Hebrews - Faith that Endures
Readings for this week August 14 - 18
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Day 1 – Too Many Stories to Tell
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Hebrews 11:32-34
Whatever label or designation we wish to give to this chapter of Hebrews, the central theme is faith – but more specifically, faith as a prerequisite for endurance. The knowledge and understanding of reality that comes through faith can help us withstand abuse and persecution. As we read in Hebrews 10:37-38, which was itself quoting Habakkuk 2:3-4, “in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay; but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.” Biblical faith is both gift and action, and the sacred history recounted in Hebrews 11, from creation through to the Maccabean revolt of the second century BC, shows this gift of faith in action, providing many illustrations of genuine virtue and faithful perseverance for the Hebrews to take courage and motivation from.
The list in Hebrews 11 is long and yet not exhaustive, as the writer says in today’s verses, “I do not have time to tell…” and then lists the names of numerous people whose only mention is in the list itself! This rhetorical flourish prepares us for the rapid-fire rendering of faith’s many accomplishments and the people held up as models of faith and virtue. Names are mentioned in order to remind the readers/hearers of the heroic actions of those concerned; the prophets are invoked in order to stimulate the memory to think of similar exploits they have accomplished. One of the names listed here is that of Barak, an Israelite commander from the time of the Judges. We begin by looking at the story of Barak and Deborah.
Questions to Consider
What biblical stories of great faith appeal to you? Why? What faith stories do you know and remember from people in your life?
Prayer
Lord God, inspire me through the stories of those who have trusted in you and served faithfully in whatever circumstances they have faced. Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
Day 2 – A Time of Oppression
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Judges 4:1-3
The history covered in the Hebrew book of Judges follows on from the Pentateuch and the book of Joshua, and describes the history of Israel from Joshua’s death to the rise of Samuel. The name of the book comes from the title given to its leading characters. But they were more than just ‘judges’; our modern meaning of judge does not begin to cover what the word meant then, what their role encompassed, and what their task required of them. More than just arbitrators they were deliverers, saviours; charismatically empowered by God’s Spirit to deliver and preserve Israel against her enemies, they were leaders of awesome stature and ability.
And they needed to be. Entry into the promised land of Canaan was not a forgone conclusion, there were many people groups in the land and the surrounding area not keen on the Israelites entering, and once they got there, the problem of sin reared its ugly head again. The period of the Judges has been characterised as a record of Israel’s cycle of sin (idol worship), servitude (foreign rulers), supplication (to God, for rescue), and salvation (from God, through his divinely raised up Judges). As we come to the time of Deborah and Barak, surrounding empires have fallen into decay, allowing the local Canaanite King Jabin to oppress the Israelites for twenty years, which many saw as divine punishment for the Israelites’ idolatrous ways. It is against this background that God raises up to prominence the fourth of the Judges, Deborah.
Question to Consider
What consequences have you experienced from the times when you have (yet again) fallen back into old patterns of sinful behaviour?
Prayer
Gracious God, have mercy on me when I fall and fail. Bring someone to me to remind me of your goodness and faithfulness, to bring me back to you, in humility and obedience. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
Day 3 – Be Confident!
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Judges 4:4-13
When Deborah called upon Barak to lead the Israelites into battle against the Canaanites, and laid out the battle plan for him, Barak agreed, but only on condition that Deborah go with him. How are we to interpret Barak’s refusal to go into battle without Deborah present? Is he being cowardly, showing weakness in his apparent reticence to go into battle? Is Deborah’s claim that such refusal is the reason why the victory’s honour will not be his accurate? Or is there a more charitable view that could be taken here? Perhaps knowing that God had given Deborah His blessing, was Barak unwilling to enter battle without such a blessed ‘talisman’ as Deborah at his side? Was he attempting to further ensure success?
Whatever the reason for Barak’s reply – and we cannot be sure exactly why he said what he did – it is clear from Deborah’s description and instructions that, whatever Barak’s feelings on the matter were, Deborah herself had confidence in God’s will. She did not hesitate or prevaricate. God spoke and she faithfully responded as he directed, and even when confronted with Barak’s hesitation, she continued straight on with actioning God’s plan. She did not plan and scheme to find more ways of guaranteeing success, she did not try and improve God’s plan. She trusted what God had revealed to her and trusted in the One who had revealed it. All she knew of God, all she knew of his call on her life, told her that his word was enough for her. All she needed to do was be faithful.
Questions to Consider
What do you think of Barak’s request? What does this passage show us about how God works and how he directs his people?
Prayer
Almighty Lord, help me not try to second guess you. Show me what trust is and what it requires of me and how best to join my efforts in with your kingdom work – on your terms, not mine. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
Day 4 – A Courageous Woman
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Judges 4:14-24
Deborah is one of the major judges in Israel’s history. She is the only female judge, the only one to be called a prophet (and one of only a handful of women to be so designated in the bible). She was a wise, courageous leader who led the Israelites to a great victory over a Canaanite army, and she did so by being faithful to God’s call on her life. Deborah was called a prophet because she had a direct line of communication with God, through which he revealed to her his plans for Israel. She led the people faithfully, guiding them and solving their disputes and sorting out the problems they brought to her. The people had confidence in her judgements and obviously trusted her very much to keep coming to her for guidance.
Deborah was a confident, powerful encourager of others. She was sure of her call to leadership, obedient to her God, and decisive in her actions. She knew who she was: she knew she was called and knew that her identity as judge, as leader, as prophet was God-given and God-endorsed. She knew the role she was called to play in the life of others, and she embraced the call placed upon her. Deborah put her faith into action; she actively trusted God and moved where and how he showed her. And through it all she honoured God, always casting the glory back onto him for the power of his actions and his faithfulness in rescuing his people from trouble.
Questions to Consider
What characteristics of Deborah stand out to you? In what way is she a model of faithfulness and conviction?
Prayer
Heavenly Lord, show me the role I have to play in the lives of those around me, not through arrogance, but through humility, sacrifice and compassion. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)
Day 5 – The Legacy of Faithfulness
Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)
Scripture Reading – Judges 5
Faith does not always involve the absence of doubt, but it does require the boldness of trusting the Lord even when appearances and advice might be screaming at (or whispering to) us to do otherwise. Trusting and obeying God in the face of our fears and uncertainties is for each day, not just for the big momentous events (like battles!) that we read of in Deborah’s and Barak’s stories. As amazing as Deborah’s leadership in winning a stunning victory over the Canaanites was, it wasn’t even her greatest accomplishment. Beyond this, she called her people back to God, back to righteous living and obedience. In verse 31 we read of her legacy, the result of her faithful trust in God: “But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had peace for forty years.”
We all face mountains too difficult to climb. We all face fears that threaten to overwhelm us and mock our efforts to withstand them. We all carry pain that can be too much to bear. But with God, all odds can be overcome. Though what we may be up against can seem impossible to surmount, it actually gives us ringside seats to watch God’s glorious power at work as we strive to trust him and trust in his power to rescue us - and trust in his love to want to rescue us. In 1 Peter we read that if we will “Humble ourselves…under God’s mighty hand,” he will, in time, “lift [us] up.” No matter what we can “cast all [our] anxiety on him because he cares for [us]” (1 Peter 5:6-7).
Questions to Consider
What can we learn from the way Deborah behaved and the way Sisera behaved? What do they teach us about leadership and faithfulness?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, in your son we see true leadership, true faithfulness, and obedience unto death. Teach me how to be more like your son in my trust of you in all I do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)