Faith is often associated with power and results, yet Hebrews 11:39 presents a seeming paradox: many Old Testament figures demonstrated remarkable faith, yet “none of them received what had been promised.” How do we reconcile this apparent contradiction?

Hebrews 11:39 TPT. These were the true heroes, commended for their faith, yet they lived in hope without receiving the fullness of what was promised to them.

The initial part of the verse recognizes that the figures from the Old Testament were acknowledged by God for their faith. This commendation is important as it illustrates that faith, rather than merely actions or obedience, is what truly pleases God.

Faith is not just about attaining concrete results but involves trusting in God’s character, believing in His goodness, love, promises, and sovereignty. While faith can lead to extraordinary outcomes, its main emphasis is on honoring God and aligning with His will, irrespective of the results.

Throughout Hebrews 11, it is highlighted that these men and women acted out of faith. For instance:

1) Abraham (Hebrews 11:8-10)Abraham’s extraordinary faith, showcasing his trust and obedience to God’s promises.

2) MOSES: (Hebrews 11:24-26) Moses’ remarkable decision, driven by his faith.

3) NOAH: (Hebrews 11:7) Noah’s extraordinary faith. Noah placed his trust in God’s promise, even when the outcome appeared improbable.

Nevertheless, even with their faith and God’s endorsement of their lives, they did not witness the complete realization of the promises during their lifetime. Their faith looked ahead, anticipating something more significant, but that ultimate fulfillment was only realized through Jesus Christ.

Although faith can result in extraordinary outcomes, its complete realization may not always be immediate or apparent. The strength of faith is found in: Trusting in God’s sovereignty, aligning with His will, proclaiming His word, engaging in the hearing and meditation of His word, and obeying God’s introduction.

Andrew Wommack comments in one of his books “staying full of God” commented on faith that produces results. He said: “The reason we sometimes struggle to do God’s will is because of the value we place in other things”

Sometimes we look at people who have great sacrifices and wonder, How could they do it? Well, they couldn’t with some people’s values! People generally will do what they value, prize and respect the most. Therefore the problem isn’t knowing what the right thing to do is. It’s that our values are so skewed that we can’t make the right decision to do it because we feel we’re losing so much.

It appeared as if Moses was losing everything, but he looked beyond that. He had “respect” unto his reward.

Conclusion
Hebrews 11:39 urges us to have full confidence, trust in God’s character, promises, and sovereignty even when the fulfillment is postponed or uncertain. By concentrating on spiritual development and our relationship with God, we can truly experience the power of faith and spiritual growth.