At this point the writer of the letter takes a break in the narrative concerning Abraham. His thinking is probably: “I’ll return to Abraham in a minute, but first let’s draw together everything we can from these examples of faith so we can see how it helps us in our earthly pilgrimage.” So in verse 13-16 the writer draws three conclusions.

Firstly, the writer focuses on what would have been an issue for these Jewish Christians.  These people: ‘all died in faith, not having received the things promised’. The point is simple; the results of their faith were not seen in this life. But the second part of verse 13 he makes it quite clear that these believers did not doubt that they would see the results of God’s promises. It was almost as if they had had a glimpse of them: ‘from afar’ which confirm their reality! Secondly, these believers acknowledge the world was not their home. They were in fact: ‘strangers and exiles on the earth.’ The writer has clearly put this interlude at this point as the most visible example of this is Abraham who never put down roots anywhere, instead, living in a tent and moving to wherever the Lord directed him! Lastly, the behaviour of these examples of faith highlights that they were looking for a home of God’s provision, not their own.

 If that had not been the case, Abraham could have thought to himself: “well this isn’t working out!  I’m fed up of this extended camping trip, I’m going home!”  John Brown makes this comment: ‘From the call of Abraham to the death of Jacob was a space of 200 years.  During this period they might have easily return to Chaldea. The distance was no obstacle.  There does not seem to have been any external obstruction.  But they gave clear evidence that they were not disposed to return.’^[1] What is clear is that these people and Abraham did not think remotely like that!

Verse 16 focuses us once again on the major theme of the book, everything God does or provides is better! These people of faith did not take pleasure in earthly things. No, their focus was on: ‘a better country, that is, a heavenly one.’ What is rather interesting about this is that when people take that attitude God delights in them!  The phrase: ‘Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God’ shows that God takes pleasure in being identified with such people despite their past failings. And what is more he has prepared a place for them. The thought of putting down roots must have been very attractive to Abraham, but God has so much more prepared for those who love him and live in the light of that.  Philip Arthur makes this observation concerning the nature of faith in this letter in relation to the letters of Paul. ‘If Paul emphasise faith in what God in Christ has done in the past, the author to the Hebrews compliments this by reminding us of another dimension of faith that launches out into an unknown future confident that God will provide.’^[2]

What a challenge for us in our materialistic age where much in most people’s time is consumed with the acquisition of wealth and the materialism that goes with it. So far in this chapter the writer of the letter has introduced us to people who were heavenly minded but kept their feet firmly on the ground because they were focused on God. I can almost imagine the writer saying: “these people of faith from your spiritual heritage can be summed up in three words, ‘they kept going’ and I’d like you to make it your motto to ‘keep going’ because if you don’t you won’t see the wonderful rewards they did!”

[1] John Brown, An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews, (London, Banner of Truth Trust, 1961) 518.

[2]J. Philip Arthur, No Turning Back, An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews (London, Grace Publications Trust, 2002) 12.