Hebrews 11:8, commentary and pictures

By faith Abraham obeyed when called to leave his country, home, kindred and father's household to go out to a place he would afterward receive for an inheritance, going to a land God would show him without knowing where he went. It was no light test and no small sacrifice, for strong ties bound him to country, kindred and home, yet he did not hesitate or question about the land, its soil, climate, surroundings or wealth, because God had spoken and the happiest place was where God would have him to be. His unquestioning obedience is a striking evidence of faith, which trusts God's promise without outward assurance and follows the path He marks out step by step even when destination and reasons are not yet clear. The inheritance he sought was not in this world, for he received no possession in the earth except a burial place bought from the Canaanites, but looked to an eternal possession and a heavenly country and city whose builder and maker is God. He was chosen to keep God's law and carry divine light to idolatrous nations, and the same going faith is the pattern for God's servants today to leave all when called and go wherever He sends as light-bearers sowing truth in toil and sacrifice.

Call and Obedience

By faith Abraham obeyed when called to leave his country, home, kindred, relatives and father's household to go out to a place he should afterward receive for an inheritance, going out to a land God would show him without knowing whither he went. He abandoned home and kindred and native land to follow where God should lead, relying on the divine promise without the least outward assurance of its fulfillment and with only the promise that his descendants would possess Canaan, trusting God to guide and protect him wherever duty was shown. His faith meant acting without knowing the destination in advance and living as a pilgrim and stranger, ready to go where called and trust for guidance and success.

It was no light test and no small sacrifice, because strong ties bound him to country and kindred and home. Yet he did not hesitate to obey and did not demand assurance that the destination would be fertile, pleasant, or easy. He asked no question about the land of promise, whether its soil was fertile and its climate healthful, whether its surroundings were agreeable or whether it offered opportunity to amass wealth; God had spoken and His servant must obey, and the happiest place on earth for him was the place where God would have him to be.

The call came when wickedness and idolatry after the flood had become almost universal, and God left the hardened transgressors to their evil ways, choosing Abraham of the line of Shem and making him the keeper of His law for future generations. He lived among idolaters and was surrounded by pleasure-loving, corrupting influences that threatened to dull spiritual perception and obscure the sacredness of truth and knowledge of the true God. God called him away because remaining there was not for his best spiritual interest. The land to which he went was occupied by idolatrous Canaanites, where he could claim no possession as his own.

Though rich, he took his possessions ready to use them as God required and went simply as a sojourner, pilgrim and stranger in a strange land, without seeking self-glory, power or greatness. Wherever he pitched his tent his first work was to build an altar for God where he could worship Him with those accompanying him. This showed his faith by his works, honored the holiness and greatness and glory of God and his obligation to Him, and testified to the character of his work as nothing else could.

He did not look upon this world as his home, for God showed him his inheritance was an eternal possession not in this world. Though he possessed great substance which he used to the glory of God and the good of his fellow men, he received no possession in the earth, neither he nor his son nor his son's son. His sole possession in the land of promise was the rock-hewn tomb in the cave of Machpelah which he had to buy from the Canaanites for a burial place for his dead.

Meaning of Faith

Unquestioning obedience is one of the most striking evidences of faith, which is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Relying on the divine promise without the least outward assurance, Abraham abandoned home and kindred and native land and went forth not knowing whither, to follow where God should lead. He had only the promise that his descendants would possess Canaan, yet he trusted God to guide and protect him and went wherever God showed him his duty, even through wildernesses and among idolatrous nations. His going shows complete reliance on God's word rather than fear or human support, following without flattering prospects or outward evidence as a pilgrim and stranger.

Faith means trusting God enough to follow the path He marks out and accept His direction even when the destination or the reasons for His providences are not yet clear. God's children do not have wisdom to plan their own lives or shape their future, but depend on God, watch for divine guidance, and move in obedience step by step as pilgrims. Abraham obeyed the call to leave for an inheritance without knowing where he was going, trusting that the place would become his and that God knew the way. As believers trust and obey in this way, God makes the way plain.

The chapter calls believers to turn their minds from discouraging things that are seen toward the unseen, as they seek a better country and a heavenly city whose builder is God. Abraham is a faithful representative of living by faith, sojourning as a stranger and pilgrim while looking for the city which has foundations whose builder and maker is God and desiring a better, heavenly country that God has prepared. Faith is to be stripped of its human elements so that it lays hold of invisible things in a deeper religious experience. Since without faith it is impossible to please God there is need for increased faith, with believing, watching, and praying as the believer's work.

His obedience pleased God and showed that he could be entrusted with capabilities for service. By faith he breasted evils and difficulties in his way and braced himself successfully against the opposing forces of evil in the name of the Lord, sustained and strengthened with the Lord holding him by His hand. His fidelity to God was made visible as a light to people in darkness, his obedient going out being brought conspicuously before the world so that his light shines forth. Their obedient lives shone before others and led them to glorify God.

He belongs to the record of heroes of faith and the great cloud of witnesses surrounding believers, whose example serves as a pattern for the church and calls believers to lay aside every weight and run with patience. The same faith that worked in God's servants of old can work in believers now, lightening burdens, strengthening them through trials, and fitting them for service. God works through hearts of faith as channels of His power.

Inheritance and Hope

The place Abraham entered by faith without knowing where he was going was one he would afterward receive for an inheritance. His faith was ready to act on what he believed God had spoken, to give up worldly pleasures and to look toward the promised reward. His going is an example for workers in cities to move forward in faith, do their best, and work and pray trusting God to hear and answer, and this work of faith builds an invaluable experience for later work. It is likewise a model for those preparing for Christ's expected coming by setting aside unnecessary cares and devoting themselves to that preparation.

The promised inheritance is a pattern for the new earth, described as a title to Abraham's farm. A place in the new earth and a part of Abraham's farm is offered to every soul trying to serve God who chooses God's rule and overcomes sin. Whether it is received rests with personal choice. To gain it a person must give Satan no place in the mind, stand under the banner of Prince Immanuel by solemn vow, and remain a faithful soldier who does not run from the battle, for without Christ nothing can be done, while Satan is determined to hold minds and eclipse God's glory.

That same going faith is seen when Israel followed the pillar of cloud to the promised land and when the Gentile wise men went forth to find the promised Saviour. As Abraham obeyed and set out by faith without knowing his destination, so the wise men went forward trusting divine guidance. The star was an outward sign and the Holy Spirit's inward witness strengthened their hope.

Light to Nations

Abraham was chosen to carry divine light to the world and to keep God's name alive in the earth, going out as a light-bearer to the heathen when he obeyed the call to leave his home without knowing where he was going. The call held out no promise of worldly reward or honor and offered no flattering prospects, yet he trusted God to guide him. His example teaches that God's servants today are likewise to go wherever He calls and to trust Him for guidance and success.

His separation from former associations and familiar life kept human influence from directing him away from God's work, as he left country, family, and home for a land God would show him to live as a pilgrim and stranger. Remaining among idolaters surrounded by pleasure-loving, corrupting influences threatened to dull spiritual perception and obscure the sacredness of truth and knowledge of the true God, so departure was for his best spiritual interest. In the same way family separation can sometimes allow a person to see more clearly and exert a healthier influence.

He is the pattern for those who unite with Christ to sow the seed of truth, forsaking country, home, relatives, and all pleasant associations of earthly life to become a pilgrim and stranger without knowing the destination. Those so called must leave all, break up old associations, relinquish plans of life, and surrender earthly hopes. They sow the seed in toil and tears, in solitude and through sacrifice, as Paul also was sent far away to the Gentiles.

Following Abraham Today

God's servants today are to go wherever He calls and trust Him for guidance and success, going as light-bearers to those without truth just as Abraham left home without knowing where he was going. City workers in particular are to move forward in faith, do their best, and work and pray trusting God to hear and answer, and this work of faith builds an invaluable experience for future work. The place entered by such faith is one afterward received for an inheritance.

When duty leads against personal wishes, believers are to trust and obey rather than demand assurance that the destination will be fertile, pleasant, easy, or favorable. God may call people to leave favorable circumstances and familiar relationships, country and friends, for work elsewhere, and a change of surroundings can help develop character that will glorify Him. One called to go out to a new place not knowing whither he goes humbly seeks guidance and makes a break on personal responsibility to change location, trusting that means will be provided and doors will open to work as a lightbearer to those in darkness of error.

Obedient faith leaves home for a needy field without knowing the final place, trusting the Lord in His providence to guide to the appointed location even when the way looks blocked and fellow believers oppose and try to discourage the move. This meant leaving a severe experience at Berrien Springs to labor for the needy Southern field and being guided to Madison, a beautiful place of four hundred acres. The labors there were performed under no ordinary circumstances by Sutherland and Magan and a few faithful associates, with the way for a time seemingly hedged up, a trying experience, and expostulation and discouragement from brethren. The Lord who sees the end from the beginning brings safely through, encourages, guides, and lets His blessing rest on the efforts so that lasting results are seen.

Faith obeys God's call without knowing the destination in advance, as when servants searching for a place for the publishing work were guided though they did not know where they were going. Their move from Battle Creek to Washington with the choice of Takoma Park proved to be in God's order and guided by heaven. Difficult journeys should be undertaken only when truly one's duty and the Lord guides the way, for going without such a call could be presumption.

His faith was ready to act on what he believed God had spoken, to give up worldly pleasures and look toward the promised reward, and this is the model for those preparing for Christ's expected coming by setting aside unnecessary cares and devoting themselves to that preparation. Wherever he pitched his tent his first work was to build an altar to worship God with those accompanying him, showing his faith by his works and honoring God's holiness, greatness, glory, and his obligation to Him. Making God first and exalting His service in everything, especially by building a house of worship before other buildings, follows his example and brings God's working, while neglect must be repented of and never repeated. His example likewise shows that faith can lead a person to act without seeing in advance how the future will unfold, in contrast to anxiety about supporting a family such as the blind musician's concern.