Hebrews 11:8-16 ~ people who speak thus

Hebrews 11:8-16

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

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.

¹³ These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. ¹⁴ For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ 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 for them a city.

Body of Jacob Returning to Israel for Burial. Painted by James Tissot


Jacob left a land in famine. A land where his grandfather, grandmother, mother, father and his beloved wife Rachel were buried. The place where he had long mourned the death of a favorite child. Land purchased for him. For an old man who had once fled his comfortable home after stealing a paternal blessing, how could this have seemed like a blessing?

Yet Jacob did not die in the journey. Did not die rounding up all of his children and grandchildren to leave. Jacob made the journey. One step in front of the next. This incredible man still believed in the blessing of God and made sure all of his children and even 2 grandchildren were all rounded up and blessed. Jacob was not going to leave this life giving only one paternal blessing. Jacob was going to leave his life with more giving than what had been given to him.

Psalm 23:6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Goodness and mercy were the blossoms of Jacob's life.

In plain view, Jacob was not living a blessed life. Rather more like Job. But most importantly Jacob lived with joy in his heart of Faith, Hope and Love. With the greatest of these being Love. Jacob's children hardly deserved a blessing, yet Jacob made sure all of them were blessed. Scriptures never record his children asking for forgiveness for letting Jacob believe for years Joseph had died.

The road was bumpy, sometimes harsh. Famine, theft, blessing and curses. Yet Jacob is Israel and the blessing - is - his.

Father God, help us each day in our comfortable lives to have our gratitude renewed and our cups overflow to bring goodness and mercy. That we may always be people who give You thanks. In the name of Jesus. Amen.


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