4/24/19 

Hebrews 11:38a

³⁸ of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

The 11^th chapter of Hebrews finishes the exposition of the Hebrew’s history.  The conclusion in this chapter is a statement on the practical value of faith.  As the 6^th verse states, there is a reward for faith.  Faith in God has a practical objective, and that objective as it is sought through a right relationship with Christ gains its objective.  Joseph’s bones were brought out of Egypt.

Beginning with Abel and continuing through the long list of worthies, they suffered and by faith gained their objectives.  Both their suffering and rewards differed but there was a common truth.  “The world was not worthy” of their presence.  When the world and all its inhabitants was weighed, it could not give to God an adequate return for His servants who had dwelled in it.  This is saying that the few of God’s people were more valuable than the whole world other citizens.  What a contrast!

To apply this we understand that those true Christians who were killed this past weekend are valuable to God and “the world is not worthy of them.”