REMEMBER GOD’S DEEDS

HEBREWS 10:32–39

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering

(Heb. 10:32).

Whenever the author of Hebrews utters one of his dire warnings against apostasy, he follows it with words of encouragement. Here he reminds his readers of the early days of their faith. At that time, even though it meant sure and great suffering, these believers stood firm for the Gospel, and God blessed them.

Recall the author’s great analogy: The Hebrew Christians are like the Hebrews who left Egypt. (Indeed, this may be why the early church called this letter “To the Hebrews” instead of “To the Jews,” because the name Hebrew is associated with the period of the patriarchs and the deliverance from Egypt.) Just as God built the tabernacle in the wilderness, so Jesus had entered the greater tabernacle in their time. Just as the Hebrews were tempted to go back to Egypt when life in the wilderness became difficult, so these Hebrew Christians were being tempted to go back to the Egypt of Judaism.

But in the Old Testament, God called upon the earlier Hebrews to remember His great deeds: the 10 plagues, the dividing of the Red Sea, the miracles in the wilderness, the battle and victory against Amalek’s persecution. Similarly, the author of Hebrews calls upon his readers to remember the great things God did at the beginning of the book of Acts: the miracle at Pentecost, the healings and conversions, the courage of Stephen, and the conversion of Paul.

Back in those exciting days, these Christians stood fast. They withstood persecution. They openly visited those in prison, running the risk of arrest themselves. They accepted the spoiling of their property by the authorities, knowing that they had treasure in heaven. “Remember those days,” he says. “God is testing you now in a different way, building endurance into your character. You had to be heroic in the early days. Now you have to learn endurance. By the grace of God hang on. Soon your public stand will be vindicated, because Jesus is coming, and He will bring justice to His people who have suffered. All men will see what God does to those who dare attack His bride! Keep living by faith, and your reward is certain.”

CORAM DEO

Ezra 5–6

Jesus’ vindicating His saints is a principle which has operated in history. John Hus was burned at the stake, and a century later Martin Luther was raised up to vindicate him. Suffering and martyrdom are part of the process by which God grows His kingdom in history. Take heart and don’t fall away.

For further study: Psalms 105; 106

tuesday

august