The Faith Hall of Fame

Hebrews 11:29-12:2 * August 18, 2019

This week I was drawn in by the text from the Epistle (or letter) to the Hebrew people.  This letter is commonly attributed to Paul, however most scholars agree that this is incorrect given the writing style has almost no overlap to the verified Pauline writings. 

The verses preceding today’s text talk about Abel, Noah, Abraham, and Moses, and the many amazing things they did:  Abel’s generosity toward God, Noah’s believing God’s warning, Abraham’s unquestioning obedience to God, and Moses, who by God defied all the odds and rose to lead God’s people to freedom.  Today we add to them Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel.  Today’s particular text is what is known as the “Faith Hall of Fame”.  There are some familiar names here and some not so familiar names as well.  And while each of these people are worthy of an entire sermon series of their own, I’m going to try to tie them together with one common theme this morning.  And though this text is in the NT, we will be spending a good deal of time in the OT.

Let’s start with Rahab; the sheer mention of Rahab is a huge deal and we need to make sure we honor that.  Women were rarely mentioned in the Bible, and if they were, it was in passing or as an added detail or footnote.  For the author of Hebrews to specifically call out Rahab by name is no less than amazing.  If we go back to the OT, back to the book of Joshua, we’ll find the Israelites at the city of Jericho, which was surrounded by a great and grand wall.  The only problem is, this is actually the promised land, and it’s inhabited by Canaanites.  So, Joshua, the leader of the Israelites post the death of Moses, sends in two spies into this walled city, who were taken in, hidden, and sheltered by Rahab.  In the book of Joshua, Rahab is cited to have the profession of a prostitute, and the Bible clearly states “prostitute”, although extracanonical and rabbinical texts direct most scholars to believe she was an innkeeper who was (along with countless other women) mislabeled a harlot in history.

After Rahab, we move into the time of Israel’s history when the people were led and ruled by judges instead of kings.  Gideon, Samson, and Jephthah were all judges who ruled both in times of peace and times of war and oppression.  Gideon brought the Israelites to victory over the Midianites.  Jephthah conquered the Ammonites in his six year reign as judge. 

I’m going to place Barak right here, and, while not a judge, Barak was a brilliant and fearless military leader who, along with the judge Deborah, defeated the Canaanites. 

In a larger narrative, we are all familiar with Samson, the last judge mentioned in the OT book of Judges.  Born to a mother who was barren, Samson’s birth was announced by an angel with strict instruction:  he can’t cut his hair, and he has to mind the food restrictions regarding clean and unclean foods.  Samson was immensely strong and we all know his story of how he destroyed the Philistines, even at the cost of his own life. 

David and Samuel round out this morning’s list.  Samuel, a prophet, is responsible for transitioning the Israelite people from the rule of the judges to the rule of a king.  He anointed Saul, the first king to the Israelites, and then secretly anointed the shepherd boy David, then aided in the transition of power from Saul to David. 

Under King David, probably Israel’s most widely known ruler; fearless, bold, and wise, the people knew great prosperity.  As the founder of the dynasty of Judah, he was a political mastermind and fair and just ruler.  He brought the Ark of the Covenant back to the land where the people dwelt.  He was a musician who celebrated and worshiped with instruments and often dancing.  He led the people to victory countless times over their enemies. 

All of these people are fitting inductees to the “Faith Hall of Fame”, but there’s one thing I want us to take from these stories:  these were ordinary people, who said yes.  These were people just like you and me who, when called upon by God, were, through God, able to do extraordinary things.  And they weren’t without their own flaws….

Abraham lost his patience with God and fathered a child with his wife’s servant girl.  Moses lacked the ability to “speak eloquently”, but made up for that with his temper…which he wasn’t shy about displaying.  Gideon was prone to idolatry.  Samson always struck me as a party boy; he had 30 groomsmen at his wedding.  He slayed 1000 men for their clothes.  He hooked in with a woman of no virtues who sold him out.  Rahab committed treason.  Jephthah wanted victory over the Ammonites so badly that he agreed to sacrifice the next person who walked through his door in exchange for this victory (and it was his only daughter who walked through the door…and he kept his word).  And David…between his womanizing, ego, and poor decision making, that’s a sermon all its own. 

But despite their flaws, their imperfections, their humanness, God called upon each of these people, and they said yes.  They didn’t say yes conditionally, conveniently, or easily; they were called to do things that were abnormal, difficult; things that could have cost them their lives and the lives of those they loved.  They responded to these calls from God with courageous, steadfast responses:  Here I am, Lord.

They allowed their faith to carry them to lands unknown, to service uncharted, beyond their comfort zones and beyond their abilities in most cases.  Their faith was the courage to endure.

And while perhaps you and I will never be asked to commit treason or slay a nearly 7 foot giant, or build a boat to live on for 40 days, every day God does call you and I to service that stretches our limits, tries our patience, and tests our dedication.  Sometimes this call comes as a burning bush, sometimes it comes as a deafening scream, and sometimes it comes in more conspicuous forms, a whisper known only to us. 

In any of these cases, you and I are faced with a choice, the same choice given to this great cloud of witnesses we named today that surround us in our lives:  are we willing to allow our faith to be the courage we need to endure, and say yes?  Are we willing to follow, not knowing the destination?  Are we willing, in the face of unpopularity, through the unjust judgement of our neighbors, no matter the cost or sacrifice, to follow God?