What Old Testament examples illustrate the longing for a better country in Hebrews 11? Hebrews 11:16 — The Anchor Verse “Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” What Scripture Means by “A Better Country” • Not merely improved earthly circumstances • A homeland where God’s presence is fully enjoyed (Revelation 21:3) • A city “whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10) Old Testament Pilgrims Who Modeled This Longing • Abel – Genesis 4 – Offered “a more acceptable sacrifice” (Hebrews 11:4). – Looked beyond cursed ground to restored fellowship with God. • Enoch – Genesis 5 – “Walked with God, and he was not, for God took him” (Genesis 5:24). – His translation prefigures the believer’s ultimate home in God’s immediate presence. • Noah – Genesis 6–9 – Built the ark “in holy fear” (Hebrews 11:7), expecting a cleansed world after judgment. – Stepped onto a renewed earth, previewing the “new heavens and new earth” (Isaiah 65:17). • Abraham – Genesis 12–25 – “By faith Abraham… went out, not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8). – Lived in tents in Canaan, “looking forward to the city with foundations” (v. 10). • Sarah – Genesis 18; 21 – Received power to conceive because she “considered Him faithful who had promised” (Hebrews 11:11). – Trusted God for an heir who would inherit promises stretching far beyond her lifetime. • Isaac, Jacob, Joseph – Genesis 26–50 – All three “died in faith… confessing that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13). – Joseph ordered his bones carried to Canaan (Genesis 50:25), signaling hope for complete fulfillment yet to come. • Moses – Exodus 2–34 – “Refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” (Hebrews 11:24). – Endured reproach “for he was looking ahead to his reward” (v. 26). • Israel at Passover and the Red Sea – Exodus 12–14 – Applied the lamb’s blood, crossed the sea, pressing toward the Promised Land (Hebrews 11:28-29). – Their journey pictures a redeemed people moving toward God’s prepared homeland. • Rahab – Joshua 2; 6 – Sheltered the spies, counting on Israel’s God to spare her (Hebrews 11:31). – Left Jericho for life among God’s covenant people, choosing a future with Him over her city’s security. Shared Marks of Their Pilgrimage • Took God at His word, even when promises seemed distant (Hebrews 11:13). • Lived as aliens and strangers, open-handed with earthly ties. • Risked present loss for future gain, convinced God “rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Why Their Example Matters Today • Their faith invites us to “set our minds on things above” (Colossians 3:1–2). • Their stories prove God’s track record: promises kept, heaven prepared. • Their longing fuels endurance: “Here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.” (Hebrews 13:14) |
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