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Hebrews 11:13–22
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
If you’re a parent, do you remember the first time your kids distanced themselves from you so as to not be embarrassed by you in front of their friends? It might have been when you were taking them to school. Perhaps it was when they were playing a game, singing in a choir, or playing in a middle school band, and you were shouting for them, but they ignored you.
Do you remember the first time you were embarrassed by your kid’s behavior in front of others?
Do you remember the pride you felt when your kids boldly introduced you to their friends?
Do you remember the gratitude and joy on your kid’s face when you stood beside them during a difficult time?
I was thinking about that as I read the second part of verse 16, “God is not ashamed to be called their God.”
God had called Abraham and his family to be His own and gave them that incredible promise in Genesis 12.1-3. This promise was reaffirmed in the lives of Isaac and Jacob and began to unfold further in Joseph’s life and in the lives of the people of God who followed (as we’ll see in the verses that fill out chapter 11).
But if we go back and read their stories in Genesis and in the narrative of the Old Testament, we know that they were not perfect people. Far from it. They were filled with flaws and their families were incredibly dysfunctional. And yet, they clung to and trusted in God’s promises by faith. They never fully received the promise, but always looked forward to a future fulfillment beyond their lifetimes, not just for their descendants, but one which they too would enjoy—a heavenly city (verse 16).
That’s why Hebrews tells us that God is not ashamed to be called their God.
And the same is true for us today as we walk in faith. Flawed and fallible as you and I are, constantly making mistakes, stumbling, and at times falling and failing, if we cling to Jesus, if we place our wholehearted trust in God—God will not be ashamed to be called your God.
Where is God asking you to boldly live by faith, trusting in His promises for you this day?
God bless you and know that I am praying for you constantly.
Scott
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