22 Hall of Faith – Part 2

As we continue in Hebrews chapter 11, we’ll continue by looking at only two characters, and one of whom is of referred to as the “father of the faith”:

1 Faithful Abraham & Sarah

Hebrews 11:8-12

As we will see, the Lord’s promise wasn’t to Abraham only, but for the nation which would be born of him.

The Lord called upon Abraham to leave his homeland and pagan lifestyle and to go to a place where the Lord would tell him.

So, from the outset, we see that Abraham had to exercise great faith, since he had not grown up knowing the Lord, and would have to leave behind everything he had known and was comfortable with.

The Lord didn’t even tell Abraham where he would be going, but rather it would be necessary for him to rely upon the Lord’s guidance:

Genesis 12:1

God promised Abraham and his wife Sarah an inheritance, while they were both elderly and childless, which meant that everything the Lord told Abraham would have certainly appeared to be illogical, yet he trusted the Lord.

Abraham not only grew up in a pagan home, but his father was an idol-maker. Therefore, it showed the strength of his faith, to be willing to completely the Lord whom he had not known for long.

In verse 9, we’re told Abraham dwelt “in the land of promise, as in a foreign country”.

In the word translated as “dwelt” is the Greek word “paroikos” which refers to a resident alien, someone who lives in a particular area, but is not a permanent resident.

This is much it is with Christians, who are pilgrims, living in this world, but its not our real home:

1 Peter 2:11

In the later part of verse 9, we’re with another of what is often referred to as a difficulty with the epistle:

Hebrews 11:9b

The passage speaks of Abraham swelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, and with them being heirs of the same promise.

While we can’t be sure if they really dwelled together, though it’s possible that Abraham did know his grandson Jacob (at least for the first fifteen years of Jacob’s life).

But it might also refer to the fact that they all lived as pilgrims in the land.

While Isaac and Jacob lived by faith, Jacob’s twin brother Esau did not.

Verse 10 shows that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all understood that they whatever land they inhabited was not their true home, since it was constructed by the hands of man.

They were each understood their true inheritance could be found in heaven alone.

Verses 11 and 12, then shifts the emphasis to the faith of Abraham’s wife Sarah.

Her faith certainly wasn’t evident from the start. Sarah displayed unbelief when the Lord announced to Abraham that they would have a son, since they were both advanced in years:

Genesis 9:9-15

Sarah not only laughed sarcastically when the announcement was made, but she then lied by saying that she didn’t laugh.

But Sarah then changed, and like Abraham, believed the Lord, with both “judging (giving confident consideration of) Him as faithful.”

Sarah is an example to all believers that God is faithful and will keep His promises.

Sarah finally moved from laughing in unbelief, to then joyously laughing in faith:

Genesis 21:5-6

This shows how the smallest of faith can (and should) grow. We see that in a situation were a man brought hiss demon-possessed son to the apostles, but they were unable to cast out the demon, so the man brought him to Jesus. However, the man expressed a degree of unbelief as to whether even Jesus would be able to exorcise the demons:

Mark 9:21-24