Hebrews 11:35b – 40

We concluded our last lesson with the first portion of verse 35, “Women received their dead raised to life again”. Many of the examples of men and women who had “obtained a good report through faith” up to this point are ones that resulted in great blessings. From this point forward we are told of others who endured great suffering because of their faith.

35. …..and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38. (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

Everyone who walks by faith in Christ will ultimately enjoy unimaginable joy and comfort with God for eternity but the path that leads there is different for each one of his children. We can be sure that his choices are always right regardless of how they may appear to us. There are great rewards in the next life for all who suffer for him in this life. As the Apostle Paul said:

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 8:18

39. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40. God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

What is “the promise” which these people of faith did not receive at that time? I suppose that it is the coming of the Messiah and the salvation that he won for all who put their faith in him, whether they lived before or after Christ walked on this earth.