nikolai_42
Well-known member
Hebrews 11 is well known for its picture of those that died in faith. It highlights many who are luminaries in the scriptures for one reason and one reason alone - they believed God. And it is also not a shocking statement to say that the bible doesn't shy away from the imperfections of these same individuals. We all know that. But when you look closely at some of these faults, failures and sins, how are we to reconcile that with faith? Can faith and sin coexist?
Some examples :
Abraham - the father of the faithful - believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. But this same Abraham didn't believe God when he was told he would have a son at his old age - nor did he believe it could be through Sara. Wasn't this some form of unbelief (in more than one way) and even something like adultery?
Moses - his many exploits through faith and obedience to God are summarized. But it is left out that he was denied entry into the very land to which he was sojourning because he disobeyed God and struck the rock instead of speaking to it.
Rahab - protected the spies (who were not on her side) and even lied for them. And while she certainly saw God's hand on them, she did lie for them.
Gideon - only mentioned in passing in this chapter. As a judge, he was reknowned but after his victory made a golden ephod by which Israel committed idolatry (and he didn't remove - that was his sin, I think). And then it says he took many wives. This does not seem like a man who lived by faith.
Samson - also mentioned only in passing. His weakness for Delilah became his downfall. Yet he was still a mighty judge and considered a man of faith.
David - need his sins be recounted? If he were alive today, it's unlikely he would be considered a believer anymore (at least in some circles) much less still a man of faith. Adultery and murder, not to mention the penchant for multiple wives and concubines.
I don't think "reconcile" is the right word, but how do we...hold in seeming tension...the things which seem to be "faith-killers" with the apparent faith these men exhibited? Do these sins undermine their faith or are they just a picture of fallen man given some grace by God in a time before Christ brought salvation to light? Jesus said that a good tree can't bring forth bad fruit nor a bad tree good fruit. Does that apply here?
Some examples :
Abraham - the father of the faithful - believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. But this same Abraham didn't believe God when he was told he would have a son at his old age - nor did he believe it could be through Sara. Wasn't this some form of unbelief (in more than one way) and even something like adultery?
Moses - his many exploits through faith and obedience to God are summarized. But it is left out that he was denied entry into the very land to which he was sojourning because he disobeyed God and struck the rock instead of speaking to it.
Rahab - protected the spies (who were not on her side) and even lied for them. And while she certainly saw God's hand on them, she did lie for them.
Gideon - only mentioned in passing in this chapter. As a judge, he was reknowned but after his victory made a golden ephod by which Israel committed idolatry (and he didn't remove - that was his sin, I think). And then it says he took many wives. This does not seem like a man who lived by faith.
Samson - also mentioned only in passing. His weakness for Delilah became his downfall. Yet he was still a mighty judge and considered a man of faith.
David - need his sins be recounted? If he were alive today, it's unlikely he would be considered a believer anymore (at least in some circles) much less still a man of faith. Adultery and murder, not to mention the penchant for multiple wives and concubines.
I don't think "reconcile" is the right word, but how do we...hold in seeming tension...the things which seem to be "faith-killers" with the apparent faith these men exhibited? Do these sins undermine their faith or are they just a picture of fallen man given some grace by God in a time before Christ brought salvation to light? Jesus said that a good tree can't bring forth bad fruit nor a bad tree good fruit. Does that apply here?