The Faith of Abraham

Hebrews 11:8–19 AV

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

Hebrews 11:

Abraham’s Call, vs. 8

Called from the Ur of the Chaldeas

Acts 7:2–4 AV

And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.

Genesis 12:1–3 AV

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

He Obeyed

He went out

Sight unseen

God’s call, immediate response in obedience, God provides ( Our situations)

Abraham’s Journey, vs. 9-10

He sojourned in the land of promise

Strange Country

Dwelling in tents

Fellow Heirs of promise

The Reason

He looked for a city built by God

Abraham was a man like everyone else- he was prone to mistakes

Sarah’s Conception and Delivery, vs. 11-12

She received the ability (power) to conceive

Delivered a child past child bearing years

Since, she considered God faithful who had promised

Did not Sarah try to help in the process? Hagar and Ismael

Did not Sarah laugh when God said she would conceive and give birth after child bearing years? (When God was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah)

Do we struggle with God’s promises then believe? Or do we try to help God out?

The Promise Not Yet Received, vs. 13-16

They died in faith or according to faith, not receiving the promises

They saw (understood) them afar off, convinced, embraced or welcomed, and agreed they were strangers

The reason

Seeking a country - conditional sentence which interpreted means they would have not gone back (vs. 15)

Seeking a better country (vs. 16)

Abraham’s Test, vs. 17-19

The offering of Isaac

Son of promise (vs. 18)

The Demonstration of Faith

Abraham believed God would raise Isaac from the dead

It was a figure or parable- He did receive him back.