Hebrews 11:13-16
13: 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.
14: For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
15: And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went 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 a city for them.
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So far Paul had mentioned Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob as examples of those with God-pleasing faith. Yet he said, “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises.” The “all” may be referring to all of these beginning with Adam—who had the promise that the “seed of the woman” would come and destroy the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15, the first prophecy of Christ) or it may be referring to those beginning with Abraham—the patriarch who received the promise of being a father of many nations (Genesis 17:4). In either case, they all died without having received the promises of God while here on this earth. Yet they saw them far off and welcomed them from a distance.
Paul said they admitted to being strangers and exiles on the earth. In Genesis 23:4 Abraham called himself a stranger and sojourner among those in the land of Canaan—the land promised to him by God. Paul explained that those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. They don’t have the promise fulfilled yet. If Abraham really wanted just an earthly land of his own, he could have simply returned to where he came from, but he was following the call of God. He left his earthly father’s home to find the land of promise—the heavenly, eternal city.
Abraham’s search for the Promised Land, not knowing where it was at first but having it revealed to him once he was there, was symbolic of the heavenly country—the city designed and built by God. He lived in the land as a foreigner, yet he purchased a final resting place there for Sarah. This deposit into the future land of promise was a sign that the promise was more than temporary—it was eternal. The desire of those who seek to find the promised heavenly city pleases God, so He is not ashamed to be called their God. He has prepared an eternal city for these ones.
We too look for the heavenly city. Before He died Jesus told His disciples that there were many dwelling places in His Father’s house. That He would go and prepare a place for them and come again to receive them to Himself so they could be with Him. He told them they knew the way to this place. That He is the way—the only way (John 14:1-6). Of course, the disciples He was speaking to at the time died, just as the others, without yet receiving the promise—not remaining alive on earth until the time of Jesus’ return. But believers in Christ today still have this promise—the promise of a dwelling place in the Father’s house which Jesus prepares for us. He will come again and receive to Himself those who know and believe He is the way.
Paul said they admitted to being strangers and exiles on the earth. In Genesis 23:4 Abraham called himself a stranger and sojourner among those in the land of Canaan—the land promised to him by God. Paul explained that those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. They don’t have the promise fulfilled yet. If Abraham really wanted just an earthly land of his own, he could have simply returned to where he came from, but he was following the call of God. He left his earthly father’s home to find the land of promise—the heavenly, eternal city.
Abraham’s search for the Promised Land, not knowing where it was at first but having it revealed to him once he was there, was symbolic of the heavenly country—the city designed and built by God. He lived in the land as a foreigner, yet he purchased a final resting place there for Sarah. This deposit into the future land of promise was a sign that the promise was more than temporary—it was eternal. The desire of those who seek to find the promised heavenly city pleases God, so He is not ashamed to be called their God. He has prepared an eternal city for these ones.
We too look for the heavenly city. Before He died Jesus told His disciples that there were many dwelling places in His Father’s house. That He would go and prepare a place for them and come again to receive them to Himself so they could be with Him. He told them they knew the way to this place. That He is the way—the only way (John 14:1-6). Of course, the disciples He was speaking to at the time died, just as the others, without yet receiving the promise—not remaining alive on earth until the time of Jesus’ return. But believers in Christ today still have this promise—the promise of a dwelling place in the Father’s house which Jesus prepares for us. He will come again and receive to Himself those who know and believe He is the way.
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