Thursday after Easter - Devotions in Exile

Thursday after Easter - Devotions in Exile

The lection for Thursday after Easter:
Exodus 17:1-16
Hebrews 11:1-29

By faith? Faith in these trying times? “Pastor Jerabek, I am struggling with my faith today – in this trying time.” Guess what, you are not alone. That is why I am so glad that the daily lectionary in our hymnal, and followed in the Treasury of Daily Prayer has this Hebrews text appointed for today. If you haven't, take a moment to read it now.

Hebrews chapter eleven is all about faith, in fact, the first verse starts out: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  For by it the men of old gained approval.

After these words we are given a list of men and things they did by faith. There have been people who want to do Bible studies on the “great men of faith,” as if their faith is their own work. Today, I would like to ask, “Which ones are the great men of faith?” It is a great question because there are not many that stand up to intense scrutiny.

There are some that we do not know much about, their faith is mentioned in this chapter of Hebrews, but there is not much about them in the Bible.

First, we have Abel, born in the second chapter of Genesis, the second verse, and is dead, by the hand of his brother seven verses later. He gave of the firstborn of his flock as an offering, which is different from Cain’s offering to God, and Abel’s offering was regarded by God, but Cain’s was not. It is not a difference of animals versus crops that makes the offering of Abel more pleasing to God, it is that his was done by faith, evident by the fact that he offered the firstborn of his flock – he had faith that God would provide, while Cain’s sacrifice was what He could spare – he did not trust God.

Secondly, is Enoch who has basically four verses devoted to his life in Genesis five, ending with this testimony. And Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. His life was pleasing to God because of faith, for without faith nobody can please God. He is also a part of the genealogy of Jesus. But other than this, there is not much we can say about his life, for Scripture is silent.

But then we have the others who are mentioned.

We know the story of Noah, whom Scripture declares was righteous man, he was God-fearing, he was obedient to God, and trusting God. In faith, He prepared the ark for the salvation of his family. Was he perfect? Umm, there is the story of his drunkenness.

Abraham was a man of faith. If this is true, why did he lie to save his own skin when he entered Egypt, afraid to call Sarah his wife for fear they might kill him? God had promised to make him a great nation, surely God would not let him die by the hands of the Egyptians. He does the same thing again when He entered the land of the Negev, claiming Sarah was his sister rather than his wife – again he was afraid they might kill him to get her. Above this though, Abraham did go where God in structed him to go – by faith. He went up to sacrifice his only son, the one for whom he had waited to receive for so many years – by faith.

Our lesson from Hebrews also speaks also of Moses as a great man of faith, but there were the serious doubts he posed to God in the burning bush. Because of his sinful anger and disobedience to God he was not permitted to enter the promised land, but Scripture declares him to be a man of faith.

We could speak of others from the Scriptures who were “great men of faith.” But what I love the most about every single one of them??? They were all sinners, and at one time or another exhibited weakness of faith.

Why do I like that? Because it gives me hope!

God cared for them – in spite of their sins!

God cared for them – in spite of their failings of faith!

God holds them up in this chapter of Hebrews as examples for us OF  LIVING  IN  FAITH.

In these days, your faith is being tested - not like it was not being tested before - but even more so now.

How are my loved ones doing – who live in another home and whom I cannot hug? My job is “essential” but I do not want to be there – I don’t want COVID-19!

I have been out of work for four weeks now, my savings are draining, how will I be able to survive?

Faith in this time is in flux, it rises and falls. When this happens, we wonder if we are truly in the faith, if we are truly God’s children. In our sinful flesh, we are not perfect.

For this sin – for all sins – Christ died! His perfect faithfulness was sacrificed unto death to pay for our times of our struggle and even our failures of faith.

When we attend to Christ in His Word (hearing and reading), and partake of the blessed Sacrament, Christ comes to us and feeds, nourishes, and strengthens faith.

God is in control! Faith trusts God in the midst of trials and tribulation, not knowing what the future may hold for us. But it is good to know that it is OK to struggle in faith, to wrestle with faith. Our joy in hope is that we do not have to have perfect and sinless faith – that our faith is exactly what it needs to be, for Jesus is Himself the author and perfecter of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2)

You are the chosen of God – baptized into Christ! You are the beloved of God – His Word of forgiveness purchased on that Friday called God. And we do truly know the future – our eternal and blessed future – it is revealed in the resurrection of Christ. Rest in the peace of Christ, who has promised to be with you always, to the very end of the age!

We pray: Almighty God, through  Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life. We humble pray that we may live before You in righteousness and purity forever; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, on God, now and forever. Amen.