Hebrews 11:15-31

Hebrews 11:8–22 (NIV)

8 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. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.

The Focus of this Passage is on the Father of the Faithful, Abraham

Abraham Believed in God and Believed in His Promises

He Trusted that God had a Home Prepared for Him to Inherit

He and His Descendants Died Without Inheriting it

But They Still Trusted that a Great City/Homeland was Coming

Hebrews 11:15 (NASB95)

15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

They Were Longing for Their Homeland

But Not Their Previous Homeland in Mesopotamia

If They Were Longing for that Homeland, They Could Have Easily Returned

Hebrews 11:16 (NASB95)

16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

They Desired a Better Homeland; One that Comes From Heaven

A City that God has Prepared for Those Who Have Faith in Him

This City is Proof that God is Not Ashamed of His Faithful People

He Wants to Live with His People

He Often Called Himself “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”

He was Not Ashamed to Be Associated with Them

And He is Not Ashamed to Be Associated with Us…

So Long as We Remain Faithful to Him as They Did

Hebrews 11:17–18 (NASB95)

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;18 it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.”

God had Promised Abraham that He Would Bless the World Through Isaac

But Now God was Telling Abraham to Sacrifice Isaac

But Abraham Trusted God, Even When His Command Seemed Contradictory to His Will

Hebrews 11:19 (NASB95)

19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

Abraham Knew God Would Keep His Promise to Bless the World Through Isaac

So the Only Option was that God Would Resurrect Isaac From the Dead

Abraham Trusted God So Much that He Believed in Something Absurdly Impossible

And in a Figurative Sense, He Did Receive Isaac Back From the Dead

This Story is One of Those Amazing Shadows of the Sacrifice…

And Resurrection of God’s Son on that Same Mountain

God Isn’t Going to Give Us a Command to Sacrifice Our Children Today

But He Does Give Us Commands to Sacrifice Our Desires, Passions, Possessions, and Relationships…

If They Draw Us Away From Faithfulness to Him

He Promises to Provide Us with Much Greater

But are We Faithful Enough to Believe Him?

Hebrews 11:20 (NASB95)

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.

Isaac Continued to Believe the Promise that God had Made to His Father

He Continued the Blessings Through His Sons

Hebrews 11:21 (NASB95)

21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

Jacob Also Continued to Believe the Promise that God Made to Abraham…

Even Up to His Very Death

So He Also Blessed His Sons, Including Ephraim and Manasseh

Hebrews 11:22 (NASB95)

22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

Joseph, the Most Faithful of the Abrahamic Lineage to Our Knowledge,…

Also Continued to Believe the Promise that God Made to Abraham

He Remembered that God Promised Enslavement to Egypt and an Exodus

And He Remembered the Promised Land of Abraham’s Descendants…

Which is Why He Wanted His Bones to Be Buried There

What We See Here is Generational Faith

Faith in God was Passed Down From Generation to Generation

Their Trust in God was so Important to Them…

That it Naturally Became Important to Their Children

Unfortunately This Type of Faith is Rare in the Church Today

Hebrews 11:23–31 (NIV)

23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.

31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

Now the Author Moves to the Faith of Moses and the Israelites

Hebrews 11:23 (NASB95)

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

The Author Begins with Moses’ Parents

What Did Their Faith in God Lead Them to Do?

They Protected Their Beautiful Baby Boy When it was Against the Law

They Rebelled Fearlessly Against Pharoah and They are Remembered for Their Faith

This Would Have Been Encouraging to this Hebrew Christian Audience

The Government was Persecuting Them Because of Their Faith in Jesus

This Reminder Might Have Emboldened Them to Continue in the Faith…

Even When it is Illegal to Do So

Hebrews 11:24–26 (NASB95)

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.

Philo of Alexandria Lived in/Around the Time of Jesus

He Claimed that Moses was an Heir to the Egyptian Throne as the Pharaoh's Adopted Grandson

Whether that is True or Not, He Definitely had Privileges the Other Israelites Didn’t

But Instead of Keeping Such Temporary Luxuries…

He Gave Them Up in Order to Suffer and Be Mistreated with God’s People

The Treasures that Came with Being in Fellowship with God…

Were Greater Than All the Treasures of Egypt to Moses

Egypt was One of the Greatest Empires the World has Ever Known

We Live in One of the Greatest Countries the World has Ever Known

Would We Give Up All the Pleasures and Luxuries We have Here…

In Order to Be Insulted, Ridiculed, and to Suffer for Our Faith in Jesus?

Do We Look for the Reward/Promises of God, Like Moses?

It was a Temptation for the Hebrew Audience to Return to the Old Law/Covenant of Moses…

Because They Were Experiencing Insults, Ridicule, Suffering, and Excommunication

They are Now Being Encouraged By the Example of Moses

Because of His Faith, He was Willing to Give Up Everything to Suffer with Jesus

They Should Strive to Have the Same Sort of Faith

God’s Promises are Better and More Firmly Established Than the World’s Promises

Hebrews 11:27 (NASB95)

27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.

Again, the Invisible God, Along with His Invisible Promises…

Are Clearly Seen Through Faith

Moses Didn’t Fear the Wrath of the King When He Left Egypt

He Remained Faithful to God and Endured

Again, the Immediate Message to the Hebrew Christian Audience Would Be:

Don’t Be Afraid of Authorities

Be Faithful Like Moses

Hebrews 11:28 (NASB95)

28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.

On Israel’s Last Night in Egypt…

Moses Trusted God When He was Told the Firstborn of All Israel Would Be Saved…

If They Applied Lamb’s Blood to the Doorposts of Their Houses

The Blood of the Passover Lamb Saved Them, Just as God Promised

And the Blood of this Hebrew Christian Audience’s Lamb…

Will Continue to Save Them if They Remain Faithful as Well

Hebrews 11:29 (NASB95)

29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.

The People of Israel Trusted that God Would Protect Them From the Waves of Water Surrounding Them

Hebrews 11:30 (NASB95)

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.

Israel Trusted God By Following His Exact Marching Orders…

In Order to Destroy the Walls of Jericho

Hebrews 11:31 (NASB95)

31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

The Prostitute, Rahab, Placed Her Trust in the One True God and Protected His People

And Because of Her Faith, She was Saved and Welcomed into the Family of God

Lots of Faithful Examples to Encourage These Weak Hebrew Christians