HEBREWS

Lesson 32 Hebrews 11:33-40

1. A. Read syllabus 31. Were these men all morally sound in their actions? Y N

B. Yet what did they all have in common? _______________________________________

C. According to Hebrews 11:33, what did these men do? ___________________________

2. Could we say of Gideon demonstrated faith's miraculous victory (Judg. 6:1 -- Judg. 8:35).

Barak demonstrated faith's triumph (Judg. 4-5). Samson -- faith's physical strength (Judg. 13:1

-- Judg. 16:31). Jephthah demonstrated faith's boldness (Judg. 11:1 -- Judg. 12:7). David

demonstrated faith’s utter reliance (1Sam. 17:32-51; 23:2,11; etc.). Samuel demonstrated faith's

integrity (1Sam. 3:18; 7:1-17; 8:1-3; 12:16-24). Y N

3. A. In every war, there is offence and defense. Is it wrong to defend what is yours? Y N

B. Is it wrong to take what is not yours, individually or as a nation? Y N

C. Is it wrong for you to defend your family and property? Y N

D. What force do you think motivates aggression? __________________________________

E. As a Christian are you immune to evil? Y N

4. A. What do you think made these men of valor invincible? __________________________

1

B. Is this invincible faith for a select few or for everybody? ___________________________

C. Is there evidence of this invincible faith today? Y N [See syllabus 32]

5. Comment on this statement: There is no power on earth that can stand before the power of

faith, because the power of faith is the power of God working in us. ______________________

6. Were these men motivated by selfishness [what I can get from God] or for the cause of God

and other people? ______________________________________________________________

7. A. What were some of the obstacles that they overcame [V 34]? ______________________

Hebrews 11:34 (KJV) 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of

weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

B. They not only quenched the fire, but what else? _________________________________

8. A. Does it take courage on the part of women to send their men off to war? Y N

B. What horrors can await unprotected women and children against advancing armies? ___

9. A. 1 Kings 17:17-24 [the widow of Zarepath] and the Shunammite [2 Kings 4:17-35]

benefited by faith. ______________________________________________________________

B. Could it be a type of resurrection for a soldier to return home after combat? Y N

2

C. Could it be a type of “resurrection” [a reprieve] to surrender to evil demands? Y N

1 Kings 17:17-24 (KJV) 17 And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the

mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in

him. 18 And she said unto Elijah, what have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? Art, thou

come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son? 19 And he said unto her, Give

me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abodes,

and laid him upon his own bed. 20 And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast

thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son? 21 And he

stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my

God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again. 22 And the LORD heard the voice of

Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child,

and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother:

and Elijah said, See, thy son lives. 24 And the woman said to Elijah, now by this I know that thou

art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.

2 Kings 4:17-35 (KJV) 17 And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha

had said unto her, according to the time of life. 18 And when the child was grown, it fell on a day,

that he went out to his father to the reapers. 19 And he said unto his father, my head, and my

head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. 20 And when he had taken him, and brought

him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. 21 And she went up, and laid him

on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. 22 And she called unto

her husband, and said, send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I

may run to the man of God, and come again. 23 And he said, wherefore wilt thou go to him

today? It is neither new moon, nor Sabbath. And she said, it shall be well. 24 Then she saddled an

ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee.

25 So she went and came unto the man of God to Mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the

man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that

Shunammite: 26 Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? Is it

3

well with thy husband? Is it well with the child? And she answered, it is well. 27 And when she

came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust

her away. And the man of God said, let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD

hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. 28 Then she said, did I desire a son of my lord? Did I

not say, do not deceive me? 29 Then he said to Gehazi, gird up thy loins, and take my staff in

thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee,

answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. 30 And the mother of the child

said, As the LORD lives, and as thy soul lives, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed

her. 31 And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but

there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him,

saying, the child is not awaked. 32 And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child

was dead, and laid upon his bed. 33 He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain,

and prayed unto the LORD. 34 And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon

his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself

upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. 35 Then he returned, and walked in the

house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven

times, and the child opened his eyes.

10. A. Other heroes were what? [V 35 b] ____________________________________________

Hebrews 11:35b (KJV) … not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better

resurrection.

B. Tortured—literally means “a drum” the body would be stretched around the rim,

stretching the skin, then beaten with rods or whips increasing the gash and pain—led to death.

Do you think the knowledge of what awaits would test one’s faith? Y N

4

C. According to verse 35, did these heroes deny their faith and receive their release? Y N

Hebrews 11:35 (KJV) 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were

tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.

D. For their courage and faith what awaited these heroes? __________________________

11. A. Others were what? [V 36—38] _____________________________________________

Hebrews 11:36-38 (KJV) 36 And others had trial of cruel mocking and scourging, yes, moreover

of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were

slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute,

afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in

mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

B. In all this, what are we told in verse 39? ______________________________________

Hebrews 11:39 (KJV) 39 and these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not

the promise.

C. Does this seem fair? Y ___ N ____

D. Looking back who did receive the promises? [V 40] _____________________________

Hebrews 11:40 (KJV) God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should

not be made perfect.

5

12. So far, this lesson we have seen a twofold victory in faith. One was glorious victories, great

accomplishments [for the sake of God and country and to fight injustice]; the other is the

voice of the martyrs. Which voice do you think speaks louder? _______________________

13. Verse 37 names temptation as one of the sufferings of our heroes. How could temptation

be one of the greatest sufferings to be endured? ______________________________________

Hebrews 11:37 (KJV) 37 they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain

with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted,

tormented.

14. Is the world worthy of such men and women? [V 38] Y N

Hebrews 11:38 (KJV) 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy) they wandered in deserts, and in

mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

15. A. Would these men and women have received an A+ on their report card of life? Y N

B. According to James 1:12 what is their reward? __________________________________

James 1:12 (KJV) 12 blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall

receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

C. Is their testimony an example for us in our times of trial, temptation, or persecution?

Y N

HEBREWS

Syllabus 32

6

Faith has a twofold victory. In one case, it conquers the enemy or the difficulty by securing its

removal or destruction. In the other there is no deliverance from the trouble, and yet faith

conquers in the power it receives to endure, and to prove that its spirit is superior to all that

men or devils can do. The triumphs of faith are often seen as remarkably in those who obtain no

deliverance from the threatened evil, as in those who do. After the mention of the heroes

whose faith was rewarded with success, we have here the mention of those who, in the midst

of suffering that was not removed, proved that their faith lifted them up above all the pains

with which earth could threaten them. They were tortured, not accepting their deliverance

when offered them at the price of their faithfulness, that they might obtain a better

resurrection. Spiritual and eternal realities were by faith so clear and near that they reckoned

not the sufferings of this present time worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be

revealed. The triumph of faith is seen as much in bearing a temporary defeat as securing a

victory. The victory of the vanquished is often the highest achievement.

In these men and women, leaders in the noble army of the martyrs, rejected and despised by

the world, God sees the heavenly beauty of a faith that honors Him, and that counts His will, His

favor, His righteousness, as more than all earthly happiness. By faith they had such a sight of

God and His good pleasure, that they could with joy sacrifice everything to secure it. By faith

they could, for the joy set before them, in the assurance of a heavenly recompense, count all

the pleasures of earth as less than nothing. It is one of the highest and noblest exercises of faith

to suffer aright. And the blessing that comes through suffering is one of the richest rewards that

faith can win.

God has given us these examples of those who by faith triumphed over the extremities of

7

MURDERED

JAILED

ARSON

suffering, that we might from them learn how to bear our lesser trials. Their faith in

extraordinary suffering must strengthen ours in ordinary. It is in the little common trials of daily

life that every believer can follow in the footsteps of these saints, in the footsteps of the great

Leader of our salvation. By faith alone are we able to bear suffering, great or small, aright, to

God's glory.

Yes, by faith alone. Faith sees it in the light of God and eternity; its short pain, its everlasting

gain; its impotence to hurt the soul, its power to purify and to bless it. It sees Him who allows it,

with us in the fire, as a refiner watching our purging and perfecting, as a helper of our strength

and comfort. It sees that the forming of a character like that of the Son of God, maintaining at

every cost the Father's will and honor, is more than all the world can give. It sees that to be

made partaker of His holiness, to have the humility and weakness and gentleness of the Lamb

of God brought into us, and like Him to be made perfect in suffering, is the spirit of heaven, and

it counts nothing too great to gain this treasure. By faith alone, but by faith most surely, we can,

in the midst of the deepest suffering, be more than conquerors.

We live in a world of suffering. What a privilege that suffering, instead of unfitting or

excluding us, is God's special invitation, to trust and glorify Him.

As we read of all that the men of faith had done, more than one has thought of his own

unfavorable circumstances and his feeble strength; never could his faith reach to the

achievements of the men who are set before him as an example. What a privilege that there is

no suffering so great and depressing, so little and harassing, but can be a school of faith, a

heavenly instruction in the blessed art of making God all; of proving that, for God's will and

submission to it, we are willing to bear all. Faith transfigures suffering, makes it transparent with

the love of God, the presence of Jesus, the beauty of holiness, the blessing of heaven.

As long as we live under the influence of the world and the flesh, all this appears but as a

beautiful thought, without reality or possibility. Our Epistle is speaking to those whom it has led

into the Holiest of All, who are walking in the new and living way of the will of God, of the

obedience and the self-sacrifice and the death of Jesus. It is as we tarry in God's presence, and

seek, above everything, His holiness and His will that we shall look at things as God does, and

8

regard suffering in His light. Let this be our aim. Our passage gives new confirmation to the one

lesson: By faith alone! Would you please God, would you conquer sin and the world, would you

be holy and perfect, would you live as the heir of heaven and eternity, —live as a man of faith,

meet every trial in the spirit of a joyful faith in God; every trial will make thee more meet for

and bring thee nearer to, God's blessed presence. [Andrew Murray]

In the Old Testament prosperity was promised. And yet faith could endure adversity. In the

New, we are taught to expect adversity: the cross is the symbol of our faith; the Man of Sorrows

is our Leader; how much more ought we to be able to endure?

9