The author of the Hebrews says this in chapter 11 verses 35-40: “35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.
39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.”
In this passage we have Old Testament believers who suffered greatly for their faith in God. They endured heroically, and God in His mercy sustained their faith in Him through much suffering. Especially in Hebrews 11:35 we read of the hope of the resurrection that inspired them through their difficulties. They were tempted to deny God in order to get released from prison and saved from further torture. Instead, they remembered the hope of the resurrection and God’s faithfulness toward His people even in the midst of intense suffering.
It is too easy for people to want justice and for things to go right in this life, but as Hebrews 11:39 reminds us, these believers did not receive what was promised, which I take to mean that these people left this life not seeing the fulfillment of what was promised by God. The fulfillment of God’s promises would await in part the 1st Coming of the Lord Jesus. Even some of what was promised won’t find its final fulfillment until Christ’s 2nd Coming. The testing of these Old Testament believers was great and burdensome because of the intensity of their suffering for their faith in God. They were imprisoned and some were martyred for their faith in the LORD. It was by the grace of God that these believers persevered in trusting God and are commended by God for their faith in Him. Let us hear again this encouragement from Hebrews 11:6,
“6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
May we with them continue to place our faith and hope in God and the promises of His Word. He rewards those who seek Him and persevere through suffering.
I commend to you this prayer, For Trustfulness, from Family Prayer in the back of the Book of Common Prayer:
O MOST loving Father, who willest us to give thanks for all things, to dread nothing but the loss of thee, and to cast all our care on thee, who carest for us; Preserve us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds of this mortal life may hide from us the light of that love which is immortal, and which thou hast manifested unto us in thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
