Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him. John 12:9-11

It's difficult for me to imagine the hatred that the Jewish leaders had not only for Jesus but for Lazarus. Say what you want about Jesus healing a man, but Lazarus' only crime was that he was raised from the dead. He is one of only a few people who have ever been dead and raised to life, and now the leaders want to kill him? What was the logic in their thinking? Did they think that the "movement" would cease because they killed a follower?

But if we aren't careful, we too could be filled with the same kind of hatred. When we let a little bitterness set in, it can do one of two things in us: die or grow. Obviously we need to make sure it dies, because if not, it eats away at our very soul.

As an amplified example, there are teachers of hate in the Middle East who chant "Death to America," "Death to Israel," "Death to the West." If Israel, America, and the West ceased to exist, would their hatred be eliminated? In other words, would they be satisfied? Probably not. They would have to move on to another object of their hatred. The Jewish leaders wanted to strike out at Jesus and his followers.

Let's examine our own thoughts and actions to see if we are harboring any unresolved bitterness. Someone once said, "Bitterness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die."

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." Romans 10:9-10

I would be remiss if I didn't conclude 20+ devotionals on the topic of faith without a means to a clear call to accept what I've written. The Good News or the "Gospel" is contained in the verses above. There's no trickery to it. It's a fairly simple salvation message. It's not rocket science or brain surgery, and yet it's deceptively simple. Of course there's the theology behind the verses that is powerful and wonderful and yet very simple: God reached out to man through his Son Jesus. The Son of God became a man: fully God, fully man. He died, was buried, rose on the third day, and ascended to the Throne of God.

If you are reading this and you don't know at all what I'm talking about, I'd love to correspond with you about it. No pressure, nothing to sell, no gimmicks, no trickery, just a good ol' fashioned heart to heart (via email).

Don't let the simplicity of the words fool you.

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Hebrews 12:4-5

In the context of the previous chapter and the first three verses of this chapter, we see that we are able to resist our struggles against sin. In the vernacular. this could be translated, "you have all the power in the world to help you when you're struggling. You have the saints before you cheering you on, so stop complaining that you can't live this Christian life to the fullest. You probably haven't resisted enough, so keep resisting. Further, many have sacrificed their lives for you (shed their blood), so yes, you can struggle and resist temptations and sin."

What is that one area of temptation or sin that the previous verse talked about, the sin that so easily entangles? How are you resisting that?

1 Corinthians 10:13 states, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3

Finishing up a series on faith would not be complete without these verses. The men and women of the Old Testament had their eyes fixed on Jesus, the Messiah. He wasn't alive then but they were looking ahead at what would be. We have hindsight to help us figure it all out. We also have the recorded Word of God.

Brothers and sisters, Consider him.

Consider him when you're discouraged; consider him when you're full of delight.
Consider him when you're ready to quit; consider him as you encourage others in this walk.
Consider him when you are mistreated; consider him when others talk badly of you.
Consider him before you speak harshly with your spouse; consider him when you're about to read the riot act with misbehaving children.
Consider him as you lay your head to rest at night; consider him before you feet hit the floor in the morning.

Yes, consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Consider him.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1-2

The Christian life has been compared to a marathon (I've also heard it compared to a sprint). Finishing well is important. Getting there in one piece is important as well. Perhaps you've seen those long races where someone is delirious and dehydrated, but he are so close to the finish that stopping him is not an option nor is letting him finish. It's a painful sight. Sometimes we're like that runner. We see our destination but the 26 miles it takes to get there is tough. There are long climbs, unpredictable weather conditions and just the mental fatigue of running such a long race.

What's hindering you in this thing we call a faith walk? What's preventing you from going deeper, from pressing in, from seeking God more fully? What is the sin that so easily entangles? What's causing you to stumble time and time again? What steps are you taking to overcome it? There are people you know who can help because they care. Go to them.

As I mentioned yesterday, hang in there. The road is tough. It is long. But it's worth it. It is well worth it.

Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses… Hebrews 12:1

Finally. At the end of the Hall of Faith comes the fun part. It's the "so what" about what we've just read. So what about all of those who have gone before us in faith: Abraham, David, Samuel, Rahab, Japheth, the prophets and those unnamed millions who've risked it all for the Gospel? What about them? The very next verse says it all: "a great cloud of witnesses." I get the picture of those great men and women of God cheering us on, hoping we'll carry the torch that they left behind, drawing us to the Finish Line. They've left a great legacy for us to follow, and it's up to us to actually follow.

In this world, you are not alone. Sometimes you may think you are, but you aren't. Many of those men and women of faith felt that loneliness and despair. They felt isolated and cut off from good, caring people. They may have been surrounded by the evil of their day, but they had a hope that was greater and more powerful than the troubles and darkness they were facing.

I've been there; you've been there; we've all been before. It's not new. It wasn't new to them; it's not new to us.

And, Brothers and Sisters, we can overcome. Hang in there. The best is yet to come. The dark times you are facing will fade away. Keep the faith. Keep trusting the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Keep seeking the God who saves and delivers.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Hebrews 11:39-40

Up to four thousand years have passed since many of these men and women have slipped into eternity, many of them violently so. While they were living, they only got a glimpse at "what was promised," namely eternity. They knew the truth, lived the truth, and died bringing forth the truth. As the previous verse stated, the world truly wasn't worthy of them.

Are we then to seek to become like them, i.e., to be martyred and persecuted for our faith? I daresay none (or a rare, misguided few) sought martyrdom or persecution. They accepted it but didn't seek it. Based on my readings, I have seen that the church in China believes the church in America to be pampered, and unwilling and unprepared to be persecuted or martyred if push came to shove. I can't refute that idea outright because there's enough truth in it to be painful.

And yet, the time may come when we in the West are called to put our lives on the line for the Gospel of Christ. Are we ready? A more important question might be, are we willing? Could we do it if necessary? I can't answer that for you, and you cannot answer it for me.

But we still need to ask the question.

Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. Hebrews 11:35-38

This is the second half to the previous few verses about unnamed but very important Believers. How are they important? First, they provide us with an example of what could happen to you when you follow Christ. Essentially, it's what the other part of the world is facing. As I've said numerous times in this space, Western Christians don't get a real clear snapshot of what is happening around the world. Fortunately, the internet is changing all of that.

And secondly, they are to be commended for going through what they've gone through. "The world was not worthy of them." That is one of the most powerful statements in the Bible. I've known a few-not many-of those kinds of Believers. People with enormous talents who spend the best years of their lives serving others in some capacity.

Many of our Brothers and Sisters around the world are enduring intense persecution. That's no secret if you've been reading this devotional long. You'll never know their names or exactly what they're going through, but God does. You'll probably never see their faces, and if you do, they'll be bruised and beaten. But God is using those men, women, and children to build the Church of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

Continue to pray for those the world is not worthy of. Again, choose one of the nations from yesterday's devotional and pray like you've never done before for that land. Choose a city and pray for that city. Pray for the pastors of those cities who are charged with overseeing their flocks. Commit to praying a little each day for those pastors.

Voice of the Martyrs

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about … the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Hebrews 11:32-34

After entering a few prominent names, the writer of the Book of Hebrews writes about miraculous acts of faith that are being duplicated today. In the West, we're not aware of such miraculous acts of faith (for the most part), but they are taking place. Likewise, many who live under the rule of oppressive governments are experiencing intense persecution. If you study church history at all, you'll realize that the growth of the Church in those regions is fairly proportional to the cruelty of the persecution. For example, when the Ayatollah Khomeini was still alive it was said that he was one of the biggest evangelists alive inside Iran because many were flocking to the churches because of his heavy handed government.

Pray for those who are being persecuted for their faith. Choose a country and pray for the church and individual Believers there: China, North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, Algeria, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Cuba, Bhutan, Nigeria, Sudan, Syria. Unfortunately this is only about half of the list of countries that the Voice of the Martyrs has pinpointed as being especially cruel towards Christians. This would also be a good time to do a quick study of that country. Enter the country name into Google and view some of the information sites. The CIA (The World Factbook) has fairly good and unbiased summaries of every nation in the world. The World Factbook will usually appear within the first ten items when you search for a country.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about..Samuel…Hebrews 11:32

Samuel was the last of the Hebrew Judges and the first of the major prophets who began to prophesy inside Israel. Samuel also anointed the first two kings of the Kingdom of Israel: Saul and David. I remember Samuel as the little boy in the temple hearing the Voice of God in the middle of the night. He went to Eli because he had heard the voice, and what was Eli's response? "Next time you hear the voice, say 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'" (1 Samuel 3:1-14).

It's a fairly simple, child-like faith: whatever God wants us to do, we'll do it. And yet, it's probably the most difficult thing to do if we're running from God (like Jonah did). The thing is, we don't have to get in a boat and travel in the exact opposite direction to "run from God." We've got the concept so refined that we can run fro God in the comfort of our own homes!

Don't run from God. Instead, run to God. And when you hear that voice, say with child-like faith, "Speak for your servant is listening."

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about…David…Hebrews 11:32e

I think we all would have been disappointed if David hadn't appeared in this Hall of Faith. So much has been written about this man. The very fact that we know as much about his moral failures as we do his successes is, in a sense, reassuring. Yes, he reigned over Judah for seven years and over all of Israel for 30, but his life and his writings was an open book. In his young adventures with Goliath or his dealings with Saul, we see a man characterized by faith. Of course, he sinned greatly along the way, but he got back on the right path again and had to pay dearly for his sins.

Later in his life, we get a glimpse of his prayers: "my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—from violent men you save me"  2 Samuel 2:3 and elsewhere in 2 Samuel 2:47, "The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!" David's life was extremely rocky. His life was threatened numerous times. But needed a solid foundation; he needed God.

Most of us probably haven't been threatened or mistreated as David was. But we do know the fickleness of life. We know what it's like to have our dreams shattered and our world turned upside down. We can climb on the same Rock David was on. We can rest in the "cleft of the rock" as the old hymn goes.

We can do that daily.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about…Jephthah...Hebrews 11:32

Judges 11:1 states: "Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior." How would you like to have that for a tombstone epitaph? A second verse later is equally powerful: "The the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah" (Judges 11:29). He was so confident that the Lord would give him victory that he made a vow that he would hand over to the Lord "whatever comes out of the door of my house." His only child, a daughter, came out of the house (for a more thorough discussion of this controversial vow, please go to Jephtha's Daughter).

Again, setting aside the vow for now, it's apparent that Jephthah in fact was a mighty warrior. He was bold and confident that God would give him the victory. He was a man of faith.

I suspect that many in my reading audience are mighty warriors. Much of the battle is fought on the knees. Know this, when you take steps of faith that are bold and confident, you will be richly rewarded. I don't know exactly what that means for you, but you and God know. Take steps of faith this week that are bold and confident.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about…Samson…Hebrews 11:32

When we think of men who have had enormous strength in the world, Samson always comes to mind. He was set apart for God's service early, and did not drink alcohol or cut his hair. He married a Philistine (Judges 11:10). tore a lion apart with his bare hands, killed many men of Ashdod, set fire to their orchards and fields, and killed a thousand men with the jawbone of an ass.

After a Philistine named Delilah tried four times to get Samson to reveal the secret of his great strength, he at last gave in. In the middle of the night, she had a man cut off his hair, and then a team of Philistines bound him with strong fetters, gouged out his eyes, and set him to grind at the prison mill. This once great warrior was reduced to the duties of oxen. But Samson's hair began to grow again. The day came when the Philistine leaders sent for the blind Samson so they could mock him. Samson asked a servant boy to place him between two pillars on which the house stood. He pulled them down, and died along with thousands of Philistines.

Even though Samson wasn't bright (tricked by Delilah four times) or moral (married a Philistine and killed Philistines for pleasure), he gets a mention in the Hall of Faith. He had been reduced to slave labor. He knew exactly what he was doing when he pulled down the pillars. He knew he would also be ending his own life with that action. As he ground the grain with that huge wheel, you know he was thinking about his past actions. He wanted one last chance to make a difference.

Most of us want to make a difference where we are. Pray to God that you will use the opportunities that He gives you. For some, I'm afraid those opportunities may cost us dearly if we take them.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about…Barak…Hebrews 11:32

Barak was a military general in Judges 4-5. He was the commander of the army of Deborah, a prophetess and judge. Barak and Deborah defeated Sisera's armies (Canaanite), who had for oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. God didn't speak directly to Barak but through Deborah. Barak had insisted that Deborah come with him. Deborah's response was that when you win, it won't be your win, a woman (Deborah) would get the credit.

We live in a very "me-centered" world:

• Go for the gusto.
• Treat yourself to luxury; you deserve it!
• Look out for Number One.
• You deserve a break today.
• Me, myself, and I.

Ralph Waldo Emerson is credited as saying “There is no limit to what can be accomplished if it doesn't matter who gets the credit.” Such was the case with Barak. He was a powerful leader in his own right, yes, but he was also a servant of Deborah the judge (or ruler). He could have taken credit for a mighty military victory, but he didn't.

Often it takes humility to bring out our faith. It's not always about what we want. A number of years ago, someone challenged me to NOT to take the credit when I do something that's pat-on-the-back worthy ("Look, honey, I did the dishes/laundry/cooking" come to mind). It was better for my wife to notice and give me the credit. And if she didn't notice, was it that big of a deal anyhow?

I challenge you to make it a habit of NOT patting yourself on the back in front of someone when you do something for someone else. It's not as easy as it seems.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon…Hebrews 11:32

God chose Gideon to free the people of Israel and to condemn their idol worship (Judges 7). Gideon began with 32,000 men and God narrowed down the number to 10,000 and finally to 300 men. Three hundred men held torches and trumpets, and at Gideon's command all 300 men shouted "A sword for the Lord and Gideon" and blew their horns. The men in the camp turned on each other, and it was a complete routing for Gideon.

This is one of those fascinating Old Testament stories we heard as children. It's a wonderful account of how God used 300 men to obtain victory over a large army. We learned about the fleece that Gideon used because he had doubted God. We also learned that God used a small number of dedicated men to accomplish His goals.

Missionaries serving in foreign lands have similar challenges. They don't always have all the information they need to make difficult decisions, and they are often up against incredible odds. Choose a missionary you or your church knows by name and pray. Pray that they will make Godly decisions. Pray that they may be encouraged despite the enormous obstacles they face.

Then drop them a line in an email or handwritten card to let them know you're praying for them.

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. Hebrews 11:31

With the exception of possibly Sarah (Hebrews 11:11), Rahab is the only woman listed by name in this long list of Faith Warriors. Rahab was not Jewish, yet she is named in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:5. She was a known prostitute. She lied to the King's men when they came looking for the two spies. Then she asked the spies to have mercy on her and her family because of what she did for them (Joshua 2:12)

And God spared her life. Rahab acted on the faith she knew, and she sought mercy. God delivered on that mercy.

A man once told me, "There will be three surprises in Heaven: you'll be surprised that some people are there that you didn't think would be. You'll be surprised that some people aren't there that you thought would be, and lastly, you'll be surprised that you're there." I think Rahab clearly fits into the first category.

Rahab. A prostitute, a protector of spies, and a Hall of Faith listing. Who could have guessed that?

Praise God for His mercy.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days. Hebrews 11:30

I've always loved the Jericho story. I've always seen it as faith AND obedience. First, the people had to have faith that going around the walls even once was a good things. Seven priests accompanied the ark of the covenant and the people along with seven blaring trumpets. They marched around Jericho one time for six days. On the seventh day, they marched around the walls of the city seven times. On the seventh time around they shouted and "the walls came tumbling down." Each day for the people marching was a step of faith. They really didn't know how it was going to end.

Joshua had to obey the Lord and the people had to obey Joshua. The Lord told Joshua how it would all go down. If they had marched around the city and nothing had happened, they would be look foolish or worse. They were blindly obeying a man who had heard from the Lord. Faith and obedience were closely aligned here. Both had to occur for this to work.

Fortunately they had followed Joshua in other instances so it wasn't new to them. They had come to realize that if Joshua said he had heard from the Lord, it must be true and worthy of obedience.

Leaders are like that. When you find one you can trust, you will do what you can to please. When he/she speaks something into your life, you can trust it because of his/her previous track record of doing just that.

Pray for your pastor today. Pray that he will continue to hear from the Lord regarding your church body. And pray that he will be able to recognize and overcome the wiles of the Enemy.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:16-20

Immediately before Jesus ascended into Heaven, he met the remaining Disciples in Galilee. He was to instill in them one last command, one final charge. They were it. The eleven disciples were about ready to change the world upside down after they were clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49). This is where the rubber met the road for them. He had lived and taught among them for three years before being crucified. If we didn't read the rest of the story, we'd be thinking that Jesus really may not have known what he was doing. They cowered while He was being arrested, and Peter denied the Lord three times. How would they ever carry out his mission.

Those reading this, if Believers, are the fruit of eleven terrified individuals. That's what I'd call a legacy!

But it doesn't end there.

You see, we have opportunities throughout the day to expand that legacy. Know clearly that if you've made it known to those around that you are a Christian, you are being watched.

The pressure isn't on us to be perfect; the pressure's on us to be faithful.

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood before them. Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he is risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again." Luke 24:1-7

The women came. The stone was rolled away. They entered and found an empty tomb. Just like He said. Jesus Christ was gone.

Gone.

Two men appeared, probably angels. He's not here, just like He said.

He's not here. He is risen.

The takeaway from this little story is simple: "The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again."

That's what happened. That's the Good News.

Be encouraged as you celebrate the Risen Lord this Easter.

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" Matthew 27:54

Was it the earthquake that terrified the centurion and his men? Hard to tell. But the combination of the earthquake and Jesus dying had to put a fear into these otherwise brave soldiers.

Was it too late for those men to repent of their ways? No. It's never too late. In fact, you could easily make a case that Jesus had to die first and the earthquake occur before those men would be 'true believers.'

Things happen for a reason all the time, we know that. Seldom, though, do we realize that those things happen for our benefit. I know that it's not about us all the time (as I've stated elsewhere in this space), but occasionally it is.

Take the crucifixion, for example. It was about us.

Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"
"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.
When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. Matthew 27:11-14

Two times in one evening Jesus was silent when accused: once before the high priest (Matthew 26:63), and the other before Pilate (and the chief priests and elders). He had every reason in the world to lay out neatly how and why he was innocent, but didn't. He was completely innocent of charges and he remained silent. Jesus Christ showed amazing restraint, when only a week before he was overturning tables in the temple with the money changers. It could have been much worse for Pilate and the religious leaders, but Jesus restrained himself.

How many of us jump at the first opportunity to defend ourselves when we're wronged? And very very few of us have ever been at a point where a good defense could have saved our lives. Nobody likes to be falsely accused, nobody. I'm sure Jesus didn't like to be falsely accused. Obviously Jesus knew the end to the story (both His and theirs) and acted accordingly.

He knows when you're falsely accused. He knows when you've been wronged.

And He knows the end to my story and your story.

Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you? But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Matthew 26:62-64

Even to the end, Jesus knew just the right words to say and when to say them. He knew his silence would stir them. He knew that talking about heaven and "at the right hand of the Mighty One" would cause them to go ballistic. He knew all things. He knows all things.

I read this story and others later in the Gospels, and can't help but think that at any point during those very difficult times, he could have called it off, called down a million angels, and went straight home to be with the Father. He had just gone through the Garden of Gethsemane, told Peter that he would deny Him, and watched as His closest followers fled when He was arrested. And now it was about to turn bad for Him!

As we consider the crucifixion and the days leading up to it, consider this: He knows your needs. He knows your hurts. He is waiting, patiently waiting for you to come to Him. Even when you think He's silent, he's thinking of ways to bless you and encourage you and draw you closer to Him.

Read straight through one of the Gospel accounts of his crucifixion this week and think of ways you can draw closer to Him.

Matthew 26:17 – 28:20
Mark 14:12 – 16:20
Luke 22:7 – 24:53
John 13:1 – 21:6

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. Hebrews 11:29

There are actually two miracles here. First, when Moses arrived at the Red Sea, he had to know that the Egyptians were near. The Red Sea parts, the Israelites stare at the spectacle in amazement, then bolt across the river bed. But even as they're crossing, they've got to have the nagging thought in their heads, "what if the river bed stays dry for the Egyptians too?" It didn't matter because they were scurrying across and didn't have a long time to answer a lot of "what if" questions. God provided a way out of their current situation and it would be foolish to lament what hadn't even happened yet! Of course we have the benefit of being able to read a few verses ahead, but they didn't have that luxury.

Instead, we have a book that's being written about our own lives. What are you trusting God for right now? Have you turned around to see the "what if" questions: what if the economy collapses, what if I lose my job, what if I can't find a spouse, what if, what if, what if. Living in the present enables us to take in every second with only a rare thought about any of the what if questions.

'What if' we eliminated those two words from our vocabularies and our thought patterns? Would it make a difference?

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. Hebrews 11:28

The slaying of the firstborn in Egypt was the final plague against Pharoah and the Egyptians. Before this, no human blood had been shed. Now, though, Moses painted the blood of a Passover lamb around the doors to all Israelite dwellings. Then they were to wait all night before going out. Exodus 12:30 tells us there was a great cry throughout the land as the firstborn were slain.

I confess I'm more than a little troubled by this particular passage. I look at it 4000 years removed and wonder why the Lord had to take the lives of so many innocent children. I suspect that as Moses and the Israelites listened to their neighboring Egyptians wailing all night, it took faith just to wait and sort it all out the next morning. They had to have faith that the Lord knew what he was doing when He went to such extremes on their behalf.

I guess not a lot has changed over the years. It takes faith just to acknowledge that God knows what he's doing in our lives and in the crazy out-of-control world we live in. I've written it before in this space, but many of these issues arise so that we make seek Him, for He is the one who knows the answers. If we had all the answers, we probably wouldn't need to go to God.

By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. Hebrews 11:27

Moses pleaded with Pharoah a number of times to let his people go. He was hearing from the Lord Himself. After the Lord sent many plagues on Egypt, Pharoah relented and let the Israelites go. It was their one chance at freedom and they weren't turning back. Pharoah's anger burned against Moses and the Israelites, and he hotly pursued them. The pillar guided them by day and the fire by night.

We may not see a pillar or a fire, but we have to listen to what God is telling us. He just may be telling us to draw closer to Him. He may be leading us out of impending danger. He may be showing us to wait in His presence while he showers us with love and encouragement. Or He may be just waiting for us to run to Him any time during the day.

Moses saw "him who was invisible." The "him who is invisible" isn't all that far from us either.

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. Hebrews 11:24-26

Moses could have chosen the easier route of living in Egypt as royalty and lived quite comfortably all his days. He didn't choose the "path of least resistance," but he chose to be mistreated. Wow. The same thing happened with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane (or any number of times after that – even as he hung between two criminals.

But Jesus chose to be mistreated and even killed at the hands of blood thirsty and jealous men.

Moses "took the high road" and did something revolutionary in his day (and in our day for that matter). It's one thing to do things for a cause, i.e., the young man standing in front of Chinese tanks in the early 90s in Tiannamen Square had a cause greater than himself and we still remember him to this day. Fasting for world hunger or living in trees to prevent urbanization are also causes. Moses led his people for forty years in the wilderness. He chose to be mistreated.

We make choices every day that affect our lives. Obviously some choices are easy (what to wear, what to eat). Other choices are not as easy (pulling your children out of public schools when you find out what they've been teaching them or keeping your tongue in check at your persnickety neighbor are other examples). So when we make those tougher choices, we have to ask a question, am I making this choice because it's easy or it's the right thing to do?

May God give us strength to do the hard things when necessary.

By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. Hebrews 11:23

In Exodus 6:20 we learn Moses' and Aaron's parents' names: Amram and Jochebed. It's probably the first you've heard the names. It's intriguing to me that the book of Hebrews doesn't mention them by name. But that also encourages me that out of the millions of lives in the world, we can remain faceless and God will still know our deeds and our faith.

Secondly, those parents knew the edict against the newborn boys: throw them into the Nile, but let the newborn girls live. We call it infanticide. The parents had faith that if they put the three-month-old in the Nile River that some merciful soul would snatch up the basket and care for the child. They were right. They had faith in a God who was bigger than them giving up their child, as painful as that act must have been. They probably could have been killed by Phaoroh if his people had found out.

We too live in a world that is more concerned about the "choices" of a woman than the innocent child she is carrying. In the near future, we will need some of Moses' parents' boldness to overcome the evil that is at our doorstep. In the end we will need to say, I'd rather trust God than a mere man.

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones. Hebrews 11:22

Out of all the acts of faith that Joseph would be commended for, it was "instructions about his bones" that made the Hall of Faith. Joseph's bones were laid to rest forty years after Joseph died. First, though, the Israelites had to wander through the wilderness. After "And Joseph's bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph's descendants." (Joshua 24:32 NIV)

When the Israelites came into the land with Joshua, the bones were carried there. Joseph's bones are still in Shechem after so many centuries. They rest as a witness to God's covenant with Abraham. He had promised Abraham that his descendants would outnumber the stars in the sky. Even in the last century man has done his utmost to eliminate the Jewish people from the human race. Today those bones are a reminder to us that the Jewish people are alive and well and probably aren't going anywhere soon. The Jews are surrounded on every side from people who despise them and would love to see their total destruction, and yet they continue to exist and thrive. It's nothing short of a miracle from Almighty God.

I call it the "faith not easily recognized as faith" faith. This kind of faith sends missionaries into dark regions of the world for 20 or 30 years with no converts, no church, no "fruit." A hundred years after the missionaries are long gone, a church is borne and begins to thrive. To the people who had been supporting the missionaries, it looked like a "waste" or a lost cause. Not being able to see the fruit of your labors is difficult. But like Joseph, this kind of faith relies on others not seen to continue the ministry.

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. Hebrews 11:21

Joseph went through a great deal of trouble because of his brothers. In the end, though, Jacob got to see Joseph and his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. It's interesting to note that he blessed Joseph (the youngest) before he blessed Joseph's brothers. When Jacob himself was being blessed by Isaac, he fooled his father. Now he put his hands on Manasseh's and Ephraim's to bless them even though Joseph tried to switch his hands. Jacob corrected Joseph and told him he knew what he was doing. Ephraim, the younger brother, got the right hand blessing, "his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations." Once again, the younger child got the greater blessing.

According to Rabbi Parashat Vayehi, "I suggest to you that when Jacob is blessing his grandchildren he is also blessing every Jew in every generation. Jacob's blessings on his sons were specific to them. But the blessings to his grandchildren speak to every one of us. This is why the blessing of Jacob to his grandsons was chosen as the blessing we bless our sons with every Friday night. To our daughters we bless them to be like Sarah, Rivka, Rachel, and Leah our matriarchs. But our boys we bless them to be like Menashe and Ephraim, because their blessing was an eternal one to every future Jewish child."

"May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh." Jacob had faith that those two grandchildren would do great things. Do you have great faith that your children and grandchildren will do great things? Do you bless them to be great?

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. Hebrews 11:20

If you're like me, you're probably scratching your head at this particular verse (and others to follow). Jacob and Esau had been warring with each other even as they were coming out of the womb!

In Genesis 25:33 we read, The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." Even before the blessing was pronounced, God said that the older would serve the younger. Isaac blessed both boys even though the older (Esau) was given a lesser blessing, which wasn't a typical practice. Isaac passed down the blessing because he had faith that the promises given to Abraham (nations as numerous as stars in the sky) would be fulfilled.

Even though Isaac was deceived by Jacob, Isaac didn't rescind the better blessing and pass it on to Esau. God was working through Isaac's imperfection to bless the younger son, Jacob (later named Israel). He can and does work through our imperfections as well.

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses." Psalm 20:7

Some trust in their 401Ks, some trust in their beauty, some trust in their talents, some trust in the military, some trust in their political party…

"But we will remember the name of the Lord our God…they have bowed down and fallen, but we have risen and stand up right." Psalm 20:8

Sometimes life makes you feel like you can’t stand up right. Betrayal of a friend or coworker, sickness, grief, economic predictions of doom…whatever you may be facing…

I learned from a dear friend in Sudan, who said to me, "There are many things I could worry about, but I choose to trust God instead." So simple. It’s a choice—so hard when faced with the tragedies she faced. Do you desire to rise and stand upright? Remember to call on the name of the Lord our God.