The Faith of Abraham Hebrews 11:8

In sharing about how “faith” was employed by “the elders”, the writer of Hebrews shared the examples of when the “worlds were framed”, how Abel “offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain” and “Enoch was translated that he should not see death”. In chapter eleven and verse eight of Hebrews the writer shares how “Abraham...obeyed” God where we read:

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 where he went.

The verse begins, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed;”. 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” “Abraham” whose name means “father of a multitude” and was “the son of Terah and the founder of the Jewish nation” “when he was called” which means “at the time Abraham was given a name, invited and saluted” “to go out” or “to forsake, escape, flowed forth and emitted” “into a place” which means “an inhabited place, city, village, district or opportunity” “which he should after receive” or “that he should be about, be on the point of doing or suffering something, to intend, have in mind and think afterwards to” “for an inheritance” which means “towards and to property received, a possession or eternal blessedness”, “obeyed” or “listened, harkened and submitted”. Abraham exercised “faith” and “obeyed” when he was called by God to “receive” a “possession” promised by God.

The verse goes on to say, “and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”. The writer continued with the words, “and he went out” or “he was expelled, forsook, emanated and issued”, “not knowing” which means “not acquainted with, comprehending or understanding” “whither he went” or “where Abraham was arising, going, or lighting upon”. Abraham left his homeland to travel to a place that he had never been before.

When we meditate upon these words in Hebrews, we understand how Abraham had “faith” in God as he “obeyed” God's command to leave his own country and go to a place God would show him. Abraham did not know where he was going, nor did he know when he would arrive, and yet, he believed God and did as He commanded. God desires that we follow His directive today to receive His Son Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. This takes “faith” and “obedience”, and those who are wise will follow the example of Abraham and “trust and obey”.

Next time the writer shares how Abraham “looked for a city...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.