v1: Following from the end of chapter 10, the writer explains what faith really is. Faith is seeing that there is something after this world, i.e: hope. Faith is seeing that there is something beyond this world, i.e: spiritual reality. We are certain of these things, for God has revealed them to us. We therefore fix our hearts on Him, on things above, not on things in this world. Faith stands in contrast to this world, with its emphasis upon the material.

Faith depends upon what God has said (Rom 4.21), and chooses to rely upon His word alone. Faith is something utterly reasonable, yet it goes beyond human reason, perception and understanding.

v2: Looking back, faith set men apart from the world. It was not that these were perfect, but rather that faith in the One true God was the driving force in their lives. The writer includes a number of specific examples in this chapter. This provides a model for us also - we esteem men and women of faith.

v3: Faith accepts that something totally beyond our experience is true, simply because God has said it. We thus believe that at God's command the universe came into being; God created it from nothing. Thus, we believe Gen 1 as much as we believe the later chapters, about Abel, Noah, and Abraham. We note too that the Lord Jesus Himself performed mighty works with a single word.

v4: The example of Abel; faith affects our worship. By faith we understand that worship is acceptable to God.

By faith, Abel became a righteous man, and thus his sacrifice was acceptable to God. The obedience of faith was rewarded; although dead, Abel still speaks.

v5: The example of Enoch; faith affects our walk. Enoch lived in constant communion with God, living a life of submission and obedience. God rewarded Enoch by taking him straight into His presence, Gen 5.22.

v6: Faith is the only route to pleasing God. By coming to God, we believe that He is who He says He is; that is true of Jesus Christ also. Faith entrusts itself to Him, and constantly relies upon Him. Our motive is to please God, but there is also a reward. We believe that God is the first cause of all things, the author and creator of life. The wise philosopher acknowledges that all motion is from something immovable; and that something is God!

v7: The example of Noah; faith affects our work. God had revealed to Noah something that was unknown, the coming judgment upon the whole earth. The ark was proof of Noah's obedience.

Through the ark, Noah saved the faithful, and condemned the righteous. His reward; he became an heir of righteousness.

v8: The writer gives more space to Abraham than anyone else. He is presented as the man of faith, as in Romans and Galatians.

God called Abraham; his faith involved obedience when the outcome was unknown, the earthly destiny secret. Abraham could not look to his past experiences, for they were steeped in idolatry.

Abraham also had to leave the place of idolatry and unbelief. Bad company can influence us, and hinder our obedience.

v9: Abraham lived in tents, finding no permanent place in Canaan, and looking for the city built by God. The promises of God were shared, with Isaac and Jacob; as they too lived in tents.

v10: Abraham looked beyond this world, recognising that his home was with God. He looked beyond his own day, to a day of blessing for his descendants.

v11: Isaac's birth was a matter of faith, for both Abraham and Sarah. See Rom 4.18-21.

v12: Through the birth of his son came descendants as numerous as the sand and the stars. Here is multiplied blessing. Jesus Christ gave His life for an innumerable multitude (Rev 7.9).

v13-16: Men of faith had genuine spiritual desires. They set their hearts on God, not idols; on the next world, not this one. They brought blessing to others, and did not covet for themselves.

v13-14: They saw the promises of God afar off; Abraham and Isaac and Jacob only saw a few generations of their family, yet they believed what God had said. They continued to live by faith. They acknowledged that this world was not their home; "their country" was God's land.

v15-16: They turned away from the past, and looked forward to what God had prepared for them. In contrast, Israel went astray in the wilderness because they repeatedly looked back, longing for Egypt.

When Jacob died, his family were living in Egypt; they owned a small field and a burial ground in Canaan. Yet they believed God, who had promised a city for them.

God was not ashamed to be called their God; in Ex 3.6, He is the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

v17-19: Abraham had confidence that God was able to raise the dead. Although Isaac was the child of promise, he knew that death would not prevent God from fulfilling His promise. Abraham reasoned, for faith is utterly reasonable, for it believes God.

Abraham truly offered Isaac as a sacrifice - he had given him up to God.

Isaac, like the Lord Jesus, is the "one and only son" ('only begotten son').

v20: Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, when Jacob deceived him; yet his words were from faith in God; Gen 27.27-29; 39-40. Even Jacob's deception fulfilled God's words.

v21: Jacob, too, looked ahead, Gen 49; he knew life was to continue for his family. His words promised a long future.

v22: See Gen 50.24-26; Ex 13.19; Joseph had also not received the promises, but believed that God would take His people back to Canaan. Here too was unselfishness, as Joseph spoke of blessings upon Israel after his death. The practical details of his bones were further evidence that he believed God. Jeremiah showed similar faith when he purchased land, Jer 32.6-15.

Isaac, Jacob, Joseph all showed faith towards the end of their lives. Do not miss this short theme at the heart of the chapter.

v23: This section describes the faith of Moses and of the nation of Israel.

Moses' parents were not afraid of Pharaoh's commands. Faith gives us strength in times of opposition.

v24-26: Moses was brought up in Pharaoh's palace. When he came of age, he rejected that privileged background. He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, which would have guaranteed him wealth and privilege. He rejected the passing pleasures of sin, which Pharaoh's family doubtless enjoyed. He rejected the treasures of Egypt, to which he was an heir.

The word translated 'regarded' (v26) is also 'counted;' it is a calculation word - compare Phil 3.8 counts as nothing everything of his personal history, for the sake of knowing Christ. 

Moses went out to his people, killed the Egyptian mistreating his Israelite brother. Yet he was soon rejected by Israelites too. No wonder he fled, having been rejected by 'both sides.' By the time Israel left Egypt, both Israelites and Egyptians respected him (see Ex 11.3; Prov 16.7).

He chose instead to identify with the suffering people of God, choosing reproach and affliction, looking to the reward. In Deut 34.10, he is commended by God. The way of Christ is often the way of hardship, but it is also the way of great reward.

It is striking that the writer finds a series of incidents in Moses' life. These tests grew his faith in God. As 12.11 says, these tests do not seem pleasant at the time, but bring a powerful harvest personally and corporately.

v27: Like his parents, Moses did not fear Pharaoh's wrath. He saw the invisible (v1, 3). Those who see well in this world, who have 'success', are often spiritually blind. He persevered, ie: stood (Eph 6.13) - God is looking for those who will stand by faith.

v28: Ultimately, faith delivers from death. By faith Moses and the people kept the first Passover. Like others before him, Moses had no precedent to follow, only the word of God, and that was enough. Some versions correctly state that it was the firstborn of Israel who were rescued, ie: by their faith.

v29: Faith sees the impossible. They crossed the Red Sea.

Faith sets us apart, for the Egyptians were drowned. See also v7.

v30-40: Faith brought up to date. Lest we think that faith belonged to the distant past, the writer mentions many later O.T. characters (v30-32), and later incidents (v33-38), and teaches that we can share in this same faith (v40).

v30: Again, by faith, the impossible was accomplished.

v31: Through the events at Jericho, one person and her family were delivered. Also, the iniquity of Rahab's past was dealt with. Although not explicitly stated, it seems she stopped being a prostitute.

v32: The preceding list is not exhaustive. Many other individuals from the O.T. could be mentioned. These are all examples for us that we too might live by faith.

One sometimes hears criticism of Gideon for his lack of faith. Yet he was humble, accepting God's training through a series of events. He grew in faith (and is named here) and rescued his nation.

v33-38: The great achievements of faith; things happened because men and women believed in God. We read too of the cost of faith; some escaped the sword, and others were slain with the sword. The measure of faith is not seen in man's opinion, or in physical results. The world was not worthy of such people, so the world's opinion is of no value; since faith considers only what God has said, faith finds its approval in God (v6).

v39: These people did not see the Word made flesh, they did not receive the promises on earth.

v40: By faith, we may be listed with these men and women.