(4). Hebrews 11:32-40.
THE first thing that arrests our attention in the concluding portion of this remarkable chapter is the opening question in verse 32 — “And what shall I more say?” We have witnessed a procession of remarkable men; our interest and admiration have increased as we have looked upon one and another. In the end the crowning touch is supplied as a woman appears — a woman seemingly outside the pale of blessing, a poor outcast, without a character, and known only as “Rahab the harlot.” God put His hand upon her; He singled her out, and saved her not only from the doom of Jericho, but for His own purpose.
Are we satisfied with knowing that we have been saved from the judgment that our sins deserved; without getting to know that we have been saved for God’s glory, and that He might introduce us into a wealth of blessing? Why did God choose Rahab? And why did He choose us? As we remarked in our last paper, it was in the exercise of His sovereignty, and because of the excess of His grace. Well now, “What shall I more say?”
This expression may also have to do with what follows. What more could be added? Much indeed if time permitted. The entire history of God’s people might be searched, and men and women of similar calibre, and marked by the same confidence and continuance, would be found. Then a few names are given, not at random, and not in historical but moral order. The first four are taken from the book of Judges.
The book of Judges in the Old Testament corresponds with 2 Timothy in the New Testament. Moses was dead. Joshua was dead, “and also all that generation, [Joshua’s] were gathered unto their fathers; and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.” (Judg. 2:10). That was the third generation. They took their own way, followed the bent of their own will, refused to recognize authority and were lawless to a degree. All is summed up in the closing verse of the book. “In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (21:25). From 2 Timothy we learn that Paul was about to lay aside his work, as the administrator of the great truth of the Assembly. Timothy was to carry on the testimony. That which he had heard he was to “commit to faithful men.” They would doubtless have successors in the third generation and would find themselves surrounded by a state of matters described in chapter 3.
At the beginning of last century, wonderful truth was recovered to the people of God, truth that had been buried in the rubbish of centuries. The truth of the one body; of the heavenly calling of all believers; of the coming again of the Lord Jesus. Those whom God used then were called home. Others were raised up who held the truth and urged the necessity of the truth that had been presented objectively in Christ, being wrought out subjectively in His people. They have gone. We find ourselves in the third generation. What do we find? Self-will, lawlessness, heresy: the tendency of every one to do that which is right in his own eyes. We believe the Lord is calling for “faithful men” today just as He had faithful men in the days of the Judges, has had in the history of the Church, and, we are assured, will have “till He come.” We urge our dear young brethren to covet this distinction, and to let their one ambition be to be “faithful men.” It may cost something. Of what value would it be if that were not the case? But it will be grateful to the Lord.
Now to our verse (32). Gideon was a man who threshed wheat in secret (Judg. 6:11), and therein lies typically the secret of spiritual prosperity. He was exercised as to the state of Gods people (verse 13). He learned that the first step to recovery was to remove that which was offensive to God: and to bring in that which was pleasing to God (verses 25, 26): and he answered to the call of God. He started out with an imposing army of thirty-two thousand. “Too many,” said God, and they were reduced to ten thousand. “Still too many,” said God, and they were brought down to three hundred. A contemptible army in men’s eyes, with no ammunition but with earthen vessels containing oil and lamps. The vessels were broken the lights shone, and God did the rest.
Does not this remind us of 2 Corinthians 4? “God has shone into our hearts for the shining out.” “We have this treasure in earthen vessels,” and the remainder of that chapter shows how God breaks the vessels, the light shines, and He does the Pest. Gideon did all this by faith and triumphed.
Barak lived in a day of still greater failure, for a woman judged Israel, and he did not appear to see anything wrong therein. For a woman, no matter how doted, to step out of her ordered place indicates weakness and departure from the path of God’s will on the part of His people. God took account of the weakness and used Deborah. Barak responded to her call on condition that she went with him. She nerved this weak man to fight, and when the Lord gave the victory, it would seem that she led the praise (Judges 4-5).
Samson, looked at by us appears to have been a miserable failure. Set apart by God from his birth, the lust of the flesh affected him more than the call of God. He lost his separation: the Lord departed from him, and he had a tragic end to a tragic career. God saw faith in Samson. Does it not suggest that we should look at our fellow believers through God’s eyes and look not for faults in them but for Christ?
Jephthah was intelligent as to God’s ways with His people and His mind for them, and though he made a rash vow, which he must have regretted to his dying clay, he too was used by God for the deliverance of His people.
We now make a big jump and read of David. A man after God’s own heart, who served his generation by the will of God, and who slew the enemies of God and of His people. Suffering much in his early life. and scarcely less in his later days, faith in God was his sheet anchor.
Samuel was the intermediary between God and His people. He came on the scene when the Word of the Lord was precious and rare, when there was no open vision, and when the lamp of God burned dim. (1 Sam. 3:1-3). He held the ground for God; he kept the people in touch with God; and he encouraged them to constant, unvarying faith in God.
Then we see all that faith accomplished. Things incredible if we leave God out of account, but which become very simple indeed when we bring God in. Next we have the nameless, unknown warriors, men and women who endured unspeakable suffering, ending in agonizing death, sustained by faith in God. Could He have prevented it? Yes! Why did He allow it? Because they would have been the losers if He had not done so. He Himself has written their epitaph, “Of whom the world was not worthy.” They have got “a good report.” From whom? From God. What does it matter what the world says if we have a “good report” from God?
And now have they received the promise? No. Why? God is still working out His plan. In this little parenthesis of time, as we have already noticed taking out a people for His Name. When the parenthesis ends, He will again pick up the threads, and they and we will see the grand consummation of everything in the city of God; “a city that hath foundations, whose builder and Maker is God.” Then, as they look back upon their dreadful suffering and we recall our little pin-pricks, and they and we see the, end of it all, how we shall magnify His grace and glorify His Name!
Shall we once again read Hebrews 11, pray that the faith that characterized these workers may be found in us; and, looking on to the end seek to tread the path to the glory of our blessed Lord.
W. Bramwell Dick.
Next month, God willing, Hebrews 12:1-17. Kindly read the whole chapter over and over again.