Text: Hebrews 11:8-10
Introduction
If we quickly scan Hebrews 11, we notice the phrase by faith occurs 18 times throughout the chapter. When we read repeated words or phrases in the Bible, the author is leaving clues for us. These may be linking phrases or words that link us back to other passages, stories, or accounts in the Scripture; they could be highlighting a text by bracketing or bookending what's in the middle, and they can also just be there to draw our attention to something the author is trying to share with us or wants us to see. In Hebrews 11, where the author repeats the phrase by faith, you may get the idea that this chapter is trying to teach us something about faith. You would be correct! In our series, Certain, this is what we are doing. We are exploring Hebrews 11 and the accounts of these examples of faith, provided by the author, as we try to discover what faith is and what faith looks like in our lives today. We have talked about Abel, Enoch, and Noah. Today, we notice Abraham (11:8), and Abraham is mentioned again in (11:17). We will discuss him more as we move down through the chapter. However, for today, let's notice (11:8-10).
Exploring the Passage
Hebrews 11:8–10 (NIV)
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
The apostle Paul, speaking in Romans 4:11-12, tells us that Abraham is the father of all who follow in his steps of faith. Again, in Galatians 3:7, Paul emphasizes Abraham's significance as the father of those who believe.
Galatians 3:7 (NIV)
Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.
Throughout the Scriptures, Abraham is known for his faith in God. What do we learn about faith that pleases God from his story?
Discovering Abraham
Let's back up in the story and discover who Abraham was and where he came from. Doing so will help us understand the faith we are called to exercise in our lives.
Noah had three sons, Sham, Ham, and Japheth. In Genesis 11, we are given a record of the descendants of Shem. Through this family line, we read of Abram (Abraham), born to Terah (TEE-ruh) when he was 70 (Gen. 11:26). Their family was from Ur of the Chaldeans, which some scholars would place in modern-day southern Iraq.
Ur (אוּר (ʾûr)), which means to give light or illuminate, was a commercial center and a center of political power in the ancient world. It was also significant for the trade industry as it stood near the Euphrates River. The landscape of Ur was dominated by a ziggurat or temple tower and worship of Sin, the Babylonian moon-god. Abraham was born into a land and a people who were steeped in pagan worship.
The Call
Genesis 12:1–4 (NIV)
The Lord had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. 2 "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.
As the author of Hebrews records, when God called Abram, he left his people, his father's household.
Faith (πίστις Pistis) means trust, confidence, and conviction. By faith, Abram followed the word of God.
Making It Real
The Scriptures and the author of Hebrews highlight Abraham's faith.
Hebrews 11:8 (NIV)
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
God had not revealed the final destination to Abraham. God simply instructed him to leave his homeland. Abraham left his culture, heritage, and home to follow the word of the Lord. Faith follows.
For Christians today, faith follows. In coming to Christ, we are all called to put away our former lives. Jesus speaks about it in terms of taking up our cross:
Matthew 16:24–27 (NIV)
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
Faith follows, and we must be willing, like Abraham, to follow the Lord no matter the cost. When coming to Christ, we have a choice, just as Abraham did. Are we willing to leave what we have known? Are we willing to walk away from what is comfortable to follow the word of the Lord?
But it's not just that first step away from the life we lived. It's a life of living and following.
Hebrews 11:9 (NIV)
By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
Abraham lived his life as a stranger in a foreign land. He lived "...looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Heb. 11:10). A following faith is not just a faith that looks back and leaves. Following faith is faith that looks forward as well. As Dr. Stephen Covey says, Abraham began with the end in mind.
We may not know every turn or each mile along the journey, but each journey begins with an end in mind. When we set out on a road trip with our family, we know the destination; it's what we put in our GPS. What are the roads going to look like? What places will we travel through? Often we don't know. What we do know is where we are going as we look forward to our road trip.
Following faith is not only about leaving or looking back. Following faith is looking forward in confident expectation of the destination. Following faith is a destination of life with Christ. Following faith is looking forward to a city whose architect and builder is God.
Revelation 21:1–5 (NIV)
Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
Following faith is faith that looks forward and directs our steps along the journey.
Crossing The Context
Faith follows the word of the Lord as it looks forward in hope.
God has not spoken in an auditable voice directly to me. However, He has told me to love my enemies. He has told us to pray for those persecuting us (Matt. 5:43-44). We are told to extend mercy and forgiveness to one another (Lk. 6:36; Col. 3:12-13) and to be kind and compassionate toward one another (Eph. 4:32).
Faith follows the word of the Lord as it looks forward in hope.
In our lives today, are we expressing a faith that follows?
Notes:
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from: ”Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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