And Others

 

 

What a theme for a poem!

Not much sense as yet

But hopefully, not long from now

We will see its depth.

 

Turn with me to the Word

To a very familiar chapter

Where the hall of faith is paraded

But we will focus on the latter.

 

We will do so deliberately

Since it takes a different form,

The last five verses of Hebrews 11

Departs from the accepted norm.

 

In verses 1 through 35

Many stalwarts are mentioned,

From Abel to the prophet Samuel

And some that subdued kingdoms.

 

The faith of these are obvious

Particularly in light of great odds,

With their faith and trust in God

They accomplished great jobs.

 

Abel and Enoch and Noah

Abraham and also Isaac,

Jacob and Joseph and Moses

Gideon and Samson and Barak.

 

And there were not only men

But women are mentioned too

As in Sarah and also Rahab

To dispel any prejudicial view.

 

Today there is the hall of fame

But these were the stalwarts of faith,

And in many of their challenges

They came out untouched and safe.

 

There is another set, however,

Simply referred to as “And others”,

No names or miraculous escapes

They became the grim reaper’s fodder.

 

They were stoned and sawn asunder,

Tempted and slain by the sword,

They dressed in sheepskins and goatskins

Yet considered too good for this world.

 

These last five verses in Hebrews 11

Are very often not read,

Obscured by the 35 that go before

There is much that is not said.

 

 

“And others” means we must read on

There is more that is to come,

It’s no less important than what’s before,

Why stop before you are done?

 

Here is the caution for today

Re our obsession with the miraculous,

The greatest miracle of all time

Is the transforming work of Jesus.

 

Faith in Jesus is what it takes

It’s for every born-again believer,

However, Satan will make light of some,

After all, he is the prince of deceivers.

 

Stewart Russell © May 2020