Faith Makes An Impact

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Mighty God, You are a strong tower and a sure defense in times of trouble. I trust in You.

Read Hebrews 11:20–31

^[20] By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. ^[21] By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. ^[22] By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones. ^[23] By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. ^[24] By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. ^[25] He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. ^[26] He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. ^[27] By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. ^[28] By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. ^[29] By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. ^[30] By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. ^[31] By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

Meditate

“Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, and looks to God alone; laughs at impossibilities, and cries, “It shall be done!” (Charles Wesley, 1707–1788).

Think Further

Isaac, Jacob and Joseph offer us examples of a faith that impacts families and communities. As each approached death, each wanted his children to know the joy of walking with God. Isaac was being deceived by Jacob when he gave his blessing (Gen. 27:27–29), but the words once spoken were irrevocable. Our words can have very long-lasting effects upon our children, even when we are not always aware of what is going on in their minds. My wife and I always tried to be aware of the presence of little ears at our meal tables. Jacob gave his family a glimpse of his personal life of worship, even while he blessed them (21). He praised God, despite being so weak that he needed to lean on a staff to address them.

Moses’ parents entered the hall of faith because they surrendered their child up to God and the river (Exod. 2:1–3). In placing the baby into a pitch basket in the Nile they acted in faith by letting him go. Sometimes we have to learn the hard lesson of when to let go of those for whom we really care. Without that step of faith, the baby would have died. Israel’s great hero and deliverer, Moses, owed everything to the sacrificing love of his believing parents. Their faith was richly rewarded. When Moses made his own choice to turn away from the life of ease in Egypt and identify himself with God’s people he set in motion a program of rescue that impacted generations to come.

Apply

What impact is your faith having upon your family and community?

Closing prayer

Lord, grant me the faith that impacts generations.

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