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I Cor. 2: 9, 10? We shall learn presently that Abraham received a higher call and a fuller
revelation that eclipsed the original inheritance of the land, but this we must deal with in
its true place. For the time being we must stop. The thread is taken up in the record of
the next pair, Isaac and Jacob.
Let us not set aside this word "obey". True, we are of faith; true, we are not under
law, but under grace; true we are sons, not servants. Does this mean that obedience,
the obedience of faith, is not for us? "Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience
. . . . .all them that obey Him" (Heb. 5: 8, 9). The words obedience and obey mean "to
hear with submission". It is translated simply "hearken" in Acts 12: 13. It is incipient
in Heb. 3: and 4: in the words, "Today if ye will hear His voice". Faith comes out of
hearing (Rom. 10: 17), and the obedience of faith is simply that hearing and practical
response continued throughout the walk of life.
No.48.
Faith, Pilgrimage and Earnest (11: 9 - 19).
pp. 161 - 168
Abraham's faith is too great, his example too full, to be circumscribed within the
space of one verse, or one phrase. His example blends with that of Isaac and Jacob, and
reappears in verses 11 and 12 in connection with Sarah. Not only is Abraham the
greatest example of faith's obedience, but, together with Isaac and Jacob, he is the
example of the faith that waits, that leads outside the camp, that makes the child of God a
pilgrim and a stranger. It will be seen that after Sarah's faith is recorded, the pilgrim
character of faith is resumed and amplified in verses 14-16:
"By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in
tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked
for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Heb. 11: 9, 10).
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar
off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were
strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they
seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they
came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better
country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for
He hath prepared for them a city" (Heb. 11: 13-16).
Strangers and pilgrims.
A glance at these two sets will reveal the fact that in verses 13-16 the theme of
verses 9 and 10 is developed and filled out. This is made clear in the following
structure: