Yes, faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (verse 1). But the rest of the chapter repeatedly and forcefully clarifies that the "things hoped for" are not things of this world, and the "things not seen" are spiritual things more real than any physical thing we desire here. Thus, it is by faith that we understand that the world we see was made by (or, "through," or "from") God's words, so that God's invisible Word is the reality behind what we see. Compare verse 3 with Col. 1:16-17 and John 1:1-3. For the same reason, it is impossible to please God without faith — if we are so captivated by our own needs and by what we see around us that we can't see God as the reality behind it, we can't believe God (who tells us that He, not what we see, is real) or believe that He rewards us in a reality we can't yet see. Verse 6. And as verse 2 says, it is by faith, faith that God and His unseen reward are more real than what we see, that the ancients obtained approval.

The rest of the chapter discusses how a list of ancients who obtained approval by faith showed that faith to the world. Abel gave a pleasing sacrifice — blood rather than the fruit of his own efforts. Noah, though he had never seen rain, believed God's warning about a flood and built an ark. Abraham left his own country in obedience to God, then wandered in the land of promise as a stranger (as did Isaac and Jacob), "because he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God," verse 10, another reference to the unseen reward. Likewise, in verse 16, it is said he was desiring "a better country, that is, a heavenly one." Sarah believed God's word to her about having a child when she was past childbearing age. Abraham then obediently offered God that son, believing that God could raise him from the dead, thus demonstrating his belief that God's word is more real than anything we see — even death. Likewise, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and his parents, Rahab and those listed in verses 32 through the first part of verse 35, accomplished great things because something they did declared to the world their belief that God was more real than the things they could see and the he would reward them. This point is summarized again in the discussion about Moses in verses 26 and 27, when it says that he considered the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. "By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured, as seeing him who is unseen."

On the other hand, those mentioned in the last half of verse 35 through verse 37 are also commended for their faith ("of whom the world was not worthy"), even though they "believed the Lord for" persecution, poverty, exile, imprisonment and martyrdom. God and His reward are real, in a way that my bank account, my worldly goods and even my body aren't.

This brings me to the real conclusion of my present message. Verses 5 and 6 present Enoch as an example of an ancient who gained approval through faith. What was special about Enoch? The most obvious answer is that God miraculously translated him to heaven without dying — "Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him." Genesis 5:24. However, Hebrews 11:5 doesn't focus on the miracle, it focuses on how he "walked with God." (Recall that walking is what God wanted to do with Adam and Eve. Genesis 3:8.) What does it say about Enoch's walk with God? Only that "before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." Hebrews 11:5 (KJV). Note that this language is ambiguous, having three possible interpretations, either: 1) before Enoch's translation, God gave testimony that Enoch pleased Him (this is the option favored by the modern translations); or 2) before Enoch's translation, Enoch himself testified to others that "I please God;" or 3) before Enoch's translation, other people spoke of him as one who pleased God. This same ambiguity is found in the Greek text. Enoch is the subject, God is the dative object without a preposition (leaving open the question whether it's an indirect object or an instrumental dative). The verb is a single compound verb consisting of a perfect passive ("had been borne witness," with no answer to the question "by whom?") followed by a perfect infinitive ("to have pleased") followed by "God" in the dative.

However, it has become plain to me that both interpretation #1 and interpretation #2 are simultaneously true. In their walk together, God told Enoch that he pleased Him, and Enoch demonstrated his faith by telling others that he pleased God. This was just the opposite of what Enoch's acquaintances expected and wanted to hear. Since Adam and Eve hid from God on the day of their first sin, men had expected to hear that God was their enemy and had used God's perceived hostility to justify evil deeds. Compare, Genesis 3:8 ff., with Colossians 1:21 (hostile in their own minds). Enoch's testimony that he pleased God reproved this attitude — and God demonstrated that Enoch's faith was correct by translating him.

"So what?" I am now convinced that many of God's people, myself included, are under heavy satanic attack in this area at the present time. The enemy can no longer rely upon the organized church to routinely teach its members (as it once did) that they can't possibly please God and don't please him, so they had better just come to church regularly, pay their tithes and keep the church rules to earn some meager favor with Him, and otherwise keep their distance from Him lest He smite them. Too many churches have discovered the truth Enoch knew. So now the enemy attacks us much more personally — with overwhelming temptations, or with reproof on every hand (often unwittingly delivered by other Christians) about not having or not giving enough time, money or resources, or not exercising enough control over our emotions, circumstances, spouses, children, other church members, employers, politicians, etc., to accomplish the things "for God" which we know are "expected" of us. And since we are so inadequate to meet the expectations the serpent has projected upon God, we are told we cannot please Him. If we buy this lie, it makes us impotent, because to believe it we must declare that the things we see — that is the expectations we aren't satisfying — are more real than God's unseen reward. It negates faith.

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