The Faith of Abraham

Hebrews 11:8-22

Key Verse 11:17a

In this passage we would like to learn the faith of our forefathers of faith esp. the faith of Abraham. [Abraham’s faith is important for he set the course right, so that his descendants such as Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph would all follow Abraham’s footsteps of faith.] 

Faith works. It bears fruit. Abraham’s faith bore the fruit of successful completion of his life’s journey to God’s kingdom, turning into a reality the hope of eternal salvation (that is, eternal life in the eternal presence of God in a resurrected body). 

Note: this passage can be divided into two parts: first, faith in the new living environment for believers (8-16); second, faith in the new life in a resurrected body for all who put trust in the Lord (19-22). 

Read verses 8-16. Verse 13a reads, “All these people were still living by faith when they died.” Who do “all these people” refer to? 

** They refer to Abraham and Abraham’s descendants (that is, those who walk in Abraham’s footsteps of faith. Romans 4:12,16

[Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, and all who believe in the Lord God Almighty - the Lord who sent Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world - are all included here.]

 

Consider the following expressions found in verses 8-16: 1) “a place he would later receive as his inheritance”; 2) “the city with foundations”; 3) “the things promised”; 4) “a country of their own”; and 5) “a better country”. Are these all referring to the same place (location) or multiple places? 

** They all refer to one and same place, that is, the kingdom of God. There are several expressions, describing different aspects of this place, but they all talk about the same vision, that is, life in God’s presence in a perfected world to come. 

It is called our “inheritance” for we, the believers, are called to receive these as heirs and coheirs together with Jesus Christ. Romans 8:17; Gal 3:29; Eph 3:6

It is called “the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” Rev. 21:14,19

“The things promised” (there are many promises which are yet to be fulfilled, such as receiving a resurrected body etc.)

It is called “a country of their own”, for no one but the righteous whose names are written in the book of life can get into it.  “Their own” =  their own kind, that is, the righteous. Psalm 1:5; Rev 21:27

It is called “a better country” for obvious reasons: the heavenly one is better than the earthly one, for the former is free of all the problems we see daily, such as sorrow. Rev 21:1-8

 

 

Read verses 9 and 13 again. What would it be like for a person to live in a certain land “like a stranger in a foreign country” (or to live as “aliens and strangers on earth” or to live “in tents” [as in a camping trip])? 

** It means one does not take a root (or build security) in this mundane world. Rather he lives as a stranger, like a man on a mission journey, sent by his master from his own country to another country, to do the business his master has in mind.  Read John 17:14; 18:36.

 

Why did “all these people” live as “strangers on earth”? (Heb 11:9,13-16) What would be the alternative to living as “strangers on earth”? What are the consequences of not living as “strangers on earth”? (Luke 12:1-59; 17:32-35)

** It is because they believed in God’s promise to provide them with a better country, that is, God’s kingdom, rather than the earthly kingdom ruled by the devil.

** The only alternative is to live as natives on earth. 

** We would be destroyed as that which we rely upon gets destroyed. 

How were “all these people” able to live as “strangers on earth”? 

** They had faith in God and God’s promises for them, esp. the promise to prepare a better country for them. Practically, it is thanks to God’s shepherding that people like Abraham could get out of the city of destruction and head for the celestial city. Abraham believed and obeyed God. 

Read verses 17-19. According to verse 17 God “tested” Abraham. How did God test him? (Genesis 22:1-2) In what respect was it not easy for Abraham to obey the command? Yet, how was Abraham able to successfully pass the test? What lessons can we learn from Abraham’s example?

** Gen 22:1-2; the point of the test was to see if Abraham loved God more than God’s blessing, namely, Isaac. 

** Heb 11:17-18; God had promised that it was through Isaac that Abraham’s offspring would be reckoned; yet then He asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. 

** Heb 11:19 – he reasoned that even if he sacrificed Isaac, God would raise Isaac from the dead. 

** We learn from Abraham what resurrection faith is all about. What is resurrection faith all about? It is to believe that even if we die (for those who believe in the Lord), God who raised Jesus from the dead can raise us back to life, blessing our faith!

Read verses 20-22. What can we learn from the examples of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph? 

** Isaac – the faith that passes God’s blessings to the next generation all according to God’s will on each person.

** Jacob – see the note on Isaac above. Also, Jacob breathing his last – he was still worshiping the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 

** Joseph – he foresaw God’s work continuing into the following generations, and he shared the vision with deep conviction. [His conviction is evidenced by his instructions about the bones.]

The end

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