Hebrews 11:17-28 Perspective – Looking beyond the now

A shoe manufacturer who decided to open the Congo market sent two salesmen to the undeveloped territory. One salesman cabled back: "Prospect here nil. No one wears shoes." The other salesman reported enthusiastically, "Market potential terrific! Everyone is barefooted."

Source Unknown.

A man read an ad in the newspaper, "Hunting dog for sale, $2,500.00, but well worth it." He called the number and the man told him that he had to see the dog in action. The next morning they met and went hunting early. The dog flushed two birds from a clump of bushes and when they fell into the water, he walked on top of the water, grabbed the birds, and walked back on top of the water. The man was amazed, and bought the dog on the spot. The next day he persuaded his brother to go hunting with him. They flushed a couple of birds and the dog again walked on top of the water, retrieved the birds, and walked back to their boat on top of the water.

He asked his brother what he thought of the dog and the brother replied, "So, you bought a dog who can't swim."

Source Unknown.

Get the right perspective. When Goliath came against the Israelites, the soldiers all thought, "He's so big we can never kill him." David looked at the same giant and though, "He's so big I can't miss."

God Can Make It Happen (Victor).

I. Perspective – Abraham by faith embraced God over God’s gifts

A. Gave back the promised gift

(ESV) Hebrews 11 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspringbe named.”

supreme example of Abraham’s faith: he offered up Isaac

its willingness to surrender the fulfilment of what it has inherited in the form of promises[1]

offering is spoken of in the perfect tense

second verb (prosepheren) is translated was ready to offer

Just like his birth from one dead / so now he would be made alive again

Leaving Ur Abraham gave up his past – offering Isaac he gave up his future

B. Trusted God would be faithful

(ESV) Hebrews 11 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

C. God was faithful

(ESV) Hebrews 11 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

(ESV) Genesis 22 1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar.

5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worshipand come again to you.” 6 And Abraham took the woodof the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of themtogether.

7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar thereand laid the woodin order and bound Isaachis son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boyor do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lordwill provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

II. Perspective – Patriarchs by faith looked forward in the face of death

A. Isaac – After a life filled with God’s sovereignty

(ESV) Hebrews 11 20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.

1. After an uneventful life filled with the activity of a wise, sovereign God

2. Acknowledged God’s hand in the future

B. Jacob – After a life of trickery

(ESV) Hebrews 11 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.

1. A life of trickery – now worships

2. Weak and blind – yet perceiving the future of his sons/nation

3. Intentionally acknowledged God’s hand in the future and in his own life

the act of blessing is seen as an act of worship. Moreover, the staff was significant in Hebrew thought as a sign of God’s favour

neither man could give what was promised to his sons/grandsons

C. Joseph – After a life of endurance

(ESV) Hebrews 11 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelitesand gave directionsconcerning his bones.

1. Looked to the time of redemption

2. Desired to show his commitment even after death

III. Perspective – Moses by faith chose redemption over the world

A. Received a heritage of faith

(ESV) Hebrews 11 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hiddenfor three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

B. Rejected the world’s pleasures

(ESV) Hebrews 11 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refusedto be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

C. Unafraid of the worlds displeasure

(ESV) Hebrews 11 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

D. Embraced redemption by the blood

(ESV) Hebrews 11 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyerof the firstborn might not touch them.

[1] Donald Guthrie, Hebrews: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 15, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1983), 237.