ISRAEL, AND REDEMPTION BY FAITH.
Hebrews 11: 27 - 31 By faith he (Moses) forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him (Christ) who is invisible. By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient (the gentiles within the walled city), having received the spies with peace.
Continuing on in the SECOND HALF-PRACTICAL.
Hebrews Chapters 10:19 - 13:25
Of a Life in the Power of the Great Salvation.
In the TENTH SECTION
Hebrews 11: 1-40.
The Fulness of Faith.
BY THE REV. ANDREW MURRAY
In these verses we have, in five examples, from the history of the Hebrews on their way from Egypt to Canaan, the truth confirmed anew that in all that God does in redemption, on man's part trusting is the beginning and ending. Whether we look at His revelation as a whole, or at its individual parts, everywhere the one thing He asks, the one thing that pleases Him, the one thing that secures His blessing--- is our trust. In the five times repeated by the word faith we see that in the greatest variety of circumstances and duties the first of all duties always is--- trust in the invisible One. Oh that we might at length learn the lesson: as there is one God, and one redemption, so there is but One Way to Him and to it--- is trust in Him. As absolute and universal and undisputed as is the sole supremacy of God, is to be the supremacy of our trusting in God, and God can become within us what He is in the universe, what He is in His very nature--- the all in all.
The history of the Hebrews, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God, is a real type and figure of the life of Christ in the soul. In the illustrations taken from the beginning of that history, we have some of the chief steps of the Christian life strikingly illustrated. By trusting Moses, with the Hebrews, left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king who would pursue them. That is ever the first step--- coming out, being separate, parting with sin, bidding farewell to Egypt, the land of our birth, and not fearing the wrath of Satan or the world. It is by nothing but by trusting that this can be done, definitely and perseveringly. But our trusting can enable us to do it, as it did Moses. For he endured, as seeing Him (Christ) who is invisible. Here is the mighty power of His faith in the heart of believers; it sees what others cannot see. It sees, amid the thousand things others see and are guided by, something infinitely greater--- it sees God. No wonder it leads a man to act differently from other men. On everything it looks at, the bright Light of Eternity, of God, is shining. No wonder that under the inspiration of that Vision it can do mighty deeds, for it sees God as its helper and strength.
Let me here say to every believer that just as, in any pursuit, the eye by practice can be trained to see what others cannot see, so the eye of our trust can be trained to see God everywhere. Abide in His presence till the heart is filled with His Grace and Faith, Recognize Him in every thing that happens. Seek to walk in the Light of His countenance. Seeing the Invisible will make it easy to forsake the world and do the Will of God.
By trusting he kept, with the Hebrews, the passover and the sprinkling of blood, that the destroyer should not touch them. When our trust is ready for the first step, the forsaking of Egypt, God meets it with His Divine provision, and faith finds perfect safety and rest under the shelter of the Blood. And if the Hebrews thus honored God's word and trusted in the blood of a lamb--- oh, shall we not ten thousand times more honor the Blood of the Lamb, and believe and claim that Eternal Salvation it brings us. We have been taught its wonderful power in conquering sin and death, in Opening Heaven, in Cleansing and Perfecting our conscience and heart, and bringing us near to God; let us open our whole being to the power of the Blood that cleanses from all sin. Let our trusting His faithfulness rejoice in the invisible God and the precious Blood of the Lamb of God.
By trusting they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land. On the sprinkling of the Blood there follows the entrance on a New Life, the surrender to be led by God in a Way that we know not, through difficulties to us insurmountable. By trusting they passed through between the waters in a way man had never trod, in a way that their pursuers in vain sought to follow. Where nature fails our trusting triumphs, for it follows in a Way where God leads.
By trusting and obedience the walls of Jericho fell down. The strength of the enemy, in which he trusted, in view of the impotence of God's people, availed nothing before the power of God's faithfulness. When shall we learn, in quiet patience and perseverance, to wait upon God our seven days too, the Circle of a completed time, until He gives the possession of the promised Rest (the Canaan of Christ's Rest ). Let our trusting claim it; we are the children of a God who does impossibilities; we are called to a life of surrendered trust that expects and receives them. Let our life be--- a life of trusting in God's faithfulness to fulfill His promised end.
By trusting Rahab perished not. Salvation by trust was not for the Hebrews only but for the heathen too. By trusting Rahab was not only saved, but became one of the ancestors of Jesus, and one of the cloud of witnesses that tell of the blessedness of trusting. With one accord they call to us: Have trust in God, all things are possible to him that believes. Let trust be all with us, and God will be all. Let God be all and He will do all.
By trusting obedience. Let this be the motto of our life. In every need and perplexity, with every desire and prayer, with every work and trial, with every thought of ourselves and of God, let this be the one thing we seek ever to breathe a Living trust in a Living God and His Faithfulness. Once again I say: As absolute and universal and undisputed as is the supremacy of God, is to be the supremacy of His faith in our heart and life. We can only have as much of God in our heart as we have of His Grace and Faith. And because God is All, and must be All to us, His faith in our heart must be all too.
1. The old saints had less light than we how is it they had more trust than so many? It Is because we trust in the light we have, as we hold it in our mind and reason. They were thrown upon God and trusted Him. Let us but give ourselves over to the perfect life Jesus has revealed what power of His faith would give us.
2. But notice everywhere how it was only in obedience trusting could act. In leaving Egypt, and sprinkling the blood, and passing through the Red Sea, and going round Jericho, and Rahab's deliverance it was all, wholly and entirely, in obedience that trust acted and triumphed.
3, Faith is the power of the will choosing God's Will, entering into it and yielding to it. Would you be strong In such trust to stand perfect in all the Will of God.
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