Hymns: RHC 323 Trust and Obey, 324 Trusting Jesus, 351 He Leadeth Me

Hebrews 11:30 (KJV)

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

Children of Israel’s Faith (2)

OUTLINE

(1) An Obedient Faith

(2) A Triumphant Faith

INTRODUCTION

The Apostle Paul observed in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (KJV) “27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.”

The conquest of the city of Jericho was one such glorious example. The Israelites were but a company of freed slaves and not soldiers. Possessing the Promised Land was God’s plan to effect His salvation plan for all mankind. God used an unlikely people to accomplished His purpose. God’s plan was to establish Israel as a nation to be His witness to all the nations of the world. They were considered the weak, despised slaves when contrasted with the mighty strength of the Egyptian army!

The Israelites’ victory at Jericho cannot be attributed to any brilliance on their part. The strategy to take down Jericho certainly did not exalt any innate strength of the Israelites that God wanted to highlight or distinguish. In fact, it was a foolish strategy that makes any military commander feel insulted. Alas, God’s ways are not our ways, His thoughts not our thoughts.

As one late pastor observed well, “What wisdom is there in dying on the cross? The Greeks couldn’t understand it, and yet that is the wisdom of God. God is so wise that the person with the highest IQ cannot figure Him out. If you could come to God with your intellect, then God is not faith because all the smart people would have head start and the rest of us would be left behind standing in the shadows. Your spirituality would be based upon your intellect. I’m so glad God has “hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Matthew 11:25). God is not so high that few can figure Him out; it is that God has placed Himself at such a level few of us will get down low enough to see God revealing Himself to us. Praise God for choosing you! Praise God for His wisdom!”[1]

Hymns: RHC 43 God Is Still On the Throne, 46 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, 444 Hold the Fort

Hebrews 11:29 (KJV)

29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

Children of Israel’s Faith

OUTLINE

(1) A Faith that Prays

(2) A Faith that Waits/Hopes

INTRODUCTION

The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:20-21 (KJV) 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Andrew Murray observed, “In the great prayer that Paul had just written, he had apparently reached the highest expression possible of the life to which God’s mighty power could bring the believer. But Paul is not content. In this doxology he rises still higher and lifts us up to give glory to God as “able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. Pause for a moment to consider what “infinitely more” means. Think of the words “whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:4). Think of the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ, when he raise him from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-20). With these words, Paul hope to lift our hearts to believe that God is able to do exceeding abuntandly above all that we ask or think.” The power of God that works in us is nothing less than the exceeding power that raised Christ from the dead. This should cause us to think that there is something that God will do in us that is beyond our imagination. As we worship Him in prayer, let us believe that the almighty God, who is working in our hearts, is able to fulfil every one of His exceeding great and precious promises.”

And to inspire us to great heights of faith and consecration toward Him, the writer of Hebrews, I believe it is the Apostle Paul too, seeks to lift us as he brings us to the scene of the Exodus when Israel left Egypt and the Pharoah’s anger has driven him to summon 600 chariots and all the chariots in Egypt in pursuit of the children of Israel. The chariots are the modern day tanks! Join me in the scene in Exodus 14.

Hymns: RHC 324 Trusting Jesus, 347 Under the Care of My God, The Almighty, 544 When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder

Hebrews 11:22 (KJV)

22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

Joseph’s Faith

OUTLINE
(1) Faith’s Identity

(2) Faith’s Identification