Featured The Faith of Abraham Two

I think it might be helpful to consider Hebrews 11:13. 'These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth' (NKJV).

'These all' I take to mean all the persons mentioned in Chapter 11 from Abel to Jacob and Sarah, and also (though I don't insist upon this) probably those who come after like Rahab and Gideon. We read that they all 'died in [or 'according to'] faith.' They persevered in the faith that they had right through to the end of their lives. The faith in which they died is that described in verse 1. On earth, they never actually obtained or possessed the object of their faith, but nevertheless they confidently looked forward to it right up to the time of their departure.

There are five effects or workings of their faith mentioned in the verse:

1. They did not receive the promises.
2. Nevertheless, they saw them 'afar off.'
3. They were 'assured' or 'persuaded' of them.
4. They 'embraced them,' or clung to them.
5. Because of that, they 'confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.'

To die in faith is surely to have a confidence in a state of glory and bliss after death. These patriarchs must have:
1. Believed on a substantial existence after this life.
2. They must have resigned their souls into the care of God.
3. They must have had confidence in a place of blessedness and rest (cf. Hebrews 11:10, 16).
4. They must have had faith in a bodily resurrection so that their very persons which had been on pilgrimage might rest in the 'city which has foundations.'

In order to die in faith, one must live by faith. 'By faith, Abel.......' 'By faith, Noah........' By faith, Abraham.......' To be sure, there is a prevenient grace, but the there must be a seeking of God in order for there to be an object of faith (Deuteronomy 4:29; Matthew 7:7-11). These men sought God, and according to the promise they found Him for 'God is not ashamed to be called their God for He has prepared a city for them' (Hebrews 11:16b).

'......Not having received the promises.' This is a figure of speech called a metonymy, where the word 'promises' stands for the thing promised. Abraham especially received many promises from God- look up 'promises' in a concordance and see how many times the word appears in connection with Abraham- and indeed, he received at least one of them when Isaac was born (Genesis 17:19). But the things promised largely concerned spiritual blessings and a future heavenly inheritance. They concerned Christ, the promised 'Seed' (Galatians 3:16), of which Isaac was a type, and Heaven, of which the land of Canaan was a type (Romans 4:13; Hebrews 11:16a).

Abel, Enoch and Noah received the same promises. Abel looked forward to the Seed of the woman who should crush the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15). He also knew that 'without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin' (Hebrews 9:22; Genesis 3:21) and that 'It must be perfect to be accepted' (Leviticus 22:21; Genesis 4:4). Enoch looked all the way down the ages to see Christ coming in judgement upon a wicked world (compare Jude 14-15 with Revelation 19:11-16). Noah looked forward to the Man who would be 'as a hiding-place from the wind and a cover from the tempest' (Isaiah 32:2) when he covered the ark with 'covering' or 'atonement' (Heb. kaphar: Genesis 6:14).

'.....But having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them....' They looked forward to Christ with the assurance of faith. And do we not do the same? We have not yet received all the promises; we are still waiting for the Return of our Lord in glory and to the new heavens and new earth (2 Peter 3:13). Until that day, just like Abraham and the others, we confess that we are 'strangers and pilgrims' on the earth (1 Peter 2:11). In this we associate not only with Abraham and Co., but also with those O.T. saints who had taken possession of Israel (Psalm 39:12; Psalm 119:19; 1 Chroniocles 29:15). These saints too were looking forward just as we are, to the City which has foundations (Revelation 12:14).