Paul’s choice of heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11:32 shows, first of all, that faith continued to be the modus operandi of the righteous after entering the Promised Land. But, more than this, Paul began by holding up for the consideration of his first century audience men of profound weakness of character. Yet, these men, because they trusted in the Lord, were able to change the course of history.
Keep in mind that Paul was writing to believers in the first century AD who seemed ready to apostatize. In other words, they felt they simply couldn’t take the persecution any longer. Life’s troubles were simply too much, and they wanted something better, at least good enough to stop their present evil circumstances. To point to a Daniel or an Elijah would simply miss the mark here. Their weaknesses would be missed in light of their great accomplishments through their faith. Therefore, Paul only alluded to them in succeeding verses without mentioning their names. Instead, Paul began by mentioning men whose character flaws were obvious. It was their faith that was weak and had to be encouraged before it would be used by God to change the evil trends of their day.
Paul mentioned Gideon, who hid from the enemy (Judges 6:11). When he began to obey the Lord, he first did so by night, so no one could see (Judges 6:25-27). Then, when he was told to do a greater thing, Gideon’s faith was so weak that he asked for two signs, the second in case the first was a coincidence (Judges 6:36-40). So, it is not a matter of how strong one’s faith is. What matters is that one has faith at all. The Lord will honor even the weakest faith.
Next, Paul mentioned Barak, a man whose courage had to be helped by a woman. In modern society it is well known that women are men’s equal (practice is another matter), but not so in ancient society. At that time Deborah, the prophetess, sent for Barak in order that Israel might be delivered from her enemies (Judges 4:4, 6). Yet, Barak’s courage and faith were so lacking that he refused to go against Israel’s enemies, unless she, a woman, went with him. Therefore, the honor of the victory fell to Deborah rather than Barak (Judges 4:8-9). Thus, we are able to see God will even use faith so weak that it cannot be completely called one’s own. That is, it needs the help of a partner before it can be exercised.
Paul then mentions Samson, whose physical strength was renown, but whose character was deeply flawed in his lust for women. Yet, the Lord was able to overlook Samson’s sins in light of his faith in God. Although Samson knew his strength lay in his dedication to the Lord (the vow of the Nazarite),[1] he never acted like he was the Lord’s man. Nevertheless, when his strength was at its weakest point, and when he was blind, he prayed and the Lord honored the prayer of a weak man (Judges 16:28-30). Therefore, the Lord would hear the prayer of a man of faith, though is sins be as scarlet.
Paul also mentioned Jephthah, the son of a harlot, (Judges 11:1). He was thrust out of his father’s house, because his legitimate brethren refused to permit him to inherit his father’s wealth with them (Judges 11:2), which was similar to the accusation of Jews of the first century AD against Jews who embraced Jesus as their Messiah. Yet, the Lord delivered Israel’s enemies into Jephthah’s hands, and he became the leader of the people of God, which was similar to the promise the Lord made to the faithful in the first century AD (cp. Matthew 21:43). Although Jephthah was hasty in his words (Judges 11:29-31), which he regretted (Judges 11:34-35), he was used by God for great honor. This idea was not unlike the believing Jews of the first century AD, in that they were considering their own vow to the Lord was rash, and now they wanted to repent of it and return to their brethren who rejected the Lord as their Messiah.
In the light of such weakness of character, Paul was then able to mention David and Samuel, who were great men of faith, but, because he first mentioned men noted for their flaws, his first century readers would understand that great faith arises out of weakness. David acknowledged his weaknesses and his sins in many of his prayers (Psalms) to God. Likewise, Samuel’s children didn’t walk in the ways of their father, which probably indicated Samuel didn’t discipline them, as he ought to have done. Yet, clearly, the Lord doesn’t look upon our sins. Rather, he looks upon our hearts and will use the weakest of faith in order to accomplish his will for his people.
In Hebrews 11:33-38 Paul mentioned how many of the men of faith in Israel’s history were abused by their own brethren. Many scholars have tried to identify those to whom Paul alluded. For example was it Daniel who “stopped the mouth of lions” (Hebrews 11:33)? Yet, in the end we must conclude it is all guesswork. Paul knew of whom he referred and, no doubt, his readers did, as well. He claimed the world to whom they were sent weren’t worthy of them (Hebrews 11:38), and these, who were used so powerfully by God, never inherited the promises, though they gained a good report (Hebrews 11:39). That is, they trusted the Lord, and, if the Lord is true and keeps his promises, a resurrection is demanded so that he could fulfill his word to them (Hebrews 11:40).
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[1] See Numbers 6; Judges 13:5; Judges 16:16-17.
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