Hebrews 11:9-10 – The Hall of Faith
Abraham & The Call, part 2
We will continue studying the life of Abraham. We will focus on some of the trials that Abraham faced while journeying to and sojourning in Canaan, the land Promised Land. As we see the same circumstances taking place today, it should cause us, like Abraham, to desire and seek for the Heavenly Promised Land.
1. Read Hebrews 11:9. What word is used to describe Abraham’s time in the land of promise?
2. What does the word “sojourned” mean?
Answer: The definition from the Greek Lexicon of Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance (3939) is to dwell near, i.e. reside as a foreigner:—sojourn in, be a stranger. The dictionary defines sojourning as “staying somewhere temporarily.”
Note: By faith, Abraham sojourned in the land of Canaan. This means that even though he arrived in the land that God had promised to him for an inheritance, he still was not satisfied there and longed for a better place which he had not yet seen. We will now focus on some of the circumstances Abraham faced while sojourning in the land of Canaan.
3. Read Genesis 12:1. When God asked Abraham to leave his country, what else did Abraham have to leave behind?
4. What startling warning does Jesus declare in Matthew 10:37?
5. Why may we have to leave certain familial relationships behind in order to follow Jesus all the way? Matthew 10:36
6. What does Jesus say causes the division in families when individuals choose to follow God? Matthew 10:34-35
7. What does the sword represent? Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12
8. Let us now look at another test Abraham had to face after God called him to leave his home. Where did Abraham journey to when a famine arose in the land of Canaan? Genesis 12:10
9. What did Abraham instruct Sarah to do when they arrived in Egypt? Why did he instruct her to say this? Genesis 12:11-13
10. What is one application for the land of Egypt in scripture? Ezekiel 32:2
Answer: Egypt is a type of the world. (Further Study:Compare Revelation 15:1-3 with Exodus 15:1-4 and Exodus 9:13-14. In the last days, the seven last plagues will be falling upon the wicked inhabitants of the entire earth. In Exodus, the plagues fell upon all the land of Egypt. The Israelites who were delivered from Egypt, sang a song of triumph just like the redeemed who will gain the victory over the world (the beast and its image) will sing a song of triumph. The redeemed will stand upon a sea of glass as conquerors just like the Israelites stood as conquerors after the Egyptians drowned in the sea. Thus, Egypt is a representation of the world. Finally, read 1 Corinthians 10:2, 5, 11 to see that the experience of the Israelites in Egypt is a type of what will happen in the world).
11. What does a woman represent in the scriptures? Ephesians 5:25; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Jeremiah 6:2
12. In Egypt, Abraham and Sarah lied, and had a lapse of faith. What were Abraham and Sarah essentially saying by their actions while they were living among the heathen nations? 1 Samuel 8:5, 20; Exodus 11:7
Note: Just like Abraham and Sarah, many Seventh-day Adventist Christians are afraid to have their religion stand out so strikingly while they interact with worldlings and people from other denominations. By this act, many reveal that they lack faith in God and if this is not repented of, it will lead souls to renounce their faith altogether and be lost.
“I saw many traveling in this broad road who had the words written upon them: “Dead to the world. The end of all things is at hand. Be ye also ready.” They looked just like all the vain ones around them, except a shade of sadness which I noticed upon their countenances. Their conversation was just like that of the gay, thoughtless ones around them; but they would occasionally point with great satisfaction to the letters on their garments, calling for the others to have the same upon theirs. They were in the broad way, yet they professed to be of the number who were traveling the narrow way. Those around them would say: “There is no distinction between us. We are alike; we dress, and talk, and act alike.” {1T 128.2}
13. Similar to Abraham, what did Peter say when his faith in Jesus was tested? Matthew 26:69-74
14. How was Peter following Jesus which led him to fully deny Him? Matthew 26:58
Note: In our spiritual lives, when we follow Jesus afar off, as did Peter, we set ourselves up to deny Him. Notice that when Peter denied Jesus, church and state had already united to prosecute and persecute Jesus. So, in these last days at the Mark of the Beast crisis when church and state unite to persecute God’s faithful people, all those who have made it a habit to deny Jesus, will find it easy to commit the same sin again and will make their final decision against Christ. See the following quotation below which gives us both a warning and encouragement in our daily battle against sin.
Testimonies for the Church Vol. 5, 120: When secret prayer and reading of the Scriptures are neglected today, tomorrow they can be omitted with less remonstrance of conscience. There will be a long list of omissions, all for a single grain sown in the soil of the heart. On the other hand, every ray of light cherished will yield a harvest of light. Temptation once resisted will give power to more firmly resist the second time; every new victory gained over self will smooth the way for higher and nobler triumphs. Every victory is a seed sown to eternal life. {5T 120.3}
15. After leaving Egypt, what happened between Abraham and Lot when their substance was great? Genesis 13:1, 5, 6
16. Who were striving in their camps which caused Abraham and Lot to separate? Genesis 13:7
17. A herdsman is a shepherd. Who would the herdsmen or shepherds represent today? Jeremiah 23:1-4
18. What were the herdsmen of Abraham and Lot fighting over? Genesis 13:5, 6
Note: This same occurrence which took place between Abraham and Lot is happening in our churches today. Many shepherds (ministers and leaders of ministries) are fighting over control of the flock of God, the territories where they are laboring for souls, and the methods being used to win souls. The Bible lets us know that the substance of Abraham and Lot was great which means that they were not lacking in the resources needed to feed the flock. So, what caused the strife between them? The issue was a man-made problem. With all that God had promised to Abraham, there was no need for this strife.
19. What did Abraham say which revealed that the issue between the herdsmen was unnecessary? Genesis 13:9
20. What else did Abraham say in the last phrase of Genesis 13:8?
Note: God’s message through Abraham to Lot and his men is the same to his people today. There are enough finances (Genesis 13:2), territories for evangelism, and church members to carry on and extend the work of God. Let us go out under the direction of God and labor for souls before probation closes and not allow ourselves to become distracted with side issues and disputes over sanctified methods used to extend the work of God.
21. While Abraham was going through these trials, what was he looking for which encouraged him along his pilgrim journey? Hebrews 11:10
22. What is the name of the city that Abraham was looking for which God made? Revelation 21:2, 10
23. According to Hebrews 11:10, what is the city built upon?
24. What is one application of these foundations? 1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20
Note: The foundation that New Jerusalem is built upon is Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:20; Revelation 21:14). As Abraham followed the Word of God (Jesus Christ, John 1:1) by faith, he was being established as a resident of that city, even though he had not reached it as yet. Revelation 21:14 lets us know that the foundations in New Jerusalem have “the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” This means that if we are looking for this city and desire to be residents there, our spiritual lives need to be grounded and established upon the faith of the apostles and of Jesus Christ (Revelation 14:12).
25. What question is asked in Psalm 11:3?
26. We understand that the foundations are referring to the foundations in New Jerusalem, and they also represent being established in Jesus Christ. What would be our experience if these foundations were destroyed and we had no hope of living in heaven with Jesus? 1 Corinthians 15:19
27. As we, like Abraham, encounter trials on earth, what encouragement does Peter give us concerning the things that we believe in God’s Word? 2 Peter 1:16
28. Peter also says in 2 Peter 1:16 that “were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” What else will help us to increase our faith in the things God has promised to us? 1 Samuel 7:12
Testimonies for the Church Vol. 9, 10: We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and his teaching in our past history. {9T 10.3}