Patiently Enduring for the Promise Hebrews 6:15

The Hebrew writer shared how God promised to Abraham, “surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you”. In chapter six and verse fifteen of Hebrews the writer reminds his readers how “after” Abraham “patiently endured, he obtained the promise” where we read:

And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

The verse begins, “And so, after he had patiently endured,...”. The writer began with the words, “And so” which means “and on this wise, even so, likewise and after this manner”, “after he had patiently endured” which is all the word “makrothymeō” in Greek and means “suffered long and persevered bravely”. The writer's reference was to Abraham after he had exercised great “long-suffering” or “perseverance”.

The verse goes on to say, “...he obtained the promise”. The writer continued, “he obtained” or “Abraham lit, hit upon and attained,” “the promise” which means “the message, announcement and divine assurance of good”. Once Abraham “patiently endured”, he received the “blessing” or “promise”of that which God assured him.

When we meditate upon these words in Hebrews, we understand how God's “promise” did not come to Abraham immediately. He had to “wait patiently” for it. The “promise” of God was in his future and was “assured” though not directly present. Sometimes God does not answer or fulfill His “announcements” on our time table. He rather answers them according to His. Even so Jesus Christ was sacrificed for our sins on God's time, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6), and we should not be surprised when something He has “promised” doesn't arrive when we think it should. We must “patiently endure” and expect that what God said He will do, He will do.

Next time the writer refers to how men “swear by the greater” when they “promise” others, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.