Where Is Your True Home? – Hebrews 11:8-22
Nov 26, 2025 116
[8] By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. [9] By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. [10] For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. [11] By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. [12] Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
[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. (ESV)
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Leaving Home
Abraham did something remarkable. He left everything.
As verse 8 says, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”
He left his country, his family, his security – all for a promise. God said, “Go,” and Abraham went, not knowing the destination.
But here’s what’s striking: even when he arrived in the Promised Land, he still lived as a stranger. Verse 9 tells us he lived “in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.”
Looking for a City
Why would Abraham live his whole life in tents, never settling down, never building a home in the land God promised him?
Verse 10 gives us the answer: “For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.”
Abraham wasn’t just waiting for Canaan. He was looking for something better – a city with foundations, designed and built by God himself.
Look at what verse 13 says about Abraham and the other patriarchs: “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.”
They lived their entire lives as strangers. They never received what God promised. But they saw it from afar and greeted it.
Verse 16 makes it explicit: “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.”
Faith Across Generations
This forward-looking faith continued through the generations. Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, “invoking future blessing” (v. 20). Jacob blessed Joseph’s sons while leaning on his staff in worship (v. 21). Joseph, at the end of his life, spoke of the exodus and gave instructions about his bones (v. 22).
All of them looking ahead. All of them trusting God’s promises about a future they wouldn’t see.
The Good News Is…
The good news is that the city Abraham longed for has been prepared. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, the heavenly Jerusalem is now accessible to all who trust in him. As David Peterson writes, the patriarchs are now among “the spirits of the righteous made perfect” (12:23), gathered in the city they longed for – not apart from us, but together with us, because of what Jesus has done.
We’re strangers and exiles too. But we’re heading home.
Reflection
Where do you find your security – in this world’s comforts, or in the city God has prepared?
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Ernest LeVos
Nov 26, 2025
Thanks. Dave when did you come aboard? Did Eli retire? Where can we read about your background? Blessings to you!