This Chapter has been called God's "Hall of Heroes of Faith."
It begins with the definition of Faith, as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Then it continues with recounting the faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the Children of Israel, Joshua, Rahab, and Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the Prophets, and unnamed saints who did great exploits, all through faith. And, although they were treated with cruel mockings and scourgings, bonds and imprisonment, destitute, afflicted and tormented, the world was not worthy of them.
They all went through all these things, trusting God to fulfill His Promises. But none of them received what was promised yet, because:
God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.God would not make everything complete until Jesus came, and we also, through faith, believed God.
God would not be finished with showing Mankind who He is, until His Son came to fulfill all the Law and Prophets and Psalms to be our Lamb of God and High Priest.
In Jesus we have the perfection that God has planned for us all. And now He is saving His children, birthing us into His own Family, finishing His Plan of the Ages and making complete everything in this Earth and Universe.
O my Father, You are so great, You are so good, You are so mighty and strong and determined. You planned everything out in detail before You created, and You have been carrying out Your plans through the Age of this Universe, using the "free will" of Mankind to push it along.
If You give someone an opportunity to do something great for You, You will reward them. But if they refuse, then you will use someone else, but that one will suffer loss of reward.
And You are also using all the evil people who rebel against You, they are pushing Your program forward, toward the final conclusion. You are sovereign, my Lord and Maker, and what You will is what will be done, in every realm.
And every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Christ and Lord God Almighty and Sovereign King over all, to the glory of God the Father.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
