PERFECTION BY FAITH
Icons of Faith
Book Review by Leroy Gardenier
According to the reference books, the term "Easter" is somewhat obscure. I've read widely differing explanations of its origin. Some claim it is derived from a word for cycle, referring to the cycle of seasons. Others think that Easter comes from the name of some goddess of Springtime. But all the dictionaries and encyclopedias that I've consulted agree that Easter is the popular name for the principle Christian event - the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. However the world chooses to acknowledge or celebrate Easter is their concern. For us Christians belief in God's resurrection power as the overwhelming evidence of triumph over sin, suffering and death; and as the pledge of the resurrection and glorification of the true followers of Christ this is cause not only for a yearly celebration but the source of our daily rejoicing in Christ Jesus! "We are Easter men and Alleluia is our song", Augustine exulted many centuries ago. The popular modem catch-phrase exhorts us "to live as if Jesus died yesterday, arose today, and is coming back tomorrow!" But resurrection -whether the historical event commemorated at Easter or the future spiritual reality prophesied by the Lord Jesus and ordained for us all (John 5:29) - requires faith. And this brings us to our current subject: the elders who obtained a good report by faith; the great cloud of witnesses who, by their faith-filled lives, testified to the reality of the resurrection and pointed us to Jesus, who is the Resurrection and the Life. (John 11:25)
Fifteen separate individuals and groups are presented in the order they appear in the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews. Great Cloud is a lengthy, comprehensive but a most enlightening and edifying study. Warren W. Wiersbe, in his brief foreword, states: "I know of no other book on Hebrews in the English language that contains more solid spiritual teaching and practical truth than this one. Far from being an 'ivory tower' commentary, this book touches life and makes living by faith an exciting and practical experience. "Bullinger divides his study of the elders' faith into five distinctive, but somewhat interrelated, groups. On page 130 the author provides an outline of the entire book. The reader might find it helpful in understanding, not so much the personalities, but the order and structure of the scriptural truths and topics that relate to this exciting list. The outline also gives us a graphic representation of the connections (or correspondences) between such widely differing individuals as Sarah and Rahab. Both testify to what the author refers to as "faith's conclusion". Abraham, who was quick to obey God's commands, is linked to the nascent nation of Israel, eager to move forward through the forbidding Red Sea rather than return to the slavery and oppression of Egypt.
''Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written [in the Bible] for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." (1 Cor. 10: 11)
But, first of all, Bullinger makes a study of Abel who represents faith's worship. "Abel's faith", he says, "shows the first step in the way back to God. The blood of Abel's lamb effected what the sweat of Cain's brow could never have accomplished. It gave peace with God and restored communion with God. It enabled man once more to walk with God, but on redemption ground and no longer on creation ground. "Enoch, who was divinely instructed, is an example of faith's walk. And what glorious results are obtained by an intimate walk with God! Resurrection? Indeed, even translation "that he should not see death"! What an inspiring sight, Enoch and his God talking together and walking right into eternity. A similar event occurred when Elijah walked along with Elisha; then, all at once, the former was suddenly raptured. How close to resurrection did the two disciples on the road to Emmaus come, when they were walking and talking that first Easter day? Without their knowing it, their risen Lord quietly drew alongside! The final study in the first group of elders pertains to Noah who demonstrates faith's witness. "Enoch walked with God in the midst of the growing corruption; and Noah witnessed for God when that corruption was reaching its height. This shows us that it is possible for those who believe God to walk with Him and witness for Him in the darkest days."
From faith's worship, walk and witness we go on to the second group of faith's obedience and faith's conclusion. Abraham and Sarah are the ones considered here, as we noted earlier. The third group comprises Isaac-faith overcoming the will of flesh. Jacob - faith overcoming the will of man. Joseph -faith waiting for God's time. Moses' parents - faith overcoming the fear of man. Moses - faith overcoming the praise of man. Joseph is to be singled out among this prestigious group. He is the one who corresponds to the Lord Jesus Christ and His believing disciples who faithfully await the resurrection from the dead (Phil. 3: 1 I). "Joseph believed what he heard. He believed that he would possess that 'one portion' which Israel said 'I have given to thee” (Gen. 48:22). He believed he would possess and enjoy it 'above' his brethren. We, too, who believe God, have a blessed promise of 'a portion above our brethren': of going up to our inheritance over the hill country of the Amorites: of being 'called on high' (phil. 3: 14): of experiencing that wondrous 'change' (Phil. 3:20-21) and that 'fashioning like unto the glorious body of the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour'."
Israel and Rahab make up the fourth group of faithful elders. In Sarah and Rahab we have ‘faith's conclusion’. This is common to both women. Sarah Judged Him ‘faithful who had promised’. Rahab said of the spies' credentials and the mission of Israel: 'I know…for we have heard' (Josh. 2:9-10). Moreover, both women stand in connection with the two examples of faith's obedience, forming two corresponding pairs, with Abraham and Israel." As for Israel, they were reassured time and again that God would intervene and bring them out of Egypt. They believed God's Word and, when the time was right, acted on it. But there are two aspects of full deliverance from all bondage and oppression: deliverance FROM, but also deliverance TO. The revelation made at the burning bush that God would not only bring them out of Egypt but that He also would bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey (Ex. 3: 17) - full faith in this was tested when Israel stood on the edge of the Red Sea with the command 'Go forward' ringing in their ears (Ex. 14: 15).
The fifth and final group in the Great Cloud of Witnesses is again divided into two very distinct and separate groups: faith conquering through God; and, faith suffering for God. Of the former, six are specifically named - Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephtha, David and Samuel. The seventh is a generic group, "the prophets". Bullinger comments: "Of the first four, the first and fourth stand out as being more important in the character and strength of their independent faith; while the second and third are associated with women; the former in his rise (Barak), and the latter in his fall (Samson). As for David, Samuel and the prophets, David stands out as being a prophet indeed; while Samuel connects the judges with the prophets since he partook of the character of both." The final division includes all those unnamed saints who stand for faith suffering for God. The author makes it clear that these "others" of Hebrews 11:36 were not any who merited punishment for faithlessness to their fellow man. Rather, these suffered for their faithfulness to God. "It was steadfastness in their belief of what they heard from God which brought all their sufferings from man. Men had no quarrel with them. Men had not been injured by them. The tortures and sufferings which they endured were all and wholly on account of man's rooted enmity against God and His Word." It is the realization and appreciation of this real reason behind these cruelties that concludes Hebrews 11. But the complete ending of this best of all "good reports" regarding faith is actually found in Hebrews 12:1-2. These verses make the definition of faith, which begins Hebrews 11, very personal indeed. God's Word and witness here urge us to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, our resurrection and our life - the One who also gives real meaning to the celebration of Easter!
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