faith of God

God's Unchangeable Nature

Hebrews 11:6, alludes to a contrast in Romans that deals with God’s unchangeable nature regardless at the suggestion that Israel could respond in unbelief and that being the ‘faith of God’.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

for he that cometh to God must believe that he is
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him

Romans 3:1-3 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

For what if some did not believe?
shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

The focus of this chapter is in defining and demonstrating the ‘faith of God’, to then be held in contrast to the ‘faith of Jesus Christ’ (Rom 3:22).

The expression, ‘faith of God’, speaks to God’s faithfulness and trustworthiness in holding up His end of a deal, in which He first initiated. It is essential to understand that the subject of the Jew’s obedience was God. God’s goodness and Israel’s preservation was based on Israel’s obedience to God and in so being could count on the 'faith of God'.

Demonstrations of God's Faithfulness

Noah

After the flood, the first visible evidence of the ‘faith of God’ is seen in the covenant made with Noah in promising to never destroy the world again with a flood.

Genesis 9:13-16 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

I do set my bow in the cloud
it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth
the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it
that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God
and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth

Abraham

Again, in making promises via covenants, we find the LORD proving Himself with another token, as in the case with Abraham, regarding a promised land to be passed on to through his physical seed.

Genesis 15:17-18 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

a burning lamp that passed between those pieces
In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying
Unto thy seed have I given this land

In all actuality, the sign of circumcision was God’s token of His faithfulness to Abraham, in establishing the covenant regarding promise of making him the father of many nations, with reassurance of inheriting land.

Genesis 17:4-6 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations
I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee

Genesis 17:7-11 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. 9 And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. 11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

I will establish my covenant between me and thee
and thy seed after thee in their generations
for an everlasting covenant
This is my covenant which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee
Every man child among you shall be circumcised
And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin
and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you

Details concerning the Abrahamic covenant, as well as the Mosaic covenant, are dealt with extensively elsewhere within the Theme Study, but for here am simply pointing out God’s role and faithfulness in establishing them.

Reassurance was given to both Jacob (later named Israel) and Joshua about the LORD’S faithfulness, in holding up to His end of the bargain, in establishing the covenant(s) made with the fathers.

Jacob

Genesis 28:12-16 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.

behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest
and will bring thee again into this land
for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of

Joshua

Joshua 1:5-6 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

as I was with Moses
so I will be with thee
I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee

Gideon

Another example, of many that could be given of the faithfulness of God towards OT individuals, is that of the judge Gideon. Once again though the LORD had to be convincing.

Judges 6:13-14 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. 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 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?

Judges 6:16-17 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.

Surely I will be with thee

Judges 6:20-23 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so. 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.

And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee
fear not: thou shalt not die

Israel

One MUST NOT confuse that, which is ‘written in stone’, to that which was conditional! Jesus assured that one day many would come from the east and the west to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, as promised. However, from history we understand Israel’s rebellion that led to anything but a utopia within the promised inheritance given to the fathers.

Matthew 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

That many shall come from the east and west
and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob
in the kingdom of heaven

The few following passages, of many that could be listed, illustrates the faithfulness of God to Israel even during those predicted times of rebellion that would follow.

Deuteronomy 4:29-31 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice
(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee
neither destroy thee
nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them

Ezekiel 11:16 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.

Although I have cast them far off among the heathen
and although I have scattered them among the countries
yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come

Based on Hebrews 11:6, along with reflection on above illustrations, we can find definition, within the KJB, to 'faith of God'.

KJB definition: ‘faith of God’ - a merciful God Whom is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

In closing this chapter, it must be reminded that there are two sides in a 'by faith' relationship. Here considered, was God's side as viewed under the Old Testament.

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