Hebrews 11:21
By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
By faith Jacob stands among the heroes of faith, his dying blessing of Joseph's sons securing his place in that honored company. He belongs with the ancient people commended for firm principles of faith, held up as examples for the Christian church to follow. His defining mark is fidelity to God, the trait that distinguishes the faithful from age to age. That fidelity made him an example of faithfulness and a light in darkness, set conspicuously before the world so that his light shines to those in darkness and leads them to glorify God.
He is one of the cloud of witnesses, among those who faced difficulties and the opposing forces of evil and who were strengthened and upheld by the Lord. His experience belongs to the record of the faithful in the past, offered as instruction for workers to go forward in faith. That record calls readers to turn the mind away from visible, discouraging things toward unseen realities and the heavenly country, the city God has built.
The same faith that worked in God's servants then can work in believers now. God works no less powerfully today, working through hearts of faith as channels of His power.