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"After he had patiently endured..."

Text: Hebrews 6:15

ABRAHAM AS AN EXAMPLE OF “FAITH AND PATIENCE”

The author certainly had in mind Abraham as an excellent example of “faith and patience”. Let us take time to ponder the following text.

“And so, after he had patiently endured,
he obtained the promise.”
Hebrews 6:15

1. “After he had patiently endured”

In order to understand this text correctly we need to make a historical reference to Abraham.

a) God’s promise to Abraham of blessing and multiplying was given when he was seventy five years of age (Cf. Genesis 12:1-4).

b) God’s fulfillment of this promise to Abraham took place when Abraham was one hundred years old (Cf. Genesis 21:1-7).

2. “He obtained the promise”

The above text (Hebrews 6:15) emphasizes the fact that Abraham exercised both “faith and patience” and by so doing “obtained the promise”.

The Book of Romans elaborates on how Abraham exercised his faith! The following text is both instructive and inspiring.

“In the presence of Him whom he believed- God…
Who contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that
he became the father of many nationsâ?¦
And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body,
already dead (since he was about a hundred years old),
and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.
He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief,
but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,
and being fully convinced that what He had promised
he was also able to perform. And therefore
‘It was accounted to him for righteousness.'”
Romans 4:17-22

a) Abraham had to exercise his faith very strongly even as he believed in God’s promise.

b) His faith level was such that he was “fully convinced” that God was able to honour His word of promise (over and above all human understanding and hope).

c) There were times when he had to exercise hope even when things were “contrary to hope”.

This is the kind of faith that God desires us to possess! He will honour such faith!