Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Hebrews 11:13-22

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. 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.


a better country - "This Epistle speaks of better persons, of better places and of better things." (Williams)

"The point of this section of the book of Hebrews is to tell Tribulation Israel that although their situation looks like a dead end, they need to die in faith, for theirs is the better country with the better promises, the kingdom into which they will resurrect, if they faint not." (McLean)

offered up Isaac - "See Gen 22:1 and James 2:21.  This was a severe test, for only through Isaac could Abraham have received the promises of the Lord." (Ryrie)

"The word 'tried' is the translation of 'peirazo' which means 'to put to the test.'  Here it refers to the act of God putting Abraham to the test in order to prove his character and the steadfastness of his faith.  The construction in the Greek makes it clear that while the testing of Abraham was still in progress, he had already offered up his son, that is, before the trial had come to an issue, by the act of his obedient will, through faith in God.  Abraham met the test through faith before there was any visible evidence of God's intervening hand.  Abraham fully expected to offer his son as a sacrifice, and as fully expected God to raise his body from the dead out of the ashes of the burnt sacrifice.  He reasoned that since God promised him a line of ancestry through Isaac, He would have to do that.  And he had faith to believe that God would do so.  Vincent explains the words 'Also he received him in a figure,' as follows: 'Since the sacrifice did not take place as a literal slaughter, there could not be a literal restoration from death.  There was a real offering in Abraham's will, but not a real death of Isaac.  Isaac's death took place symbolically, in the sacrifice of the ram: correspondingly, the restoration was only a symbolic restoration from the dead.'" (Wuest)

Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau - See Gen 27:26-30.

"By foreknowledge, God knew which one to love and which one to hate, and that according to God's predestinated purposes for elect Israel.  Both Jacob and Esau made choices, and neither was forced to do anything.  The 'elect' in your Bible is one of two entities every time: either Israel or Christ.  And only purposes or programs are predestined, never people.  Calvin was wrong.  But this is a commentary on the book of Hebrews and not a pointless debate, pointless in that, were Calvin correct, what you think would have been predestined; and so there would be no point discussing it further." (McLean)

Jacob ... blessed each of the sons of Joseph - See Gen 48:1-22.

Joseph - "See Gen 50:24-25.  Joseph showed his faith in God's promise to Abraham by requesting that his bones be buried in the land of promise." (Ryrie) 

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