Faith That Moves Mountains

Bible Passage: Hebrews 11:17–40

Big Idea: True faith empowers believers to overcome the impossibilities in their lives by trusting in God's unchanging promises, which ultimately lead to His glory and our good.

Introduction: Faith in the Face of the Impossible

Imagine a small boy in his backyard staring at a hill. He clenches his fists, closes his eyes tight, and shouts, “Move, mountain!” Nothing happens. He tries again. Still nothing. His mom watches from the window, then walks out and says, “Honey, faith moves mountains, but God usually hands you a shovel.”

We laugh because it’s relatable. We’ve all faced “mountains” in life: struggles in marriage, health scares, rebellious children, financial dead-ends, or daunting spiritual tasks. Hebrews 11 is the Bible’s Hall of Faith, where ordinary people trusted an extraordinary God and saw Him move in powerful ways. Verses 17 through 40 zoom in on how faith emboldens God’s people to believe in the impossible.

Faith, according to Hebrews 11:1, is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” This chapter is not merely a tribute to past heroes; it’s a challenge to each of us today. Will we believe in God’s promises, even when our circumstances scream otherwise? Will we trust Him when His ways confuse us, when His timing stretches us, and when His purposes remain unseen?

Faith is not magic. It’s not positive thinking. It’s not a wish list. It is rooted in the nature and character of God. Faith believes that God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. It is the firm grip of the soul holding onto the promises of God in the midst of life’s storms. And often, it is forged not in the ease of comfort but in the crucible of trial.

In this message, we’ll examine three sweeping movements of faith in Scripture: the Patriarchs who trusted God with the future, the Deliverers who faced down danger with courage, and the Sufferers who endured with resilient hope. In each case, their faith pointed to a greater Redeemer—Jesus Christ. Let us not merely admire their faith but imitate it, knowing that the same God who empowered them empowers us today.

1. Patriarchal Patterns of Faith

Faith doesn’t begin in the spotlight. It begins in the quiet places where we must trust God when things don’t make sense. Verses 17–22 focus on the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph—each of whom trusted God in extraordinary ways.

Abraham: The Test of Trust (vv. 17–19)

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only son” (v. 17). Abraham had been promised that Isaac would be the one through whom God would build a great nation. But then God told him to sacrifice Isaac. From a human perspective, it made no sense.

Verse 19 tells us Abraham “considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead.” That’s incredible faith. Abraham believed in resurrection centuries before it was a widely understood theological concept. He trusted God’s character over his own logic.

Abraham’s obedience teaches us that faith does not demand full understanding; it demands complete trust. He believed in the God who keeps His promises, even when the path to fulfillment was unimaginable. His faith didn’t rest on circumstances but on the unchanging nature of God.

Illustration: Imagine being asked to delete the only copy of your life’s work, believing somehow it would come back better than before. That’s what Abraham did. He trusted not in the what, but in the who—the God who keeps promises.

Application: What are you holding onto so tightly that God is asking you to surrender? Sometimes God will test our faith not to break us, but to build us. When we lay down our “Isaacs,” God reveals Himself in ways we never imagined.

Abraham’s faith wasn’t a moment—it was a lifestyle. He left his home, wandered in a foreign land, believed he’d have a child in old age, and then offered up that child. His story challenges us to trust even when the journey leads us into the unknown. Real faith believes God’s plan even when it feels like God’s promise is slipping away.

And consider the emotional weight of this test. Abraham had waited decades for Isaac. He had laughed with joy when the promise was fulfilled. Yet when God asked for Isaac back, Abraham didn’t hesitate. His confidence was rooted in the resurrection power of God. He was willing to give up the gift because he trusted the Giver.

Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph: Faith for Future Generations (vv. 20–22)

Each of these men demonstrated faith by looking forward:

During the dark days of World War II, Winston Churchill inspired the British people to look beyond their immediate fears, declaring that victory would come if they fought on. Much like this, Hebrews 11 tells us that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, looking toward a future that may not yet be visible. Just as Churchill urged his nation to look beyond the present struggle, our faith calls us to gaze forward, trusting in God’s promises amidst our trials.

Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau “even regarding things to come” (v. 20).

Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph and worshiped “leaning on the top of his staff” (v. 21), an act of reverence and faith in God’s promise.

Joseph, in verse 22, gave instructions for his bones to be carried out of Egypt. He believed Israel would return to the Promised Land long after he was gone.

Each patriarch lived and died without seeing the full realization of God’s promises, yet they believed unwaveringly. They passed on blessings with confidence in a God who was faithful even beyond their lifespans.

Application: True faith looks beyond our lifetimes. It shapes how we parent, how we serve, and how we give. Joseph planned his funeral based on a promise he wouldn’t live to see fulfilled. Are we raising our children with eternity in view? Are we living in ways that reflect hope in the unseen?

Christ Connection: Abraham’s faith in God’s power to raise Isaac points us forward to Jesus. God the Father did not withhold His Son, but offered Him up for us all (Romans 8:32). The story of Isaac prefigures Christ, who carried His own wood to the place of sacrifice and was offered up for our salvation.

We must ask ourselves: What spiritual legacy are we building? These patriarchs teach us that faith isn’t just about our own lives—it’s about the generations to come. It’s about trusting God not only for what He’s doing now but also for what He will do long after we’re gone.

Faith passed down is faith multiplied. If we live like people of the promise, our children and grandchildren will learn that faith isn’t wishful thinking but a firm anchor in God’s unchanging character. Just as these patriarchs died with full confidence in God’s future plan, we too can live and die with hope that outlives us.

2. Courageous Acts of Deliverance

Faith not only looks ahead; it acts boldly. This section of Hebrews focuses on Moses and others who made courageous decisions based on God’s promises.

Moses’ Parents: Risking Everything (v. 23)

Moses was born in a time of genocide. Pharaoh had ordered the execution of Hebrew boys, but his parents “were not afraid of the king’s edict.” They hid him for three months because they “saw he was a beautiful child.”

Their courage stemmed not from rebellion, but from reverence. They feared God more than Pharaoh. They believed God had a special purpose for Moses, and they acted on that belief, even when it could have cost them their lives.

Humor: Every parent thinks their baby is beautiful. But Moses’ parents saw something more—God’s plan. Their faith outweighed their fear.

Application: Are we willing to protect and nurture what God has placed in our care, even when it puts us at odds with cultural norms? Faith fears God more than man.

We live in a time where Christian convictions are increasingly challenged. Will we have the courage to raise children with biblical truth? Will we defy ungodly decrees in order to stand for righteousness? Moses’ parents did not simply hope for safety; they acted in faith, trusting God’s protection more than Pharaoh’s wrath.

Moses’ Choices (vv. 24–27)

Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose affliction with God’s people over pleasure. Verse 26 says he considered “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt.”

He left behind prestige, wealth, and security. Why? Verse 27: “he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.”

Moses had access to everything the world could offer. Yet he traded comfort for calling. He saw past Pharaoh’s palace and fixed his eyes on the eternal King.

Illustration: It’s like resigning from a Fortune 500 company to join a ministry in the inner city. The world calls it foolish. Faith calls it obedience.

Application: Faith is not passive. It chooses. It sacrifices. It endures. Are we willing to walk away from the temporary for the sake of the eternal?

We often want to be used by God in big ways but are unwilling to make big sacrifices. Moses teaches us that the road to usefulness is paved with surrender. He gave up comfort, security, and reputation—all to identify with a people and a purpose that the world despised. That is faith.

And his endurance was rooted in his vision. Moses saw “Him who is unseen.” Do we live each day with spiritual vision? Faith does not depend on sight; it depends on seeing the invisible—God’s purpose, His promise, His glory.

The Exodus and Rahab (vv. 28–31)

The Israelites kept the Passover (v. 28) and passed through the Red Sea (v. 29). Joshua’s army saw Jericho fall (v. 30). Rahab, a prostitute, welcomed the spies and survived (v. 31).

These moments required action grounded in belief. The blood on the doorposts, the step into parted waters, the march around the city walls—each act defied human logic but honored divine command.

Rahab’s story is especially powerful. Despite her background, she believed in the God of Israel and acted in faith.

Application: Faith doesn’t always come from the expected. Rahab’s past didn’t disqualify her future. Real faith clings to the promise, not the pedigree. No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace.

Christ Connection: The blood of the Passover lamb pointed to Jesus, the Lamb of God (John 1:29). Rahab’s inclusion in the Messiah’s genealogy (Matthew 1:5) shows that God’s grace welcomes even the outsider who believes.

These stories teach us that faith takes risks. It obeys God even when the path seems irrational. And it trusts that God is faithful to deliver—not always how or when we expect—but in ways that glorify Him.

Our obedience might be the hinge on which someone else’s salvation swings. Rahab’s faith wasn’t just personal—it was generational. Her faith led to the salvation of her household and her eventual place in the lineage of Christ. Bold faith can have eternal consequences.

3. Faith’s Unyielding Resilience

Hebrews 11:32–40 “And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was…” offers a rapid-fire summary of some of the most compelling stories in the Old Testament—figures who trusted God and witnessed His power, and others who trusted God and still endured deep suffering. This section humbles us, reminding us that faith is not always rewarded with earthly success, but it is always pleasing to God.

“And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets…” (Hebrews 11:32, NASB 1995)

A. Champions of Triumph (vv. 32–35a)

The author begins this section almost breathlessly—“what more shall I say?” It’s as if he’s run out of scroll! He rattles off names of heroes whose stories are full of miraculous victories. Gideon led 300 men with torches and trumpets to defeat the Midianites. Barak obeyed Deborah’s command and brought victory against Sisera. Samson, flawed as he was, delivered Israel from the Philistines. David conquered Goliath with a sling and ruled with a heart after God. Samuel, though surrounded by corruption, remained faithful and ushered in the monarchy.

The text then offers results of their faith:

“…who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire…” (vv. 33–34a)

You can imagine Daniel staring down a pride of hungry lions, or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walking through fire without even the smell of smoke on their clothes (Daniel 3:27). Their faith made the impossible possible.

🧱 Application: God still works through faith today. Your lion might be a health crisis, financial disaster, or broken relationship. Your fire might be the furnace of depression or job loss. Yet God doesn’t change. Faith in Him still quenches fire and shuts lions’ mouths—not always physically, but always spiritually.

💬 Humor/Illustration: One pastor joked, “The only fire some Christians feel is when the church coffee’s too hot.” But true faith doesn’t settle for comfort—it moves forward through trial.

B. Endurers of Suffering (vv. 35b–38)

This is where the text takes a sobering turn:

“…and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection…” (v. 35b)

Faith doesn’t always lead to victory in this life. Some were tortured, mocked, imprisoned, stoned, sawn in two (tradition says that was Isaiah), and put to death by the sword. They wore sheepskins and goatskins and were considered unworthy by the world—but honored by heaven.

These weren’t failed saints—they were faithful saints.

🎯 Theological Truth: This section shatters the prosperity gospel. Faith is not a tool to manipulate God into blessing us. It’s a life of trust whether we’re fed or starved, healed or hurt, promoted or persecuted.

“…(men) of whom the world was not worthy…” (v. 38)

How’s that for a heavenly resume? Not a house, not a platform, not accolades—but God’s declaration: “The world wasn’t worthy of them.”

🩸 Application: If you’re suffering for righteousness’ sake—if you’re weary from doing good—take heart. You’re in good company. You may not be listed in Hebrews 11, but your name is known in heaven. Your unseen faith honors God more than your seen success ever could.

🌍 Contemporary Connection: Christians in hostile countries today—those losing homes, jobs, or even their lives—know this kind of faith. Their stories are modern echoes of Hebrews 11: “faith that does not quit.”

C. Christ Connection (vv. 39–40)

“And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us…” (vv. 39–40)

These Old Testament saints looked forward to the promise—they saw glimpses but never received the full fulfillment. That came in Christ.

Jesus is the “something better”—the fulfillment of every promise, the perfect embodiment of faith, and the One who endured greater suffering than all the others combined:

“…who for the joy set before Him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2)

Their stories point us to His story. And in Him, our faith is made complete.

✝️ Application: We now have what they longed for. Don’t take it lightly. Live with the kind of faith that they had—the kind that counts God’s promises as more certain than present pain.

Conclusion: The Greater Promise (Hebrews 11:39–40)

Hebrews 11 doesn’t just give us heroes to admire—it calls us to follow their example by fixing our eyes on Jesus (Heb. 12:1–2).

The faith that moved mountains in the past is the same faith that sustains you today.

Abraham shows us that faith means trusting even when the knife is in hand.

Moses shows us that faith chooses God over comfort, even if it means walking away from a palace.

The suffering saints show us that faith clings to God, even when there’s no deliverance on earth.

💭 Illustration: Imagine standing at the edge of the Red Sea, the Egyptian army at your back, mountains on each side, and nothing but water ahead. Faith steps in—not because it sees the path, but because it trusts the God who parts seas.

🙏 Closing Appeal: What “impossible” are you facing? What fear are you holding onto? What calling have you avoided because it looks too risky?

Let this be the day you say, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.”

Bring your faith to Jesus—the One who faced the impossible and won.

Because in Him, your faith truly can move mountains.