Day 317: Hebrews 11:17-31

“By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.” - Hebrews 11:29 ESV

Death by drowning has to be one of the most fearful things to think about. Would we be willing to risk this fate by stepping out in faith if God commanded us to do so? The Israelites walked across on the dry land, through the Red Sea, with water walls on either side. Surely they had to wonder if the barricade would hold for all 1.5 million-ish of them to cross. God kept the waters at bay and allowed them to cross. Their faith had not been misplaced.

As we meander through Hebrews 11, we see people who did things by faith, causing them to take risks. Faith will always call us to take uncomfortable action. The Greek word used for faith throughout the New Testament is pistis, and it can also be translated as trust.

If we trust God enough to see us through, we need to believe He'll support us as we step into an unknown/exciting space.

In these moments, if God doesn't come through, we will fail miserably. History has shown, though, that God has always responded significantly to people who put simple trust (faith) in Him. What step is Jesus asking you to take next?

“There are two redemptions: redemption by price and redemption by power. Redemption by price was typified in the paschal lamb and the Passover. Redemption by power was typified in the passage of the Red Sea, when the children of Israel went through it dry-shod and the Egyptians were drowned.” - C.H. Spurgeon

Day 316: Hebrews 11:1-16

“But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” - Hebrews 11:16 ESV

The Greek word used for ashamed here is epaischynomai. Jesus used the same word in Mark 8:38 when he said, "Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

We know what it is like to be ashamed of association with someone else. Maybe we don't want some of our friends to know about another group with which we are close. Possibly you dated someone, and it went wrong, and it continues to be awkward when you run into them. Shame and regret flood in with a simple glance.

When it comes to His children, His faithful ones, God doesn't shrink back when He thinks of us. He isn't worried about his reputation being weakened. If this is how you feel about your association with Jesus, the feeling is promised to be reciprocated.

Need proof? Check out the cast of characters that God used as laid out in Hebrews 11. None of them were perfect. I mean, Abraham even lied about his wife twice to try and save his own life and mistreated an Egyptian slave.

T.D. Lea says it well as he wrote, "Despite the obvious failings of all these men, God was not ashamed to be called their God. He had prepared a spiritual city for them, and he was delighted to be known as their God." - Lea, T. D. (1999). Hebrews, James (Vol. 10, p. 202)

God is getting ready for us. Are we getting ready for Him? We should be honored for everyone to know that we are secured children of our heavenly Father, saved by the blood of His Son, Jesus, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Day 315: Hebrews 10:18-39

“…let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.” - Hebrews‬ ‭10:22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse may not hold that much significance with us until we consider the reaction of those in the Bible that came into contact with God’s presence (or even an angel). Abram was overcome (Genesis 17:3). Samson’s parents fell face down (Judges 13:20). Ezekiel also fell on his face (Ezekiel 1:28). Daniel did the same (Daniel 8:17). A leper fell before Jesus as well (Luke 5:12). John fell as if dead (Revelation 1:17).

So, are you ready to stroll right into God’s presence with your sincere heart? Yeah, it makes me a little nervous as well to think about it as well.

Yet, we have no reason to fear God’s presence. This isn’t because we’ve finally started to sin less often. It is all because of Jesus granting us access through his blood and resurrection!

“In Christ we are to see accomplished all that is needed for atonement. But there are conditions also required in ourselves, expressed first by the ‘true heart,’ and the ‘fulness of faith,’ and then by the clauses that follow.” - Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. (1909). Hebrews (p. 266)

This context makes the iconic Hebrews 10:25 so much richer. Since we have access to God's presence and all of our guilty consciences have been made clean, why wouldn't we want to share in this fellowship with other Christians?  It is a joy to walk side-by-side with those who can encourage us with these truths.

Day 314: Hebrews 10:1-17

“Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.’ Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:5-7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We actually have no record of Jesus saying these words, but we do have evidence of him living them. They are a quotation from Psalm 40:6-8, which is clearly about the Messiah.

The Father provided His Son with a body. That body would be nurtured as a baby and would grow to offer healing for many. Ultimately, though, the will of God was not focusing on a temporary fix.

The end game was to see us receive (by faith) eternal healing by the blood of that body.

Jesus also lived Psalm 40 as He submissively prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane (see Luke 22:39-46). He knew what His body wanted to do, but His desire to do God’s will triumphed over the pull of His flesh.

May we take the example of our Savior to heart. Let’s be about our Father’s will over everything else, even if it may hurt in the short term.

This quote is a little long, but such a great way to close our time today:  “The human nature of Christ was taken on Him in order that He might be able to do for us that which God desired and required. God desired to see an obedient man—a man who would keep His law to the full, and He sees Him in Christ. God desired to see one who would vindicate the eternal justice and show that sin is no trifle. Behold our Lord, the eternal Son of God, entering into that prepared body, was ready to do all this mighty work by rendering to the law a full recompense for our dishonor of it!” - C.H. Spurgeon (“Hebrews” pg 270)

Day 313: Hebrews 9:11-28

“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” - Hebrews 9:27-28 ESV

Thomas Edison and his researchers in Edison's laboratory in Menlo Park, N.J., tested more than 3,000 designs for light bulbs between 1878 and 1880. They needed all of these unsuccessful attempts to get to their finished product.

How about Jesus? How many times did He need to carry out his rescue plan? It took one cross, a single offering, to atone for our many mistakes. When we receive this generous gift of grace, we are forgiven and set on a new path that leads to life (see Matthew 7:13-14).

Yet that isn't all. One day Jesus will come for a second time to bring justice to completion (all will be made right). Who is it that will be saved? Those who "eagerly await" him. This is one Greek word (apekdechomai), and it means to "look forward eagerly" or to “expect anxiously.”

Jesus saved us by His death when we came to Him in faith. Now we look ahead, not fearfully, but filled with hope.

And as we established at the start, Jesus is an expert in saving. He only needed one take to do what no one else could.

“At His first manifestation Christ took on Him the sins of humanity, and, though Himself sinless, endured the consequences of sin. At His second coming this burden will exist no longer. Sin then will have no place.” - Brooke Foss Westcott

Day 312: Hebrews 9:1-10

“In that room were a gold incense altar and a wooden chest called the Ark of the Covenant, which was covered with gold on all sides. Inside the Ark were a gold jar containing manna, Aaron’s staff that sprouted leaves, and the stone tablets of the covenant.” - Hebrews 9:4 NLT

Ever wondered why these three items were placed inside the Ark of the Covenant? All three were rich with significance when it came to Israel's history.

• Jar containing manna - Exodus 16:14-36, Numbers 11:1-14

• Aaron's staff that sprouted - Numbers 16-17

• Stone tablets (10 Commandments) - Exodus 20, 25:16, 32:19

If you take the time to read all of these passages, you'll see that each of the items was a physical reminder from times of Israelite rebellion. The people moaned about the manna, they questioned Aaron's leadership, and they regressed by worshiping a calf idol (resulting in the first tablets being smashed).

Why place warnings in the Ark? Why not put a copy of the Song of Moses in there or maybe a section of Moses' miraculous staff?

It seems clear that these three were to be perpetual reminders of their great need for Yahweh. They would not be able to live their best life by their own strength. Our natural course is sinful defiance against God, trying to create our own way, making gods of ourselves and our culture.

Even though these three were reminders of unfaithfulness, they were also to recall God’s patience and lavish grace to the people. He didn’t wipe them out. He continued to give them food, he provided them with strong leadership, and he made a second set of tablets.

Today, they help us to see how blessed we are to have a Lord and Savior like Jesus, by whose stripes we are healed (see 1 Peter 2:24). We, too, have been found unfaithful, but Jesus’ blood sets us right. God is still in the business of second, or even third, chances.

Day 311: Hebrews 8:1-13

“For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” - Hebrews 8:12 ESV

This section is a direct quote from Jeremiah 31:31-34. The theme of that Old Testament passage is centered around the promise of the Israelites' return to Jerusalem after 70 years of exile. Yet Jeremiah (by the Holy Spirit) is intentionally overshooting in his prophecy to the time when the Messiah (Jesus) would arrive to set up a new covenant.

The way he speaks of sin here would have been mind-blowing to a Jewish reader, largely because of their continued need for sacrifices. The cycle for them included piles of sin that would need rolling back regularly. Sin was never truly satisfied and driven out by "the blood of bulls and goats” (Hebrews 10:4).

Does God really forget our sins when He forgives us via the blood of Jesus?

God is omniscient (all-knowing), but now our sin account is paid in full. Donald Gutherie writes that this passage "is reassuring because it means that forgiveness is complete. There will be no possibility of sins, once forgiven, being brought against the people of God."

May this motivate us to avoid all that for which Jesus has paid the price. Nothing is worth compromising the lavish act of grace that was made on our behalf, especially the temporary thrill that sin offers.

Day 310: Hebrews 7:18-28

“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” - Hebrews‬ ‭7:25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Have you ever done something halfway but knew there was enough time to go back and do it the right way? Maybe this is because of a deadline or due to your procrastination. Some of us are perfectionists. Therefore, we won’t do anything unless it can be done to our standards. So, in this case, it is either 100% or 0%.

How does Jesus do things? In our passage today, it says that he does them “to the uttermost.” That is to say, “to the max.” This is the description of the way He saves His people, you and me.

Not only that (I mean, can there be more?), but Jesus also lives to pray for us, to be our Advocate.

This truth should make us feel loved today. Have you had a bad week or a bad year? Jesus is for you. He proves this in the way He interacts with us.

Grace
Mercy
Righteousness
Prayers
Fighting for us every day.

Donald Guthrie is right on as he writes, ”The meaning seems to be that as long as the high priest functions, he is able to save, a thought which is strengthened by the words he always lives (pantote zōn).”

All that’s left is for you to draw near to God through Jesus. Confess, repent, be baptized, or come back. He’s waiting to fight for you with open arms.

Day 309: Hebrews 7:1-17

“This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.” - Hebrews 7:15-16

You would do well to read the (short) account of Melchizedek and Abraham in Genesis 14:18-20. More is said of this guy in the New Testament than in the Old Testament. Who was he? We know little, but we do know…

- He was a priest.

- He was a king.

- He brought bread.

- He brought wine.

That list right there should be enough to make Jesus come immediately to our minds.

Melchizedek was a foreshadowing of our Savior's coming.

Jesus, though, broke the rules. He didn't meet the lineage requirements of being a priest, but the power of His indestructible life prevents Him from being disqualified. He does the same for us through his powerful life, doesn’t He? We don't meet the requirement as unworthy sinners, but He qualifies us by His blood.

The Greek word used for indestructible here is akatalytos. It pertains to that which cannot be caused to cease. (Eugene Nida) In short, there is no outside force that will ever knock Jesus off His throne or subvert His saving power.

Aren't you glad we have such a capable Lord and Savior?

Day 308: Hebrews 6:1-20

“Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.” - Hebrews 6:9 ESV

This chapter in Hebrews has been the topic of many Christian theologians throughout the centuries. Some of the questions that continue to be asked upon a casual reading of it are:

"Does this mean I can lose my salvation?" or "Could we do something so vile that the Holy Spirit would leave us and not come back?" or "When do we know we've come to this point?"

We may think of Jesus mentioning an "unforgivable sin" (Mark 3:28-30) or the Apostle John speaking of a "sin that leads to death" (1 John 5:16-17).

It seems like whatever the point of no return looks like, it is a defiant and hardened stance against God and His presence in our lives. In it. It is when we attempt to squeeze God out of every area, demanding to have our way at all costs. This will not be something that will happen accidentally. It will be intentional. Kind of like the Mark of the Beast in Revelation 13:15-18.

With all that being said, the recipients of this letter seemed to have done well in this regard. The writer speaks of how they are destined for "better things." This was obvious because of how they were living their lives. Their work and love in their serving were viewed as evidence of their endurance.

What about us? Are we recognized by others as genuine Jesus followers? More importantly, are we recognized by Jesus as those who follow Him? May we be people who depend completely upon Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection for the rest of our lives.

“The presence of active love among them was a sure sign that God had not left them." - Brooke Foss Westcott (1903). The Epistle to the Hebrews (3d ed., p. 156)