Hebrews 11:9, commentary and pictures

By faith Abraham lived in the promised land as a foreigner and stranger, making his home in tents together with Isaac and Jacob as fellow heirs of the same promise. He owned nothing there he could claim as his own except the burial cave he bought, trusting God's word with no outward assurance that it would be fulfilled. He had left home and kindred without asking about comfort or gain, and because he saw the promises from afar he confessed himself a pilgrim with no desire to go back. What he looked for beyond a settled earthly home was the city with foundations built by God, for the promise reaches beyond Canaan to the whole earth freed from sin when Christ gives Abraham and all who are his a share in the new earth. His life stands as the pattern for all his children to live as pilgrims here, loosening hold on earth and living by a faith that lays hold on unseen things.

Sojourn in Promised Land

By faith he lived in the land of promise as in a strange country, as a foreigner and stranger, dwelling in tents or tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob as fellow heirs with him of the same promise. He remained a stranger there because he had not yet fully possessed what was promised, and his tent-life looked beyond present circumstances and a settled earthly home. He lived there without any possession he could claim as his own among the idolatrous Canaanites, relying on the divine promise with no outward assurance of its fulfillment. His only possession in the land was the rock-hewn tomb in the cave of Machpelah which he had to buy from the Canaanites for a burial place.

He obeyed without hesitation, abandoning home and kindred and native land and his father's house to sojourn alone in a strange land to follow where God leads. It was no light test and no small sacrifice, breaking strong ties to country and kindred and home. He did not ask whether the soil was fertile and the climate healthful, whether the surroundings were agreeable, or whether wealth could be gained there, because God had spoken and the happiest place was where God would have him to be.

The separation was necessary to successfully introduce a new order in his household. Cultivating home religion, obeying God's laws and commandments, and preserving the knowledge of the true God from generation to generation could not be done while surrounded by idolatrous kinsfolk and friends. By going out at God's command he placed himself where he could listen to Christ's voice and take full responsibility to instruct, command, and rule his children and household in justice and judgment without betrayal of sacred trust.

Wherever he pitched his tent his first work was to build an altar for God and worship Him together with those accompanying him. By this he showed his faith by his works, his respect for God's holiness, and his sense of God's greatness and glory and his obligation to Him. In this he made God first in everything and exalted His service.

Heavenly Inheritance Promised

Abraham died in faith without having received the promised inheritance, yet he saw the promises afar off and was persuaded of them and embraced them. In that faith he confessed that he was a stranger and pilgrim on earth, with no desire to return to the country he had left. His dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob as fellow heirs of the same promise showed that he had not yet entered into full possession but lived looking beyond his present circumstances.

That tent-life was a confession that this world was not his home, for he looked beyond a settled earthly home to a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. What he sought was a better, heavenly country and the city God has prepared and will build. God showed him that the promise pointed to an eternal and immortal inheritance, and with that hope he was content.

The promise to him was not finally met in the occupation of Canaan by the Jewish people. It includes the whole earth freed from the curse of sin, to be fulfilled through Christ at the appointed time. Then Abraham himself will share the inheritance with all who are Christ's as Abraham's seed, so that having a title to Abraham's farm means sharing in the promised inheritance in the new earth.

The verse stands in the teaching that faith gives substance to what is hoped for and evidence of what is unseen. That faith gives strength to trust God and please Him even amid weakness and fear. It calls for faith in the Saviour, for believing, watching, and praying, with faith stripped of human elements to lay hold of invisible things.

Example for Believers Today

Abraham stands in the verse among faithful examples and ancient people commended for firm principles of faith, held up for Christians to imitate. He belongs to the cloud of witnesses who breasted the evils and difficulties in the way and in the Lord's name braced successfully against opposing forces of evil, sustained and strengthened with the Lord holding him by the hand. His defining mark is fidelity to God, and his sojourning life in the promised land was placed conspicuously before the world so that his light would shine to those in darkness.

The record of faith is written so that the faith shown by God's servants of old may work in believers now and make them channels of God's power. The same faith can work in people now, and God will work through hearts of faith as He did through them. Their experience teaches workers for God to go forward in faith and do their best, for faith gives substance to what is hoped for and evidence of what is unseen. Abraham's life in the promised land as a foreigner in tents, together with Isaac and Jacob who shared the same promise, is part of that instruction, encouraging workers to act in faith and trust God as they labor.

These heroes of faith are brought into view as faithful to God so their example could shine for people in darkness. Their fidelity made their lives a light to others, and their obedience led people to glorify God.

His tent-life confessed that this world was not his home, for he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. God had given him a view of the immortal inheritance and with that hope he was content, and the promise was not finally met in the occupation of Canaan by the Jewish people but includes the whole earth freed from the curse of sin, to be fulfilled through Christ at the appointed time, when Abraham himself will share the inheritance with all who are Christ's as Abraham's seed. Though he had great wealth which he used for God and others, he did not count this world his home, and neither he nor Isaac nor Jacob received the promised heritage in their lifetimes, his only possession in the land being the rock-hewn tomb in the cave of Machpelah which he had to buy for a burial place. Those who are children of Abraham must likewise dwell here as pilgrims and strangers seeking that city and a better, heavenly country, treating this world as a temporary home and not their chief concern or lasting inheritance. Believers are heirs of an immortal inheritance, so they should loosen affections for earth, avoid being absorbed by its cares, and set thoughts on heavenly things rather than temporary riches and pleasures, not making earthly wealth their aim.

His life declares that he sought a better, heavenly country, confessing himself a stranger and pilgrim on earth, dying in faith without receiving the promises but seeing them afar off and being persuaded of them and embracing them, with no desire to return to the country he left, for whom God has prepared a city. This is the pattern for living by faith now, with faith stripped of human elements to lay hold of invisible things in a deeper religious experience. Having a title to Abraham's farm means sharing in the promised inheritance in the new earth, and entering God's kingdom requires a perfected character rather than returning to a life of sin. Having a place there and a part in Abraham's farm rests with each person, depending on refusing Satan a place in the mind and standing as a faithful soldier under the banner of Prince Immanuel, for without Christ nothing can be done.