A Bible Study in EasyEnglish (2800 word vocabulary) on the Book of Hebrews
Keith Simons
EasyEnglish is a system of simple English designed by Wycliffe Associates (UK).
Last part: The faith of Noah (Hebrews 11:7)
Abraham is sometimes called ‘the father of faith’. Perhaps that phrase refers to verses like Galatians 3:9 and Galatians 3:29. Those verses describe people who have faith as Abraham’s children. In other words, such people benefit from the promises that God gave to Abraham.
But, as we have seen, Abraham was not the first person in the Bible to show faith (active belief and trust in God). However, Abraham’s faith was especially important. Genesis 15:6 describes his faith. Abraham believed God, and so he received a right relationship with God. When Paul wanted to emphasise the importance of faith, he twice referred to that verse. See Romans 4:1-3 and Galatians 3:6-9.
Noah (Hebrews 11:7) and Abraham had very different lives. But they both received faith in the same way, that is, from God’s word.
God’s word warned Noah about the great flood. God’s word invited Abraham to receive land as a gift. The two messages were very different, but both men had to trust God completely. Noah had to prepare for an event that he had not yet seen. Abraham had to go to a country that he did not know. He did not even know where he was going.
But both men’s reaction was the same. They believed God, and they obeyed him. In other words, they had faith. Their actions showed complete belief and trust in God.
And that is why God rewarded those men. They did not merely receive a place to live. They received a right relationship with God. And that relationship came from God’s promises to them.
© 2012, Keith Simons.