By Faith Abraham Obeyed When He Was Called To Go To A Place That He Was To Receive As An Inheritance: Hebrews 11:8-12

By Faith Abraham Obeyed When He Was Called To Go To A Place That He Was To Receive As An Inheritance

Hebrews 11:8-12 English Standard Version

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

            The writer of Hebrews begins this section with by faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. Every example in Hebrews eleven points to the actions of an individual in response to faith to The Living God. True biblical faith requires action. As we seek the Lord and follow Him, it is God who leads, guides, and directs us. By faith Abraham obeyed. The question we need to ask ourselves are we walking in obedience? Jesus said those who love me will obey my commands. Abraham obeyed and was called to go to a place where He would receive and inheritance. The word called means to call, name, address. It was God who called Abraham by name. It was God who prepared the inheritance for Abraham. As Abraham was called, he would need to respond in obedience.

            And he went out, not knowing where he was going. Abraham had no idea where he was going. How many of us have felt this when God has called us, and we have begun to walk with Him by faith. When Jesus called anyone, He simply said come follow me. He didn’t tell them where they were going. But it is in following Him that we are changed and transformed. It is by walking with Him each step of the journey that we are prepared for the inheritance and promises that God has for us. He has gone to prepare a place for us in His Father’s house. Great and mighty things await those who serve and follow the Lord.

            By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. By faith he went to live in the land of promise. This land was given to Abraham by God. Abraham had done nothing to deserve the call of God or to deserve the land that was being prepared. But it was a promise because it was given by God to Abraham. By faith Abraham moved forward. He was moving toward a foreign land that he knew nothing about that had nations already established in the land. Every step of Abraham’s journey was a journey of faith and trust in the Living God. Holding to the promises that were given Him by the Living God. Abraham believed God and it was credited as righteousness. Abraham is the father of faith and by his example we learn that when God gives a promise, God fulfills every purpose by His grace and His power.

            The promise would be passed from Isaac to Jacob. Jacob’s name would be changed to Israel. The entire story of the bible is a message of redemption and grace. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did nothing to deserve the promises of God. But it is God in His mercy who extends the promise, and it is we who respond and receive by faith alone. But faith requires action, and we see in the life of Abraham, that by faith he pursued and by faith he received.

            For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. The designer and builder of the city that Abraham was moving to was Almighty God. It was God who created it and it was God who designed it. It is God who creates and designs the plans and purposes of our lives. When we are called by God, He has created us with destiny and purpose. Every step of the journey exists for a reason. Every challenge and trial are used by God to mold and shape us into the person we are called to be. It says that he was looking forward. Abraham had no idea where he was going and knew nothing about the land that God had promised. God called Abraham from where he currently was to begin to move in a different direction. The call of Jesus is meant to upend our lives. It is God who takes us out of our comfort zone to accomplish the purposes and plans of God.

            By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Often the plans and purposes of God seem impossible. It is designed this way. For the purposes of God to be accomplished requires the supernatural power of God to be present and released to accomplish His will. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive. Who is the author of life? Who is the one who opens the wombs of the barren? Who is it who forms us in our mother’s womb? My wife and I personally went through many painful years of infertility, and it seemed like we would never have children. But it is God who opens the womb. Without faith it is impossible to please God. It is God who desires that we bring everything to Him daily and lay it at His feet. It was God who gave Sarah the power to conceive. When it seemed that all hope was lost, it was God who showed up and brought to pass His promise.

            Sarah was past the age of being able to conceive children. But it doesn’t matter. All things are possible to him who believes (Mark 9:23). We serve a God who does the impossible. We serve a God who sets the stage for His glory to be revealed. Sarah even laughed when she heard she would bear a child because of her age. She was focused on her circumstances. But when we take our eyes off our circumstances and place them on Jesus Christ, we see that all things are possible. We see the greatness and awesomeness of God.

            She considered him faithful who had promised. The question we need to answer is do we consider him faithful who had promised? Do we really trust God? God will never fail us. He is always faithful. This is Almighty God we are talking about. But the greater issue and the question we must answer is do we really trust Him? He has created us with precious promises that He will fulfill in His time. Sarah had an appointed day and hour when she would bear the child of promise and give birth.

            Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. God’s promise and blessing was given to Abraham. Though Abraham being as good as dead because of his age, God blessed him with a son. From that son would be born descendants as many as the stars of Heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. These descendants would not only be physical descendants but all those who would eventually come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. God’s messiah would ultimately come from the line of Abraham.

            Paul writes this in Galatians 4:4-7 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. He continues in verses 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are adopted by Almighty God. We become descendants of Abraham to the promise. Our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. But everything we have is because of faith alone in Jesus Christ. We are no longer slaves and, but we are free.

            God gives great and mighty promises to all those who follow and serve Him. We walk by faith. We trust God each step of the way. It doesn’t mean our journey with the Lord will be easy by any means. There will be times when we face discouragement and doubt. We may even begin to look at our circumstances and begin to believe that whatever God has promised and spoken to our hearts will not come to pass. But God is always faithful and has given us examples throughout His word of those who have held fast to the promises of God and in time, have seen the Lord move in mighty ways.

Prayer

Father thank you for what you are doing in my life at this time. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for molding and shaping me. I pray that every desire, fear, thought, and dream would be surrendered to you. Father continue to lead me into a deeper, closer, more intimate relationship with you. Remove from my life anything that would hinder what you desire to do. Continue to grow and deepen my faith one day at a time.