The Bible teaches us that it is impossible to please God without faith. Jesus often rebuked His disciples for their lack of faith. But what are the characteristics of faith? If a person were to live his life by faith, what would his life look like?
After giving the example of Abraham, the inspired book of Hebrews mentions several other people whose lives teach us about faith. In chapter 11, verses 20 through 31 it says, “By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave instructions concerning his bones. By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time; accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. By faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up. By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith, Rahab the prostitute, didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.”
One of the characteristics of someone who lives by faith is that he looks beyond present circumstances. He is fully confident that God will fulfill His promises even though the fulfillment might come long after his own death. It was for this reason that Isaac was able to bless Jacob and Esau concerning their future. He could see how God’s promises would be fulfilled through them.
Jacob, in turn, passed God’s blessing on to Joseph’s sons. And, Joseph was so sure that God would keep His promise to take the Israelites from Egypt and give them the land of Canaan that he instructed them to take his bones with them when they left. Joseph considered the promise as good as fulfilled, even though the actual events took place approximately 400 years in the future.
Faith also gives a higher priority on obeying God than obeying the law. Moses’ parents hid him even though Pharaoh had decreed than all Israelite baby boys be thrown into the Nile River. Their faith gave them confidence in God’s promises. As a result they had no fear of the king’s command. The Apostles Peter and John told the rulers of their day, “…Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.” (Acts 4:19 NIV)
Faith also enables people to choose what is right. Moses could have lived a life of luxury in Egypt. People regarded him as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Yet, because of His faith in God and God’s promises, Moses repudiated that relationship. Instead he chose to identify himself with his parent’s people, the Israelites. He chose to turn his back on all the wealth and pleasure his position in Egypt could give him and accept mistreatment in its place. His faith enabled him to see the reward which God has promised in Christ and made him realize that that reward was far more valuable than all the wealth of Egypt. He chose disgrace for the sake of Christ over temporary pleasures.
Moses’ faith also led him to leave Egypt. Moses left Egypt the first time because he had killed a man and feared the consequences. However, at the end of the 40 years he spent in the desert God appeared to him in a burning bush at Mt. Sinai. This encounter renewed his faith. Through the eyes of faith he was able to see the invisible God. He went back to Egypt and fearlessly confronted Pharaoh and liberated the Israelite people from slavery. He then left Egypt, never to return.
It was Moses’ faith which enabled him to institute and keep the Passover. The Egyptians did not believe when they heard that the angel of death was going to visit the land. But Moses’ faith caused him to act. He and all the Israelites killed lambs as God had directed and sprinkled the blood on the door-frames of their houses so the angel of death would not kill their firstborn children.
God opened up the Sea so the Israelites could leave Egypt. It must have been frightening to walk between walls of water on either side. Yet, because the people had faith in God who had opened the Sea for them, they were able to cross to the other side. They believed God’s promise to deliver them from Egypt. The Egyptians, however, did not have faith in God. When they tried to follow the Israelites in order to enslave them again, the waters closed over them and they drowned.
Faith will obey what God has said even if it looks foolish. Because the Israelites believed God, they marched around the walls of Jericho. Because they believed and obeyed, the walls of Jericho collapsed and the Israelites were able to easily take the city.
The Israelites were not the only ones who had faith in God. Rahab the prostitute believed and obeyed. As a result, she was spared while the citizens of Jericho who did not obey, perished.
All of these examples raise questions about our own faith. Do we believe God’s promises even though they might not be fulfilled in our own lifetimes? Is our faith strong enough to defy the law in order to do what is right? Does our faith enable us to turn away from present pleasures in confident expectation of future reward? Does our faith make light of mistreatment and disgrace for the sake of Christ? Does our faith overcome fear? Does our faith cause us to act, and do what God has said, even though it makes no earthly sense?
Some people have the idea that if we have faith, God will protect us from trouble. Though faith enables us to do great things, it does not always prevent suffering. Instead it helps us triumph over trouble and suffering.