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There are two women mentioned in Hebrews eleven.
The first “A Princess”, Sarah,
The second “A Prostitute”, Rahab.
These two women divide the chapter into three sections.
From Abel, To Sarah.
From Isaac, To Rahab.
From Gideon, To Samuel.
Seventeen personalities by name are mentioned in Hebrews eleven, which are related to a great life of faith, beginning with Abel and ending with Samuel. Why seventeen, out of all the people of the bible? We will see why God choose these seventeen in our studies in Hebrews eleven.
The Roman's had a custom of placing statues of great men from their past in their homes and places of business. The object of placing them was to acquaint their children with these great men, in order to have them to imitate the good points of their character.
In Hebrews eleven we have the hero’s of faith in God’s hall of fame, which we as followers of Jesus Christ are to study their lives in order to help mold our character, and strengthen our faith.
I want us to examine the first Model for our lives.
“Abel” The Model Witness.
Introduction:
Not one word that Abel spoke was recorded in Holy Scripture. Yet God reveals him as “The Model Speaker.” Action speaks louder than words. Sometimes our words are drowned out by our actions.
Hebrews 11: 4
“...and by it he being dead yet speaketh…” The “it” in this statement means by his faith, he yet speaketh. Abel is still speaking to us by faith. Let us examine his message further.
I. The Message of Which He Spoke.
1. He Spoke Of The Doctrine Of Sacrifice.
What a great subject he chose to speak about. The doctrine of sacrifice goes back to the first promise in God’s word.
Genesis 3: 15
where God speaks of “The Seed Of The Woman.” Which had to do with the sacrifice of the Son of God. God had taught Adam’s Family to offer sacrifice in their daily worship. These sacrifices were types of the great sacrifice of the Son of God himself. “Faith cometh by hearing…”
Romans 10: 17
. God had given them the plan to approach His presence. Abel was obedient to that plan but Cain was not, Cain brought the offerings that had the curse of God upon them.
Genesis 3: 17
—”...cursed is the ground for thy sake;…” He did not act in faith, and was rejected. Here is the first attempt to reach God without blood.
Hebrews
9: 22
; “…without the shedding of blood is no remission…”
2. He Spoke On The Doctrine Of Substitution.
The fire of God fell upon Abel’s offering instead of falling upon Abel. So it is with us, God’s judgment fell upon Christ instead of us. He was our substitute for sin. Abel’s sacrifice had been prepared as God had ordered.
Genesis 4
: 4
“...Abel...brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.” This is the same order as God gave unto Moses in the law. God had His laws in force before they were written by Moses.
II. The Manner by Which He Spoke. He Spoke By His Actions
1. His Action Was Clear.
You can understand the actions of a person easier than their words. You can clearly see that Abel was acting in obedience to God. “...by faith…” Here is God’s first great lesson written in scripture for our learning. If we approach God it must be by His way. Abel was speaking very plainly that, his only hope of being pardoned from sin and dwelling in God’s presence was through the shedding of blood. His manner of speaking was plain, and very important.
Illustration: A gentleman advertised for a boy to help him in his office. About fifty boys applied. In just a short time he chose one and sent the others away. A fellow worker asked him why he had chosen this boy. He had no letters of recommendation, while many of the others had several. “You are mistaken,” said the gentleman; “this boy had many and better recommendations. When he entered the office he wiped his feet, and closed the door after him. By this I knew that he was tidy and orderly. He gave up his seat to an older person who came in, which told me he was kind and thoughtful. He answered all my questions promptly, which showed me that he was polite and respectful. I learned by watching this boy’s actions that he had better recommendations than all the others. That’s why he got the job. His actions spoke louder than words.
2. His Action Brought Cleansing. “...he obtained witness that he was righteous…”
Not only did Abel bring an offering for himself but he also brought one for the cleansing of his brother Cain. “Genesis 4: 4 “firstlings” This means he brought more than one. But Cain refused it and brought an offering of his own hand. The offering Abel brought was tied at the door.
Genesis 4: 7
“sin lieth at the door” This means that a sin offering was brought by Abel and tied at the door for Cain.
Genesis 4: 7
“…if thou doest well shalt thou not be accepted…” This is rendered in the Greek Septuagint “if thou offer correctly” Cain’s offering was not offered correctly. It was not a blood sacrifice.
III. The Might by Which He Spoke. “...he being dead, yet speaketh…”
1. The Measure Of It.
Some people have a very strong voice that can be heard a great distance away. Abel speaking by his actions was in the heart of Asia when he spoke, and yet, we hear it in this western part of the world. He spoke by his act of sacrifice some six thousand years ago and we still hear it today. Wow! What a powerful voice and what a length of time it has been sounding. Again let me say, “Actions speak louder than words.”
2. The Mystery Of It. “...he being dead, yet speaketh…”
This phrase means that Abel will go on speaking until Jesus comes again. What we do in this world will go on speaking after we have died and gone on to heaven. In
2 Corinthians 3: 2
, we are told, “Ye are our epistle written in hearts , known and read of all men…” I think of men of the past, whose work follows them even after death. They will have to answer for all deeds both good and bad at the judgment bar of God. Both saved and unsaved.
© 2006 by Bob Daugherty Ministries
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