THE GLORIOUS HERITAGE

THE GLORIOUS HERITAGE
Heb 11:32-40
"…the world was not worthy of them." (v.38).

WE HAVE LOOKED SO FAR AT ONLY Abraham and Moses, but there are many other heroes of faith. The author now lists them. Firstly, six men are mentioned by name, spanning the time between the settlement in the promised land to the establishment of the monarchy. They are Gideon and Barak, Samson and Jephthah, David and Samuel, though they appear in the reverse chronologcal order in each pair (i.e. Barak lived before Gideon).

Gideon routed the Midianites with his small band of 300 men. Barak led a successful expedition against Sisera of the Canaanites, though two women Deborah and Jael shared the victory. Samson, despite his weaknesses and faults, nevertheless drew strength from God against the Philistines. Jephthah is often remembered for the rash vow he made, but it speaks of his genuine if uninstructed faith. (See Judges 7; 5; 14; 11.)

David is the only king listed in the chapter. Though Samuel came before David, the names are inverted probably to place Samuel with the prophets for he began that illustrious line of God's servants. And how they suffered and triumphed! Scholars have identified the credentials with figures such as Daniel ("shut the mouths of lions"), Elijah ("escaped the edge of the sword"), the widow of Zarephath ("women received back their dead"). Others are identified from traditional extra-biblical accounts of their exploits, such as Jeremiah ("stoned"), and Isaiah ("sawn in two").

Whatever their feats or lots may be, "none of them received what had been promised" (v.39). Though some, to an extent, "gained what was promised" (v.33), none saw the promise, or the Promised One, the Christ. It is with the dawn of the new age, that Christ appeared and provided that better and perfect sacrifice by which the present readers and the past martyrs might together come to God.

Today, we also find ourselves in such distinguished company. When we visit the Hall of Fame to admire the heroes of faith, we are not mere spectators. We are sons and daughters of the ones we so highly esteem. We are heirs of a glorious heritage. We are told that 'the world was not worthy of them" (v.38). Indeed, they lived by such faith that the world considered them unworthy of civilised society. But in God's valuation, it was the world that was not worthy to have them. They were destined for something better.

How am I valued by the world, by God?