Hebrews 11:8-16 - Faith’s Substance by Example

Hebrews 11:8-16

Faithful Abraham (Genesis 15:1–6; 21:1–7)

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

The Heavenly Hope

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

Faith’s substance by example is described in the rest of this chapter to encourage us to press towards the goal (Philippians 3:12, 14) with our eyes on the Lord Christ who has now come to us.  These looked forward to the Messiah’s coming from far off and by faith appropriated salvation.  They believed what told told them and acted on that conviction in their souls with every step they took on their journeys through life.  Abraham who was the father by faith of us all (Romans 4:16-17) got up from where he was and journeyed far to a promised land to be given as an inheritance much later, but he went at God’s word without doubt or argument.  Do we follow where He leads us, even when uncomfortable or when it goes against our reasoning?  Abraham went out of his comfort to follow an unknown path put before him even though he did not know where he was going because God called him to go.  He then lived in a foreign land in temporary accommodations while waiting for the promise (Hebrews 6:17-18) of the city founded by and on God Himself, just as we now do in Christ who has come and given us the fuller explanation of understanding of just what that kingdom to come (Hebrews 13:14, 2 Timothy 4:18, Revelation 21:10-11) is and our inheritance (Ephesians 1:1, 14, 1 Peter 1:3-4) in it.  Our foundation is Christ Himself as faith builds upon Him and His promises.  Then we see Abraham’s wife Sarah who was given the strength and grace to have a child in her old age as she trusted the promise of the Lord to do this miracle.  She counted Him faithful and therefore took God at His word to give her an heir of that promise made to Abraham and her in spite of the impossibility.  This promise filled the earth like the stars in heaven and grains of sand on the earth as their descendants multiplied in fulfillment of that promise and the original command given to Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:28) and repeated to their offspring (Genesis 9:1, 28:3, 35:11) afterwards.  We are encouraged to hear their examples where God’s faithfulness fulfilled their trust in Him and we do the same now in knowing Christ and His promised land in heaven and on earth.  Those died without seeing this promise come to pass in Him, yet trusted in the Christ to come for that fulfillment of the promises with the certain assurance of faith because they trusted Him who is faithful (1 Thessalonians 5:24, Hebrews 10:23, Revelation 17:14) to the end.  We are also pilgrims wandering this world and strangers among those who do not know or trust Him, yet we also press on (Philippians 3:12) to that day when we meet face to face at last!  We seek the same homeland as these great people of old because we also look forward to that better heavenly country and the Celestial City which God has prepared for us all who trust His word of the gospel preached from the beginning in Genesis to all those whom He calls.  We also are not ashamed to call Him our God!