8 But what does it say? For some, their only hope is that there will be no existence beyond the grave. In verse 2, our author underscores the fact that faith is a crucial part of ones relationship to God; indeed, it is the only basis for our relationship to God. They lived in constant fear of the Midianites, and so Gideon hid from them. These two aspects of faith are very much inter-related. Perhaps more than any other time in my life, this is the time for me to practice my faith and to share its source with others. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/hebrews-chapter-11-heroes-of-faith-700176. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left. Who are the heroes of Hebrews 11? Beyond reading the accounts of the people mentioned in Hebrews 11, we . Abraham is also called the "friend" of God (Isa. We must acknowledge that we are sinners worthy only of Gods eternal wrath. Throughout his life, Samuel served the Lord with integrity and unwavering faith. The emphasis here is not on the source of faith, but rather on its practice in real life. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of . I would have betrayed your loyal followers (Psalm 73:13-15). . His own father, Abraham, was one of the greatest examples of faithfulness the Bible has to offer. Fairchild, Mary. Thus, they place their faith in the airline, in the pilots, in the aircraft, and in the maintenance crew (whom they do not see). To leave the certainties one knows and go out into what is quite unknownrelying on nothing other than the Word of Godis the essence of faith (Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, note on Hebrews 11:8). How Could Jeremiah Declare, Great Is Your Faithfulness? 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. "Faith" - discussed most often in the books of Romans (34), Hebrews (31) and Galatians (20). Sarah, the wife of Abraham, is one of only two women named among the heroes of faith (Some translations, however, render the verse so that only Abraham receives credit. Romans 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 11:1 says, . What can man do to me? (verses 5-6). She and Abraham waited a quarter centurylong past Sarahs childbearing yearsto have the promised son, Isaac (Genesis 12:1-4; 17:19; 18:10-14; 21:1-2, 5). There are other instances where death is also in view. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Many Americans had medical and life insurance and retirement plans. (NLT). The author speaks of the faith of Moses parents, which was evident when they hid him for three months after his birth. He was faithful, trusting God even when everything in him probably cried out against it. 28 For in him we live and move about and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, For we too are his offspring. 29 So since we are Gods offspring, we should not think the deity is like gold or silver or stone, an image made by human skill and imagination. This chapter plays a very important role in the developing argument of the entire epistle. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? But God saw qualities in Gideon that Gideon didn't know he had. 15 For more texts on hope in the New Testament, see Romans 4:18; 5:1-5; 8:20-25; 12:12; 15:4, 12-13; 1 Corinthians 13:7, 13; 15:19; 2 Corinthians 1:7, 10; 3:12; Galatians 5:5; Ephesians 1:12, 18; 4:4; Philippians 1:20; Colossians 1:5, 27; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 2:19; 4:13; 5:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 1 Timothy 1:1; 4:10; 5:5; 6:17; Titus 1:2; 2:13; 3:7; Hebrews 3:6; 6:11, 18-19; 7:19; 10:23; 1 Peter 1:3, 13, 21; 3:15; 1 John 3:3. After listing these six, he adds and the prophets, evoking dozens more stories told throughout the historical and prophetic books of the Old Testament. It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. the action or event by which faith is expressed. 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance (Romans 8:24-25). Faith can be defined as trust or confidence in a person or something. How many times did Jesus use the word faith? The Faith Chapter begins with this key summary: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. Asked By: Jack Jenkins Date: created: Dec 03 2021. Faith gives us solid assurance that Gods promises will be fulfilled and a clear vision of the invisible spiritual reality. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Faith means were not sure what the future holds, but we know who holds the future. When he heard rumors that Gods prophet Elisha was supernaturally aware of the Syrian battle plans, the king of Syria sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 24 For in hope we were saved. A Profile of Abraham of the Jewish Nation, Battle of Jericho Bible Story Study Guide, Meet Isaac in the Bible: Abraham's Miracle Son, Enoch in the Bible Was a Man Who Did Not Die, Lessons from the Biblical Story of Noah: A Righteous Man, Lineage of Adam Through Ephraim in Historical Context, General Biblical Studies, Interdenominational Christian Training Center. For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. In Scripture, faith is God's warranty, certifying that the revelation He inbirthed will come to pass ( His way). Jephthah was a mighty warrior, a brilliant strategist, and a natural leader of men. Hope (Ch. He struggled with God his entire life. 9 So King Darius issued the written interdict. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. That is why the expression by faith is found 19 times in this chapter. But the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). The writer to the Hebrews is doing precisely the same thing. We know the universe existswe can see it, hear it, touch it, measure it. As our author states in this chapter, these great men and women of faith continue to speak to us today, long after their death.8 We would do well to listen to them. These brief vignettes of faithful and faith-filled people of God demonstrate the power of trust in God and how to grow in it. King James Bible (kjv) Search * Verse of the Day Random Bible Verses Bible Stories. And our text also describes how faith works in the difficult times of mens lives. In terms of faith as the subjective act of believing.. Rom 4:16-25 uses the terms "faith" and "believe" interchangeably. The truths set forth in chapters 1-10 are the foundation for our faith. "Heroes of Faith in the Book of Hebrews." Observation 5: Faith is not presented as the silver bullet or the magical cure for suffering or death. But all of these events occurred before Israel reached Mount Sinai, where God gave Moses the law. Abraham and Sarahs story is told in verses 8-12 and 17-19. E. Those of the past suffered the most horrible atrocities for their faith (11:32-38). Noah's life -- his singular, unshakable faith in the midst of a faithless society -- has much to teach us today. The examples of Gods miraculous interventions (verses 33-35a) can help build our faith, as we recognize that no problem is too hard for God. Introduction: the ancients commended for their faith - but they did not see [its fulfilment - implied] B 11:4-12: Examples of men and women of faith - Abel to Abraham C 11:13-16: Interlude: Pilgrim faith sees beyond the grave B' 11:17-38: Examples of men and women of faith - Abraham to Maccabean revolt: A' 11:39-40 HebrewsChapter 11. It was completed by more than twenty biblical scholars who worked directly from the best currently available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Abraham is mentioned 10 times in the book of Hebrews, and his example of faith is a major one in Hebrews 11. 13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. That is why you will find no reference to either in this chapter. He then sets forth the gospel, declaring that what men could not do by law keeping, Christ has accomplished by His atoning death, so that men can be saved by faith in Jesus Christ, apart from works. 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. MP3 Audio (5.09 MB) We can find great lessons in the heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 when we're dealing with the trials of life. The English word "faith" (or a cognate) is found most often in Romans and Hebrews. It is the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who is the object of our faith, for we must trust in His supreme and sufficient sacrifice at Calvary. Here is what we do know from Scripture regarding Cain and Abel and their sacrifices. Faith allowed Moses to leave Egypt twice (Exodus 2:15; 12:31-42). But He knew God, the giver of life, was able to raise him up, even from the dead (Hebrews 11:19). I am reminded of Pauls words in Romans 15: For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope (Romans 15:4). Hebrews chapter 11 gives us an excellent definition of faith, buttressed by numerous examples. The turning point for Jacob came after a dramatic, all-night wrestling match with God. 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him (Hebrews 11:5-6). Print subscriptions available in U.S., Canada and Europe. Moses story of faith also received longer treatment in Hebrews 11:23-29. Faith is our confidence regarding those things which God has promised, for which we hope, but since these things are future and are spiritual, they are things we cannot see with the human eye. And through his faith he still speaks, though he is dead (Hebrews 11:4). Faith activates God's power (Matthew 17:20).. What Is Faith According to Hebrews 11?. . This wonderful chapter is an example to us on how we can, and should, have faith in God as well. The NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION, also known as THE NET BIBLE, is a completely new translation of the Bible, not a revision or an update of a previous English version. These people still minister to us. It is available on the Internet at: www.netbible.org. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior. This salvation comes when we place our faith in Jesus Christ as Gods only provision for the forgiveness of our sins and for the assurance of eternal life. This passage concerning the function of faith in relation to the covenant of God is often used as a definition of faith. It was not necessary for the apostles to emphasize the fact that God created the heavens and the earth because Jews believed that God created the world. The Celebration of Faith - Hebrews 11:1-2. This Hebrews 11 Bible study will explore the chapter to find what God wants us to learn about faith today. 7 Is it not true that if you do what is right, you will be fine? We enter God's rest only by believing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Just as God made it plain to Abel that He approved of him and his offering, so He also let Cain know His dissatisfaction with him and with his sacrifice. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken. Sometimes the positive outcome is omitted, as in each of the examples at 11:20-22; at other times the author includes a concession (e.g., "even though" at 11:11) or a rationale for the act of faith (e.g., 11:10, 19, 23, 26). 7 And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life (Titus 3:3-7). And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. Then he moves to Abel (Genesis 4) and next to Enoch (Genesis 5), then to Noah (Genesis 6-9), and then to events in the life of Abraham (Genesis 11-22), Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, all of whom are found in Genesis. In spite of Gideon's inconsistencies of faith, the central lesson of his life is clear: the Lord can achieve tremendous things through anyone who depends not on self, but on God alone. 16 For all things in heaven and on earth were created by him all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers all things were created through him and for him. So far in chapter 11 we have seen Abel and Enoch put forth as examples of faith, but this is just the beginning. . 7 Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Faith is confident that the creation we see is really the product of what isnt seen. The gospel of Jesus Christ first informs us that we are lost sinners, in opposition to God, and incapable of earning His favor, whether by striving to keep the Old Testament law or by some other works: 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Faith is a gift from God. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Posted on Jun 29, 2021 by Scott Ashley Listen Estimated reading time: 4 minutes. After 25 years of waiting for this promised son, and after seeing the miracle of his birth to a woman past childbearing age, Abraham would have been shocked and confused. God - mentioned approximately 4300 times. Man - mentioned over 2700 times. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed. How, then, were the Old Testament saints saved? Paul answers this question by taking the greatest Old Testament hero of all time Abraham and demonstrating that he was not saved by law keeping (for the law did not yet exist), but by faith (in the coming Messiah). Heroes of Faith (Hebrews 11) Hebrews 11 is often viewed as an ode to faith. That wonderful country is elsewhere described as the Kingdom of God that Jesus will bring to this earth at His return. As a result, Abel was murdered by his older brother Cain, whose sacrifice did not please God. Abel's offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. These Old Testament heroes every single one of them were declared righteous because of their faith, not because of law-keeping. 14 And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. God is the source of our faith, for it is He who writes His law upon our hearts (Hebrews 8:10). 14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Read more about this in our article The Faith of Abraham.. And to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abels does (Hebrews 12:24). The chapter consists of what he will later (12:1) call a "great cloud of witnesses," all taken from Israel's sacred past. In other words, they walked by faith, not by sight (New Bible Dictionary, Faith, 1982, p. 368). He was blameless among the people of his time. But let there be no doubt as to what the source of our faith is. Jesus is the finisher of our faith because He is our example and model, for He focused on the joy that was set before Him. When a crisis confronted men like Daniel, they simply persisted in doing what was right. Altogether 16 heroes of faith are named, and the stories of many others are summarized. Jesus is the author of our faith because faith itself begins as a gift to those who are called to follow Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8). 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed 22 namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe. Their faith was rewarded as he was found by Pharaoh's daughter and raised in the royal court. Faith is not the same thing as hope, but the two are closely related: And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. How could law-keeping under the Old Covenant be superior to faith in Christ through the New Covenant if no Old Testament saint was ever declared righteous because of law keeping? He emphasizes the point that men who had nothing in the way of outward evidence to support them nevertheless retained a firm hold on the promises of God. 16 The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are Gods children. At the last minute, God intervened and supplied the necessary ram. 9. The author is not urging his readers to conjure up faith somehow, but rather to live by the faith God has given.9 The faith which our author emphasizes here is not primarily saving faith, but the life of faith. Abel took care of the flocks, while Cain cultivated the ground. 23 See Romans 8:18-25; Hebrews 11:13-16, 39-40. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More. Hebrews 11:31 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For a world headed to destruction, our own efforts can't save us from that horrible end. In other words, the problem wasnt just with the offering, but with the offerer. And He can control the future. 20 For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:19-20). Through so many hard times, Moses exercised faith again and again. Hebrews 11:6 gives another foundational summary statement about faith: But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.. The Jewish patriarch, Isaac, fathered twin boys, Jacob and Esau. We are therefore saved by faith in Jesus and not by our own efforts: 1 And although you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you formerly lived according to this worlds present path, according to the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 5 even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ by grace you are saved! 1. While we do not have time to explore the implications of creation being a matter of faith in this lesson, I would recommend that the reader give this matter some thought. The chapter ends implying those mentioned will be in the first resurrection. . In every other example, the individual(s) mentioned express their faith in a particular set of circumstances, circumstances that we will not experience in that precise form. Much of this encouragement to persevere comes from godly men and women who persevered by faith. 24 Enoch walked with God, and then he disappeared because God took him away (Genesis 5:18, 21-24). Other bible versions have varying counts: Faith appears 458 times in the New International Version, 389 in the New King James Version, 378 in the New American Standard Bible and 521 in the Good News Bible (GNB). This may be because they are yet in the future, because they are spiritual and cannot be seen,20 or because in our humanity, they seem so impossible we cannot think of them as possibilities.21 For the Christian, the things God has promised are those things for which we deeply long,22 but they are also things for which we must wait.23 We are so confident about these unseen things that they become reality to us, a reality that becomes the basis for living in the light of the unseen, and often in spite of what is seen. That's an easy way to score rhetorical points, but it's also an anti-intellectual way to shut-down a serious discussion. While the writer to the Hebrews underscores the fact that Enoch was taken up to heaven because of his faith, he does not identify or call attention to any particular action on Enochs part that resulted in Gods declaration of his righteousness. Who isn't mentioned in Hebrews 11 . Patience and endurance describe faith that has been tested by time, faith that is proven in the wilderness of real life. With a Savior like this, we can place our entire trust in Him, not only for this life, but also for all eternity. 10 For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them (Ephesians 2:1-10). The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith that we preach), . 8 You have not seen him, but you love him. 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance (Romans 8:24-25, emphasis mine). In this church, we are committed to the weekly observance of the Lords Table, for if Christs supremacy and sufficiency are the basis for our faith (which has taken the author ten chapters to demonstrate), then we cannot put the remembrance of His priestly work off for other activities and for only occasional celebration. 6 This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials. The next major expansion will come in verses 13-16. Have you placed your trust in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ at Calvary? Enochs faith, then, was evident by his consistent godly lifestyle while dwelling in a wicked culture, one that was soon to be wiped out because of its depravity. Mary Fairchild is a full-time Christian minister, writer, and editor of two Christian anthologies, including "Stories of Calvary. Barak was a courageous warrior who answered God's call, but in the end, a woman, Jael, received credit for his defeat of the Canaanite army. 16 As Paul will make clear in the next verse (Titus 3:8), faith should lead to good works, but these good works do not contribute to our salvation; they are the outworking of our salvation. I dont hear many sermons on Hebrews from the prosperity preachers who promise healing, popularity, success (and more) for those who have sufficient faith. Gamblers exercise a sort of distorted faith. Those who trust in false religions do so with a kind of faith, but sadly their faith is ill-founded. All rights reserved. The value of godly examples is not just true for Old Testament saints; it is also true for godly men and women today. She is one of only five women spotlighted in the lineage of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1:5. Fear is beginning to grip many, and this is the time when people of faith will stand out. It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying -- "he disappeared because God took him." 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18, emphasis mine). Sacrificial lifestyle (vs 4) - Faith gives God our first and our best. In other words, the author starts at Genesis 1:1. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. The end of the chapter reminds us that faith is and it is for we who follow in the footsteps of the faithful men and women of previous ages. While Joshua's name is not specified in this verse, as the leader of Israel's march on Jericho, his faith hero status is certainly implied: It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone. Let's take a look at the King James Version of the Bible and review these 10 great New Testament KJV verses on faith that I have found. There was a particular chapter on the husbands sexual relationship with his wife. The word faith, pistis in Greek, is repeated some twenty-six times in this chapter alone, demonstrating its significance to the author's overall message. It is a fruit of Gods Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Though we know God can protect and heal us in any circumstance, we do not know if He will in each situation. If we have trusted in ourselves, our goodness, our good works, our feeble efforts to please God, then our faith has been misplaced. As best as I can recall, that chapter began something like this: I suspect some of you men have turned to this chapter first. I remember giggling to myself about that, probably because I didnt wait for that chapter to come up in the normal sequence of chapters either. 14 Now Enoch, the seventh in descent beginning with Adam, even prophesied of them, saying, Look! It is that in the Old Testament, as in the New, righteousness is by faith, not by works. . There is the blessed hope12 of our Lords return and all that it will accomplish. One of Abraham's most notable feats of faith occurred when he willingly obeyed God's command in Genesis 22:2: "Take your son, your only son -- yes, Isaac, whom you love so much -- and go to the land of Moriah. Where in the New Testament does it talk about faith? Prominent Old Testament examples of this include the raising of the son of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17-24) and the son of the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:32-37). And faith allowed them to walk between walls of water through the Red Sea, while the Egyptian army chasing them was destroyed (Exodus 14). Faith is confident in unseen things, assured that they are, or will become, a reality. Many more examples of faith will follow. Faith could also mean observance of obligation or fidelity to one's promise or oath. Noah (Hebrews 11:7; his story fills Genesis chapters 6-9). The end result of that experience was that I destroyed my family, and I almost returned to atheism. The fact that the story of Abels acceptance is recorded in Scripture, and now that his example is called to mind many years after his death, calls attention to the great impact living by faith can have on others even those who are living long after our death. Although he accomplished great things when he trusted in God, he made a fatal mistake that ended in disastrous consequences for his family. But even when we get to Moses (who, after Abraham, is the most prominent example in chapter 11), nothing is said of him regarding the law. This spiritual vision is demonstrated in an example recounted in 2 Kings 6:14-17. She believed that God would keep his promise. It is not something we can produce on our own The Lord is coming with thousands and thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all, and to convict every person of all their thoroughly ungodly deeds that they have committed, and of all the harsh words that ungodly sinners have spoken against him (Jude 14-15). Isaac (Hebrews 11:20; this event is recorded in Genesis 27:26-40). 12) C. Love (Ch. The book gives reminders of how Jesus Christ superseded the Old Covenant priesthood and sacrifices. (NLT). This scandalous woman turned spy for God was actually honored twice in the New Testament. May God imbed this text in our minds and enable us to live it out in our lives, to His glory and to our eternal good. The author of Hebrews is particularly interested in the opposition of faith to sight. No better answer is given in perhaps all the Bible than in the great eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews. Faith's Hall of Fame. 15 But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess (1 Peter 3:14-15). Joseph (Hebrews 11:22; this story is found in Genesis 50:24-25). As an old man and now a great hero of faith, Jacob "leaned on his staff," demonstrating his hard-learned trust and dependence on the Lord. 1 Copyright 2009 by Robert L. Deffinbaugh. And the Lord was pleased with Abel and his offering, 5 but with Cain and his offering he was not pleased. It is true that the author covers the gamut of the entire Old Testament period, but most of the examples of faith that are spelled out in greater detail take place in the early history of the Old Testament (in Genesis or Exodus), while later examples are summarized and bunched in 11:32-38. Here is what the Bible has to say about faith. May I be so bold as to say to you that Hebrews chapter 11 is probably the first place to turn for those who are fearful and apprehensive about their future? The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. (NLT). Hebrews 11 tells us a few things about faith: The first requirement of faith is to believe that God exists. Hebrews 11 has much to say to us today as well. Before the author concludes this epistle with specific exhortations for the reader in chapters 12-13, he pauses in chapter 11 to give numerous examples of living by faith from the Old Testament. With Jesus Christs example and help, we dont need to succumb to weariness and discouragement (verse 3). It walks through Abraham's lineage and the way each exercised faith. 18 It is probably worth noting that certain requirements under the Old Testament law were being practiced long before the law was given to Israel.
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