Faith Trusts God Even Before Seeing the Promise
Hebrews 11 is often called the Hall of Faith because it showcases men and women who trusted God despite not yet seeing the fulfilment of His promises. The chapter begins with one of the Bible’s most well-known descriptions of faith:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” — Hebrews 11:1
Faith is not wishful thinking or blind optimism. It is confident trust in the character and promises of God. The writer continues:
“For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.” — Hebrews 11:2
Faith also helps us understand creation itself.
“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God…” — Hebrews 11:3
He then gives several examples. Abel:
“By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain…” — Hebrews 11:4
Enoch:
“By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death…” — Hebrews 11:5
The writer then gives a foundational principle:
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him…” — Hebrews 11:6
Anyone who comes to God:
“…must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” — Hebrews 11:6
This reminds us that faith is trusting God because of who He is, even when we cannot yet see the outcome. Every believer is called to walk by God’s promises rather than by visible circumstances. The Christian life has always been a life of faith.
Faith Obeys God Despite Uncertainty
The writer now highlights Abraham, one of Scripture’s greatest examples of faith. He writes:
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out… not knowing where he was going.” — Hebrews 11:8
He lived as a pilgrim:
“By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country…” — Hebrews 11:9
Why? Because:
“…he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” — Hebrews 11:10
Sarah also trusted God.
“By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed…” — Hebrews 11:11
Even though both were beyond natural childbearing age. The writer says:
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises…” — Hebrews 11:13
Yet they:
“…embraced them…” — Hebrews 11:13
They confessed:
“…that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” — Hebrews 11:13
They desired:
“…a better, that is, a heavenly country.” — Hebrews 11:16
Therefore:
“…God is not ashamed to be called their God…” — Hebrews 11:16
Hebrews 11 teaches that faith obeys even when the future is unclear. Abraham did not know every detail of God’s plan, but he knew the God who had called him. Likewise, believers today walk confidently because they trust God’s faithfulness more than their own understanding.
Faith Perseveres Through Triumphs and Trials
The writer now rapidly surveys many heroes of faith. Abraham:
“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac…” — Hebrews 11:17
Moses:
“By faith Moses… refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.” — Hebrews 11:24
Instead:
“…choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God…” — Hebrews 11:25
He valued:
“…the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt…” — Hebrews 11:26
Israel crossed the Red Sea:
“By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land…” — Hebrews 11:29
Jericho fell:
“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down…” — Hebrews 11:30
Rahab was spared:
“By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish…” — Hebrews 11:31
The writer then mentions Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. Some experienced extraordinary victories:
“…quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword…” — Hebrews 11:34
Others endured terrible suffering:
“Others were tortured…” — Hebrews 11:35
Some:
“…had trial of mockings and scourgings… chains and imprisonment.” — Hebrews 11:36
Still others:
“They were stoned, they were sawn in two…” — Hebrews 11:37
The world:
“…was not worthy.” — Hebrews 11:38
Yet all these believers:
“…obtained a good testimony through faith…” — Hebrews 11:39
This reminds us that faith does not guarantee an easy life. Some believers experience remarkable victories, while others faithfully endure tremendous suffering. In every circumstance, genuine faith continues trusting God because His promises extend beyond this present life.
Deeper Waters
Hebrews 11 is one of the most beloved chapters in Scripture because it demonstrates what genuine faith looks like in real life. After repeatedly calling believers to persevere throughout chapters 3–10, the writer now provides living examples from Israel’s history. Rather than presenting abstract theology, he shows that every generation of God’s people has lived by faith. The chapter therefore prepares for Hebrews 12 by surrounding believers with a great cloud of faithful witnesses whose lives point ultimately to Jesus Christ.
The chapter opens with the famous declaration:
**”Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”**
Faith is often misunderstood as wishing something might happen. Biblically, however, faith is confident reliance upon God’s trustworthy character. It rests not upon visible evidence but upon the certainty of God’s promises. Faith does not create reality; it responds to the reality of God’s Word.
The writer immediately says:
**”by it the elders obtained a good testimony.”**
Throughout Scripture, God’s approval has always been connected with faith. Whether before the Law, under the Law, or under the New Covenant, people are accepted because they trust God rather than themselves.
The first application of faith concerns creation:
**”By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.”**
Creation itself teaches that God’s spoken Word possesses absolute authority. The visible universe originated from the invisible command of God. Faith therefore recognises that ultimate reality is grounded in God’s revelation rather than merely human observation.
The first example is Abel. His sacrifice was accepted:
**”By faith.”**
The contrast with Cain reveals that true worship depends upon trusting and responding to God’s revealed way rather than inventing our own. Abel’s faith expressed itself through obedient worship. Next comes Enoch. He:
**”walked with God”** (Genesis 5:24)
and:
**”was taken away.”**
His life demonstrates that faith is not merely an isolated decision but a lifelong relationship with God. Before his translation, Enoch:
**”had this testimony, that he pleased God.”**
The writer immediately draws the universal principle:
**”without faith it is impossible to please Him.”**
Notice that faith includes two essential convictions:
– believing that God exists, – and believing that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. Faith therefore trusts both God’s being and God’s goodness. The next example is Noah. Before rain had ever fallen as described in Genesis, Noah:
**”prepared an ark.”**
His obedience was based entirely upon God’s warning rather than visible evidence. Faith often acts before circumstances make sense because it trusts God’s Word above present appearances. Abraham becomes the chapter’s central example. He obeyed:
**”not knowing where he was going.”**
Faith does not require knowing every detail of God’s plan. It requires trusting the God who knows the plan completely. Abraham lived in tents because he recognised that Canaan itself was not the ultimate destination. He looked toward:
**”the city… whose builder and maker is God.”**
This heavenly perspective transforms the Christian life. Believers are pilgrims whose ultimate citizenship belongs to God’s eternal kingdom rather than this present world. Sarah likewise demonstrates faith. Although her circumstances appeared impossible, she:
**”judged Him faithful who had promised.”**
Biblical faith is grounded in God’s faithfulness rather than human ability. The writer summarises the patriarchs by saying:
**”These all died in faith.”**
Remarkably, many never witnessed the complete fulfilment of God’s promises during their earthly lives. Yet they:
**”embraced them.”**
Faith is therefore not measured by immediate fulfilment but by unwavering confidence in God’s future faithfulness. The patriarchs confessed themselves to be:
**”strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”**
This identity remains true for Christians today. While believers faithfully serve within this world, their ultimate hope is fixed upon God’s coming kingdom. Verse 16 beautifully declares:
**”God is not ashamed to be called their God.”**
What an extraordinary statement. The God of the universe gladly identifies Himself with those who trust Him. The chapter then presents Abraham’s offering of Isaac. This supreme act demonstrates that faith trusts God’s promises even when obedience appears to threaten those very promises. Abraham believed that:
**”God was able to raise him up.”** (Hebrews 11:19)
Thus Isaac’s near-sacrifice becomes a powerful foreshadowing of the Father’s offering of His own beloved Son. Moses illustrates another aspect of faith. He deliberately rejected:
**”the treasures in Egypt.”**
Instead he chose suffering because he recognised that eternal reward far outweighed temporary earthly privilege. The writer explains:
**”he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.”**
Faith sees beyond what physical eyes can perceive. The latter part of the chapter balances triumph and suffering. Some believers:
– conquered kingdoms, – stopped lions’ mouths, – escaped the sword, – received miraculous victories. Others:
– were imprisoned, – tortured, – mocked, – stoned, – sawn in two, – and wandered in deserts.
This balance is deeply important. Genuine faith does not guarantee earthly comfort. Sometimes faith experiences miraculous deliverance; sometimes it demonstrates steadfast endurance through suffering. In both cases, faith remains victorious because its hope rests in God’s eternal promises rather than temporary circumstances.
The writer says of these suffering saints:
**”of whom the world was not worthy.”**
Earthly rejection does not indicate God’s rejection. Indeed, those most despised by the world are often those most honoured by God. The chapter closes with a remarkable observation:
**”they did not receive the promise.”**
This does not mean God’s promises failed. Rather, they awaited the coming of Christ, through whom God’s redemptive plan reaches its fulfilment. God had:
**”provided something better for us.”**
Believers living after Christ’s first coming enjoy the fulfilment toward which the Old Testament saints looked in hope. Yet together, all God’s redeemed people await the final consummation when Christ returns.
Hebrews 11 encourages us to: de.fine faith as confident trust in God’s character rather than visible circumstances, – worship God according to His revealed truth rather than human preference, – walk faithfully with God day by day as Enoch did, – obey God’s Word even when His plans are not fully understood, – live as pilgrims whose ultimate home is God’s eternal kingdom, – trust God’s promises even when fulfilment seems delayed, – value eternal reward above temporary earthly success, – persevere whether experiencing miraculous victories or faithful suffering, – and continually fix their hope upon the God who never fails His promises.
Ultimately, Hebrews 11 points us to Jesus Christ, the One in whom every promise of God finds its perfect fulfilment. Every act of faith described in this chapter looked forward to Him. Abel’s acceptable sacrifice, Noah’s deliverance, Abraham’s promised son, Isaac’s substitution, Moses’ Passover lamb, and every faithful life anticipated the coming Messiah. Through Christ, believers now possess the reality toward which these Old Testament saints looked in hope. As we continue our own pilgrimage by faith, we do so with even greater confidence, knowing that our risen Saviour has already secured the eternal inheritance promised to all who trust in Him.