Hebrews 11:13-19: a reflection

13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. 16But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. 17By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born son, 18to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,” 19concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.

The writer of Hebrews reflects on the patriarchs, who died in faith without receiving the fullness of what was promised. They saw the promises from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. They lived as people who knew this world was not their final home, seeking, the writer says, a better country, a heavenly one. And because they set their hearts on that homeland, God was not ashamed to be called their God, for he had prepared a city for them.

The passage then recalls Abraham's severe test, when he was asked to offer up Isaac, the son of promise. It handles the moment reverently, focusing on Abraham's faith: he reasoned that God was able even to raise the dead, and so, figuratively speaking, he received Isaac back. Abraham's faith reached beyond what he could see, trusting that God's promises would hold even through what seemed like their undoing, even, if need be, through death itself. His hope was anchored in a God who could raise the dead.

These examples call you to live as they lived: as one whose true home is not here. The patriarchs held this world loosely, confessing themselves strangers and pilgrims, because they were seeking a better, heavenly country that God had prepared. When this world disappoints or when your faith is tested beyond what you can see, take heart from them. Set your heart on the homeland God has prepared, and trust, as Abraham did, in a God whose promises hold even beyond death. You are a pilgrim bound for a city God himself has made.

Lord, the patriarchs lived as strangers and pilgrims, seeking a better, heavenly country, and Abraham trusted you even through his hardest test, believing you could raise the dead. Help me to hold this world loosely and to set my heart on the home you have prepared. When my faith is tested beyond what I can see, give me Abraham's trust in a God whose promises hold even beyond death. I am a pilgrim bound for your city. Amen.