Read Hebrews 11:20-28. What did these men of faith do? How are their actions related to hope and to things not seen?

Moses is the second major example in this chapter of faith. The life of Moses is introduced and concluded by two actions of defiance to the king. His parents hid Moses when he was born, because “they were not afraid of the king’s edict” (Hebrews 11:23, ESV), and Moses left Egypt, “not being afraid of the anger of the king” (Hebrews 11:27, ESV).

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The most significant action of Moses was, however, that he “refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” (Hebrews 11:24). The reference to Moses’ adoptive mother as “Pharaoh’s daughter” suggests that he was slated to be the next Pharaoh. Moses, however, was willing to leave behind the prospect of becoming the ruler of the most powerful nation at that time and to become, instead, the leader of newly freed slaves-refugees, actually.

Compare Hebrews 11:24-27 and Hebrews 10:32-35. What were the similarities between the situation of the original recipients of Hebrews and the experience of Moses?

The greatness of Moses was that he was able to see beyond the promises of the king of Egypt and look toward the unseen, namely, the promises of God. Hebrews says the key was that Moses’ sight was fixed on “the reward,” not on the riches of Egypt. This reward is the same reward mentioned in Hebrews 10:35, which God has promised to all who believe in Him.

Paul’s words about Moses’ decision must have echoed powerfully in the hearts of his original readers. They had been enduring reproaches and insults because of their faith in Christ. They had also been afflicted and lost their possessions (Hebrews 10:32-34). Some were in prison (Hebrews 13:3). In parallel, Moses chose to be mistreated with God’s people, exchanging the wealth of Egypt for bearing the insults associated with Christ because he believed that the reward of Christ was greater than whatever Egypt could offer.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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The titles of the thirteen Sabbaths of study this quarter give us two hymns to use as the themes:
Hymn 593 – In Times Like These and
Hymn 177 – Jesus, Your Blood and Righteousness.

This weeks study gives us a wonderful Hymnfest as there are SO many hymns from which to choose.

The title of this week points us to
Hymn 523 – My Faith Has Found a Resting Place,
Hymn 533 – O For a Faith and
Hymn 608 – Faith Is the Victory. The Memory Text takes us to
Hymn 507 – Moment by Moment (verse 1) as well as
Hymn 500 – Take Time to Be Holy (verses 2 and 3). The Sabbath afternoon reading concludes that “faith is the confidence in God’s promises” –
Hymn 518 – Standing on the Promises.

Sunday continues with the many hymns on our faith in God:
Hymn 517 – My Faith Looks Up to Thee,
Hymn 100 – Great is Thy Faithfulness, and
Hymn 602 – O Brother, Be Faithful.

Hebrews 10:23 and Hebrews 4:14 encourage us to “hold fast” as does
Hymn 600 – Hold Fast Till I Come as we wait for the Lord to come in Habakkuk 2:2-4:
Hymn 217 The Church Has Waited Long. We are again reminded that “He will surely come again at the appointed time in Hebrews 9:27,28 as do
Hymn 200 – The Lord Is Coming,
Hymn 201 – Christ Is Coming,
Hymn 209 – That Glorious Day Is Coming,
Hymn 212 – ‘Tis Almost Time for the Lord to Come and
Hymn 213 – Jesus Is Coming Again. Yes, “God remains faithful to His promises says 2 Timothy  2:13:
Hymn 100 – Great is Thy Faithfulness.

For the faithful people we study (Abraham on Monday and Moses on Tuesday), there is Abraham in
Hymn 11 – The God of Abraham Praise,
Hymn 264 – O for That Flame of Living Fire (verse 2) and three hymns in which Moses takes a part:
Hymn 147 – Christ Upon the Mountain Peak (verse 2),
Hymn 264 – O for That Flame of Living Fire (verse 4), then
Hymn 449 – Never Part Again (verse 3). Towards the end of Monday’s study we see the hope of Abraham and we can also say in
Hymn 5 – All My Hope on God Is Founded.

As Rahab believed, we can have joy in our hearts as we sing
Hymn 486 – I Do Believe because
I Know Whom I Have Believed – Hymn 511.

We find on Thursday that our faith in Jesus sees us
Marching to Zion – Hymn 522 and what a glorious day it will be when we are face to face with our Lord, “Jesus in heaven” (Revelation 20:4):
Hymn 206 – Face To Face and we can then sing
The Glory Song – Hymn 435. This is all because “Jesus held His sight firmly on the reward, which was the joy set before Him, that of seeing the human race redeemed by His grace:
Hymn 337/338 Redeemed and
Hymn 108 – Amazing Grace with
Hymn 109 Marvelous Grace.

We are bound for The Promised Land! Hallelujah!! –
Hymn 620 – On Jordan’s Stormy Banks. Come, Lord Jesus, come – very soon.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing, but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Hebrews defines faith as “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1, NIV). Then it provides a list of faithful people from the history of Israel who exemplify what faith is, and it shows how they manifested that faith by their deeds.

Read Hebrews 11:1-19. What did these “heroes” of faith do that exemplified their faith? How are their actions related to hope of things not seen?

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Abraham is probably the most important character in this chapter. Abraham’s last act of faith is especially instructive regarding the true nature of faith.

Hebrews notes that God’s instruction to Abraham that he offer Isaac as a sacrifice seemed to imply a contradiction on God’s part (Hebrews 11:17-18). Isaac was not the only son of Abraham. Ishmael was the firstborn of Abraham, but God had told Abraham that it was all right for him to accept Sarah’s request and cast Ishmael and his mother out because God would take care of them, and also because Abraham’s offspring would be named through Isaac (Genesis 21:12-13). In the next chapter, however, God asks Abraham to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. God’s instruction in Genesis 22 seemed to flatly contradict God’s promises in Genesis chapters 12-21.

Hebrews concludes that Abraham amazingly solved the conundrum by arriving at the conclusion that God would resurrect Isaac after he had offered him. This is amazing because no one had yet been resurrected. It seems, however, that Abraham’s previous experience with God led him to that conclusion. Hebrews 11:12 notes that Isaac was conceived by the power of God from one who was “as good as dead.” Paul also noted that, despite Abraham’s being “as good as dead” and Sarah barren, Abraham believed “in hope … against hope, that he should become the father of many nations” because he believed that God “gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist” (Romans 4:17-20, ESV). Thus, Abraham must have assumed that if God in some sense had already given life to Isaac out of the dead, He could do it again. In God’s leading in the past, Abraham saw an intimation of what He could do in the future.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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Read Hebrews 10:35-39. What is God saying to us in these verses?

Endurance is a characteristic of God’s end-time people, without which they will not be able to receive the promises (Revelation 13:10, Revelation 14:12). In order to endure, however, believers need to “hold fast” their faith (Hebrews 10:23, Hebrews 4:14).

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Paul has shown that the desert generation was not able to receive the promise because they lacked faith (Hebrews 3:19). Hebrews portrays believers as also at the threshold of the fulfillment of the promises (Hebrews 9:28; Hebrews 10:25, Hebrews 10:36-38) and need to exercise faith if they want to receive the promises (Hebrews 10:39).

Paul introduces his exposition on faith with a quotation from Habakkuk 2:2-4. Habakkuk had asked God why He tolerated the treacherous people who oppressed the righteous (Habakkuk 1:12-17). The prophet and his people were suffering; thus, they wanted God to act. God answered, however, that there was an appointed time for the fulfillment of His promise, and they needed to wait (Habakkuk 2:2-4). Habakkuk and his people lived, like us, between the time of the promise and the time of its fulfillment. God’s message continued in Hebrews, “He who is coming will come and will not delay” (Hebrews 10:37, NIV; see also Habakkuk 2:3).

The message refers to Jesus. He is the righteous one, the embodiment of faith who pleases God and provides life (Hebrews 10:5-10).

Why, then, would He “delay”? He won’t. He has already come to die for us (Hebrews 9:15-26), and He will surely come again at the appointed time (Hebrews 9:27-28; Hebrews 10:25).

God’s message continued: “my righteous one shall live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38, ESV). Paul states the same in Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11. Romans 1:16-17,  is especially enlightening because it explains that the righteousness of God is “revealed from faith to faith.” What Paul means is that God’s faithfulness to His promises comes first, and His faithfulness produces, as its result, our faith and/or faithfulness.

Thus, because God remains faithful to His promises (2 Timothy 2:13), the righteous, in response to God’s faithfulness, will remain faithful, as well.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: Hebrews 10:35–39, Romans 1:17, Hebrews 11:1–40, Josh.2:9–11, Hebrews 12:1–3.

Memory Text: “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2, NKJV).

Hebrews 11:1–40 and Hebrews 12:1–29 are probably the most-loved chapters of the book. They describe the Christian life as a race in which we all participate and in which all who stay faithful will receive the reward. They also describe the drama of redemption as a race in which people of faith from the past persevered, despite sufferings, but have not yet received the reward.

And that’s because the story ends with us, as well, not just them. We are the concluding act. The drama culminates with our entering and running the last part of the race, and with Jesus seated at the goal line at the right hand of God. He provides inspiration as well as the ultimate example of how the race is run. He is the ultimate witness that the reward is true and that He is the forerunner who opens the way for us (Hebrews 6:19-20; Hebrews 10:19-23).

Hebrews 11:1–40 explains that faith is confidence in God’s promises, even if we cannot see them yet. This lesson will explore what faith is and how it is obtained through the examples of the past but, especially and centrally, through the example of Jesus, “the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2, ESV).

Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 12.

Sunday–>

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