Free Bible Commentary
“Hebrews 11:17-22”
Categories: Hebrews“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your descendants shall be called.’ He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.”
---End of Scripture verses---
When our faith is being tested upon this earth, it may seem like God’s commands contradict or interfere with His promises, but they never do. Like father Abraham, we need to believe and know that no situation is too difficult for God to handle (Genesis 18:14), even though we may be powerless to work things out for ourselves. When the Lord commanded Abraham to offer up Isaac on the altar of sacrifice, Abraham did not falter or fail the test of his faith, even though all of God’s promised posterity rested upon Isaac’s prosperity.
When God tested him, Genesis 22:3 tells us that “Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey…and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.” What empowered Abraham to obey this unthinkable command? By faith he was fully convinced that God was willing and able to keep all of His promises, even if it required raising Isaac from the dead in order to do so (verse 19).
Biblical faith is always forward-looking in nature. Complete trust and confidence in and commitment to God will empower us to look past the problematic present and into the fantastic future. This was true with Abraham, and also with Isaac (verse 20), Jacob (verse 21) and Joseph (verse 22). All of these men looked forward to the future fulfillment of God’s promises, even as they were stooped at death’s doorstep.
Isaac expressed faith in the future fulfillment of God’s promises as he blessed his sons, Jacob and Esau as an old man near death. The same is true with Jacob as he blessed Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh. And Joseph expressed complete faith in God and trust in the future exodus of Israel from Egypt and his participation in it by giving orders to bury his bones in the Promised Land. Faithful friends, God will cause all things to work together for your good if you will only love and trust and obey Him (Romans 8:28), no matter how tough things may seem.
Please read Hebrews 11:23-29 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
- Louie Taylor
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