Hebrews 11:13-22
By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph… (v. 21) It’s always been strange to me that of the twelve sons of Jacob, only three rise to any level of prominence – Judah, Levi, and Joseph – Judah as the tribe from which David and Jesus were descended, Levi as the tribe of the priests and Levites, and Joseph in his position as “prime minister” of Egypt and with each of his sons (Ephraim and Manasseh) being allotted a share in the Promised Land. A fourth, Benjamin, also gets further mention, but in a negative sense when the tribe of Benjamin was nearly eliminated (see the full story at Judges, chapters 19-21).
He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead… (v. 19a) I guess maybe I considered this verse lightly in the past, but my Study Bible pointed out that Abraham believed that God would raise Isaac physically from the dead if Abraham had gone through his sacrifice of Isaac. Was that the case? I don’t see that claim in Genesis 22, so I tend to think not. I think that from Abraham’s perspective, Isaac was dead, but that somehow God would continue with His promise to make Abraham the father of many nations. Again, my thoughts…
If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. (v. 15) When I think back to the “land from which I had gone out” (the years before my born-again experience) I have no desire to return!! The Lord has filled me with Himself and His people so completely that my old (happy) life is a distant memory!
Slava Bohu!
I too was drawn by v. 19: Abraham considered “the fact that God can raise the dead”. My translation is stronger. Apparently he had a belief in resurrection, way back then, more than life after death. Looking ahead to v. 26, Moses believed that abuse suffered for the Christ better than his Egyptian wealth or position. These beliefs in the coming Messiah and God raising someone from the dead are reported by the author of Hebrews as part of the faith BEFORE the ten commandments, the law, etc. These are not new in Judaism or Christianity but very early. Much to ponder!
But I truly wonder, Debbie, if Abraham was fully expecting a physical recovery of Isaac after he had been sacrificed – especially after he expected to sacrifice Isaac with both the knife and the fire. Maybe a “resurrection” after the Messiah had come, yes…