As we stated previously, obedience is a synonym of faith. The incidents described in the eleventh chapter of the Book of Hebrews do not portray aggressive faith. They are not examples of men and women seeking to "do great things for God." Rather they portray acts of obedience. God gave the Word and His saints obeyed. True faith is obedience to the revealed will of God, not an act of presumption in which we test God to see if He will respond in our favor.

Because Moses obeyed God the Jews were not destroyed when the Lord judged the gods of Egypt. We too will save ourselves and our families if we obey God, whether or not we understand the reason for the commandment.

Israel.

By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. (Hebrews 11:29)

Again we have an act of obedience. God directed Moses to lead the congregation through the Red sea. Because Moses obeyed, and the people followed him, one of the most powerful miracles of recorded history occurred.

It is our opinion that God is ready to perform even more stupendous miracles in the present hour. Are we willing to obey God in every detail, not trusting our own judgment? We think if God can find people who will obey Him faithfully we will see record-breaking miracles in the near future. The age of moral horrors is now coming upon us and God is ready to respond with tremendous acts of power so the peoples of the earth will know there is a God and that He is ready to save whoever will call upon Him.

The walls of Jericho.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. (Hebrews 11:30)

Joshua is considered to be one of the great generals of history. However, the tactic of marching around the walls of a city, blowing a trumpet, and shouting, would not knock down the walls without help from the Lord.

So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. (Joshua 6:20)

Joshua may have been a brilliant general. However, as we study the Book of Joshua we see that while the Israelite soldiers had to fight, it was the Lord who made victory possible. So it is with us. We often have to fight with all our strength, but only in the Lord; and it is the Lord who makes the victory possible. Apart from Him we cannot win. Apart from us He often will not work.

To be continued.