Day 22 - Hebrews 11:11 - 11:20

Hebrews 11:11-20 

11 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. 12 And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. 14 Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. 15 If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. 16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17 It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, 18 even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” 19 Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

20 It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.


Tori's Comments - 

"who was as good as dead" BAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA that's hilarious.

If I tried describing someone that way, they would smack me. Maybe if I told them I was quoting the bible. Of course, I need to meet someone close to one hundred first, but...

Terrie, when you are old, be ready. 

What I'm getting from all this is that faith inspires God's blessings. Without faith, He won't bless us. It also makes me think of James 1:6-7 where he says, "But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. He will not receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."

Sadly enough, the second verse sounds more like me than the first.

A big thing I'm learning from this whole study is that when you really meditate on scriptures, they can strip you raw and bring up problems in your life you didn't know you had.

I like that God is chiseling at me, but it's beginning to hurt.

My question is how you hear God. Obviously these biblical people God chose to work through knew what God was going to do through them. How are you so fine-tuned with the Holy Spirit that you know what He wants you to do?




Terrie's Comments - 

I want to focus on the middle of today's passage...

13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. 14 Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. 15 If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. 16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

I would love to say that my focus is not on things of this world.  I must admit all too often the things that knock me to my knees are because my focus has once again shifted to the things in the world and not on heavenly places.  I need to be reminded that it is okay to live like a nomad and a foreigner here on earth.  To not understand the customs of this world completely.  I am glad that I can enter the shelter of the throne room of my King at anytime boldly because I am an ambassador of the country that I am looking forward to.  It may be in the distance but I believe in the promise that I can look forward to a better place... my heavenly homeland because I have placed my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior and my High Priest.


Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!