Jan. 05, 2025

                     “LIVE BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT”

                       “FOLLOWING THE FAITHFUL”

                              HEBREWS 11:8-22

What does it take to please God?

Hebrews 11:6 provides the answer for this all important question: “without faith it is impossible to please God…” Faith is a humble and obedient response to God’s Word, whether a statement  or historical fact, a promise of provision and protection, a prophecy of the future, or a command to obey. Faith is simply trust, which is always manifested in faithfulness.

1.  Abraham And Sarah- Hebrews 11:8-12

Abraham’s faith-walk began “when he was called…” vs.8. 

The Bible says, “the Lord had spoken to him…”

Genesis 12:4 “So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.”

And the “Lord appeared to him..”

Genesis 12:7 “Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.”

This is where true faith rests, on the clear revelation of God.

Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

God’s calling to Abram was audible, objective, and specific. He responded with faithful obedience.

Hebrews 11:8 “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.”

He was seventy-five years old and he had accumulated half-a-century’s worth of personal possessions:

Genesis 12:5 “Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.”

Hebrews 11:9 “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.”

It faith to live “as an alien” in the Promised Land. 

He was depending on God and yearning for a permanent, heavenly city designed and built by God:

Hebrews 11:10 “for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

His focus wasn’t on the hardships of his journey through life, but on the reward at the eternal destination.

But what about Sarah?

Peter commended Sarah as an example to all women of faith because of her submissive spirit and faithful support of God’s call on her husbands life:

1 Peter 3:6 “as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.”

The author of Hebrews also points to her faith-walk as worthy to be followed:

Hebrews 11:11 “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.”

Genesis 12:1-3,7

Genesis 13:16 “And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.”

Genesis 21:1-2

Hebrews 11:12 “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.”

2.   Heavenly Hope- Hebrews 11:13-16

Hebrews 11:13 “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.”

Wait, didn’t Abraham make it to the Promised Land? Didn’t Sarah have her promised child, Isaac?

Nevertheless, all these examples, including the figures he is about to add to the painting in the following verses, “died in faith.” That is, in the world that constantly tests faith.

Vs. 11 “in faith”-is different from the term translated “by faith” throughout Hebrews 11.

The author of Hebrews highlights this important aspect of their faith-walk; they are seeking an ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises beyond the horizon of this world:

Hebrews 11:14-15 “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.” 

Abraham called himself a “stranger and a sojourner”

Genesis 23:4 “I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”

Hebrews 11:16 “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.”

This faith, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.” 11:1-2; This faith reserved their better place in that heavenly city.

Hebrews 11:17 “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.”

To this day, this passage has a special Hebrew name in Judaism: “the Akedah, or the binding of Isaac.” It was one of the most famous passages in Scripture, and it illustrates the mature faith and obedience of Abraham.

Genesis 22:1-2

Perhaps more shocking than God’s incomprehensible command to sacrifice Isaac was Abraham’s immediate obedience! No arguing. No hesitation. No bargaining. No reminding God how long he and Sarah had waited. Instead, Abraham got up early, saddled his donkey, and headed out to obey.

Genesis 22:3 “So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.”

Hebrews 11:18 “of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,”

How could Abraham reconcile the command to offer Isaac as a burnt offering with his confidence that he and Isaac would both come down from the mountain? The author of Hebrews gives us the answer:

Hebrews 11:19 “concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.”

Abraham knew that God is completely good and never commands evil.

Abraham knew that God is completely wise and must have had a plan.

Abraham knew that God is completely just and would not treat Isaac unfairly.

Abraham knew that God is completely powerful and would keep His promises.

Abraham could trust and obey, not because he knew exactly what was going on, but because he knew the One who did. And, when Abraham demonstrated his faith through this radical test, God provided a ram for Abraham to offer in place of Isaac:

Genesis 22:11-13

3.   The Faith of the Patriarchs- Hebrews 11:20-22

Abraham’s faith is passed on to their son Isaac, who in turn passed it on to the next generation:

Hebrews 11:20 “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.”

The next generation had its torchbearer of faith too. Jacob, the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham, lived out a life of faith, receiving from God the new name (Israel).

Genesis 32:28 “And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

Hebrews 11:21 “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.”

The fact that the blessing of Jacob extended far into the future to his grandchildren demonstrated the extent of his faith in the promise-keeping power of God.

Finally, Hebrews recounts the blessing Joseph gave just before his death.

Hebrews 11:22 “By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.”

Genesis 50:24-25

How did Joseph know of God’s promise to the nation of Israel?

Hebrews 11:13 “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.”