The
writer of Hebrews used the “framing
of the worlds”,
Abel, Enoch, Noah
and Abraham
as examples of “faith”,
and he stated “without faith, it is
impossible to please”
God. In addition, he shared how “he
that comes to God must believe that he is, and that
he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”,
and in chapter eleven and verse nine of
Hebrews the writer shares
how Abraham “by faith”
“sojourned”
“with Isaac and Jacob”
who were “heirs”
of God's “promise” where
we read:
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:
The
verse begins, “By faith he sojourned
in the land of promise, as in
a strange country,...”. The
writer began with the words, “By
faith”
which means “through the conviction of the truth of anything and
belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in
God or in Christ which springs from trust in the same” “he
sojourned” or
“he dwelled, resided and was as a stranger” “in
the land”
which refers to “the country, territory and region” “of
promise” or
“of announcement of good or blessing” “as
in a strange country” which
refers to “in a foreign, alien, hostile and not akin country”.
Abraham “resided” in the “blessed land” “through faith”
even though it was as a “foreign country” to him.
The
verse goes on to say, “...dwelling in tabernacles with
Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:”. The
writer continued with the word, “dwelling” or
“settling, inhabiting and living” “in tabernacles”
which means “tents” “with Isaac” whose
name means “to laugh” and was “the son of Abraham and Sarah”
“and Jacob” whose
name means “heel-catcher or supplanter” and was “the second son
of Isaac”, “the heirs”
or “fellow participants and ones who obtain something assigned to
themselves with others” “with him” which
refers to “Abraham” “of the same”
or “very and identical” “promise” which
means “an announcement of good or blessing”. Abraham lived in
tents along with “Isaac and Jacob” who eventually became the
“heirs” of the
“identical promise”
given to him.
When
we think through these words in Hebrews, we see how Abraham “dwelled”
in a “strange or foreign” country, and yet, by his “faith”
in God's word knew it was the “land of promise”. In
addition, his descendants “Isaac and Jacob” were also
“heirs” of the “same promise”. Their “faith”
and “obedience” to the “promise of God” led to Jesus
Christ coming to pay the price of death for the sins of people, and
because He followed the plan of God, we may now be saved. Oh the
wonder of the salvation plan of God which is based upon His own
trustworthiness to keep His promises, and allows entry simply by our
“faith”.
Next
time the writer shares how Abraham “looked
for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God”,
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.
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