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“These all, having obtained a good report through faith” (Hebrews 11:39).
In this chapter, we have quite a few people mentioned from the Old Testament who had real faith, but there are two groups of them. The first group won great victories through faith, for it says that they “subdued kingdoms…obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword…” (vss. 33-34).
But then we read about the second group. It says, “And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance…And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned…were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins…they wandered in deserts…” (vss. 35-37). Were these people without faith? Was there something wrong with them, that the Lord allowed them to suffer? No, for it requires more power to endure suffering than to gain a big victory.
God was honored in each case — by those who won victories, and by those who suffered. The Lord reminds us that all of them obtained a good report. It is the same today. Some believers honor the Lord in victory; others honor Him with suffering, and all will get their reward for faithfulness. Read the whole chapter (Hebrews 11) for yourself.
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