The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is now studying the heroes of faith found in the Bible. In Hebrews 11, we find a remarkable chapter that introduces us to a cloud of witnesses, individuals who exemplified extraordinary faith. However our study will go beyond Hebrews 11 and include the lives of others that are examples of the blessings of having faith in God. We will also talk about other people that exhibited extraordinary faith, some of them are people we may know.
Hebrews 11:6 NIV And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Faith is more than believing. Faith is more than thinking, talking, or having convictions about Jesus. Faith is action. It is movement; it is activity. Faith is something you do. In fact, the Bible says in James 2:14, “If people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing” (New Century Version).
Where do you get the faith to make a fresh start? There’s only one source: Jesus Christ.
“Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:30 MSG).
Today as we continue talking about heroes of faith we are going to continue our look at the nation of Israel. The last time that we were together we agreed that walking through the Red Sea which had been parted by God took real faith.
Hebrews 11:29 NIV [29] By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
God had revealed to Moses that Pharaoh would pursue God’s people.
Exodus 14:2-3 ESV "Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, 'They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.'
When the Israelites saw the Egyptians march after them, they panicked.
Exodus 14:10-12 ESV When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord . They said to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."
It was then that Moses said,
Exodus 14:13-14 ESV And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord , which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."
Many truths about faith can be found in the account of God’s people crossing the Red Sea. Let’s consider just a few of them.
1.God is the source of faith.
When Moses and God’s people arrived at the shores of the Red Sea, they could see the Egyptians rapidly approaching behind them. God did something unusual to solve this problem.
Exodus 14:19-20 ESV Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.
II. The secret of faith is to fear not.
When we are surrounded with difficulties and don’t know what to do, we should fear not and stand still. Don’t panic. The restlessness of the human heart often causes us to rush ahead without God. We cannot dry up the Red Seas of life or annihilate the hosts of Egyptians who plague us. The only things that we can control are our responses to things. We can’t control things.
The only thing we can do is;
Exodus 14:13 ESV And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord , which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.
We have said that in 2025 we want to choose faith over fear.
II Timothy 1:7 NKJV For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
In the midst of this uncertainty, what anchors us? What guides our steps and sustains our souls?
The answer lies in a single word: faith.
III. Faith’s success is found in going forward when the Lord says move and going in confidence because the Lord’s fighting for you (Ex. 14:13–16).
Exodus 14:13-16 ESV And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord , which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent." The Lord said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.
Another thing we said was that when we face challenges and feel overwhelmed, we should remember that "the battle is not ours" it’s the Lord’s
2 Chronicles 20:15 NIV [15] He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.
IV. Faith results in praise.
After the Israelites crossed over on dry land and the Egyptians had been destroyed when the Red Sea went back to being a Sea and not a pathway to safety. They praised God for their deliverance.
Exodus 15:1 ESV Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord , saying, "I will sing to the Lord , for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
That’s what I want us to talk about today and that is the praise that is the result of our faith. I consider the shout that caused the walls of Jericho to be a shout of praise, which was the result of Joshua's and the people’s faith in God and His instructions.
Let’s first go back to a time where the people showed a lack of faith even after seeing and being a past of the miracle of the Red Sea where the actions of the people was a real act of faith.
The belief of historians and biblical experts is that the time period between the Red Sea and Moses sending spies into Cannan could have been within a short time frame, possibly a few days or weeks.
Numbers 13:2 NIV [2] “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.”
However most of the people had more faith in what 10 of the spies said over what God had already said.
Here’s what 10 of the spies said;
Numbers 13:26-29 NIV [26] They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. [27] They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. [28] But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. [29] The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.”
No faith.
God had said
Genesis 12:6-7 NIV [6] Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. [7] The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.
Genesis 15:18-21 NIV [18] On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates— [19] the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, [20] Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, [21] Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.”
Genesis 17:8 NIV [8] The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”
Two of the spies, Caleb and Josuah, believed in God. Here’s what is recorded as Caleb’s response to his trip as a spy
Numbers 13:30 NIV [30] Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
The lack of faith of the 10 spies was transferred to the majority of the people.
Numbers 14:1-4 NIV [1] That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. [2] All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! [3] Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” [4] And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”
Moses and Aaron tried to reason with them
Numbers 14:5-9 NIV [5] Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. [6] Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes [7] and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. [8] If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. [9] Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”
But they did not have faith and as our main scripture says;
Hebrews 11:6 NIV And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
So God let them have their way but there was a price to pay for their lack of faith. Read on your own verses 10-44 of Numbers 14 but I want us to read together what happened as a result of their lack of faith, which was in essence a rejection of God’s promise.
Numbers 14:26-35 NIV [26] The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: [27] “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. [28] So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: [29] In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. [30] Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. [31] As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected. [32] But as for you, your bodies will fall in this wilderness. [33] Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. [34] For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’ [35] I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die.”
After 40 years the Israelites were finally at the end of their journey. They were finally ready to enter the land that God promised to the descendants of Abraham, the Promised Land, the land of Canaan, the land of milk and honey and here is this major city of Jericho standing in their way.
Most of us know the story of the destruction of Jericho. God told Joshua to have the army and seven priests march around Jericho one time for six days, then on the seventh day they were to march around the city seven times and when the priests blew one long blast the people were to shout, I mean really shout, and God said that the walls of the city would fall flat and they could go in and destroy the enemy. They did what God told them to do and they captured Jericho. All of that is in Joshua chapter 6.
Joshua 6:1-4, 15-16, 20-21 ESV [1] Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. [2] And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. [3] You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. [4] Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
[15] On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. [16] And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city.
[20] So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city. [21] Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.
Hebrews 11:30 ESV says By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
Faith in God is essential.
Hebrews 11:6 ESV And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Hebrews 11:1-3 ESV [1] Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. [2] For by it the people of old received their commendation. [3] By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
The author of Hebrews defines faith for us in Hebrews 11:1-3.
Hebrews 11:1-3 NIV [1] Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. [2] This is what the ancients were commended for. [3] By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance, the conviction, about what we do not see. It is the conviction that God is real, that He loves us, and that He is working everything out for our good.
Romans 8:28-30 NIV [28] And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. [29] For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. [30] And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Faith isn't blind hope or wishful thinking. It's a confident expectation that God will fulfill His promises. Our assurance comes from knowing God's character and relying on His word.
God is Love:
1 John 4:8: "Whoever does not love has not known God, because God is love."
God is Merciful and extends Grace:
Exodus 34:6 NIV [6] And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,
God is Holy:
Isaiah 6:3 NIV And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
God is Just and Righteous:
Psalm 89:14: "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you."
God is Powerful and Sovereign:
We must believe that God is, that God is powerful, and that God acts. If He says it He will do it. All we have to do is believe it and go for it.
God is the source. Faith is something given to us by God.
Romans 12:3 ESV For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV[8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith.
Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV [1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
And our faith allows us to walk in ultimate victory.
Faith is activated when God’s people follow His plan.
The plan for conquering Jericho was simple. The people were to march around Jericho once for six days. On the seventh day they were to march around Jericho seven times, blow a long trumpet blast, shout with a great shout, and the walls would fall.
God’s leader was Joshua.
First of all he was called by God
Joshua 1:5-6 ESV No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.
He was faithful, and positive,
Numbers 14:36-38 ESV And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing up a bad report about the land— the men who brought up a bad report of the land—died by plague before the Lord . Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive.
And he was filled with God’s word
Joshua 1:7-8 ESV Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Israel followed God’s plan and God’s leader. We always have victory when we follow God’s plan for our lives.
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
