Today’s readings.. (Joshua 22), (Isaiah 28), (Hebrews 11)

As we examine all the varying parts of some chapters in God’s word, we marvel more and more at their message and meaning: Hebrews ch. 11 is outstanding in this. We should be familiar with it as the “faith” chapter. Real genuine faith, a conviction in our hearts about ‘things not yet seen’ with our eyes, is the ‘engine’ which drives those seeking to live righteous lives. When that “engine” falters and then fails through lack of fuel, we are in trouble! Our vehicle leaves the narrow way – and some vehicles crash disastrously!

Many examples of men and women of faith are given in today’s chapter, the one that is the most appropriate example for us is probably Noah. Verse 7 tells us, “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen; in reverent fear constructed an ark … and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”

It is not clear how many years it took Noah and his sons to construct that massive 500 ft long boat with 3 decks, it could have been nearly 100 years (see Gen. 5 v.32, 7 v.6). We can imagine there was much scoffing! But note how Peter describes Noah as a herald or “preacher of righteousness” (2 Pet. 2 v.5) – so he had a very positive attitude of mind – that arises from truly genuine faith.

Events as yet unseen” loom over the world today, news items of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and global warming are getting more urgent as weather events grow more extreme. Events surrounding the Holy Land, especially of the annexation issue, are reaching crisis proportions and appear totally unsolvable, The U.N. is impotent – no solution is in sight – but God has the ultimate solution.

Our chapter tells us that all these faithful men and women “died in faith … having acknowledged they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (v.13) Strangers! Exiles! People possessing a different set of values because they have a different vision of the meaning of life, Do you have that vision? The chapter ends by making the point, “all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” Are you a part of “the us”? Are you making sure God’s word is providing you with ample ‘fuel’ for your faith.