Ed Urzi

“Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35 NIV).

The closing portion of Hebrews 11:35 speaks of “others were tortured [to death], refusing to accept release [offered on the condition of denying their faith], so that they would be resurrected to a better life” (AMP). While these individuals might have sought to escape that terrible fate, they clearly preferred the eternal value of an honorable death before God.

As mentioned earlier, this passage serves to remind us that faith does not guarantee our deliverance in every instance. The Biblical letter of 1 Peter builds upon that reminder and helps us maintain the right perspective…

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13 NIV).

We can also gain insight into this portion of Hebrews with a look at one of Jesus’ parables…

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall” (Matthew 7:24:27).

It’s important to note that the same storm descended upon each of these homes. This implies that a life that is built upon the foundation of Christ is not necessarily immune from the common storms of life.

For instance, consider a scenario where God’s people never suffered through a financial issue, a physical ailment, an employment problem, or a business reversal. What would happen if a follower of Christ never wrecked an automobile, failed at school, or lost a loved one? Under those circumstances, Christianity would undoubtedly hold a far greater appeal for many. That appeal would have little or nothing to do with Jesus, but would simply serve as a vehicle to secure an easier life.

However, a life built on the secure foundation of Christ can stand against the storms of life and thus serves to encourage those who seek “…to deserve a more honourable resurrection in the world to come” (Phillips).

“Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection” (Hebrews 11:35).

Two of the more prominent Biblical examples of women who “received their loved ones back from death” (CEV) are found in the Old Testament books of 1 and 2 Kings. In our first example, God directed the prophet Elijah to go to a town called Zarephath where He had arranged for someone to provide for his needs.

Upon his arrival in Zarephath, Elijah encountered a widow who had been gathering sticks to build a fire. She intended to use that fire to prepare a final meal with the last of the flour and oil she possessed. However, Elijah asked her to provide him with a small loaf of bread in advance, and assured her that her supplies would not run out. 1 Kings 17:15 then goes on to tell us, “…she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days.”

Unfortunately, we’re also told that this widow’s son later died from an illness. Elijah sought the Lord on her behalf, and 1 Kings 17:22 records God’s response: “…the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived.” That prompted the following acknowledgment from the widow of Zarephath: “…’Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is the truth'” (1 Kings 17:22).

In our second example, a kindly woman from the town of Shunem took it upon herself to prepare a meal for the prophet Elisha whenever he traveled through her area. She even furnished a guest room for his personal use whenever he was passing through. One day, while Elisha was partaking of her hospitality, he told the woman that she would give birth to a son in the following year. That prophetic statement eventually came to pass, just as he promised.

Unfortunately, the child succumbed to an apparent cerebral injury some time later. His mother rushed to inform Elisha, and he returned to Shunem at her insistence. When the curative action taken by his servant failed to revive the child, Elisha intervened and God miraculously restored the life of her son (see 2 Kings 4:8-37 for the complete account).

Thus, the examples set by these women serve to remind us of our author’s message from earlier in Hebrews chapter eleven: “But 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 diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

“quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight” (Hebrews 11:34 ESV).

The ancient figure of a sword is often used to represent the concept of power and authority. For instance, the New Testament book of Romans makes use of this imagery in speaking of our relationship to human government…

“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil” (Romans 13:3-4).

While the book of Romans employs this concept in a figurative sense, we can point to several Biblical examples of those who “escaped the edge of the sword” in a literal manner. Some of those individuals include…

• Moses. Moses escaped the sword of Pharaoh, the leader of the world’s most powerful nation during his lifetime (Exodus 2:15).
• David. He escaped the sword of Goliath as well as Israel’s king Saul (1 Samuel 17:1-58, 1 Samuel 19:9-10).
• Elijah. Elijah escaped a death threat issued by the infamous Queen Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1-3).

Then there is a reference to those who “were made strong out of weakness” here in Hebrews 11:34. Gideon serves as an obvious example of this quality, in addition to other Biblical personalities such as Moses, Sarah, Esther, and Samson as well. This characteristic also recalls another passage from the Biblical book of Romans…

“Who are you to judge the servants of someone else? It is their own Master who will decide whether they succeed or fail. And they will succeed, because the Lord is able to make them succeed” (Romans 14:4 GNT).

Finally, we have a reference to those who “became valiant in battle” (NKJV) within this passage. Hebrews chapter eleven provides us with several individuals who fit this description, including Abraham, Joshua, Barak, Jephthah, and David.

Yet even though this passage emphasizes the victorious nature of God’s provision, the following verses will also provide us with an important counterbalance. You see, many Godly men and women escaped the edge of the sword, but some did not. This reminds us to take an objective view of this passage and acknowledge that faith does not guarantee our success in every situation.

“quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (Hebrews 11:34).

When it comes to those who “quenched the violence of fire,” we need look no further than the example given to us by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the Biblical book of Daniel. Daniel chapter three relates the account of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar and his decision to erect an enormous gold statue. He then issued the following mandate to his subjects…

“Trumpets, flutes, harps, and all other kinds of musical instruments will soon start playing. When you hear the music, you must bow down and worship the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Anyone who refuses will at once be thrown into a flaming furnace” (Daniel 3:5-6 CEV).

That decree met with widespread compliance among the members of Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. However, there were three individuals who declined to follow the king’s edict- and their decision did not escape the notice of others who promptly reported them to the king: “…Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refuse to worship your gods and the statue you have set up” (Daniel 3:12 CEV).

That led to the following exchange between Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and the king…

“[Nebuchadnezzar said,] ‘I hear that you refuse to worship my gods and the gold statue I have set up. Now I am going to give you one more chance. If you bow down and worship the statue when you hear the music, everything will be all right. But if you don’t, you will at once be thrown into a flaming furnace. No god can save you from me.”

The three men replied, ‘Your Majesty, we don’t need to defend ourselves. The God we worship can save us from you and your flaming furnace. But even if he doesn’t, we still won’t worship your gods and the gold statue you have set up'” (Daniel 3:14-18 CEV).

This made Nebuchadnezzar so furious that he raised the furnace temperature to a level that was seven times hotter than normal. He then ordered his strongest soldiers to bind the three young men and toss them into the fire (Daniel 3:19-23). Here’s what happened next..

“Suddenly the king jumped up and shouted, ‘Weren’t only three men tied up and thrown into the fire?’ ‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ his officers answered.
‘But I see four men walking around in the fire,’ the king replied. ‘None of them is tied up or harmed, and the fourth one looks like a god'” (Daniel 3:24-26 CEV).

So by trusting God to protect them by faith in the midst of their fiery ordeal, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego personified the message of Hebrews 11:34.

“who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions” (Hebrews 11:33).

Having spent much of this chapter extolling those who exemplified genuine faith, verses 33-40 will end this portion of our author’s letter with a list of their accomplishments. Nevertheless, we should not limit our view of this passage to those who appear here in Hebrews chapter eleven. Instead, these closing verses also pertain to others, as implied in the opening verse of the following chapter. While many of those individuals may be unknown to history, they are certainly well-known to God.

In looking at this passage, we can cite several Biblical personalities who fit the parameters given to us in this verse. For instance, the first characteristic quality listed in verse thirty-three is this: “Through faith they conquered kingdoms…” (CEB). While Joshua and David are undoubtedly the best-known examples of those who conquered kingdoms, we could add Hezekiah to that list as well (2 Kings 18:1-8).

In addition, the Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles mentions another leader named Uzziah who was highly successful in subduing the kingdoms held by several ancient enemies of God’s people. However, Uzziah’s life serves as a better illustration of our need to honor God in humility no matter how successful we become (see 2 Chronicles 26).

Then we have a reference to those who “worked righteousness.” In this context, “righteousness” refers to the quality of being right or just. ₍₁₎ There are several Biblical examples we can follow in this respect. They include such exemplary Biblical characters as Jacob’s son Joseph and John the Baptist. Israel’s King Hezekiah also deserves mention here in light of his extensive spiritual reforms.

With respect to those who “obtained promises,” we can look to several of those who have already been mentioned throughout this chapter, including Abraham, Moses, and David. Joshua and Caleb would fit this category as well.

Finally, we have those who “stopped the mouths of lions.” The unquestioned leader among those who fit this description is the prophet Daniel. God’s gracious act of providence in allowing Daniel to emerge unscathed from an overnight stay in a lion’s den (as detailed in Daniel chapter six) is widely familiar to the religious and secular alike. However, there were some other “heroes of the faith” who also accomplished this feat, including Samson and David.

The following verse continues with this list of positive qualities, and we’ll consider several of them next.

(1) G1343 dikaiosune https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1343/kjv/tr/0-1/

“And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets” (Hebrews 11:32 RSV).

The Biblical book of 1 Samuel relates the account of the prophet Samuel and the dishonorable conduct of his sons, Joel and Abijah. Although Samuel’s children held positions of power and influence as judges over Israel, they leveraged those positions for personal gain. According to 1 Samuel 8:3, these men “…were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and were very corrupt in the administration of justice” (TLB).

This unfortunate situation deteriorated to the point where Israel’s national leadership felt the need to take action. However, the change they had in mind served to expose their misguided priorities…

“Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. ‘Look,’ they told him, ‘you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have'” (1 Samuel 8:4-5).

That led God to respond to Samuel in the following manner…

“‘Do everything they say to you,’ the Lord replied, ‘for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment'” (1 Samuel 8:7-8 NLT).

God then told Samuel to warn the people about the consequences they would suffer under a king (1 Samuel 8:10-17). But that warning made no difference to Samuel’s audience…

“‘When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.’ But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. ‘Even so, we still want a king,’ they said” (1 Samuel 8:18-19 NLT).

This sequence presents us with some interesting dynamics, none of which were good. First, the dishonorable conduct of Samuel’s sons led the elders of Israel to seek a change in judicial leadership. If Samuel’s two sons had chosen to follow their father’s God-honoring example, it’s likely that no one would have sought to make a change. But in asking for a king, the leaders of Israel exploited this situation as a means to pursue their rejection of God.

For Samuel, it must have been difficult to watch the people make this request, especially knowing that his sons provided the motivation for that demand. In circumstances like this, it takes genuine, Biblical faith to maintain the confident expectation that God will bring something good from a bad situation. Thus, we are reminded of Jesus’ message from the New Testament Gospel of Matthew: “…with God, everything is possible” (Matthew 19:26).

“And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets” (Hebrews 11:32 NASB).

The final example of genuine Biblical faith from Hebrews chapter eleven involves the prophet Samuel. The Old Testament account of Samuel’s life tells us that he was a man who was dedicated to the Lord from his earliest youth (1 Samuel chapter one). He later went on to represent God before a wide variety of people. That list included the members of Israel’s general population, other priests, and the king of Israel himself. Samuel also served as a trusted confidant, political leader, and traveling magistrate at various points throughout his life as well.

The Biblical account of Samuel’s life (found mostly within the first twenty chapters of 1 Samuel), identifies him as someone who led an exemplary life of faith and service before God. In fact, Jeremiah 15:1 characterizes Samuel (along with Moses) as someone who clearly occupied a favored position with God. However, there is one aspect of Samuel’s life that speaks to the challenges involved in raising children who seek to honor God…

“As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel. Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba. But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice” (1 Samuel 8:1-3 NLT).

It may be said that no one lead a more praiseworthy Old Testament life than Samuel. But somehow, his children did not follow his good example. While the Scriptural record does not tell us how or why this happened, it appears that Samuel somehow failed to convey his personal love and respect for God to his sons.

This unfortunate example links the great prophet Samuel with those parents who have worked to instill Biblical values in their children only to see them abandon those values in adulthood. These parents understand the heartbreak involved in watching a child suffer the repercussions that are often associated with unbiblical choices despite their efforts to help their child make decisions that honor God. For a man like Samuel, the conduct of his sons must have been something that brought him a great deal of pain.

However, there is more to this account of Samuel’s life. The behavior of Samuel’s children prompted Israel’s leaders to ask Samuel to appoint a monarch, much like the other nations that surrounded their country. We’ll close our brief look at Samuel’s life by examining that sequence of events next.

“And what other examples shall I give? There is simply not time to continue by telling the stories of Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jeptha; of David, Samuel and the prophets” (Hebrews 11:32 Phillips).

Our next “Hall Of Fame” member is David, the former king of Israel. Although David is far better known to contemporary audiences, he was a man much like Jephthah in certain respects. For example, David was someone who faced rejection from his family, much like Jephthah (see 1 Samuel 17:12-29). In a similar manner, David also became the leader of a group of malcontents, rebels, and anti-establishment types, just like Jephthah (1 Samuel 22:1-2).

David and Jephthah were also successful military leaders (1 Samuel 18:13-14), and both had faith in God (1 Samuel 17:45-46). Finally, David and Jephthah each made at least one unwise choice. Jephthah’s decision involved a foolish oath that committed him to sacrifice whatever emerged from his home following his successful military campaign against Israel’s enemies. David’s choice involved his sexual affair with Bathsheba, a woman who was married to another man.

When Bathsheba was found to be pregnant as a result of their encounter, David responded by summoning her husband Uriah from the battlefield. After two failed attempts to encourage Uriah to sleep with his wife, David sent him back to the war zone with specific orders for his deployment. David instructed his commanding officer to send Uriah to the hottest part of the battlefront, while the other members of his military unit withdrew. Uriah, along with some others, subsequently perished in combat.

Following a period of mourning, David took the occasion of Uriah’s death to marry Bathsheba, his widow. However, that portion of the account of David’s life ends with the ominous words of 2 Samuel 11:27: “…But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.” Although David ultimately confessed his sin with Bathsheba and received forgiveness, his rule was subsequently plagued by tragedies and setbacks from that point forward.

Yet despite these things, the Scriptures tell us that David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22) and we cannot overlook his genuine love for God. Today, David is rightfully honored for his faith and Hebrews chapter eleven places him alongside these other members of the Biblical “Hall of Fame.” So just as we saw in our earlier look at the life of Jephthah, David’s experience tells us that a grievous mistake is not necessarily enough to keep one from entering God’s “Faith Hall Of Fame.”

“And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets” (Hebrews 11:32 MEV).

Although God enabled Jephthah to secure a resounding victory over one of Israel’s great historic enemies, his foolish vow brought great sorrow in the midst of his triumph. Unfortunately, there are many who continue to follow this example through vows and oaths of their own. For instance, how often have we heard statements like these while engaged in casual conversation…

• “So help me God…”
• “I swear, I’m going to…”
• “As God is my witness…”

Unfortunately, it often seems as if people give little thought to statements like these. However, Jesus issued a solemn warning to those who would take such oaths…

“But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one” (Matthew 5:34-37).

It is important to remember that the term, “I swear…” equates to a vow, even when used informally. In addition to Jesus’ warning from the Gospel of Matthew, we also have the following counsel from the New Testament epistle of James…

“But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no so that you will not sin and be condemned for it” (James 5:12 NLT).

So what does Jephthah’s experience tell us? Well, there are several lessons we can glean from Jephthah’s life…

• First, Jephthah’s example tells us that anyone can have a “hall of fame” type of faith, regardless of his or her family origin.
• Next, we should remember that the people of Jephthah’s hometown were content to exile him to a foreign land. But that changed when they needed him to help defeat their enemies. Nevertheless, Jephthah did not hold that slight against them. Instead, he accepted their leadership offer, and God used him to deliver the people from their adversaries.
• Finally, Jephthah’s example reminds us that bad choices often bring terrible consequences. But even a foolish decision (like the one Jephthah made) will not necessarily keep someone from entering God’s Faith Hall Of Fame.

“Do I need to give you more examples? I don’t have enough time to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets” (Hebrews 11:32 ERV).

Prior to his military advance against the Ammonites, Judges 11:30-31 tells us that Jephthah offered the following pledge…

“And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, and said, ‘If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.'”

This was a terrible mistake, for when Jephthah returned home from his victory over the Ammonites, here’s what happened next…

“When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter” (Judges 11:34).

Jephthah’s triumph over Israel’s enemies should have been cause for a joyous celebration, but his foolish vow turned it into an occasion of incredible sorrow. So after a short time to mourn her fate, Judges 11:39 tells us that Jephthah’s daughter then “returned to her father and he did to her as he had vowed” (NIV).

Hebrew and Christian scholars debate as to whether Jephthah actually presented his daughter as a sacrificial offering or simply committed her to a life of consecrated service and celibacy. While a definitive answer may be impossible, one commentator from an earlier generation reminds us to focus upon what’s most important…

“Concerning this and some other such passages in the sacred history, about which learned men are divided and in doubt, we need not perplex ourselves; what is necessary to our salvation, thanks be to God, is plain enough.” ₍₁₎

Nevertheless, it’s clear that Jephthah could have avoided this awful situation if he had not taken this foolish vow. Perhaps this is why Proverbs 20:25 tells us, “It is foolish and rash to make a promise to the Lord before counting the cost” (TLB). The Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes adds, “Don’t talk before you think or make promises to God without thinking them through. God is in heaven, and you are on earth, so don’t talk too much” (Ecclesiastes 5:2 CEV).

Unfortunately, there are many who continue to follow this poor example in various ways. We’ll consider some practical applications that can help us avoid that mistake next.

(1) Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary [Judges 11:29] https://bibleapps.com/mhc/judges/11.htm