Cain and Abel

The first murder.  Cain killed is brother Abel out of anger and jealousy,  even after God had warned Cain not to let his anger rule over him.  This sculpture depicts the offerings of the two brothers. A small painting was added to the sculpture depicting the murder by my daughter Yeleezaveta.

Reference Hebrews 11:4, Genesis 4

Noah

God tells Noah to build a boat, a big boat.  It doesn’t say in Genesis exactly how long but it was 100 years between when God told him to build it and when the flood came. Do you ever wonder how many times his wife asked, “Are you done building that boat yet?”  To make it more interesting, I have taken artistic license in showing Noah on the bow of the Ark holding the dove with an olive leaf in its beak.  The olive branch is carved from olive wood from Bethlehem, Israel.

Reference Hebrews 11:7, Genesis 6-8

Abraham and Issac

Abraham is tested by God when he is told to sacrifice his only son Issac.  Abraham is an old man and Issac is a man not a child as most art depicts him. Great faith and is exemplified by both men in this symbolic narrative of the sacrifice of Christ for our sins. Check out the Works in Progress page to see how it is going.

Reference Hebrews 11:17-19, Genesis 22

Moses

Moses coming down from the Mount Sinai carrying the Ten Commandments.  One of the historic ways of depicting the commandments on the tablets in art is using Hebrew numbers.

Reference Hebrews 11:24-29, Exodus 34, Deuteronomy 10

Rahab

Rahab hid the two Israelite spies from the king of Jericho and once it was safe she helped them escape over the wall to safety.  For her great faith only her and all that were in her house were spared when Jericho was destroyed.

Reference Hebrews 11:31, Joshua 2

Samson

Samson had his head shaven and was blinded by the Philistines. During his time as a slave grinding grain for the Philistines, his hair grew back. One day his arrogant captors called him in to their temple to entertain them and Samson really brought down the house!

Reference Hebrews 11:32, Judges 16

Naboth

Jezabel, the wife of King Ahab, had Naboth stoned to satisfy Ahab’s greed and desire for Naboth’s vineyard.  Naboth is the only person that is not specifically named that was chosen to portray Hebrews 11.  He was chosen to represent the countless, nameless martyrs that have died for their faith.

Reference Hebrews 11:37, 1 Kings 21