Hebrews 11:9
By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
By faith
The phrase "by faith" is a recurring theme in Hebrews 11, often referred to as the "Faith Chapter." It emphasizes the means by which the patriarchs and other figures of the Old Testament lived their lives in accordance with God's promises. The Greek word for faith, "pistis," implies trust, belief, and confidence in God. This faith is not merely intellectual assent but a deep-seated trust that results in action. In the context of Hebrews, faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). It is the foundation upon which the heroes of faith acted, demonstrating their reliance on God's promises despite not seeing their fulfillment in their lifetimes.

he dwelt
The verb "dwelt" comes from the Greek word "paroikeō," which means to live as a foreigner or sojourner. This term indicates a temporary residence, highlighting the transient nature of Abraham's life in the land of promise. Abraham's dwelling was not permanent; he lived in tents, signifying his status as a pilgrim and stranger on the earth. This reflects the broader Christian understanding of life on earth as a temporary journey towards a heavenly homeland.

in the promised land
The "promised land" refers to Canaan, the land God promised to Abraham and his descendants. This promise is foundational to the Abrahamic covenant found in Genesis 12:1-3. The land symbolizes God's faithfulness and the future inheritance of God's people. Despite living in the land, Abraham did not possess it during his lifetime, underscoring the theme of living by faith in God's promises, even when they are not immediately realized.

as a stranger
The term "stranger" is derived from the Greek word "xenos," meaning foreigner or alien. Abraham's status as a stranger in the land of promise serves as a metaphor for the Christian life. Believers are called to live as strangers and exiles in the world, looking forward to their eternal home with God. This perspective encourages Christians to hold loosely to earthly possessions and status, focusing instead on their heavenly citizenship.

in a foreign country
The phrase "in a foreign country" emphasizes the idea of living in a place that is not one's own. For Abraham, Canaan was a foreign land, yet it was the land God had promised to him and his descendants. This paradox highlights the tension between the present reality and future promise, a theme that resonates with the Christian experience of living in the world while awaiting the fulfillment of God's kingdom.

He lived in tents
Living in tents signifies a nomadic lifestyle, one that is impermanent and flexible. Tents were the typical dwelling of nomads, easily dismantled and moved. This mode of living reflects Abraham's faith and obedience to God's call, as he was willing to leave his homeland and live in temporary shelters. For Christians, this imagery serves as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly life and the call to live with an eternal perspective.

as did Isaac and Jacob
The mention of Isaac and Jacob, Abraham's son and grandson, respectively, underscores the continuity of faith across generations. Both Isaac and Jacob inherited the promises given to Abraham, and they too lived as sojourners in the land of promise. This highlights the importance of passing down faith and the promises of God to future generations, ensuring that the legacy of faith continues.

who were heirs with him of the same promise
The term "heirs" indicates a legal right to an inheritance. Isaac and Jacob were co-heirs with Abraham of the promises God made to him. This inheritance was not just the physical land but also the spiritual promises of blessing and a future nation. For Christians, being heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17) means sharing in the spiritual inheritance of God's kingdom, a promise that transcends earthly possessions and points to eternal life with God.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Abraham
The patriarch of the Israelites, called by God to leave his homeland and journey to a land that God promised to him and his descendants.

2. Isaac
Abraham's son, who continued to live in the promised land, inheriting the promise given to Abraham.

3. Jacob
Isaac's son, who also lived in tents in the promised land and was part of the lineage through which God's promises were fulfilled.

4. Promised Land
The land of Canaan, which God promised to Abraham and his descendants. It symbolizes God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises.

5. Tents
Represent the temporary and transient nature of the patriarchs' lives in the promised land, signifying their faith and trust in God's promises rather than earthly permanence.
Teaching Points
Faith in God's Promises
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived by faith, trusting in God's promises even when they did not see their complete fulfillment. We are called to live by faith, trusting in God's promises for our lives.

Living as Strangers
Just as the patriarchs lived as strangers in the promised land, Christians are called to live as strangers and pilgrims on earth, with our ultimate citizenship in heaven.

Temporary vs. Eternal
The patriarchs' dwelling in tents reminds us of the temporary nature of our earthly lives and the eternal promises of God. We should focus on eternal values rather than temporary comforts.

Generational Faithfulness
The faith of Abraham was passed down to Isaac and Jacob, highlighting the importance of passing down faith and God's promises to future generations.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Abraham's faith in dwelling in the promised land as a stranger challenge your understanding of faith in God's promises?

2. In what ways can you live as a "stranger" in today's world, focusing on eternal rather than temporary things?

3. How can the concept of living in tents, as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did, influence your perspective on material possessions and earthly security?

4. What steps can you take to ensure that your faith and understanding of God's promises are passed down to the next generation?

5. How do the promises given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, and how does this impact your faith journey?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 12:1-9
This passage describes God's call to Abraham to leave his country and go to the land that God would show him, establishing the initial promise.

Genesis 26:1-5
God reaffirms the promise to Isaac, emphasizing the continuity of His covenant with Abraham's descendants.

Genesis 28:10-15
God extends the promise to Jacob, ensuring the continuation of His covenant through the generations.

2 Corinthians 5:1-5
Paul speaks of our earthly bodies as tents, drawing a parallel to the temporary nature of life on earth and the eternal home promised by God.
A Hold Upon EternityA. Maclaren, D. D.Hebrews 11:8-10
Abraham Forsaking the WorldE. Monro.Hebrews 11:8-10
Abraham's FaithC. Kingsley, M. A.Hebrews 11:8-10
Abraham's FaithJohn Owen, D. D.Hebrews 11:8-10
Abraham's Faith and PilgrimageR. Watson.Hebrews 11:8-10
Abraham's Prompt Obedience to the Call of GodC. H. Spurgeon.Hebrews 11:8-10
Adventuring for GodBp. F. D. Huntington.Hebrews 11:8-10
Faith Making Light of Present PrivationsC. New.Hebrews 11:8-10
Faith Stimulating EndeavourHebrews 11:8-10
Faith the Power for Severing Old TiesC. New.Hebrews 11:8-10
Mysteriousness of LifeE. P. Hood.Hebrews 11:8-10
On TravellingW. Jones, D. D.Hebrews 11:8-10
Reason May Hinder FaithWilliam Bridge.Hebrews 11:8-10
Self-Renunciation At the Call of GodJohn Owen, D. D.Hebrews 11:8-10
The Believer's Earnest Desire for HeavenJames Clason.Hebrews 11:8-10
The City Abraham Looked ForW. Jones, . D. D.Hebrews 11:8-10
The Expected CityG. Lawson.Hebrews 11:8-10
The Faith of AbrahamE. W. Shalders, . B. A.Hebrews 11:8-10
The Faith of AbrahamW. Jones Hebrews 11:8-10
The Heavenly CityJohn Owen, D. D.Hebrews 11:8-10
The Hope of AbrahamW. D. Heywood.Hebrews 11:8-10
The Hope of AbrahamJ. A. Alexander, D. D.Hebrews 11:8-10
The Illusiveness of LifeF. W. Robertson, M. A.Hebrews 11:8-10
The Obedience of FaithC. H. Spurgeon.Hebrews 11:8-10
The Spiritual Production and Practical Development of True ReligionHomilistHebrews 11:8-10
The Tent LifeA. Maclaren, D. D.Hebrews 11:8-10
The Way to the CityA. . Raleigh, D. D.Hebrews 11:8-10
The Tent and the CityD. Young Hebrews 11:9, 10
People
Abel, Barak, Cain, David, Egyptians, Enoch, Esau, Gedeon, Gideon, Hebrews, Isaac, Israelites, Jacob, Jephthae, Jephthah, Joseph, Noah, Pharaoh, Rahab, Samson, Samuel, Sara, Sarah
Places
Egypt, Jericho, Jerusalem, Red Sea
Topics
Agreement, Alien, Dwelling, Dwelt, Faith, Fellow, Fellow-heirs, Foreign, Heirs, Heritage, Home, Isaac, Jacob, Promise, Promised, Sharers, Sojourn, Sojourned, Sojourner, Strange, Stranger, Tabernacles, Tents, Wanderer
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Hebrews 11:9

     5096   Jacob, patriarch

Hebrews 11:1-39

     5763   attitudes, positive to God
     8412   decisions

Hebrews 11:1-40

     8020   faith

Hebrews 11:4-28

     5714   men

Hebrews 11:4-38

     8428   example

Hebrews 11:6-10

     8021   faith, nature of

Hebrews 11:7-9

     5701   heir

Hebrews 11:7-10

     5705   inheritance, spiritual

Hebrews 11:7-12

     8253   faithfulness, examples

Hebrews 11:8-9

     5076   Abraham, life of
     5427   nomads
     5704   inheritance, material
     7212   exile

Hebrews 11:8-10

     4020   life, of faith
     5078   Abraham, significance
     5477   property, land
     7259   promised land, later history

Hebrews 11:8-12

     1348   covenant, with Abraham
     5077   Abraham, character

Hebrews 11:9-10

     5578   tents

Library
October 15. "Faith is the Evidence of Things not Seen" (Heb. xi. 1).
"Faith is the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. xi. 1). True faith drops its letter in the post-office box, and lets it go. Distrust holds on to a corner of it, and wonders that the answer never comes. I have some letters in my desk that have been written for weeks, but there was some slight uncertainty about the address or the contents, so they are yet unmailed. They have not done either me or anybody else any good yet. They will never accomplish anything until I let them go out of my hands and
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

April 26. "Strangers and Pilgrims" (Heb. xi. 13).
"Strangers and pilgrims" (Heb. xi. 13). If you have ever tried to plough a straight furrow in the country--we are sorry for the man that does not know how to plough and more sorry for the man that is too proud to want to know--you have found it necessary to have two stakes in a line and to drive your horses by these stakes. If you have only one stake before you, you will have no steadying point for your vision, but you can wiggle about without knowing it and make your furrows as crooked as a serpent's
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

February 3. "He Went Out, not Knowing Whither He Went" (Heb. xi. 8).
"He went out, not knowing whither He went" (Heb. xi. 8). It is faith without sight. When we can see, it is not faith but reasoning. In crossing the Atlantic we observed this very principle of faith. We saw no path upon the sea nor sign of the shore. And yet day by day we were marking our path upon the chart as exactly as if there had followed us a great chalk line upon the sea; and when we came within twenty miles of land we knew where we were as exactly as if we had seen it all three thousand miles
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

January the First the Unknown Journey
"He went out not knowing whither he went." --HEBREWS xi. 6-10. Abram began his journey without any knowledge of his ultimate destination. He obeyed a noble impulse without any discernment of its consequences. He took "one step," and he did not "ask to see the distant scene." And that is faith, to do God's will here and now, quietly leaving the results to Him. Faith is not concerned with the entire chain; its devoted attention is fixed upon the immediate link. Faith is not knowledge of a moral
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

The Illusiveness of Life.
Preached June 9, 1850. THE ILLUSIVENESS OF LIFE. "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."--Hebrews xi. 8-10. Last Sunday we touched upon
Frederick W. Robertson—Sermons Preached at Brighton

The Pilgrim's Longings
Now, our position is very similar to theirs. As many of us as have believed in Christ have been called out. The very meaning of a church is, "called out by Christ." We have been separated. I trust we know what it is to have gone without the camp, bearing Christ's reproach. Henceforth, in this world we have no home, no true home for our spirits; our home is beyond the flood; we are looking for it amongst the unseen things; we are strangers and sojourners as all our fathers were, dwellers in this wilderness,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 18: 1872

Rahab's Faith
I do think this triumph of faith over sin is not the least here recorded, but that if there be any superiority ascribable to any one of faith's exploits, this is, in some sense, the greatest of all. What! faith, didst thou fight with hideous lust? What! wouldst thou struggle with the fiery passion which sendeth forth flame from human breasts? What! wouldst thou touch with thy hallowed fingers foul and bestial debauchery? "Yea," says faith, "I did encounter this abomination of iniquity; I delivered
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Faith
This is an old law; it is as old as the first man. No sooner were Cain and Abel born into this world, and no sooner had they attained to manhood, than God gave a practical proclamation of this law, that "without faith it is impossible to please him." Cain and Abel, one bright day, erected an altar side by side with each other. Cain fetched of the fruits of the trees and of the abundance of the soil, and placed them upon his altar; Abel brought of the firstlings of the flock, and laid it upon his
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

Noah's Faith, Fear, Obedience, and Salvation
We may take pleasure in thinking of Noah as a kind of contrast to Enoch. Enoch was taken away from the evil to come: he saw not the flood, nor heard the wailing of those who were swept away by the waterfloods. His was a delightful deliverance from the harvest of wrath which followed the universal godlessness of the race. It was not his to fight the battle of righteousness to the bitter end; but by a secret rapture he avoided death, and escaped those evil days in which his grandson's lot was cast.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 36: 1890

The Best Strengthening Medicine
THOSE WHO OUT OF WEAKNESS were made strong are written among the heroes of faith, and are by no means the least of them. Believers "quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong." Who shall tell which of the three grand deeds of faith is the greatest? Many of us may never have to brave the fiery stake, nor to bow our necks upon the block, to die as Paul did; but if we have grace enough to be out of weakness made strong, we shall not be left out of
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

The Obedience of Faith
"Is there a heart that will not bend To thy divine control? Descend, O sovereign love, descend, And melt that stubborn soul! " Surely, though we have had to mourn our disobedience with many tears and sighs, we now find joy in yielding ourselves as servants of the Lord: our deepest desire is to do the Lord's will in all things. Oh, for obedience! It has been supposed by many ill-instructed people that the doctrine of justification by faith is opposed to the teaching of good works, or obedience. There
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

The Call of Abraham
I. First, let us LOOK AT ABRAHAM. Abraham's family was originally an idolatrous one; afterwards some beams of light shone in upon the household, and they became worshippers of the true God; but there was much ignorance mingled with their worship, and at least occasionally their old idolatrous habits returned. The Lord who had always fixed on Abraham to be his chosen servant and the father of his chosen people upon earth, made Abraham leave the society of his friends and relatives, and go out of Ur
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

Go Back? Never!
"And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is an heavenly...city."--Hebrews 11:15, 16. ABRAHAM left his country at God's command, and he never went back again. The proof of faith lies in perseverance. There is a sort of faith which doth run well for a while, but it is soon ended, and it doth not obey the truth. The Apostle tells us, however, that the people of God were
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 61: 1915

The Gaze of the Soul
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.--Heb. 12:2 Let us think of our intelligent plain man mentioned in chapter six coming for the first time to the reading of the Scriptures. He approaches the Bible without any previous knowledge of what it contains. He is wholly without prejudice; he has nothing to prove and nothing to defend. Such a man will not have read long until his mind begins to observe certain truths standing out from the page. They are the spiritual principles behind
A. W. Tozer—The Pursuit of God

The Christian Faith
Scripture references: Hebrews 11; Matthew 9:29; 17:20; Mark 10:52; 11:22; Acts 2:38; 3:16; 10:43; 16:30,31; Romans 1:17; 5:1; 10:17; Galatians 2:20. FAITH AND PRACTICE Belief Controls Action.--"As the man is, so is his strength" (Judges 8:21), "For as he thinketh in his heart so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). "According to your faith be it unto you" (Matthew 9:28,29). "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23). The Scriptures place stress upon the fact that
Henry T. Sell—Studies in the Life of the Christian

The Voices of the Dead
"And by it he being dead yet speaketh." Hebrews xi. 4. Much of the communion of this earth is not by speech or actual contact, and the holiest influences fall upon us in silence. A monument or symbol shall convey a meaning which cannot be expressed; and a token of some departed one is more eloquent than words. The mere presence of a good and holy personage will move us to reverence and admiration, though he may say and do but little. So is there an impersonal presence of such an one; and, though
E. H. Chapin—The Crown of Thorns

The Practice of Piety; Directing a Christian How to Walk that He May Please God.
Whoever thou art that lookest into this book, never undertake to read it, unless thou first resolvest to become from thine heart an unfeigned Practitioner of Piety. Yet read it, and that speedily, lest, before thou hast read it over, God, by some unexpected death, cut thee off for thine inveterate impiety. The Practice of Piety consists-- First, In knowing the essence of God, and that in respect of, (I.) The diverse manner of being therein, which are three persons--Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. (II.)
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Testimonies.
"Without faith it is impossible to please God."--Heb. xi. 6. In order to prevent the possibility of being led into paths of error, faith is directed, not to a Christ of the imagination, but to "the Christ in the garments of the Sacred Scripture," as Calvin expresses it. And therefore we must discriminate between (1) faith as a faculty implanted in the soul without our knowledge; (2) faith as a power whereby this implanted faculty begins to act; and (3) faith as a result,--since with this faith (1)
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Being of God
Q-III: WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES PRINCIPALLY TEACH? A: The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man. Q-IV: WHAT IS GOD? A: God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. Here is, 1: Something implied. That there is a God. 2: Expressed. That he is a Spirit. 3: What kind of Spirit? I. Implied. That there is a God. The question, What is God? takes for granted that there
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Abraham and Isaac. Genesis xxii.
1.--"After these things." What things? See verse 33 in preceding chapter. After Abraham had given himself to prayer. It often happens that grace is given for grace. God prepares his own for trial and suffering by revealing Himself. "GOD DID TEMPT."--Like a workman who is conscious the work is well done, fears not the scrutiny which waits his labour. When the smith has put good work into the iron cable, he does not then fear the strain of the test put upon it, and God knew what He had done to
Thomas Champness—Broken Bread

Enoch, the Deathless
BY REV. W. J. TOWNSEND, D.D. Enoch was the bright particular star of the patriarchal epoch. His record is short, but eloquent. It is crowded into a few words, but every word, when placed under examination, expands indefinitely. Every virtue may be read into them; every eulogium possible to a human character shines from them. He was a devout man, a fearless preacher of righteousness, an intimate friend of God, and the only man of his dispensation who did not see death. He sheds a lustre on the
George Milligan—Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known

Faith an Assurance and a Proof.
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the proving of things not seen. For therein the elders had witness borne to them. By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which do appear."--HEB. xi. 1-3 (R.V.). It is often said that one of the greatest difficulties in the Epistle to the Hebrews is to discover any real connection of ideas between the author's general purpose in the previous discussion and the
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

A Cloud of Witnesses.
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.... By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient,
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

The Faith of Moses.
"By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to be evil entreated with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward. By faith he forsook
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

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