THE RESURRECTION FAITH OF THE PATRIARCHS

Passage: Hebrews 11:17-22

Key verse: 17

NIV

17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.(A) He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[a](B) 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead,(C) and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.(D)

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons,(E) and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.(F)

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Footnotes
  1. Hebrews 11:18 Gen. 21:12
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

17 By faith (A)Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, (B)“Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 (C)He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith (D)Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith (E)Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, (F)bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith (G)Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Abraham offered Isaac (17-19)

Abraham believed God's word of promise, 'It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.' So when God tested him, telling him to offer Isaac as a burnt sacrifice, he prepared at once to do so. He was ready to obey because he believed that God would keep his word. He believed that Almighty God had power to raise the dead.

2. Isaac, Jacob and Joseph (2

-22)

Isaac, Jacob and Joseph all had a sense of God's history. They looked at the future with the eyes of faith. They believed that God is the same forever, and that he keeps his promises. So Isaac and Jacob could bless their sons, and Joseph could be sure that God would bring his people out of Egypt and back to the promised land. Their ultimate hope, however, was not in the earthly kingdom, but in the kingdom of heaven.

Prayer: Lord, teach me Abraham's obedient, resurrection faith and teach me a sense of history.

One Word: Believe and obey Almighty God