Hebrews 11:7-12: a reflection

7By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 8By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. 9By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.

In its roll call of faith, Hebrews shows what faith looks like in action. By faith Noah, warned about things not yet seen, built an ark to save his household. By faith Abraham, when called, went out to a place he would receive as an inheritance, and he went, not knowing where he was going. By faith Sarah, past the age of childbearing, trusted the God who had promised, and bore a son. In each case, faith took God at his word and acted on what could not yet be seen.

Notice the common thread: faith acts on the unseen, trusting God's word. Noah prepared for a flood that had not yet come, that no one could see; Abraham set out for a land he did not know, on the strength of a promise; Sarah trusted a promise that seemed impossible. None of them acted on sight; all of them acted on God's word about what they could not yet see. Faith, in each case, meant taking God at his word and acting accordingly, before the promise was visible.

That is what faith looks like for us as well. Faith is not merely believing that God exists; it is taking him at his word and acting on it, even when we cannot yet see the outcome, trusting his promises about the unseen. Like Noah, Abraham, and Sarah, we are called to act on what God has said, before we can see its fulfillment, trusting the God who promises. Where God has spoken and called you to act, do not wait until you can see the outcome; act in faith on his word, as these did, trusting the God who keeps his promises. Faith takes God at his word and acts on the unseen; live by such faith, looking, as Abraham did, to the city whose builder and maker is God, and acting now on the promises you cannot yet see fulfilled.

Lord, Hebrews shows me what faith looks like in action: Noah preparing for a flood not yet seen, Abraham going out not knowing where, Sarah trusting a promise that seemed impossible; each of them took you at your word and acted on what they could not yet see. Help me see that this is what faith looks like for me as well. Faith is not merely believing that you exist; it is taking you at your word and acting on it, even when I cannot yet see the outcome, trusting your promises about the unseen. Like Noah, Abraham, and Sarah, I am called to act on what you have said, before I can see its fulfillment, trusting you who promise. Where you have spoken and called me to act, keep me from waiting until I can see the outcome; help me act in faith on your word, as these did, trusting you who keep your promises. Faith takes you at your word and acts on the unseen; help me live by such faith, looking, as Abraham did, to the city whose builder and maker is God.