One interesting note is that Barak is in the list. He comes across as not having faith when you read his story of refusing to go to battle without Deborah, but we have to read it in light of this truth. Maybe we could see his faith in that he wouldn’t rely on himself to win the battle. He knew he needed God with him. They went to the seer, the prophet, to get the word of the Lord. That was where God was to them at the time. He wanted Deborah with him, God’s word with him.

At the end of our faith list, we stop getting names and just what was accomplished by faith.

When you read these things like how Daniel stopped the mouths of lions and the three Hebrew boys quenched the power of fire, remember that they didn’t do those things. God showed up. God shut the lions’ mouths and Daniel knew it. God showed up in the fire. We don’t rely on our faith to accomplish. By faith we rely on God.

Our faith is relying on God. Our faith shows by our obedience when it makes no sense, when it’s the opposite of everyone else. Our faith shows in our not holding onto this world.

Don’t try to have faith for something. Have faith in God. He’s the ONLY object of our faith.

Then we have one final list. This one is how they suffered for their faith.

They were tortured. They were mocked. They were beaten. They were imprisoned. They were killed. They were destitute. They were mistreated. They wandered about in deserts and caves.

They weren’t believing for health and wealth. They were believing in a God who had made great promises, who was real to them enough to follow and give up their lives for.

They didn’t see the Promise. But in Christ, we are connected to these saints of old. Together we are the Body, the Temple, God’s dwelling place forever.