When the writer of Hebrews first deals with Abraham in 11:8-10, we are told it was Abraham’s faith that enabled him to leave home and wander in the wilderness of Canaan for 100 years. While waiting on God, Abraham lived a life of faith and confidence, knowing that God had a purpose for his life. 

After reminding the New Testament Christians of the faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah, the writer takes a moment to discuss that they all died in their faith, never having seen what they were promised:

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. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

In verse 11 of Hebrews 11, the writer shifts momentarily from Abraham’s faith to that of Sarah.  It is through Sarah’s faith in God’s promise that she is able to conceive at the age of 90 and jointly with Abraham receive the blessing of the promise.

Continuing our look into Hebrews 11, after the examples of Abel, Enoch, and Noah, the Hebrew writer mentions Abraham. He’s going to speak about Abraham in verses 8 - 10 and then again in 17-19. I’m also going to deal with Abraham in two sections because I don’t know how you wouldn’t…I mean, if it’s good enough for the Hebrews writer…

In Hebrews 11:6, we are told that without faith, we can’t be pleasing to God.  It is the beginning; the seed of our hope rests in the knowledge that God is and that He will keep His promises and reward those who seek to be with Him, which has been the rule since the beginning of time, one which Abel and Enoch obviously lived by.  

In the last article, we started looking at the historical figures of faith listed in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. The writer begins, literally, at the beginning with Cain and Abel and assures us that Abel’s faith speaks to us even today.

Faith has always been the mark of those who desire to live righteously. Men and women from the dawn of time have either had faith that God is the creator - that He alone brings order from chaos - and that He will keep His promises, or they haven’t. Belief isn’t the same as faith.

In the young adult class where I worship, we’ve been studying faith.  I’d like to share some of our conversations with you as we’ve focused this past month on Hebrews 11.