Something Better for Us

Hebrews 11:40

"And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect". (Hebrews 11:39‑40 NASB all texts from this version unless noted otherwise)

Hebrews 11 is often referred to as the faith chapter of the Bible. The writer to the Hebrew reader sets out the case for faith rather than the works‑based religion that the Jews were so familiar with.

Man's experience since creation.

God foreknew that mankind would have to experience many things, suffering the effects of disobedience to their Creator. Even those who God had not dealt with individually or as a nation were without excuse. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." (Romans 1:18‑20)

Adam and Eve had direct access to God and yet Eve failed the test by allowing Satan to deceive her. Adam was not deceived as recorded in 1 Timothy 2:14 "And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression." However both were sentenced to death and driven from the Garden.

God allowed the angels to rule over mankind. Again because of the influence of Satan this only led to the increase in wickedness. Only Noah and his family were saved.

In Genesis 11 there is the account of the tower of Babel. God said "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another's speech." (Genesis 11:7) Mankind needed another lesson.

God called Abram to leave Haran a place of idol worship saying "Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father's house, to the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;" (Genesis 12:1‑2) Abraham's faith in God was tested until he proved his faithfulness to God.

God then made a strange statement to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years." (Genesis 15:13)

Again God had a purpose, He was giving Abraham's descendants time to learn that being under another nation's control resulted in them being slaves to a foreign master therefore preparing them for nationhood.

After the experience in Egypt God gave the children of Israel the Law and the Priesthood, the sacrifices and the worship service to prepare them for the promised land. Total obedience to the law could have brought everlasting life, but imperfect man could not keep the law. Gal.3:19 (Diaglott) asks the question "Why then the Law?" And then follows with the answer "It was appointed on account of transgressions". It was a temporary measure "till the seed should come to whom the promise related" that is Jesus Christ.

After 400 years under a theocracy, the Israelites demanded that they be allowed to be ruled over by a king and they said to Samuel, "Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations." (1 Samuel 8:5) Samuel was displeased but "The LORD said to Samuel, 'Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.'" (1 Samuel 8:7) God warned them that they would pay a high price for being like the other nations with taxation, the use of their men as soldiers or servants, claiming their land, their produce and so on, but they still wanted an earthly King.

Because of their disobedience and especially that of their kings, they were then placed under Gentile rule from 606 B.C. under the Babylonians, Medes and Persians, Greeks and then the Romans. Surely the Jews should have been ready for the coming of the Messiah. All their prophets had proclaimed that the Messiah would come and they looked forward to that day. The devout Jews wondered at the words of Daniel "So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty‑two weeks." (Daniel 9:25) As a result they were in a state of expectation of the coming of the Messiah, even wondering if John the Baptist was the one.

Sadly, they were not ready for the Messiah that came. A carpenter's son from Nazareth was not what they had expected. They were expecting a strong king who would throw off the Roman Yoke and restore the Kingdom of Israel with the glory of the times of David and Solomon. Even his Apostles after his resurrection misunderstood the purpose of his first advent "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6) They had missed all the information recorded about the Messiah's first advent in Isaiah 53.

The Religious leaders of the Jewish Nation rejected Jesus and he was crucified as had been prophesied. With the temple veil torn from top to bottom the need for the law and the sacrifices had ended.

Paul had pointed out the weakness of the law and the sacrifices. "For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near…But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year". (Hebrews 10:1,3) Their attempt to keep the law had not earned everlasting life.

Many Jews from the time of Moses and the law did not live by faith but rather by the works of the law. By Christ's First Advent this had even been replaced with their traditions. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Scribes saying "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites in these words: 'This people pays me lip‑service, but their heart is far from me: their worship of me is in vain, for they teach as doctrines the commandments of men.' You neglect the commandment of God, in order to maintain the tradition of men." (Mark 7:6‑8 NEB)

Paul shows that the faith that the Christian needs is not something new, something exclusive to them, but was from the very beginning of the human race. "By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible." (Hebrews 11:3)

People of faith

The writer to the Hebrews speaks of the faith of Abel whose offering was his best and had God's approval. Paul also stated that "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him". (Hebrews 11:6 NASB) Faith must be exercised as James stated "faith without works is useless" and that "faith without works is dead".

Paul uses Noah as an example of faith "By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." (Hebrews 11:7) Here is a great example of faith and works. Noah had faith that what God had stated would come to pass even though it had never rained nor had he seen or possibly understood what a flood would be like. God had created a way for his salvation but it required him to build the ark according to his (God's) instructions.

The writer to the Hebrews continues to speak about other heroes of faith. Abraham had faith in the promises of God. Abram asked God to accept Eliezer as his rightful heir because he had no children. God promised that there would be an heir from his own body. "Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness." (Genesis 15:6) Paul goes on to explain "By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land." (Heb.11.9)

Women of faith

Abraham's wife is also mentioned (Hebrews 11:11) "By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised". Paul also mentions another faithful woman, Rahab, a Gentile from Jericho. Rahab said to the men, "I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you." (Joshua 2:9)

These all died in faith having not received the promises but having perceived them in the future and realizing they were temporary residents in the land they lived in their time. Not looking to return to their place of birth or some previous land otherwise it would have been a straightforward matter to return to that place instead they looked for a better place a heavenly country. "Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them", (Hebrews 11:16) which is the New Jerusalem mentioned in Revelation 3:12.

Paul speaks of the faith that Moses had in God, a faith fostered by his parents. Although Moses had all the trappings of wealth he chose "rather to endure ill‑treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward." (Hebrews 11:25‑26).

Paul states that although those of faith were tortured, they refused to recant their faith preferring death so that they might receive the promises of God. He stated that "others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill‑treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground." (Hebrews 11:36‑38)

Paul then makes the statement that "all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised" (Hebrews 11:39). Abraham gained approval through his faith because he had "respect to the promise of God,...did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Therefore, it was also credited to him as righteousness." (Romans 4:20‑22)

Paul explained that Abraham was not actually righteous because "there is none righteous, not even one" (Romans 3:10) but because of his faith it was credited or counted as such. Paul then states "Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead," (Romans 4:23‑24) Righteousness now is only through having faith in Christ. In fact Jesus gave his life so that the Christian might be seen as justified in God's eyes.

The question is why could they not be made perfect?

"And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect." (Hebrews 11:39‑40) They had gained approval through their faith and it had been credited for righteousness and yet they had not gained the promises.

The problem was that they were born in the wrong dispensation (period of time) and so the opportunity to partake in the better thing God has provided in this Christian era and participate in the Kingdom of Heaven was not available to them.

Matthew 3:1‑2 says "Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" John was preaching to those Jews that would listen that there was about to be a change, an opportunity to run for the High Calling. After John was thrown into prison we read "From that time Jesus began to preach. 'Repent,' He said, "for the Kingdom of the Heavens is now close at hand." (Matthew 4:17 Weymouth)

So are those now of the household of faith more deserving of this offer than the faith heroes of old? No, but Jesus states "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matthew 11:11) When John the Baptist was executed Jesus had not finished his earthly ministry, nor paid the price for Adam's sin. For the way to be opened, Jesus had to die on the cross, be buried, raised on the third day, ascend into heaven and place the merit of his sacrifice on the mercy seat, and have it accepted by Jehovah before the opportunity to partake in the Heavenly calling could take place.

Just before Jesus told the disciples that he was the way he reassured them "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:2‑3)

The need for Christ to be glorified before the way could be opened is shown in the following verses:

1. (By) this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:39)

2. Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh. (Hebrews 10:19‑20)

3. and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (Eph.2:6)

Was God unfair to those people of faith?

The answer in human terms would be yes. However when looking at it from God's perspective it can be seen that He had the right as the omnipotent supreme creator of the human race and it is His prerogative.

Isaiah states "But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand." (Isa.64:8) Paul expands this reminding the reader "O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? (Romans 9:20‑21)

The promise made to Abraham and his descendants was an earthly promise. "I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God." (Genesis 17:7‑8) Psalm 45:16 adds "You shall make them princes in all the earth."

God has a plan and a timetable. From before the creation the Heavenly Father knew what mankind would do. 1 Peter 1:19‑20 says "but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world…" God foreknew that man would sin and need a Redeemer. God foreknew the experiences that mankind would need before he would, willingly of a freewill, submit to God. Once Christ had been raised God could have instituted the Millennial Age, but his plan included selecting a bride for His son who would share the work with him. The better resurrection for the Church of this Christian era is a spiritual resurrection which second death has no power over.

Satan knew of this plan and has tried to thwart it by creating a false Church, one that worshipped Mary, through the mass continually crucified Christ, it introduced the new doctrines not taught by those who lived while Jesus was in the flesh and setup the false Kingdom on earth. Yet during all this time there were those faithful that did not worship the image of the beast. When the Church is complete then the kings and religions of this world will be destroyed.

Resurrection of the righteous

In the resurrection of the faithful men of old that Paul mentions in Hebrews, he seems to indicate in his statement before Felix "do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked." (Acts 24:14‑15) Certainly these men of old were considered righteous by God and so will be raised perfect on earth to help administer first to the Jewish Nation and then to the world.

These righteous ones will help God's grand purpose which "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:4). God does not force all of mankind to accept his rule and authority in the millennial reign to come so they will be a great help.