Faith Sees the Not Yet as the Absolute Already

Hebrews 11:17-22 

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.  20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.  21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.  22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

Abraham again demonstrated faith by taking God at His word when told to sacrifice his only son Isaac as a burnt offering to God.  He trusted even when it made no’s sense, for God’s promise before this was to make countless descendants and nations by him.  God specifically told Abraham that Isaac would be the one used to make these; yet now God commanded him to kill Isaac.  Abraham’s faith told him that God would resurrect Isaac if he had to sacrifice him, and so he was ready to do so until God provided the sacrifice in his place instead after validating Abraham’s trust.  Likewise Isaac blessed his sons based on the same promise as he looked with certain unseen hope of God’s work through them to make His people.  Then Jacob blessed his sons in turn on his deathbed, worshipping God in faith again.  Joseph trusted God (Genesis 50:24-25) to deliver His people from Egypt, remembering when told before they were enslaved that it would happen (Genesis 15:12-13).  He trusted that when they left after 400 years that they would also take him back home to bury him (Exodus 13:19).  All these are examples to us in adversity to continue steadfast in faith, taking God at His word and acting on it as if it already came to pass, for in God’s plan all has happened already, if not seen quite yet.