September 14, 2025 • 35 mins
What does it mean to live by faith when the future remains hidden from view? The ancient words of Hebrews 11 come alive in this immersive meditation on faith's enduring power across generations.
Through the eyes of a contemplative scribe walking dusty streets at twilight, we journey deep into the "Hall of Faith" – that remarkable passage where the unseen becomes more real than what stands before us. The stories unfold with vivid imagery: Abel's acceptable sacrifice still speaking across millennia, Enoch walking so closely with God that death couldn't touch him, Noah building an impossible vessel on dry ground, and Abraham stepping into the unknown with nothing but a promise to guide his way.
These weren't perfect people, but people who chose to believe when answers remained hidden. Some conquered kingdoms and shut the mouths of lions through their faith. Others endured torture, imprisonment, and death, never wavering in their conviction. What unites them isn't their outcomes but their orientation – eyes fixed on promises beyond their lifetimes, living as "strangers and pilgrims" seeking a homeland they could feel but not yet touch.
The meditation invites us to see ourselves within this continuing story. What step will you take by faith when the path ahead seems uncertain? What unseen promise keeps your heart steady when doubts crowd in? As the scribe reminds us, faith isn't the absence of questions but the courage to keep walking when answers aren't fully revealed.
Settle in with your favorite cup of tea or coffee as we listen to scripture together, allowing its ancient wisdom to meet modern questions with timeless truth. Whether you're wrestling with uncertainty or seeking deeper trust, this journey through Hebrews 11 offers gentle guidance for your own walk of faith today.
Music Credit: "Immaculate Design" by Garden Friend
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
In the Field Audio Bible (07:04):
As twilight settles over the dusty
village, the scribe walks slowlyalong narrow cobblestone
streets, the last rays of suncatching the edges of worn
sandals and casting long shadowsagainst ancient stone walls.
The air is cool now, carryingthe faint scents of crushed
(07:27):
herbs, fresh bread baking in adistant oven and the gentle
murmur of evening prayers risingfrom nearby homes.
Lanterns flicker to life theirwarm glow, painting soft pools
of light on the path ahead.
His steps are measured, steady,as if each footfall echoes the
(07:52):
rhythm of stories long told.
The scroll tucked beneath hisarm shifts slightly its
parchment, worn but alive withwords waiting to be spoken.
He pauses beside an olive tree,its silver leaves whispering in
the breeze and his gaze liftstoward the stars just beginning
(08:17):
to appear in the deepening sky.
Faith, he murmurs, the assuranceof what we hope for, the
conviction of what we do not see.
The words are both ancient andurgent, a bridge between what
was and what is yet to come.
(08:38):
He thinks of those who walkedthis earth before him, men and
women who trusted promiseshidden from plain sight, whose
lives become a testament to theunseen.
He sees in his mind's eye Abeloffering a sacrifice that
reached beyond the altar.
(08:59):
Enoch walking so closely withGod that he was taken away
without tasting death.
Noah building an ark amid aquiet world, trusting a flood
that had not yet begun.
Each step the scribe takesrecalls their courage, the quiet
(09:23):
bravery of trusting a promisewhen all else says wait.
Turning a corner, the scribepasses a small well where a
woman fills her jar.
Her eyes meet his briefly, andin that glance the silent
question hangs.
(09:43):
And in that glance the silentquestion hangs what holds you
when the future is uncertain?
What unseen hope keeps yourheart steady when the path is
shrouded in shadow?
The scribe's voice softens ashe remembers Abraham, who
(10:04):
journeyed without knowing thedestination, and Sarah, who
laughed with wonder at thepromise of a child beyond her
years.
Moses leading his peoplethrough parted seas and barren
wilderness.
Each step, an act of faithdeeper than sight, deeper than
(10:27):
sight.
Along the way, the scribesenses the weight of those who
suffered for this faith, mocked,imprisoned, even killed.
Yet unshaken, their storiesmingle with the evening breeze,
carried like whispers amongolive branches.
Though they did not receivewhat was promised, the scribe
(10:49):
reflects God prepared somethingbetter for us so that together
we might be made perfect.
The village grows quiet beneaththe stars now, and the scribes
step slow.
As he stands at the edge of thecity walls, looking out into
(11:11):
the dark fields, beyond fieldsthat hold the promise of new
beginnings, of unseen futures,the scroll in his hand feels
heavier with meaning futures.
The scroll in his hand feelsheavier with meaning.
This faith, he knows, is notmerely for the heroes of old.
It is a call to walk bravelyinto the unknown, trusting
(11:36):
beyond sight, carrying hope forall who listen.
And you, friend.
As the night deepens and thestars blaze overhead, what faith
will you live by?
What unseen promises will guideyour steps through the dark?
The scribe settles once more athis weathered table, its wood
(12:00):
smooth beneath his hands, like atrusted friend.
Wood smooth beneath his hands,like a trusted friend.
The room is quiet, except forthe faint crackle of embers in
the hearth, where a gentle firecasts a golden glow, making the
shadows dance softly against thestone walls.
(12:22):
The air smells of smoked olivewood and dried thyme, carrying a
stillness that seems to holdthe weight of time itself.
Outside, the moon's pale lightslips through the narrow window,
touching the scroll as heunfurls it carefully, the
(12:42):
parchment sighs as if awakeningfrom a long sleep.
His eyes lift steady andinviting meeting yours.
Across the dimly lit chamber,the scribe's voice seems to echo
(13:09):
in the hush.
We will journey among theheroes of faith.
His quill dips into the darkink, capturing the lamp's
flicker, and begins to tracewords that sing of a past both
distant and alive.
Now.
Faith is the assurance of thingshoped for, the conviction of
things not seen.
He speaks softly of faith notas something distant or vague,
(13:33):
but as a living trust that moveshearts and changes destinies.
He recalls the names Abel,whose offering spoke beyond the
visible.
Enoch, who walked so closelywith God that he vanished from
this world.
Noah, who built an ark when theskies were still clear,
trusting the promise of rainunseen.
(13:55):
With each name.
The scribe's hands move withreverence, painting scenes in
the quiet air the tent ofAbraham stretched beneath the
starry skies, Sarah's laughterechoing at the promise of a
child beyond her years.
Moses' leading trembling feetthrough parted seas.
(14:15):
His voice softens, drawing youcloser into this circle of faith
.
By faith, they obeyed andjourneyed.
Not knowing where they would go, they welcomed the promise from
afar, living as strangers onthe earth.
The scribe's eyes meet yours,searching.
(14:39):
The flickering candlelightseems to hold its breath.
He is asking, without wordswhat hope are you holding on to
when all seems uncertain?
What unseen promise keeps yourheart moving forward?
Outside, the olive brancheswhisper in the night breeze,
(15:05):
their silver leaves shimmeringfaintly, as if echoing the
stories inside.
The scribe continues, voicesteady but tender.
By faith, the walls of jerichofell after the army marched
around them for seven days.
By faith, rahab the prostitutewelcomed the spies and was not
(15:28):
destroyed.
With those who disobeyed, youfeel the weight of their courage
and trust, living on the edgeof the known and the unknown,
driven not by sight but by thesteadfast hope of God's word.
The scribe's hand lingers amoment, as if inviting you to
(15:50):
see yourself here in the companyof those who dared to believe
beyond the evidence, whose faithwas their strength in the
shadows of doubt.
He writes slowly.
He writes slowly, each word, anoffering.
(16:11):
Some were tortured, refusing tobe released, that they might
gain a better resurrection.
Others suffered mocking,flogging, chains and
imprisonment.
The room seems to hold thebreath of those ancient
sufferings, the whisperedprayers, the silent tears, the
unshaken trust.
Amid trials, the scribe looksup again, his gaze full of
(16:36):
compassion and challenge.
What trials are you enduringnow?
What fears do you wrestle withwhen faith feels fragile?
The firelight flickers, castinggentle warmth in the quiet
night.
The scribe's voice softens to awhisper.
(17:00):
Yet all these, though commendedfor their faith, did not receive
what was promised, since Godhad provided something better
for us, that, apart from us,they should not be made perfect.
The promise stretches beyondtheir time, reaching to you,
calling you to walk with thiscloud of witnesses, to run the
(17:25):
race set before you, with eyesfixed on a hope not yet fully
revealed.
The scribe's smile is gentle,filled with a hope that cannot
be contained in ink or parchment.
Will you join them?
Will you live your daystrusting the unseen hand that
(17:47):
guides the lamp's flame dances?
Now the night deepens and thescroll rests between you more
than words on parchment.
It is an invitation written onthe heart itself.
It is an invitation written onthe heart itself.
The scribe breathes out softly,ready to continue the sacred
(18:10):
story.
And you, friend, what faithstory will you live today?
Now let's take a moment toquiet our hearts and listen to
the word itself.
Let these words sink deep intoyour spirit, bringing comfort,
conviction and encouragement,whether you're sitting in a
(18:33):
quiet place or out in the world.
Allow scripture to meet youright where you are.
Let's listen now to what thescribe, led by the Spirit, wrote
for those still carrying theweight of guilt, for those
longing to draw near and forthose who need to remember the
way has been made open.
(18:54):
I hope you have your favoritecup of tea or coffee.
Sit back, relax and let's stepinto the sacred text of the
Epistle to the Hebrews 11.
The Epistle to the Hebrews 11.
(19:23):
Now, faith is the assurance ofthings hoped for, the conviction
of things not seen.
Indeed by faith, our ancestorsreceived approval.
By faith, we understand thatthe worlds were prepared by the
word of God, so that what isseen was made from things that
(19:43):
are not visible.
By faith, Abel offered to God amore acceptable sacrifice than
Cain's.
Through this, he receivedapproval as righteous, God
himself giving approval to hisgifts.
He died, but through his faithhe still speaks.
(20:05):
By faith, Enoch was taken sothat he did not experience death
, and he was not found becauseGod had taken him, for it was
attested before he was takenaway that he had pleased God.
And without faith it isimpossible to please God, for
(20:27):
whoever would approach him mustbelieve that he exists and that
he rewards those who seek him.
Seek him by faith.
Noah, warned by God about eventsas yet unseen, respected the
warning and built an ark to savehis household.
By this, he condemned the worldand became an heir to the
(20:50):
righteousness that is inaccordance with faith.
By faith, Abraham obeyed whenhe was called to set out for a
place that he was to receive asan inheritance.
And he set out, not knowingwhere he was going.
By faith, he stayed for a timein the land he had been promised
(21:11):
, as in a foreign land, livingin tents, as did Isaac and Jacob
, who were heirs with him of thesame promise, for he looked
forward to the city that hasfoundations whose architect and
builder is God.
By faith, he received power ofprocreation, even though he was
(21:33):
too old, and Sarah herself wasbarren, because he considered
him faithful.
Who had promised?
Therefore, from one person, andthis one as good as dead,
descendants were born as many asthe stars of heaven and as the
innumerable grains of sand bythe seashore.
(21:55):
All of these died in faith,without having received the
promises, but from a distance.
They saw and greeted them.
They confessed that they werestrangers and foreigners on the
earth, for people who speak inthis way make it clear that they
are seeking a homeland.
If they had been thinking ofthe land that they had left
(22:16):
behind, they would have hadopportunity to return, but as it
is, they desire a bettercountry that is, a heavenly one.
Therefore, God is not ashamedto be called their God.
Indeed, he has prepared a cityfor them.
By faith, Abraham, when put tothe test, offered up Isaac.
(22:38):
He, who had received thepromises, was ready to offer up
his only son, of whom he hadbeen told it is through Isaac
that descendants shall be namedfor you.
He considered the fact that Godis able even to raise someone
from the dead and, figurativelyspeaking, he did receive him
(23:00):
back.
By faith, Isaac invokedblessings for the future on
Jacob and Esau.
By faith, Jacob, when dying,blessed each one of his sons of
Joseph, bowing in worship overthe top of his staff.
By faith, Joseph, at the end ofhis life, made mention of the
(23:21):
exodus of the Israelites andgave instructions about his
burial.
By faith, Moses was hidden byhis parents for three months
after his birth, because theysaw that the child was beautiful
and they were not afraid of theking's edict.
By faith, Moses, when he wasgrown up, refused to be called a
(23:44):
son of Pharaoh's daughter,choosing rather to share
ill-treatment with the people ofGod than to enjoy the fleeting
pleasures of sin.
He considered abuse, sufferedfor the Christ to be greater
wealth than the treasures ofEgypt, for he was looking ahead
(24:05):
to the reward.
By faith, he left Egyptunafraid of the king's anger,
for he persevered as though hesaw him who is invisible.
By faith, he kept the Passoverand the sprinkling of blood so
that the destroyer of thefirstborn would not touch the
(24:26):
firstborn of Israel.
By faith, the people passedthrough the Red Sea as if it
were dry land, but when theEgyptians attempted to do so,
they were drowned.
By faith, the walls of Jerichofell after they had been
encircled for seven days.
By faith.
(24:47):
Rahab the prostitute did notperish with those who were
disobedient because she hadreceived the spies in peace.
And what more should I say Fortime would fail me to tell of
Gideon, barak, samson, gephthah,of David and Samuel and the
prophets who, through faith,conquered kingdoms, administered
(25:08):
justice, obtained promises,shut the mouths of lions,
quenched raging fire, escapedthe edge of the sword, won
strength out of weakness, becamemighty and war put foreign
armies to flight.
Women received their dead byresurrection.
Others were tortured, refusingto accept release in order to
(25:32):
obtain a better resurrection.
Others suffered mocking andflogging and even chains and
imprisonment.
They were stoned to death.
They were sawn in two.
They were killed by the sword.
They went about in skins ofsheep and goats, destitute,
persecuted, tormented, of whomthe world was not worthy.
(25:55):
They wandered in deserts andmountains and in caves and holes
in the ground.
Yet all these, though they werecommended for their faith, did
not receive what was promised,since God had provided something
better so that they would not,apart from us, be made perfect.
(26:26):
The scribe's sandals tap softlyon the uneven stones as he walks
with you beyond the city's edge, where the noise of the village
fades and the earth stretcheswide beneath a darkening sky.
The air is cool and dry,scented faintly with wild thyme
(26:47):
and crushed earth.
A gentle breeze stirs the olivebranches, overhead their silver
leaves, whispering secrets inthe evening hush.
You walk side by side, thescroll wrapped in worn leather
resting against the scribe'schest, the weight of its words
(27:09):
pressing gently against him.
He pauses near an ancient olivetree, its gnarled trunk
twisting toward the heavens, andsets down the scroll on a low
stone.
The scribe's hands are steadybut tender as he unfurls the
parchment, the soft rustle likethe breath of time itself.
(27:32):
His eyes meet yours beneath thevast expanse of stars just
beginning to pierce the dusk.
Listen closely.
He begins, his voice low andsure, to a faith that outlives
the years, a faith that holdstight when all else fades away.
(27:55):
Faith is more than hope.
It is the anchor in storms wecannot see coming, the quiet
conviction that what is promisedwill not fail.
He traces the words as hespeaks, telling of those who
lived by this faith long beforeyour time, men and women who
(28:18):
dared to trust the unseen.
Abel, whose offering wasaccepted.
Abel, whose offering wasaccepted though no eyes but
God's beheld its worth.
Enoch, who walked so close toGod he was taken without knowing
death's grip.
Noah who built a vessel in aworld that laughed, trusting
(28:39):
waters that had not yet to fall.
The scribe's gaze softens as hespeaks of Abraham who left
behind all he knew, steppingforward without knowing where
the road would lead, holdingonto a promise that seemed
impossible.
And Sarah, whose laughtercarried the hope of life
blooming in barren years.
(29:01):
They were strangers andpilgrims on the earth, the
scribe whispers, living in tents, looking for a city not built
by human hands.
Their faith was a journey, nota place, but a path, walked step
by uncertain step.
(29:21):
You hear the scribe's breathmingle with the night air as he
recalls the trials faced bythese faithful mocking chains,
even death, but never wavering.
They face darkness withoutseeing the dawn, he says gently.
(29:43):
Yet their eyes were fixed on abetter light, a promise that
stretched beyond their days.
The night wraps around you bothand the scribe's voice draws
closer, offering a quietchallenge what is the faith you
(30:04):
live by today, when your path isuncertain, your heart weary?
Do you hold fast to what cannotbe seen?
He rolls the scroll slowly, asif sealing the moment, and
stands Together.
You begin to walk back towardthe village, the stars guiding
(30:28):
your steps.
Remember this, the scribe sayssoftly as you move through the
silent streets Faith is not theabsence of doubt or struggle.
It is the choice to believe whenanswers are hidden.
It is the choice to believewhen answers are hidden, to
trust when the journey feelslong.
The heroes of old did notreceive all they hoped for, yet
(30:52):
their faith lives on, calling usto keep walking.
The road ahead is shadowed butalive with possibility, and the
scribe's lantern glows steady, asmall but unwavering light.
And as you walk beside him, youunderstand faith is not just a
(31:15):
story of the past, but the lifeyou are invited to live today.
So tell me, friend, what stepwill you take by faith tonight?
Thank you for joining me todayas we journeyed through the
Epistle to the Hebrews 11.
(31:37):
I pray that you carry thesereflections with you into your
day, into your week, into yourday, into your week, and that
you find strength in knowing Godis with you in every trial,
every temptation and every stepof obedience.
If this time in God's Word hasencouraged you, take a moment to
(32:08):
share with someone who mightneed it, and be sure to join me
next time as we continue walkingthrough the scriptures,
learning, growing, and stayingfaithful in the field of life.
Until next time, may you findpeace in the quiet, trust in
God's call, and rest in Hisunchanging love.
This is In the Field Audio Bible, where we Listen to the Bible
One Chapter at a Time.
As twilight settles over the dusty
village, the scribe walks slowlyalong narrow cobblestone
streets, the last rays of suncatching the edges of worn
sandals and casting long shadowsagainst ancient stone walls.
The air is cool now, carryingthe faint scents of crushed
(07:27):
herbs, fresh bread baking in adistant oven and the gentle
murmur of evening prayers risingfrom nearby homes.
Lanterns flicker to life theirwarm glow, painting soft pools
of light on the path ahead.
His steps are measured, steady,as if each footfall echoes the
(07:52):
rhythm of stories long told.
The scroll tucked beneath hisarm shifts slightly its
parchment, worn but alive withwords waiting to be spoken.
He pauses beside an olive tree,its silver leaves whispering in
the breeze and his gaze liftstoward the stars just beginning
(08:17):
to appear in the deepening sky.
Faith, he murmurs, the assuranceof what we hope for, the
conviction of what we do not see.
The words are both ancient andurgent, a bridge between what
was and what is yet to come.
(08:38):
He thinks of those who walkedthis earth before him, men and
women who trusted promiseshidden from plain sight, whose
lives become a testament to theunseen.
He sees in his mind's eye Abeloffering a sacrifice that
reached beyond the altar.
(08:59):
Enoch walking so closely withGod that he was taken away
without tasting death.
Noah building an ark amid aquiet world, trusting a flood
that had not yet begun.
Each step the scribe takesrecalls their courage, the quiet
(09:23):
bravery of trusting a promisewhen all else says wait.
Turning a corner, the scribepasses a small well where a
woman fills her jar.
Her eyes meet his briefly, andin that glance the silent
question hangs.
(09:43):
And in that glance the silentquestion hangs what holds you
when the future is uncertain?
What unseen hope keeps yourheart steady when the path is
shrouded in shadow?
The scribe's voice softens ashe remembers Abraham, who
(10:04):
journeyed without knowing thedestination, and Sarah, who
laughed with wonder at thepromise of a child beyond her
years.
Moses leading his peoplethrough parted seas and barren
wilderness.
Each step, an act of faithdeeper than sight, deeper than
(10:27):
sight.
Along the way, the scribesenses the weight of those who
suffered for this faith, mocked,imprisoned, even killed.
Yet unshaken, their storiesmingle with the evening breeze,
carried like whispers amongolive branches.
Though they did not receivewhat was promised, the scribe
(10:49):
reflects God prepared somethingbetter for us so that together
we might be made perfect.
The village grows quiet beneaththe stars now, and the scribes
step slow.
As he stands at the edge of thecity walls, looking out into
(11:11):
the dark fields, beyond fieldsthat hold the promise of new
beginnings, of unseen futures,the scroll in his hand feels
heavier with meaning futures.
The scroll in his hand feelsheavier with meaning.
This faith, he knows, is notmerely for the heroes of old.
It is a call to walk bravelyinto the unknown, trusting
(11:36):
beyond sight, carrying hope forall who listen.
And you, friend.
As the night deepens and thestars blaze overhead, what faith
will you live by?
What unseen promises will guideyour steps through the dark?
The scribe settles once more athis weathered table, its wood
(12:00):
smooth beneath his hands, like atrusted friend.
Wood smooth beneath his hands,like a trusted friend.
The room is quiet, except forthe faint crackle of embers in
the hearth, where a gentle firecasts a golden glow, making the
shadows dance softly against thestone walls.
(12:22):
The air smells of smoked olivewood and dried thyme, carrying a
stillness that seems to holdthe weight of time itself.
Outside, the moon's pale lightslips through the narrow window,
touching the scroll as heunfurls it carefully, the
(12:42):
parchment sighs as if awakeningfrom a long sleep.
His eyes lift steady andinviting meeting yours.
Across the dimly lit chamber,the scribe's voice seems to echo
(13:09):
in the hush.
We will journey among theheroes of faith.
His quill dips into the darkink, capturing the lamp's
flicker, and begins to tracewords that sing of a past both
distant and alive.
Now.
Faith is the assurance of thingshoped for, the conviction of
things not seen.
He speaks softly of faith notas something distant or vague,
(13:33):
but as a living trust that moveshearts and changes destinies.
He recalls the names Abel,whose offering spoke beyond the
visible.
Enoch, who walked so closelywith God that he vanished from
this world.
Noah, who built an ark when theskies were still clear,
trusting the promise of rainunseen.
(13:55):
With each name.
The scribe's hands move withreverence, painting scenes in
the quiet air the tent ofAbraham stretched beneath the
starry skies, Sarah's laughterechoing at the promise of a
child beyond her years.
Moses' leading trembling feetthrough parted seas.
(14:15):
His voice softens, drawing youcloser into this circle of faith
.
By faith, they obeyed andjourneyed.
Not knowing where they would go, they welcomed the promise from
afar, living as strangers onthe earth.
The scribe's eyes meet yours,searching.
(14:39):
The flickering candlelightseems to hold its breath.
He is asking, without wordswhat hope are you holding on to
when all seems uncertain?
What unseen promise keeps yourheart moving forward?
Outside, the olive brancheswhisper in the night breeze,
(15:05):
their silver leaves shimmeringfaintly, as if echoing the
stories inside.
The scribe continues, voicesteady but tender.
By faith, the walls of jerichofell after the army marched
around them for seven days.
By faith, rahab the prostitutewelcomed the spies and was not
(15:28):
destroyed.
With those who disobeyed, youfeel the weight of their courage
and trust, living on the edgeof the known and the unknown,
driven not by sight but by thesteadfast hope of God's word.
The scribe's hand lingers amoment, as if inviting you to
(15:50):
see yourself here in the companyof those who dared to believe
beyond the evidence, whose faithwas their strength in the
shadows of doubt.
He writes slowly.
He writes slowly, each word, anoffering.
(16:11):
Some were tortured, refusing tobe released, that they might
gain a better resurrection.
Others suffered mocking,flogging, chains and
imprisonment.
The room seems to hold thebreath of those ancient
sufferings, the whisperedprayers, the silent tears, the
unshaken trust.
Amid trials, the scribe looksup again, his gaze full of
(16:36):
compassion and challenge.
What trials are you enduringnow?
What fears do you wrestle withwhen faith feels fragile?
The firelight flickers, castinggentle warmth in the quiet
night.
The scribe's voice softens to awhisper.
(17:00):
Yet all these, though commendedfor their faith, did not receive
what was promised, since Godhad provided something better
for us, that, apart from us,they should not be made perfect.
The promise stretches beyondtheir time, reaching to you,
calling you to walk with thiscloud of witnesses, to run the
(17:25):
race set before you, with eyesfixed on a hope not yet fully
revealed.
The scribe's smile is gentle,filled with a hope that cannot
be contained in ink or parchment.
Will you join them?
Will you live your daystrusting the unseen hand that
(17:47):
guides the lamp's flame dances?
Now the night deepens and thescroll rests between you more
than words on parchment.
It is an invitation written onthe heart itself.
It is an invitation written onthe heart itself.
The scribe breathes out softly,ready to continue the sacred
(18:10):
story.
And you, friend, what faithstory will you live today?
Now let's take a moment toquiet our hearts and listen to
the word itself.
Let these words sink deep intoyour spirit, bringing comfort,
conviction and encouragement,whether you're sitting in a
(18:33):
quiet place or out in the world.
Allow scripture to meet youright where you are.
Let's listen now to what thescribe, led by the Spirit, wrote
for those still carrying theweight of guilt, for those
longing to draw near and forthose who need to remember the
way has been made open.
(18:54):
I hope you have your favoritecup of tea or coffee.
Sit back, relax and let's stepinto the sacred text of the
Epistle to the Hebrews 11.
The Epistle to the Hebrews 11.
(19:23):
Now, faith is the assurance ofthings hoped for, the conviction
of things not seen.
Indeed by faith, our ancestorsreceived approval.
By faith, we understand thatthe worlds were prepared by the
word of God, so that what isseen was made from things that
(19:43):
are not visible.
By faith, Abel offered to God amore acceptable sacrifice than
Cain's.
Through this, he receivedapproval as righteous, God
himself giving approval to hisgifts.
He died, but through his faithhe still speaks.
(20:05):
By faith, Enoch was taken sothat he did not experience death
, and he was not found becauseGod had taken him, for it was
attested before he was takenaway that he had pleased God.
And without faith it isimpossible to please God, for
(20:27):
whoever would approach him mustbelieve that he exists and that
he rewards those who seek him.
Seek him by faith.
Noah, warned by God about eventsas yet unseen, respected the
warning and built an ark to savehis household.
By this, he condemned the worldand became an heir to the
(20:50):
righteousness that is inaccordance with faith.
By faith, Abraham obeyed whenhe was called to set out for a
place that he was to receive asan inheritance.
And he set out, not knowingwhere he was going.
By faith, he stayed for a timein the land he had been promised
(21:11):
, as in a foreign land, livingin tents, as did Isaac and Jacob
, who were heirs with him of thesame promise, for he looked
forward to the city that hasfoundations whose architect and
builder is God.
By faith, he received power ofprocreation, even though he was
(21:33):
too old, and Sarah herself wasbarren, because he considered
him faithful.
Who had promised?
Therefore, from one person, andthis one as good as dead,
descendants were born as many asthe stars of heaven and as the
innumerable grains of sand bythe seashore.
(21:55):
All of these died in faith,without having received the
promises, but from a distance.
They saw and greeted them.
They confessed that they werestrangers and foreigners on the
earth, for people who speak inthis way make it clear that they
are seeking a homeland.
If they had been thinking ofthe land that they had left
(22:16):
behind, they would have hadopportunity to return, but as it
is, they desire a bettercountry that is, a heavenly one.
Therefore, God is not ashamedto be called their God.
Indeed, he has prepared a cityfor them.
By faith, Abraham, when put tothe test, offered up Isaac.
(22:38):
He, who had received thepromises, was ready to offer up
his only son, of whom he hadbeen told it is through Isaac
that descendants shall be namedfor you.
He considered the fact that Godis able even to raise someone
from the dead and, figurativelyspeaking, he did receive him
(23:00):
back.
By faith, Isaac invokedblessings for the future on
Jacob and Esau.
By faith, Jacob, when dying,blessed each one of his sons of
Joseph, bowing in worship overthe top of his staff.
By faith, Joseph, at the end ofhis life, made mention of the
(23:21):
exodus of the Israelites andgave instructions about his
burial.
By faith, Moses was hidden byhis parents for three months
after his birth, because theysaw that the child was beautiful
and they were not afraid of theking's edict.
By faith, Moses, when he wasgrown up, refused to be called a
(23:44):
son of Pharaoh's daughter,choosing rather to share
ill-treatment with the people ofGod than to enjoy the fleeting
pleasures of sin.
He considered abuse, sufferedfor the Christ to be greater
wealth than the treasures ofEgypt, for he was looking ahead
(24:05):
to the reward.
By faith, he left Egyptunafraid of the king's anger,
for he persevered as though hesaw him who is invisible.
By faith, he kept the Passoverand the sprinkling of blood so
that the destroyer of thefirstborn would not touch the
(24:26):
firstborn of Israel.
By faith, the people passedthrough the Red Sea as if it
were dry land, but when theEgyptians attempted to do so,
they were drowned.
By faith, the walls of Jerichofell after they had been
encircled for seven days.
By faith.
(24:47):
Rahab the prostitute did notperish with those who were
disobedient because she hadreceived the spies in peace.
And what more should I say Fortime would fail me to tell of
Gideon, barak, samson, gephthah,of David and Samuel and the
prophets who, through faith,conquered kingdoms, administered
(25:08):
justice, obtained promises,shut the mouths of lions,
quenched raging fire, escapedthe edge of the sword, won
strength out of weakness, becamemighty and war put foreign
armies to flight.
Women received their dead byresurrection.
Others were tortured, refusingto accept release in order to
(25:32):
obtain a better resurrection.
Others suffered mocking andflogging and even chains and
imprisonment.
They were stoned to death.
They were sawn in two.
They were killed by the sword.
They went about in skins ofsheep and goats, destitute,
persecuted, tormented, of whomthe world was not worthy.
(25:55):
They wandered in deserts andmountains and in caves and holes
in the ground.
Yet all these, though they werecommended for their faith, did
not receive what was promised,since God had provided something
better so that they would not,apart from us, be made perfect.
(26:26):
The scribe's sandals tap softlyon the uneven stones as he walks
with you beyond the city's edge, where the noise of the village
fades and the earth stretcheswide beneath a darkening sky.
The air is cool and dry,scented faintly with wild thyme
(26:47):
and crushed earth.
A gentle breeze stirs the olivebranches, overhead their silver
leaves, whispering secrets inthe evening hush.
You walk side by side, thescroll wrapped in worn leather
resting against the scribe'schest, the weight of its words
(27:09):
pressing gently against him.
He pauses near an ancient olivetree, its gnarled trunk
twisting toward the heavens, andsets down the scroll on a low
stone.
The scribe's hands are steadybut tender as he unfurls the
parchment, the soft rustle likethe breath of time itself.
(27:32):
His eyes meet yours beneath thevast expanse of stars just
beginning to pierce the dusk.
Listen closely.
He begins, his voice low andsure, to a faith that outlives
the years, a faith that holdstight when all else fades away.
(27:55):
Faith is more than hope.
It is the anchor in storms wecannot see coming, the quiet
conviction that what is promisedwill not fail.
He traces the words as hespeaks, telling of those who
lived by this faith long beforeyour time, men and women who
(28:18):
dared to trust the unseen.
Abel, whose offering wasaccepted.
Abel, whose offering wasaccepted though no eyes but
God's beheld its worth.
Enoch, who walked so close toGod he was taken without knowing
death's grip.
Noah who built a vessel in aworld that laughed, trusting
(28:39):
waters that had not yet to fall.
The scribe's gaze softens as hespeaks of Abraham who left
behind all he knew, steppingforward without knowing where
the road would lead, holdingonto a promise that seemed
impossible.
And Sarah, whose laughtercarried the hope of life
blooming in barren years.
(29:01):
They were strangers andpilgrims on the earth, the
scribe whispers, living in tents, looking for a city not built
by human hands.
Their faith was a journey, nota place, but a path, walked step
by uncertain step.
(29:21):
You hear the scribe's breathmingle with the night air as he
recalls the trials faced bythese faithful mocking chains,
even death, but never wavering.
They face darkness withoutseeing the dawn, he says gently.
(29:43):
Yet their eyes were fixed on abetter light, a promise that
stretched beyond their days.
The night wraps around you bothand the scribe's voice draws
closer, offering a quietchallenge what is the faith you
(30:04):
live by today, when your path isuncertain, your heart weary?
Do you hold fast to what cannotbe seen?
He rolls the scroll slowly, asif sealing the moment, and
stands Together.
You begin to walk back towardthe village, the stars guiding
(30:28):
your steps.
Remember this, the scribe sayssoftly as you move through the
silent streets Faith is not theabsence of doubt or struggle.
It is the choice to believe whenanswers are hidden.
It is the choice to believewhen answers are hidden, to
trust when the journey feelslong.
The heroes of old did notreceive all they hoped for, yet
(30:52):
their faith lives on, calling usto keep walking.
The road ahead is shadowed butalive with possibility, and the
scribe's lantern glows steady, asmall but unwavering light.
And as you walk beside him, youunderstand faith is not just a
(31:15):
story of the past, but the lifeyou are invited to live today.
So tell me, friend, what stepwill you take by faith tonight?
Thank you for joining me todayas we journeyed through the
Epistle to the Hebrews 11.
(31:37):
I pray that you carry thesereflections with you into your
day, into your week, into yourday, into your week, and that
you find strength in knowing Godis with you in every trial,
every temptation and every stepof obedience.
If this time in God's Word hasencouraged you, take a moment to
(32:08):
share with someone who mightneed it, and be sure to join me
next time as we continue walkingthrough the scriptures,
learning, growing, and stayingfaithful in the field of life.
Until next time, may you findpeace in the quiet, trust in
God's call, and rest in Hisunchanging love.
This is In the Field Audio Bible, where we Listen to the Bible
One Chapter at a Time.
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