In our previous post, we discussed faith in Gideon鈥檚 story. Here in Part Two, we discuss the remaining three individuals from Judges who are mentioned in Hebrews 11:32-34.

Faith in Barak鈥檚 Story (Judges 4-5). In Judges 4-5, Barak is not the character I would choose to illustrate faith. Much better examples, like I already mentioned, are found in the women Deborah and Jael. [1] Nevertheless, through feeble faith, Barak 鈥渃onquered kingdoms,鈥 especially the Canaanites led by Sisera and Jabin. Barak also 鈥済ained what was promised鈥 as he experienced the fulfillment of God鈥檚 word (given through the prophetess Deborah). Barak also 鈥渆scaped the edge of the sword,鈥 and we could infer that he 鈥渂ecame powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.鈥 So, it is true that Barak exhibits some faith.

However, Barak was reluctant to cooperate, and he went his own 鈥渨ay鈥 by requiring some assurances from God (Judg 4:6-9). [2] Like Gideon, Barak presented his own terms to God by making a 鈥渄eal鈥 with Deborah. Barak hesitated to trust and obey God鈥檚 orders. He hesitated to take leadership when he should. So, we conclude that faith is present in Barak鈥檚 story 鈥 he certainly believes that God exists (cf. Heb 11:6). He just has a reluctant faith, a faith that鈥檚 mixed with doubts.

Faith in Samson鈥檚 Story (Judges 13-16). Through feeble faith, Samson 鈥渃onquered kingdoms,鈥 or at least started to conquer the Philistines (Judg 13:5, 25; 16:19, 22). He 鈥渁dministered justice鈥 because God brought justice through him for 20 years (Judg 15:20; 16:31; cf. Judg 14:4). He 鈥渟hut the mouth of lions鈥 when he slew a man-eating lion by the power of the Spirit (Judg 14:5-7). Samson 鈥渆scaped the edge of the sword鈥 on multiple occasions (Judges 14-16). His 鈥渨eakness was turned to strength鈥 when, as a shackled and blinded man in Gaza, he destroyed Dagon鈥檚 temple, killing thousands by his own death (Judges 16). Indeed, he 鈥渂ecame powerful in battle and routed foreign armies鈥 when God鈥檚 Spirit rushed on him.

However, Samson had shallow faith. [3] He was ignorant about God鈥檚 teaching (torah) and he was apathetic about his sacred identity. He did not live in accordance with his Nazirite status, and he identified more with the Philistines than with the Israelites. Samson was a narcissist driven by self-interest, self-gratification and revenge. He was a solo act who did what seemed right in his own eyes (Judg 14:3). In the book of Judges, Samson鈥檚 long cycle may represent the worst example of faith. [4] He was a theist, yes, but Samson鈥檚 story displays the general problems with Israel at that time: they 鈥渄id evil in the eyes of the Lord鈥 (13:1 NIV). The bottom line is that Samson had a fool鈥檚 faith 鈥 far from an inspirational story.

Faith in Jephthah鈥檚 Story (Judges 11-12). Through feeble faith he 鈥渃onquered kingdoms,鈥 namely the Ammonites. He 鈥渁dministered justice鈥 for six years (Judg 12:7), i.e., God brought justice through him (or despite him). Evidently, Jephthah 鈥渆scaped the edge of the sword鈥, became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies,鈥 but this was credit to God鈥檚 Spirit 鈥 not to Jephthah (Judg 11:29).

The problem is that Jephthah鈥檚 theology was syncretistic (his worldview was like his polytheistic neighbors), and he tried to manipulate God by making a foolish vow, which resulted in the sacrifice of his own daughter (Judg 11:30-31, 39). [5] So, we see that Jephthah had some modicum of faith in God (notice his religious talk in 11:9, 11, 21, 23-24, 27; 12:3), but sadly, he misunderstood God, he was ignorant of God鈥檚 teachings (in the torah), and he terrorized God鈥檚 people. Like Gideon, Barak and Samson, Jephthah had a feeble faith.

So much for my judging of the judges! Now I want to be more constructive and talk about faith in our stories today. First, offer some thoughts about feeble faith. It鈥檚 not about the quantity of our faith; it鈥檚 about the Object of our faith. Faith can be feeble, small, imperfect, incomplete and messy. But our faith is not about us; it鈥檚 about God. Mustard seed faith is sufficient to move mountains. Jesus said, 鈥淚f you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 鈥楳ove from here to there,鈥 and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you鈥 (Matt 17:20 NIV; cf. Matt 13:31-32). His point is that we all have feeble faith. Our faith is not quantifiable or measurable. Nobody has enough faith because faith in God is not quantifiable. Remember that 鈥淲ith God all things are possible鈥 (Matt 19:26 NIV), and God鈥檚 power is immeasurable.

Second, I offer my reflections on the phrase 鈥渁dministered justice鈥 (Heb 11:33) or on being agents of God鈥檚 justice. It鈥檚 better to be actively engaged in doing God鈥檚 justice than to be passively employed as God鈥檚 agents. [6] God is the ultimate Judge who brings justice, and God administers justice by his Spirit whenever and wherever he wills. But ideally, we should maintain a posture of awareness and expectation to be used by God. This kind of faith is a relationship with God, not a negotiation or a transaction. It鈥檚 a life that is in step with the Spirit (to use a phrase from Gal 5:25). So, let鈥檚 be active agents of God鈥檚 justice, not inadvertent agents.

Third, we might reflect on our own stories. May it be said of each of us that through faith she conquered kingdoms. Through faith he brought justice. Through faith she gained what God promised her. Through faith he shut the mouths of lions. Through faith, she quenched the fury of the flames. He escaped the edge of the sword. Her weakness was turned to strength. He became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Etc. May it be said of us that through faith, they fixed our broken water pipe. Through faith, they visited us when we were sick. Through faith, they brought us meals when we were hungry. Through faith, they gave us money when we were needy. Through faith, they gave us time and service when we were busy. Through faith, they helped us move into a new home. Etc. What more shall we say? We do not have time to tell about willing agents of God who live in step with the Spirit 鈥 those who exhibit mustard seed faith. We think God is pleased when feeble faith points people to Christ (cf. Heb 11:6; 12:1).

In summary, we suggest that in Hebrews 11, we have not so much the 鈥淗all of Faith鈥 but rather the 鈥淗all of Feeble Faith.鈥 The only real 鈥渉ero鈥 in this passage is Jesus himself. In the very next chapter, we are explicitly directed to fix 鈥渙ur eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith鈥 and to 鈥渃onsider him鈥︹ (Heb 12:2-3 NIV). The point in Scripture is never that we should be like (or not be like) the human characters. While many of these characters may have exhibited some measure of faith, the purpose (in reviewing their names here) is to point us to God so that we can conform to him (cf. Eph 5:1-2; Col 3:10). The proper way to imitate faithfulness is explained in 1 Corinthians 11:1. Paul says to follow his example 鈥渁s鈥 he follows Christ鈥檚 example. In other words, we should only be like Paul insofar as he is being like Jesus. We should view believers (past and present) as catalysts who point us to God.

Notes

[1] Because of this, I appreciate the painting by Salomon de Bray (from 1635) that places the women at front and center and places Barak in the shaded background. The painting is oil on panel at Museum Catherijneconvent in Utrecht, the Netherlands. See .

[2] For Barak鈥檚 feeble faith, see Way, Judges and Ruth, 41-43, 45-47, 54, 68. Also, Debbie Fulthorp suggests that God turned Barak鈥檚 weakness into strength (see (鈥淪earching for Deborah: Why Did Barak Replace Deborah In Hebrews 11:32?,鈥 Mar 16, 2016).

[3]  For Samson鈥檚 feeble faith, see Way, Judges and Ruth, 30, 115, 118-120, 122-127, 129-132, 136-141.

[4] See. Way, Judges and Ruth, 5-6, 115.

[5] For Jephthah鈥檚 feeble faith, see Way, Judges and Ruth, 30, 95, 97-99, 101-106.

[6]  See Way, Judges and Ruth, 126.