The Elders Faith: What Can We Learn?

Walking by Faith: Lessons from the Elders in Hebrews 11
Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. In Hebrews 11, we find powerful examples of faith through the lives of the "elders" - those who obtained a good report through their trust in God.

Sarah's Faith: Believing the Impossible
Through faith, Sarah received strength to conceive a child when she was well past childbearing age. Initially, she laughed at God's promise - a reaction born from decades of disappointed hopes that had turned to cynicism. How could she possibly have a baby at her age?

Yet despite her initial doubts, Sarah ultimately judged God faithful. She allowed His word to break down her walls of doubt and replace them with a foundation of faith. The evidence of her faith? She and Abraham acted on God's promise, despite the physical impossibility of their situation.

This reminds us that living by faith means dealing with the problems of our flesh. When God calls us to do the impossible, our natural reaction might be skepticism or even laughter. But with God, nothing is impossible.

What Does It Mean to Die in Faith?
Verse 13 tells us that "these all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them." Let's examine what this meant for each elder:

Abel's Faith
Abel died knowing that his way of worship was righteous according to God's word. Even under threat from his brother Cain, Abel remained faithful. He died to himself first in faith, choosing God's approval over his brother's persuasion.

Enoch's Faith
Though Enoch never physically died (God took him), he died to himself daily. For 300 years, he chose to walk with God rather than follow his own desires. Surely there were days when his flesh was reluctant, but he brought it into subjection, forsaking who he was to walk as God desired.

Noah's Faith
Noah died to what seemed reasonable and logical. He built an ark on dry land, preparing for rain he had never seen. He died to what felt real to him and embraced what seemed impossible because God's word instructed him to do so.

Abraham and Sarah's Faith
They died to what they were in faith, trusting that God's word was greater than their age, situation, feelings, and desires. They looked beyond their present circumstances to the One who promised.

Why Do We Return to Our Old Ways?
Verse 15 provides profound insight: "And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned."
Why do we repeatedly return to old sins and habits? Because that's what we're thinking about. When our minds dwell on our old nature, we make provision for the flesh rather than living by faith.

The elders, however, "desired a better country, that is, a heavenly one." Their focus was not on what they left behind but on what God promised ahead. This is why God is not ashamed to be called their God.

How Should Faith Shape Our Vision?
Faith requires a particular kind of vision:

1. Faith is blind to what is not of faith - we must be blind to our fleshly desires and self-centered thinking.
2. Yet faith is not blind to the presence of what opposes faith - we must remain aware of the enemy's pursuit.

This balance is crucial. When we keep looking back, worrying about the enemy's pursuit, we're not trusting in Christ's promised victory. Yet we can't be so naive that we lay down our spiritual weapons.

Abraham's Detour: A Warning
Even Abraham, the father of faith, had moments of weakness. When famine came to the promised land, he detoured to Egypt rather than waiting for God's provision. This detour brought greater problems than the hunger he feared.
Abraham's decision to go to Egypt brought Hagar into their lives, which led to Ishmael, which created centuries of conflict. The consequences of his detour were far greater than the temporary discomfort of waiting on God.

The Tension Between Flesh and Faith
Our flesh is never naturally comfortable with Christ until it's brought into subjection. It resists being conformed to God's will "kicking and screaming the whole way."
True faith isn't about emotional feelings or comfort. Sometimes we allow our flesh to enjoy something we claim is for God's glory, when it's really just satisfying our desires and causing us to miss the greater promise of His presence.
Faith will always move us forward when it moves us, but sometimes faith will hold us still. We must be careful not to be so afraid of quiet, waiting times that we chase after any light we see.

Life Application
This week, consider how you might be living more by sight than by faith:

1. Examine your doubts: Like Sarah, do you laugh at what God says is possible in your life? Ask God to help you see beyond your limitations to His unlimited power.
2. Identify your "Egypt": What detours are you taking to avoid discomfort? Where might God be asking you to stay put and trust Him rather than seeking your own solution?
3. Check your mindfulness: What are you thinking about most? Are you mindful of your old nature and habits, or are you focused on the heavenly country God has prepared?
4. Practice dying to self: Choose one area this week where you will deliberately die to your own desires and embrace God's way instead.

Ask yourself: Am I truly walking by faith, or am I still trying to see everything clearly before I step forward? Am I more concerned with my comfort now or with God's eternal promises? What impossible thing might God be asking me to believe Him for today?
Remember, faith is not about what we can produce, but about trusting God to do what only He can do. The elders weren't extraordinary people - they were broken and flawed just like us. Their greatness came from their willingness to trust God's word over their own understanding.