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The Book of Hebrews – Heb 11:17-21 “Through Faith we Understand that the Worlds were Framed by the Word of God”– Part 5

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Heb 11:17-21 “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God” – Part 5

[Study Aired March 11, 2021]

Heb 11:17  By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Heb 11:18  Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 
Heb 11:19  Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. 
Heb 11:20  By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 
Heb 11:21  By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 

In this section of our study of Hebrews, we will look at the “by faith” examples of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and conclude with the “by faith” actions of Jacob, who when he was dying “blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff“.

All these patriarchal stories were written for our sakes (2Co 4:15) and given by inspiration of God, and are therefore “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnishedG1822 unto all good works” (2Ti 3:16-17).

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnishedG1822 unto all good works.

Being furnishedG1822 unto all good works is accomplished “through faith” so we can understand that the worlds within us were “framed by the word of God“. The body of Christ is going through this process of being “throughly furnished”G1822 so we can learn to worship God in spirit and in truth (Joh 4:21-24) with the goal of being able to teach (Heb 5:12). Lord willing, we will continue to be “careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving” we will make our requests known to God as lively stones (1Pe 2:4-5) whose fervent prayers avail much (Jas 5:16) bringing us peace that passes all understanding (Php 4:6-7, Act 21:4-5).

Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God (Eph 6:18, Jas 5:13-16).
Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Jas 5:13  Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Jas 5:14  Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Jas 5:15  And the prayer of faith; shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Act 21:4  And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.

Act 21:5  And when we had accomplished [furnished – G1822] those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.

The continual thread which ties all these stories together in Hebrews chapter eleven is the truth that these all obtained a good report through faith but did not receive the promise; God having provided some better thing for us (1Pe 1:12-20, Heb 11:39-40). These events in the lives of all about whom we are reading unfolded for the express purpose of ministering to us, to those who have been given eyes to see and ears to hear that “all these things happened unto them for ensamplesG5179: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1Co 10:11). These hoped-filled stories of faith were given to us so that we can “gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” That is how we are becoming “throughly  furnishedG1822 unto all good works“, through that hope of glory within us, the spirit of God, the comforter, who leads us into all truth so that by continuing in it we can be set free (2Ti 1:6-7, Joh 16:13, Joh 8:32).

1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
1Pe 1:13  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1Pe 1:14  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves [‘negative example of furnishing‘] according to the former lusts in your ignorance [Rom 12:1-2]:
1Pe 1:15  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; [‘in our words and our works’ in our way of life (Joh 10:37-38, 1Jn 4:17, 1Pe 2:9)]
1Pe 1:16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
1Pe 1:17  And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

2Ti 1:6  Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
2Ti 1:7  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

The traditions of our fathers, these patriarchs of old, are not what is going to redeem us if we are not given to see how all these stories are connected to the life of Christ within us. It is his word which is life (Joh 6:54-58, 1Co 10:16-17) that was “foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” within us, as our hope of glory (Col 1:27). It is God who is framing the worlds within us, His word which is spirit and able to quicken us (Joh 6:63).

1Pe 1:18  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ [‘the word of God‘ (Joh 17:17)], as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
1Pe 1:20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
1Pe 1:21  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Heb 11:17  By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

The trial of our faith is precious to God, and every trial we go through is further purifying our walk with the Lord as we go from glory to glory in Him (2Co 3:17-18). Abraham, being tried [“By faith Abraham, when he was tried“] is symbolic of the work Christ is doing within us, both to will and do of our Father’s good pleasure, which is to give us the kingdom (Php 2:12-13, Luk 12:32, Luk 17:21). In this section of scripture, Abraham represents God the Father and Isaac represents Christ who is the one who is accomplishing these works of faith within us today “by the spirit of the Lord”.

2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

God puts us through fiery experiences (1Pe 4:12-13, Rom 5:10) which require that we resist “unto blood, striving against sin”, and it takes the faith of Christ to endure such trials as was demonstrated by Abraham whose own flesh and blood, Isaac, was being offered up just as our Father in heaven has done for us in offering up Christ (Joh 3:16) whose life was represented by Isaac.

Our Father is giving us the power through Christ to present our lives a living sacrifice [‘as Isaac was literally going to be‘] through him, and it requires both our heavenly Father who is the giver of every good and perfect gift (Jas 1:17), along with the Son, to accomplish this work “on that day” of filling up “that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church” (Rom 12:1, Joh 14:20, Col 1:24).

Christ is indeed being offered up again, through the church, if we are being baptized into His death, dying daily and being raised in heavenly places through Him (Eph 2:6). That ability to lay down our life is the promise which has been given to God’s elect whose names are written in heaven (Luk 10:20), meaning that God has purposed for the elect to overcome in this life and to be given the power to do so through the “exceeding great and precious promises” that tell us we can (2Pe 1:4). It was “he that had received the promises” who was able to offer up “his only begotten“. Those type and shadow promises to Abraham have their fulfillment in Christ for us today Who promises that nothing will separate us from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39) which was so great toward us that He gave Christ’s life for us knowing that Christ would then be the author and finisher of the faith that was given to those who would believe in Him (2Co 1:20-22, Rom 5:10).

Luk 10:20  Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2Co 1:20  For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
2Co 1:21  Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2Co 1:22  Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Abraham’s life reveals a pattern that encourages us that “the victory that overcometh the world” is “our faith” (1Jn 5:3-4), which made it possible for him to give an account of what God was able to do for him physically, “accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure”G3850 (verse 19). That word for “figure” means ‘a parable’ – a parable that typifies what we believe God can do for us spiritually as He raises us up and accepts us through Christ “that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Rom 6:3, 1Co 15:31, Eph 2:6-7).

In this story ,the “only begotten son” Isaac represents the one seed of promise we are in Christ (Gal 3:16), revealing how we are connected as the body of Christ to God’s love that was demonstrated in giving “his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Joh 15:13). With God’s spirit abiding within us we are able to have “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” as He gives us the power to overcome in this age (1Jn 5:18-19, Rev 3:12-13).

1Jn 5:18  We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
1Jn 5:19  And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Rev 3:13  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

It is through Christ and the church which is His body that “the world through him might be saved” as Christ gives us the power to let go of all our earthly connections, typified by Ishmael (Gen 17:18), as He makes a way for us to resist the flesh of men, the will of men, unto the saving of our spiritual house that is accomplished by His love being shed abroad in our hearts, which enables us to lay down our life and lose it so that we might find it in Christ (Joh 3:16-17, Oba 1:21, Luk 14:26-27, Mat 12:50, Mat 10:39).

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

Luk 14:26  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:27  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple [Gal 2:20].

[Hating all these various categories including “his own life also” means we are not subject to the will of men but to the will of God which will cause us to be hated by all men Mat 10:22. If we’re granted to obey the will of our Father and endure unto the end we will be saved by His righteousness “which is of God by faith”(Php 3:9)]

Mat 12:50  For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God [1Jn 5:4], who loved me, and gave himself for me.

[“By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac“: God gives us the power to offer up our life a living sacrifice through his spirit, and this living sacrifice we have become (Rom 12:1) is typified by Abraham offering up Isaac (1Pe 1:7)]

Heb 11:18  Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 
Heb 11:19  Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. 

Abraham receiving Isaac “in a figure”G3850” was for the elect’s sake (2Co 4:15, 1Pe 1:12) to remind us that this story and all the old covenant stories are parables, reminding us of what workmanship is taking place within our heavens (Eph 2:10) by the One who is framing our heavens to the glory of God with his word (Col 1:16, Heb 12:2, Heb 11:3).

There is order in God’s plan regarding what seed is called first (“in Isaac shall thy seed be called“). That Abraham begot Isaac and Isaac begot Jacob is also part of that order and is another living parable which reminds us that once we have the faith of Christ, typified by Abraham, then we become sons of God, typified by Isaac (Rom 8:9, Heb 11:18), who will endure until the end through Jacob who must wrestle with God through this life of much tribulation (Act 14:22), enduring in seeing Him who is invisible (Heb 11:27). All of this played out (‘Abraham’s, Isaac’s and Jacob’s lives‘) so we might believe that we can receive the promise of being those first fruits found in Christ in the first resurrection, typified by the new name Israel which is given to Jacob after he endures to the break of the day because of the faith that was given him to not give up, which situation was a type of the faith we now need in order to quench all the fiery darts of the devil throughout this life (Gen 32:26-28, Gal 6:16, Eph 6:16).

Gen 32:26  And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
Gen 32:27  And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
Gen 32:28  And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Gal 6:16  And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Heb 11:20  By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 
Heb 11:21  By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 

These events of blessing, “Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau“, and then Jacob blessing “both the sons of Joseph“, are very significant moments revealing “things to come“, and those things to come are better things, better promises found in Christ (Heb 8:6). What is important to note as well is that this blessing which typifies the better promises found in Christ, who is the mediator of the new covenant, includes both “Jacob and Esau” and Joseph’s two half-Egyptian sons “Ephraim and Manasseh” who, because of the faith-filled prayer of Jacob as he leaned “upon the top of his staff“, were blessed.

Heb 8:6  But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

We are blessed to know that we have both “Jacob and Esau” and “Ephraim and Manasseh” within us, as they typify the first and second Adam (1Co 15:45-47) who, with the blessing of God in our life [‘Abraham and Jacob’], will be blessed to see that “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28).

1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

It was “when he was a dying” that Jacob was able to bless both the sons of Joseph as he leaned on his staff which represents the power of God that was holding him up, and it is when we die daily (1Co 15:30-31, 1Pe 1:13-16) that we in turn bless each other as we lean not unto our own understanding, becoming the first to trust in God through this process that will lead to salvation and an inheritance we will be blessed to share together in the Lord (Eph 1:12-14).

1Co 15:30  And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

1Pe 1:13  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1Pe 1:14  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
1Pe 1:15  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1Pe 1:16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

God’s workmanship will become blessed and holy through a process that has been ordained from the foundation of the world, and these type and shadow examples in Hebrews eleven have been written for our sakes to encourage us and remind us that God is sovereign. In the sovereign plan of our Father there is order, and it is through faith we can understand that order and believe that “the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear“.


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