Abraham & Sarah by Mitchell Skelton

Hebrews 11 is like the portrait gallery of Faith's Hall of Fame. As we walk through it, we come to a portrait much larger than the others. Instead of a single person, we see two. Abraham is the main figure, but in the background is his wife Sarah. As we look at this picture, we see the reason why it is displayed so prominently in the hall.

If anyone was ever sure of what they hoped for and certain of what they did not see it was Abraham and Sarah. Abraham and Sarah are commended because they took God at his word and believed in his promise. They gave up the things of this world and looked forward to a greater reward.

Abraham was considered faithful because he trusted God's word.

"By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:8-10).

When God spoke to Abraham, he believed and obeyed. In the same way, God speaks to us today through his word. "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son" (Hebrews 1:1,2a). To be faithful to God we must not only believe in him but we must obey his word. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).

Abraham and Sarah were considered faithful because they trusted God's promises.

"By faith Abraham, even though he was past age -- and Sarah herself was barren -- was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore" (Hebrews 11:11,12).

Abraham and Sarah trusted God to fulfill his promise. "By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised" (Hebrews 11:11 NKJV). God has made a promise to us and asks us to trust in his promise. "Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring -- not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.' The words 'it was credited to him' were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness -- for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification" (Romans 4:16,22-24).

Abraham was considered faithful because he trusted God's guidance.

"By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, 'It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.' Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death" (Hebrews 11:17-19).

God tested Abraham's faith when he commanded him to sacrifice his son Isaac. God never induces anyone to sin. "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone" (James 1:13). However, God does test our faith to see if it is genuine. Abraham did not question God. Even though he had received the promise through Isaac, he trusted in the Lord; it was for God to reconcile his promise and his command. He trusted in his guidance. God's promise to those who trust his guidance is a home in heaven. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:1-3).

"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 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" (Hebrews 11:13-16).