The Hebrews writer continues with Abraham as an example of faith. We always can learn from these examples. Some of Jesus’s rules for the church are must and must not, principles to do or to avoid, and examples of success that we follow or do not.
My translation of Hebrew 11:8-19
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place which he would later receive as an inheritance, obeyed and left, even though he did not know where he was going.
9 By faith he lived as a foreigner in the Promised Land living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise,
10 Because he was looking forward to a city whose architect and builder is God, [a city] with foundations.
[Abraham was looking forward to a special city. Not just a city with a foundation, but foundations. Most understand this to refer to the heavenly Jerusalem, and Abraham understood that he was only a pilgrim on earth. Compare Hebrews 11:16, Hebrews 12:22, Hebrews 13:14, Revelation 21:2, and Revelation 21:10-14. God not only designs this city but builds it. See also John 14:1-4].
11 By faith Sarah also received the miracle to conceive offspring and delivered a child when she was too old, because she considered him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore, there was born from one, and him as good as dead, as many as the multitude of stars of the sky and like the innumerable sands of the seashore.
[Compare Romans 4:19].
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises but seeing them in the distance. They were convinced about them, welcomed [them], and openly admitted that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
[A believer’s home is heaven with God. Sometimes God waits to bless until all seems impossible, so that we learn it was truly God who answers prayer].
14 Now, they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 Truly, if they kept thinking about the [country] from where they came, they would have the chance to return.
[Compare most of Israel in Numbers 14:3-4. All had faith to do the instructions of Passover, and all left slavery in Egypt. Most lacked faith and died in the wilderness wandering].
16 But now they desire a better [country], that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for indeed, he has prepared a city for them.
[The Greek word for ‘desire’ is ὀρέγομαι orégomai (G3713). It means desire as in reaching out to grab something they want and covet when related to money (1 Timothy 6:10). Vine (AN EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF NEW TESTAMENT WORDS) has “to reach or stretch out,” is used only in the Middle Voice, signifying the mental effort of stretching oneself out for a thing, of longing after it, with stress upon the object desired. These believers were not ashamed of God, and God is not ashamed of them. We need faith in words and also our life actions. Compare John 14:1-4 and Revelation 21:2].
17 By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, “That through Isaac will yours descendants be named.”
[Genesis 21:12. This was not blind faith but a very reasonable faith of all the Abraham and God had experienced together. See the next verse (19). See Does God expect us to have blind faith]?
19 Reasoning that God was able to raise [him], even from the dead, from where, figuratively speaking, he did receive him.
[The Greek word for ‘reasoning’ is λογίζομαι logízomai (G3049). It means deliberate and conclude. Abraham believed God and lived it. This command is not for today. All of God’s decisions are based on His love, wisdom, and holiness. Abraham know those things and knew God would keep His promise of a son and descendants],