Hebrews 11:34, commentary and pictures

The verse belongs to the record of faithful heroes, showing what faith at work enabled them to endure and accomplish through trust in God. Through faith they were delivered from death by sword and fire, made strong out of weakness, made courageous in conflict, and made victorious over enemy armies. That deliverance was fulfilled when the three Hebrews were protected in the furnace because Christ stood beside them so the flames could not consume them, while those who held the fuller meaning saw it also in martyrs burned or killed for faith who felt no pain. Such power comes through prayer and a faith that lays hold on God's promises and refuses to let go until heaven hears, bringing strength for service and for coping with the powers of darkness. The same faith that worked through God's servants of old can work now wherever believers become channels of His power, giving grace to make the weak strong and bold to go forward in the work without failing or discouragement.

Record in Hebrews

Hebrews 11:34 belongs to the record of the faithful heroes of faith, showing faith at work in their experience and what it enabled them to endure and accomplish through trust in God. That trust enabled them to perform glorious deeds, to escape death by fire or sword, to become strong after weakness, to fight bravely, and to drive away enemy armies. The chapter is a call to turn the mind from discouraging things that are seen to the unseen and to seek the better country and heavenly city whose builder and maker is God.

The surrounding account makes clear that faithfulness could lead to torture, imprisonment, persecution and death, and that those who lived by faith received a good report but did not receive the promise, because God provided that they would be made perfect together with others. These deeds belong to a record of faithfulness maintained in the face of persecution and death, not a promise that believers will be spared sorrow or suffering. The heroes are set forth for fidelity to God across the ages, their lives brought conspicuously before the world so that their light may guide people in darkness.

Their obedience in going forward shines as an example that leads others to glorify God. Studying their examples stirs the mind and heart and elevates character and thought. That same example is reflected today in self-denying men and women who put their wills under God's will and serve from love for God, aiming to do good and save souls.

Victories Won by Faith

Through faith God's people escaped the edge of the sword and death by fire or sword, quenched the violence of fire, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the aliens. This is the record of faithfulness maintained in the face of persecution and death, not a promise that believers will be spared sorrow or suffering. Faith brought strength and courage to people facing danger, and their enduring of fiery persecution will be understood when the martyrs' reports are heard, including that they felt no pain. These victories won through prayer and faith will be recounted in the future to the redeemed who came through great tribulation. The faithful spies entered Canaan because they relied on God's strength rather than the difficulties before them, while the unbelieving Israelites though promised the land did not inherit it, illustrating that faith overcomes the world.

Prayer and the prayer of faith bring God's power to quench fire, deliver from danger, strengthen the weak, give courage in battle, and drive enemy armies away. Prayer has power to quench the violence of fire and turn hostile armies to flight. The fiery trials include martyrs burned for their faith, whose full meaning and victories will be seen and made known in the reports of martyrs who died for their faith when heaven's record is opened. These faithful ones are among those who come through great tribulation, cleansed by the Lamb's blood and brought before God's throne. Quenching fire and routing armies, together with subduing kingdoms, working righteousness, obtaining promises and stopping the mouths of lions, are the mighty results prayer obtains, showing what prayer accomplishes and why much prayer is necessary for successful effort.

These are the deeds of faith that lays hold on the promises of God's Word and refuses to let go until Heaven hears. As Elijah persevered in prayer until answered and ventured all on the slightest token of favor, so God's children have quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, been made strong out of weakness, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the aliens. That faith connects with Heaven and brings strength for coping with the powers of darkness, and the same faith is needed today to reach the heights God desires people to gain. Faith lays hold of God's promises and brings strength for service, enabling the weak to become strong, courageous in conflict, and victorious over hostile forces. The same faith that worked through God's servants of old can work in believers now wherever they become channels of His power, for God gives power to those who trust Him, and trials can strengthen faith and prepare for service.

What Deliverance Encompasses

Quenching the power of fire was fulfilled when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were protected in the furnace because Christ stood beside them, so the flames could not consume them and they came out unharmed. Their deliverance fulfilled God's promise through Isaiah that those walking through fire would not be burned.

Quenching fire and routing armies also encompass martyrs burned or killed for their faith. Those martyrs felt no pain in dying for their faith. The full meaning of such deliverance will be seen only when the martyrs' reports are heard.

These victories won through prayer and faith will be recounted in the future to the redeemed who came through great tribulation. The full account will be revealed when Christ opens the record. The faithful are among those cleansed by the Lamb's blood and brought before God's throne.

The faithful spies entered Canaan because they relied on God's strength rather than the difficulties before them. The unbelieving Israelites though promised the land did not inherit it. Their victory illustrates that faith overcomes the world.

Strength Given to Weakness

The Lord gives strength by grace, and out of weakness the weak are made strong when they rely on Him. That strength is both physical and spiritual, given for service and for efficiency in work. It comes from God's power and mercy to those who put faith in Him and trust His promises, and that believing reliance is their righteousness and gives courage to stand firm.

Strength comes through surrender to God, for yielding the will does not destroy it but purifies it and joins it to His will. Jacob's helplessness after wrestling with the covenant Angel taught him the victory of conquering faith, and afterward Esau's armed bands were stilled and Pharaoh stooped to receive his blessing. In the same way suffering can perfect God's servants, and the weak can become strong and courageous and defeat hostile armies.

Being made strong means moving by faith through the cloud of objections Satan brings to hinder progress, trusting God as Helper and Efficiency. Those who so trust may pass safely through the great darkness of men's unconsecration, going forward in faith with the help God gives. The same mercy gives efficiency and power for work to all believing people who avail themselves of His promises, as He gave power to Joseph, Samuel, Daniel, Timothy and scores of others, and He can bring victory whether they are many or few.

Grace makes believers brave and valiant to drive back hostile armies and turn to flight the armies of the aliens. In perilous times this means aggressive warfare in gospel labor, with more faith, boldness, decision, push, determination and force and less timidity. It means moving forward with determination without failing or being discouraged, studying the situation in every place and studying methods and tact to go directly to the people and reach them, doing more actual service, making a charge against the enemy, and urging truth with boldness and assurance under the Holy Spirit as a message of eternal life or death to be pressed on the conscience with the power of God. The words out of weakness were made strong also describe how a frail, helpless person was renewed and strengthened through recurring trials to continue in the work to which He had called her.

Examples and Present Calling

God’s messengers made strong out of weakness and courageous in conflict, routing their enemies, are illustrated by the apostles after Christ’s ascension, when the praying disciples received the Holy Spirit’s power for their work. The same pattern is seen in the disciples who, with no weapon but God’s word and strengthened by Christ, became heroes of faith and triumphed over opposition.

The ancient people commended for firm principles of faith faced evils and difficulties and stood successfully against opposing forces in the Lord’s name, sustained and strengthened by God holding them by His hand. Joseph Bates exemplifies those same principles in later time, remaining devoted to Christ and becoming a reformer despite the corrupting conditions of seafaring life.

Messengers who do God’s word and trust His power are turned from weakness to strength for their work, with the assurance of Jesus’ presence and the power of God working through them. This change belongs to messengers and ministers who fear the Lord, love Him, and feel the burden for perishing souls, who do not merely speechify but become doers of the work, with souls vitalized by God’s power and hearts glowing with the fire of His love. Hearing Jesus promise to be with them always and having Him as their teacher, the word they minister becomes quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart. Just in proportion as they appreciate the divine presence and honor and trust God’s power, they are acknowledged as laborers together with God and become mighty through God.

The record of the faithful belongs to the instruction present city workers are to take for themselves, to go forward in faith while trusting God in working and praying. In the spiritual conflict against error, God-fearing believers are to gain courage and strength for the work from the truth that the weak can be made strong and brave in battle to put enemies to flight. Workers are to stop measuring their ability against others, do their best with the gifts they have, and rely on God for strength and success. The weak made strong through faith in God is encouragement not to give up for feeling unable to do great work, but to do their best in faith.