Hebrews 12.1-2:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (ESV)
This chapter begins with a big conjunction which could be interpreted as: “certainly, because of everything written before, therefore”… let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. The things written in the preceding chapter 11 are the good and courageous actions of the heroes of the faith. What many have called: “the hall of fame of the faith.” The many people who conducted their lives in ways that accomplished great things for God. And they did it all by means of their faith. In every case in chapter 11 referring to the actions of each person, the sentence begins with the expression “By faith”. This arrangement of words is specifically used to emphasize the point that each individual accomplished what he or she did, by means of faith. Namely, that God enabled each of them to do the good things they did, working together with their faith.
Consider the courage it would take to be a Hebrew mother leading her children into the crossing of the Red Sea during the exodus. It would certainly be walking into the appearance of extreme danger. Every person crossing through the Red Sea did so by his or her faith. And preceding the conquest of Jericho, Rahab made the decision that she would align herself with the God of Israel, rather than the people and false gods of Jericho. The Bible affirms that she did this by faith.
All of the people listed in Chapter 11 are pictured as witnesses that surround us as we run the race set before us. I am not persuaded that this is symbolic language meant to depict that these witnesses are sitting in an arena and watching us run the race and cheering us on. They are not called spectators. Referring to these individuals as “witnesses”, rather, drives home the point that they officially testify to us, as witnesses would do in a courtroom. They are all in effect testifying to us that based upon their experiences, it is by faith in Jesus we are to run the race, and He will make us able to do so successfully. And their testimony comes to us by what we learn of them in the Bible. And it is by faith in Jesus we can accomplish what God has appointed each of us to do, regardless of how difficult it is perceived.