“And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:” Hebrews 11:39
So many of the false prophets today preach that faith is marked by what you have in your possession. If there is something that marks faith it is living and believing in what is yet coming.
“By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.” Hebrews 11:23
When we think of faith, we know it has so much to do with believing God. Here we see that it also has something to do with not believing and not fearing someone else.
“And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?” II Kings 5:13
It is a wonderful thing, when we have those moments of doubt, to be encouraged by the brethren to believe God.
“Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?” Exodus 17:6-7
So often the names that are given to places in the Old Testament have to do with the events that have taken place. For example, Jacob named the place where He wrestled with God Penuel, which means face of God. He called it that because that was the place he seen God face to face. In our text we see that the place where the water flowed from the rock was called Massah and Meribah because the children of Israel complained against God. The place could have been given a name that means, where the water flowed, or, where the children believed God, but it was named after their unbelief. What kind of name are you leaving?
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good report.” Heb. 11:1-2
Though our faith requires we believe in God whom we cannot see, our faith in God is must be seen by others. To have “obtained a good report” means that others have to see your faith. Faith is way more visible then many people think.
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:” Col. 2:6
I am sure it has happened to all of us where someone comes along and complicates Christianity. They get you all confused by presenting to you their ideas, interpretations and self-convictions. When this happens you need to clear your mind of these things and just go back and walk in the simple faith and obedience that you received when you first got saved. That never expires, you never outgrow that.
“Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.” Jg. 14:8
This is what Caleb said about the ten spies who gave a bad report. Many in the church blame the prophet or preacher for Christians getting discouraged. They claim the ministers need to be more loving and not say such hard things. However, they are not the ones who cause Christians hearts to melt, it is those who act out in unbelief.
