Pt. 2 is here.
Hebrews 11:1 states - "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (ESV).
At first glance, one can understand why a surface level reading of the text could suggest that the author of Hebrews is advocating for a type of “blind faith” that tells us to trust things we cannot see without evidence. However, when one understands the context of the passage, we see that the author of Hebrews is actually advocating for a faith based upon evidence, not the absent of it.
Properly understood, the author is encouraging readers to continue to trust in the promises of God, in spite of the fact they haven’t yet been fulfilled (and might not even be fulfilled in their lifetimes). This trust in “things not seen,” however, is based upon good evidence. These promises of God are grounded in what God has already done. In other words, the author of Hebrews is asking his readers to trust what can’t be (or hasn’t yet been) seen, on the basis of what can be (or has been) seen. Perhaps a simpler way of putting it is, because God has proven to be trustworthy in the past, we can rely upon Him in the future.
This understanding of the text is confirmed when one considers the examples offered by the author in the remainder of the chapter - Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph are described as believers who “died in faith, without receiving the promises” (verse 13). The promises of God were yet “things not seen”. In spite of this, these believers held firm to the promises of God on the basis of what they had seen.
Consider Hebrews 11:24-27. The author writes of Moses:
“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen" [Emphasis mine]"
Moses repeatedly responded obediently (albeit sometimes reluctantly) to the yet unseen promises of God on the basis of what he had already seen God do in his life. And this theme is confirmed time and time again throughout the written record of Moses’ life.
So, the author of Hebrews, fair from advocating for a blind faith, encourages us to persevere because of the written record we do have. This is faith (or trust) based upon evidence, not in spite of it.
Courage and Godspeed,
At first glance, one can understand why a surface level reading of the text could suggest that the author of Hebrews is advocating for a type of “blind faith” that tells us to trust things we cannot see without evidence. However, when one understands the context of the passage, we see that the author of Hebrews is actually advocating for a faith based upon evidence, not the absent of it.
Properly understood, the author is encouraging readers to continue to trust in the promises of God, in spite of the fact they haven’t yet been fulfilled (and might not even be fulfilled in their lifetimes). This trust in “things not seen,” however, is based upon good evidence. These promises of God are grounded in what God has already done. In other words, the author of Hebrews is asking his readers to trust what can’t be (or hasn’t yet been) seen, on the basis of what can be (or has been) seen. Perhaps a simpler way of putting it is, because God has proven to be trustworthy in the past, we can rely upon Him in the future.
This understanding of the text is confirmed when one considers the examples offered by the author in the remainder of the chapter - Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph are described as believers who “died in faith, without receiving the promises” (verse 13). The promises of God were yet “things not seen”. In spite of this, these believers held firm to the promises of God on the basis of what they had seen.
Consider Hebrews 11:24-27. The author writes of Moses:
“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen" [Emphasis mine]"
Moses repeatedly responded obediently (albeit sometimes reluctantly) to the yet unseen promises of God on the basis of what he had already seen God do in his life. And this theme is confirmed time and time again throughout the written record of Moses’ life.
So, the author of Hebrews, fair from advocating for a blind faith, encourages us to persevere because of the written record we do have. This is faith (or trust) based upon evidence, not in spite of it.
Courage and Godspeed,
Chad
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