Hebrews 11:12-16 (HCSB)
These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
The writer of Hebrews points out that the early patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did not receive the land that they had been promised by God. They lived as resident aliens in the land for their whole lives. The only piece of land that Abraham possessed was a field with a rock-cut tomb at one end (Genesis 23:17-20). This piece of property was deeded down through the generations as a family burial place (Genesis 49:29-32).
To this single plot of land, Jacob added a plot of land which he captured from the inhabitants of the land, and when he died, he bequeathed it to his son Joseph. (Genesis 48:21-22). Other than these two small possessions, the descendants of Abraham had to wait more than four hundred years to see God’s promise fulfilled.
But these examples of faith did not give up on the promise. They kept moving forward, allowing God to work his plan through them until it was finally accomplished, when the Israelites conquered the land under the leadership of Joshua. Jacob/Israel demonstrated faith in God’s promise when he insisted that he not be buried in Egypt, but that his body be taken to the family tomb in Canaan (Genesis 47:29-31). Joseph showed the same faith when he left orders for his bones to be taken to the Promised Land when God finally delivered his people (Genesis 50:24-25), which Moses made sure was done (Exodus 13:19, Joshua 24:32).
The writer draws a parallel from these early exemplars of faith to God’s people living in the post-resurrection economy. Jesus made a promise to his followers that He was preparing a place for us in God’s house. In the nearly 2000 years since that promise was made, some have given up hope and have begun to live as if this life were all that there is.
But God is still as faithful to His promises now as he was in the days of the patriarchs and the Exodus. What He has promised, He will deliver. And for those who stand firm in their faith, who trust His promise for a new Promised Land, in the end they will see that He is faithful, and they will not be disappointed.
Father, we do tend to have short attention spans these days, wanting every promise to be fulfilled now and in full. But You are playing a longer game, with Your focus not merely on those who are saved now, but on those in whom You are working right now so that they can be brought into your Kingdom through faith in Jesus. And You are unwilling to fulfill the promise for a few, leaving many who could come in stranded on the outside (2 Peter 3:9). Help us, Lord, to not only hold fast to Your promise and to live each day as if it is 100% certain fulfillment, but to also work diligently to bring in all those whom You want to save, so that we can see the fulfillment of Your promise soon. Amen.