This post is the second and final post that I will write on Hebrews 11 and the idea that it is the “Hall of Faith.”
Once again, before we start, we must remember what a Hall of Fame/Faith is. A Hall of Fame is a place where the best of the best in a particular field are enshrined above the rest of their competitors. In other words, in any Hall of Fame, the people who have been nominated to be included, are seen as better than everyone who is not in the Hall of Fame. Thus, if you approach Hebrews 11 with this same mentality, then you have some serious questions to answer.
In this post, I want to ask about Hebrews 11:29. The ESV reads, “By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.” Of course, the Greek does not read, ‘the people’ but rather reads, ‘they passed through.’ Here is the big question…who is the author of Hebrews referring to when he says, ‘they passed through?’ If he is referring to the Exodus generation, then we have a serious issue with the idea that Hebrews 11 is the “Hall of Faith.” Psalm 95 refers to this Exodus generation as the generation who will NEVER enter God’s REST. As one does a thorough study of God’s rest, one will find that the ultimate REST that God refers to is heaven. Thus, God is saying that this Exodus generation, for their unbelief, will never enter heaven! The author of Hebrews comments on Psalm 95 and adds that this generation will not enter God’s rest because they did not believe/trust God in full faith! Thus, if you are clinging on to Hebrews 11 as the Hall of Faith, you have some difficult explanations of Heb 11:29. Is the Exodus generation in the Hall of Faith even though the testimony of Scripture says that they are not even saved?
If Heb 11 is not the Hall of Faith, then what is it? Why does the author of Hebrews use the Exodus generation in the middle of this chapter? And why does he say, ‘by faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land?’ I will attempt to answer these questions in my next post.
Your thoughts????
