Hebrews Chapter Eleven, The Father Of Faith

 

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

 

Abraham is an extremely famous personage in both the Old and New Testaments. So much so, that Paul concedes that Abraham possesses an esteemed position in God’s great plan, writing, “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham,” Galatians 3:7.

In context, this verse is a lynchpin in Paul’s argument that the Galatians (and by extension, all Christendom) were saved solely by faith in Jesus Christ, apart from any works or human effort. He appeals to the life of Abraham, the father of faith, as an example and in a sense, the spiritual father of all that follow in his footsteps. In Romans chapter 4, Paul again expounds on the person of Abraham, writing that Abraham was not justified by his works, but that his works demonstrated the justification he already possessed from God, which is by grace through faith alone, Romans 4:1-5. Abraham’s calling, of which the writer currently alludes to, is recorded in Genesis 12:1-3. God’s calling of Abraham was incredible. It involved a number of points in a very brief moment of dialogue.

 

#1: God wanted Abraham to separate himself from his family so God may lead him to the land He wishes Abraham to inherit. Jesus tells us, “He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me,” Matthew 10:37, 38, RSV. Familial separation is what God commanded; but it was a joint command, coupled with the implication that God Himself would lead the way, “to a land I will show you,” Genesis 12:1.

 

#2: God promised to make of Abraham a great nation. More than that, He told him that He would bless Abraham, make his name great, and that Abraham himself would be a blessing. From Abraham the Jews and Muslims trace their pedigree. The Jews descend from Abraham and through Isaac, while the Muslims are from Abraham through Ishmael and also Esau, since Esau intermarried into Ishmael’s family, Genesis 28:9. But the one nation God had in view was Israel. Genesis 12:1 relates that God wishes to bring Abraham to a specific land; verse 2 imparts the fact that He intends to make of Abraham a great nation. That nation, in time, would supplant the seven nations comprising Canaan, after being led out of Egypt and centuries of slavery, Genesis 15:13-16. The ultimate blessing Abraham bestowed upon the world in general, and Israel specifically is Messiah, who is descended from Abraham according to the flesh.

 

#3: God will be favorable to those who love Israel, and curse those who hate the people and nation that would come from Abraham. Again, in him all the families of the earth would be blessed. This goes beyond the pail of Jew or Muslim, whose faith and heritage are bound to the patriarch. The Gentile world would also be blessed, and the Gentiles would dwell in Shem’s tents, enjoying the blessing imparted to Shem as a progenitor in Messiah’s bloodline, Genesis 9:27, Amos 9:12. Abraham’s faith testified that when man submits to God, his life is lived rightly, more aligned with the way it was designed to function. We are nearer to God’s intentions for us, and may receive blessing, and be a blessing to those around us.

 

Though Abraham is recorded to have gone out, following God, the writer of Hebrews inserts a detail that the patriarch did not know where he was going. Walking by sight in this instance is pointless. God provided direction about where to go; it was up to Abraham to obey. Abraham was filled with questions and concerns, but these did not undermine the genuine faith he possessed in setting out to a land not his own, far from what he had grown up. He was 75 years old when he left Haran with Lot in tow, Genesis 12:4. Later, we find Abraham complaining to God that he has no heir for his house, and that Eliezer of Damascus, a house-born slave, would become his heir, Genesis 15:2, 3. God answered by telling the patriarch that as the stars of heaven were, so would his progeny be: uncountable. Though Abraham believed the Lord, he still asked, “Lord God, how shall I know that I will inherit it?” Genesis 15:8. Yahweh passed through the divided parts of the animals as a flaming torch, promising to Abraham that, while the Lord had a plan for him, 400 years of affliction and forced isolation would befall his descendants, until the fourth generation, Genesis 5:16. What followed at the end of the chapter was an unconditional promise made by God to grant the boundaries of Canaan, “from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates,” (Genesis 15:18) to Abraham’s posterity. Abraham walked in the Promised Land, but it was not promised to him in his lifetime, per se.

 

God listed 10 nations or peoples that Israel would, in due time dispossess, including the Hittites, the Rephaim (the giants), and the Jebusites, from the city of Jebus, ancient Jerusalem, 1 Chronicles 11:4, 5. This city, called by Jerusalem, is recorded to have been burned under Joshua prior to the era of the Judges, Judges 1:8. Whether Jebus is indeed the Salem of Melchizedek’s day cannot be known for certain. It is recorded that Adoni-Zedek was king of Jerusalem in the time of Joshua, and was an Amorite by descent, or descendant of Ham, Joshua 10:1, 5. Adoni-Zedek means either, “the Lord is righteous,” or, “the god Zedek is king.” Interestingly, Melchizedek’s name means, “Zedek is my king,” or, “My king is righteous.” While Melchizedek blessed Abraham and gave him bread and wine, five generations later another king would war with Abraham’s people while claiming to be Jerusalem’s king. Melchizedek offered Abraham a benediction; Adoni-zedek offered war. But the iniquity of the Amorites finally reached it’s completion by that time, Genesis 15:16. So Abraham’s seed, being preserved ethnically in Egypt for four generations, entered in to Canaan and received what God promised to give. They enjoyed the height of this blessing under Solomon, but will still see a greater height than this when Jesus our Lord returns to stand on the Mount of Olives, and liberate the Jews from their oppressors, and reign over them as King and Priest in the order of Melchizedek.