful and sovereign God.
a. Subdued kingdoms
Examples include Joshua’s conquest of Canaan, David’s victory over the Philistines, and the reforms of godly kings like Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah — all of whom led national revivals and stood firm when Israel was outnumbered or compromised.
b. Worked righteousness
Elijah, Elisha, and faithful prophets stood against corruption and idolatry. King Josiah tore down pagan altars and restored proper worship (2 Kings 22–23). Righteousness here implies a bold stand for moral clarity and covenant fidelity.
c. Obtained promises
Examples include Caleb who inherited Hebron after believing God’s promise (Joshua 14), Gideon who saw God give victory over Midian (Judges 7), and Barak, who obeyed the prophetic word through Deborah (Judges 4).
d. Stopped the mouths of lions
Daniel is the chief example (Daniel 6), but David (1 Samuel 17:34–36) and Benaiah (2 Samuel 23:20) also encountered and killed lions through faith.
e. Quenched the violence of fire
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace but were not consumed (Daniel 3). God honored their refusal to compromise worship.
f. Escaped the edge of the sword
David repeatedly escaped Saul’s attempts to kill him. Elijah fled from Jezebel. Moses was protected from Pharaoh’s wrath. These victories were not flukes but manifestations of faith in the protective hand of God.
g. Out of weakness were made strong
This includes Sarah (Genesis 18), Gideon (Judges 6), Abraham (Romans 4:19), and Hezekiah (2 Kings 20). Their strength came only after acknowledging their weakness and trusting in God’s sufficiency.
“God loves to display His strength through weak vessels, so the glory will be His alone.” (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9)
h. Became valiant in battle
Men like David, Asa, Jehoshaphat, and the Judges were not naturally brave but were emboldened by their faith in the God of Israel. Courage is born from trust in God's promises.
i. Women received their dead raised to life again
The widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:22) and the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:35) received their sons back through the intercessory power of Elijah and Elisha. Their experiences foreshadow the power of resurrection promised in Christ.
10. By Faith, Some Were Victorious Under Their Circumstances
Hebrews 11:35b–38 (NKJV):
“Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.”
a. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance
Faith does not always bring escape from pain. These faithful ones refused to recant or compromise in exchange for freedom or life, believing in a resurrection unto reward rather than worldly reprieve.
b. A better resurrection
This is a clear contrast to temporal deliverance. These believers hoped not for escape from death, but for eternal reward. Jesus spoke of two resurrections in John 5:29, and they chose the better — unto life.
c. Mockings and scourgings… chains and imprisonment
Jeremiah was mocked and thrown into a pit. Joseph was imprisoned unjustly. Micaiah was jailed for prophesying truth (1 Kings 22). These saints endured with eyes fixed on a higher court.
d. They were stoned
Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:20–21) and Naboth (1 Kings 21) were stoned unjustly. Stoning was often a judicial act, but when corrupted, it was used to silence righteous voices.
e. Sawn in two
Jewish tradition (as preserved by early church fathers) says the prophet Isaiah was sawn in half under Manasseh’s rule. Though not recorded in Scripture, the account is historically plausible and reflects the depth of their suffering.
f. Were tempted
Temptation here may refer to offers to recant, to compromise truth, or to avoid persecution by betrayal. Overcoming temptation, even in secret, is as much a victory of faith as public martyrdom.
g. Slain with the sword
Eighty-five priests were murdered by Doeg (1 Samuel 22). Many prophets were slain by apostate kings (1 Kings 18:4, 1 Kings 19:10). Faith does not always bring preservation — sometimes it brings martyrdom.
h. Wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins
Prophets like Elijah (2 Kings 1:8) and John the Baptist (Matthew 3:4) wore these garments. It was a life of rejection and hardship — but one close to God.
i. Of whom the world was not worthy
This is one of the most powerful statements in the chapter. The righteous were despised by men but precious to God. Heaven regarded them with honor, while earth rejected them.
“They were not honored by the world, but the world was not worthy to host them. They were misfits here because they belonged to a better world.”
11. Conclusion: We Have Even Greater Reasons to Live by Faith
Hebrews 11:39–40 (NKJV):
“And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”
a. Obtained a good testimony through faith
Their lives were commendable — not because of success, prosperity, or influence — but because of faithfulness under pressure. Faith alone made their lives beautiful to God.
b. Did not receive the promise
The ultimate promise — the Messiah and the fullness of redemption — was not seen in their lifetime. Yet they believed. We, by contrast, live on the other side of Calvary and the empty tomb.
c. God having provided something better for us
We live in the full light of the New Covenant, with the indwelling Holy Spirit and the complete canon of Scripture. We have more revelation, more assurance, and more evidence of God’s faithfulness than they ever did.
d. They should not be made perfect apart from us
The work of Christ binds us together across ages. We will all be glorified together. Until then, the saints of old are not complete — and neither are we. The plan of God is unfolding through a united body of the faithful, past and present.
Key Applications for Believers Today
Faith conquers — and sometimes faith suffers.
Victory is not always visible, but it is always rewarded.
Your faith is part of something bigger — you are connected to a lineage of endurance and promise.
God is not ashamed of you when you walk by faith, even in weakness.
You have more light than they did — walk worthy of it.
