Hebrews 11:32: The Faith of Gedeon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David, Samuel, and the Prophets
2023-09-30
Hebrews 11:32
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: (Hebrews 11:32)
Consider the apostle’s question. “And what shall I more say?” The Word is replete with examples of faith. There are so many examples that he could never record them all in his letter.
There are six men listed by name in this verse, and the prophets are listed as a group, in which there are many in the Old Testament. Let us consider briefly the men mentioned by name: Gedeon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David, and Samuel.
Gedeon (Gideon)
What can we see of Gideon’s faith? We can see that he was from a humble background and was at first a rather timid fellow. “And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” (Judges 6:14-15).
Gideon’s faith needed a lot of help along the way. When he was told to fight Midian, there were a couple of times he needed signs; this was a complaint of his from the beginning. “...where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of...?” (Judges 6:13). Here are some examples of God’s helping Gideon’s faith:
“Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight. And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face. And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die” (Judges 6:21-23). The Angel of the LORD consumed this gift with a touch of a staff and then disappeared. Gideon was afraid at first, but then encouraged enough to destroy the altar of Baal in his household.
Again, there is the story of the fleece. Consider Judges 6:36-40. The dewiness was on the fleece and not the ground, then vice versa. From there, he could get a group of warriors together.
Again, there is the time when Gideon overheard some Midianites talking about a dream after he was told to fight the whole host with 300 men. Consider Judges 7:9-15. How did this dream occur? How did these two soldiers ever hear of Gideon? Whatever happened, it was orchestrated by the LORD so this young Abiezrite could be encouraged. This event carried him through fighting all these men, where the Lord wrought him a victory.
Gideon was not perfect, as he made this ephod that caused the whole nation to idolatry. We are encouraged by this man that, while this event was horrible and tragic, you can receive forgiveness and serve the Lord in your life.
Barak
So, why Barak? Why not Deborah? After all, she was the judge, right? Clearly, she was a woman of faith. I think the apostle included Barak because he had some shortcomings. We do not see any weakness recorded about Deborah, though of course she would have them like anybody else. I believe this was for our encouragement. He blundered because of lack of faith but later turned into a man of faith.
When Deborah told Barak to muster the soldiers, the general answered, “If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go” (Judges 4:8). The judge went with him, but it cost him the honor of destroying the enemy’s captain, Sisera.
When Sisera came for Barak, Deborah said, “Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him” (Judges 4:14). We see that he trusts God to go against those 900 chariots of iron, because next we read, “And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet” (Judges 4:15). It took faith to do this, because we often read of the Israelites complaining about their enemies having iron chariots and how powerful they were.
The consequences of lack of faith stayed with Barak (i.e., Jael slew Sisera), but by faith he received the victory.
Samson
If the failure of the previously mentioned men doesn’t stand out to you, Samson’s appearance in this chapter should really stand out. He lived a life of fornication and without direction, living contrary to his Nazarite vow. However, his life began right. “And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol” (Judges 13:24-25).
Even though Samson was about to marry a pagan woman and lost a bet, we read: “And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house” (Judges 14:19). The Spirit would not come on him if he did not have some manner of faith.
After Samson was captured by the Philistines and blinded, the last moment of his life was his calling on the Lord to defeat his enemies. Consider Judges 16:28-31. He trusted God that he could once more have strength to defeat the LORD’s enemies. It was in this that he defeated more Philistines than in his life.
Jephthae (Jephthah)
Jephthah the Gileadite was “a mighty man of valour” (Judges 11:1), rejected of his family, and hung out with the outcasts of society. When Gilead was in need, they fetched their brother to lead them against the Ammonites. Where was this man’s faith? Well, it took faith for him to return to people who hated him and fight for them. “Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh” (Judges 11:11). It took faith for him to correspond with a head of state when finding out the reason for the Ammonites’ war.
Consider the words of Jephthah in some of this correspondence: “So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it? Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out from before us, them will we possess” (Judges 11:23-24). The Lord gave the disputed land to Israel, not Ammon.
But what did Chemosh give anybody? He doesn’t exist; only the Creator can allot land to anyone. It is written, “And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession” (Deuteronomy 2:19). Only the LORD gives land to nations. Jephthah recognized that the LORD has power, and that other so-called gods have nothing. This was a slight on their god.
Most specifically, we see this of Jephthah’s faith. Consider Judges 11:29-33. The Spirit of the LORD drove him to victory; by faith he took his band of men, and the Lord defeated the Ammonites through them. Though his vow was rash with terrible consequences, it shows he trusted that the LORD could deliver him and destroy the enemy.
David
David was a man after God’s own heart. Samuel said to Saul, “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee” (1 Samuel 13:14). And again, “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:22).
He had humble beginnings as Saul’s minstrel and a shepherd. By faith, he destroyed the Philistine champion, Goliath. Because of David’s success by faith in war, Saul became jealous and an enemy. Though Saul was delivered into David’s hands twice, he spared him, trusting the Lord’s timing as to when he would become king.
The Psalms are filled with David’s confession of faith.
Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite. O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me (Psalm 7:1)
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? (Psalm 11:1)
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. (Psalm 18:2-3)
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. (Psalm 20:7)
The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. (Psalm 34:22)
Trusting in the LORD was a major part of David’s life as he went through his trials.
Samuel
Consider 1 Samuel 7:3-12. You see how Samuel lived a life separate from false gods and demanded the people do the same. He led the people to do the same as he did. When the prophet called upon God, He heard him, and the Philistines were defeated. He eased the cares of the people to trust the Lord also.
Samuel received the Word of the Lord early. He made a regular circuit in judging Israel and brought the Word of the Lord to them. He had to stand up to Saul many times, which would have been intimidating. He lived a life of service in faith, and the Lord heard him and responded to him, such as in the case of the thunder from heaven. “So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel” (1 Samuel 12:18).
The Prophets
There is much to say about the faith of the prophets. The subsequent verses will give us many examples.