Overcoming Apostasy: A Great Cloud of Witnesses, Heb. 11:23-40

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Overcoming Apostasy: A Great Cloud of Witnesses

Hebrews 11:23–12:3

Introduction: The Hebrew Preacher used the phrase “by faith” about 20 times in chapter 11 as he illustrated how men and women of old made various choices and willingly suffered the consequences by seeing past the present in order to obtain eternal glory. The Preacher began the section by saying, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for.” Their present-life choices were a result of their assurance of God’s promises, being convicted of things not yet seen.

12:1 summarizes their lives of the faithful by saying, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” The writer intends for us to understand that these men and women showed us the way and gave us an example to follow.

The one thread that ties their lives together is the determination to follow God no matter the suffering, and even to death. The glory to come is worth that much!

We will follow a three part outline in this final section: (1) the faith of Moses; (2) the final summation of the faithful; (3) the great cloud of witnesses.

1. The Faith of Moses (11:23-31)
   1. As with Abraham, the preacher devotes considerable time to Moses because the illustrations of his faith are truly amazing. 
   2. There are four things that ought to strike us concerning the faith of Moses:
      1. First his parents: “they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” Israelite parents were likely under the penalty of death if they did not obey. We are reminded that in Revelation 13, the beast that rose up out of the sea, was the Roman Empire, used by the dragon to persecute those who would not worship the morals o the empire. The dragon uses the power of government at every opportunity.
      2. Second is Moses rejection of his family. “He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.” The determination to put God above family is one of the leading reasons people do not follow God.
         For Moses to make this decision tells us that he looked at the his present wealth and position and considered the treasures God to be far greater. This was the wealthiest period in Egyptian history. Moses’ decision was the opposite of the majority. It was the opposite of what the vast majority of people in his position would have desired and chosen.
         We must keep in mind that our choice to serve Christ will always be counter-cultural. We will not be praised for it nor will we find honor in this life because of it. If anything, our choice for Christ and suffering will hinder us from many things we could have accomplished otherwise. We are always making a choice between the immediate earthly values and the eternal, heavenly values.
      3. Third, Moses made a choice. It is not that he was already serving God and circumstances turned sour for him because of it. No, Moses chose to be mistreated rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. the Preacher is clearly urging his audience to make a calculation of faith. Jesus would say, “Count the cost.” Counting the cost does not and should not focus on “how much,” but on the value to be obtained. When Moses looked at what he had in wealth, power, and worldly pleasures of Egypt, he made the only sensible and logical choice!
         “Faith told Moses that affliction and suffering were not real evils. They were the school of God, in which he trains the children of grace for glory; the medicines which are needful to purity our corrupt wills; the furnace which must burn away our dross; the knife which must cut the ties that bind us to the world…”
         “Marvel not that he refused greatness, riches and pleasure. He looked far forward. He saw with the eye of faith kingdoms crumbling into dust, riches making to themselves wings and fleeing away, pleasures leading on to death and judgment, and Christ only and his little flock enduring forever…He saw with the eye of faith affliction lasting but for a moment, reproach rolled away, and ending in everlasting honor, and the despised people of God reigning as kings with Christ in glory.” J.C. Ryle
      4. Moses made the choice because “he was able to see him who is invisible” (27). I can’t think of anything more important. If we are able every day, whether in good times or bad, to see him who is invisible, we will never fret over making the right decision. 
   3. Consider Rahab. She is so impressive. It had been 40 years since Israel left Egypt. She probably hadn’t even been born. But she had heard the stories. She would have listened to the leaders of the city sitting at the gate and telling the stories of the God of Israel and the destruction of Egypt. From the stories of unbelievers, Rahab believed. What bravery! She put her life on the line, protected the spies, saved her family, and became a matriarch in the lineage to David and Jesus. By faith, indeed! 
2. “And What More Shall We Say?” (11:32–40)
   1. The Preacher realizes that to enumerate all the faithful and their stories could go on for quite some time. Therefore, he simply gives a quick summary. But what a summary! As we see the names, their stories quickly flash in our minds. 
   2. But our problem is that we have too easily read their stories, but have not taken their experience and embedded into our minds as a possibility for our lives. Their faith illustrates both victories and defeats. Some quenched the power of fire and escaped the edge of the sword. Others were tortured, and even sawn in two, not accepting release, so that they might rise again to a better life. But which of these outcomes will God determine to be your lot? Biblically speaking, here is a guarantee – you will see both, even if you are not actually killed for the cause of Christ.
   3. Consider verse 38. For some, their lives were described as “wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” Sounds impossible, doesn’t it? And yet for some, this is what it means to live by faith, putting hope in nothing but the next life.
   4. One other point here: verses 39-40. All of these suffered these things and yet did not receive the promise. Why? Because God had provided something better for us, and so that we would all be made perfect together.
3. Surrounded by a Great Cloud of Witnesses
   1. The final two verses of the previous chapter (11:39-40), give us an intense picture wherein the Preacher builds a greater motivation for us to endure.
   2. Consider two primary pictures from the Preacher’s conclusion:
      1. First, this cloud of witnesses is waiting for us. Without us, they will not receive the promise or be made perfect. Because of our own Olympic games and  emphasis on sports we can appreciate the Preacher’s metaphor. In years past, TV coverage of the Olympics included fairly extensive coverage of the marathon – 25.2 miles. In those days most of us were in awe of those who could run that distance, especially in a little more than two hours. The race would always conclude with a final lap on the stadium track. It would move you to tears to see the leading runners enter the stadium. The crowd would rise to their feet and cheer them to the finish. Former champion marathoners were always cheering the loudest. Occasionally, a runner would collapse just before the finish, and the crowd would urge them to finish. And then, even more amazing was to see one of the runners stop and help his competitor to his feet and hold him up as he limped across the line.
         That is the picture for us. Do you see them? Noah and Abraham, Joseph and Moses, Barak, Deborah, and Samson, the prophets – Isaiah and Jeremiah, Hosea and Amos, Elijah and Elisha. They are in the stands cheering your final lap. And what of the angels who carry our prayers to the Father and minister to us in our time of need? They also are in the stands urging us to finish the race.
      2. Finally, there is Jesus, our founder/trailblazer and perfecter of our faith. He is there setting before us his cross and his glory at the right hand of the throne of God. He has won the prize, despising the shame he endured in the present life, cheering us on, so that we can take our place with him on the Father’s throne.
      3. Consider: for the joy set before him…” 

Conclusion: Do you see the goal? Do you see Jesus, interceding, caring, always there in time of need? Do you see the invisible? If you do, you will “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” 

Berry Kercheville