Who Is a Hero of Faith?

In Hebrews 11, the writer lists Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph as “heroes of faith.” The question that John MacArthur tackles is why a man known for deception and selfishness would be honored in the same breath as those who lived righteously.

The Promise That Keeps Them Alive

MacArthur points to the Abrahamic covenant—God’s assurance that his descendants would inherit the land and become a great nation. He explains that this promise was passed from Abraham to Isaac, to Jacob, and finally to Joseph, even though each patriarch lived in a world far removed from its fulfillment. The key idea is that faith, in the Hebrews’ view, is not about seeing the promise realized in one’s lifetime but about trusting that God will bring it to pass.

Faith Amid Deception

Jacob’s story is full of trickery: he deceives his father Isaac into blessing him and later evades his brother Esau’s wrath. Yet MacArthur shows that Jacob’s life still exemplifies faith because he continued to rely on God’s promise, even when the evidence was absent. Isaac’s reaction—his fear and anger—illustrates the human tendency to doubt when confronted with betrayal, but the Hebrews’ commendation focuses on the tension between Jacob’s moral failings and his unwavering trust in God’s word.

What the Hebrews Is Saying

Ultimately, the passage in Hebrews reminds listeners that faith is a confidence in God’s promises, not a guarantee of immediate fulfillment. Even flawed, sinful men can be called heroes of faith when they hold fast to the covenant, trusting that God’s sovereign plan will be completed beyond their own lifetimes. The discussion invites listeners to consider how they might hold to God’s promises in the midst of their own doubts and difficulties.