Hebrews 11:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.

NIV: If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.

NASB: And indeed if they had been thinking of that country which they left, they would have had opportunity to return.

CSB: If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return.

NLT: If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back.

KJV: And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

NKJV: And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.

Those with a truly biblical faith trust God, despite not knowing all of the details (Hebrews 11:1). The prior verses described many examples of this perspective, including Abel, Noah, and Abraham. These men obeyed God, though they could not see all of the twists and turns ahead in their futures. Abraham, in particular, did not live to see the complete fulfillment of God's promises. And yet, Abraham—like these other examples—was not limited by an earthly perspective. This part of Hebrews specifically tells us that men like Abraham were "looking forward" to a something eternal (Hebrews 11:10).

This verse makes a common-sense point to support this idea. If men like Abraham were merely looking for some physical territory, they had every opportunity to go back to where they'd started (Genesis 12:1–4). And yet, they did not. Their reason for waiting, faithfully, was an understanding that God's ultimate plan for them reached into eternity. The next verse will put a very direct point on this teaching: faith in God gives us a heavenly, eternal perspective, rather than a limited physical one. This gives us confidence to "hold fast" despite temporary setbacks or hardships.

Hebrews 11:4–16 gives examples of figures from the Old Testament who demonstrated faith in God and were blessed as a result. Persons such as Abel, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah are commended for their trust in God's promises. In particular, this segment of the book of Hebrews focuses on those who heard from God, obeyed, and were blessed. While their actions are important, the common theme of these early references is obedience to God when fulfillment of His promises seems distant. The following passage will explore a similar idea, but in the context of those who demonstrated faith in the face of more immediate hardship.

True, godly faith is defined as trust, relying on God when looking to the future, and obeying even when we don't fully understand all details. The great figures of the Old Testament, such as Abraham, Moses, and David, all lived according to this type of faith. Ultimately, that means trusting God's intent to make good on His promises from an eternal perspective. The model of faith presented by those people, in light of the struggles they faced, ought to inspire Christians towards a more confident, purposeful faith.

Up to this point, the book of Hebrews has given extensive evidence proving that Jesus Christ, and the new covenant He brought about, is God's ultimate plan for mankind's salvation. Chapter 10 provided an additional warning about the danger of falling away from this truth. Chapter 11 begins by clarifying the meaning of the word ''faith,'' primarily by listing examples of Old Testament figures who exemplify it. The ultimate application of this knowledge should be a motivation to ''hold fast'' to the gospel, despite hardships. That encouragement is a major theme of chapter 12.

The book of Hebrews is meant to challenge, encourage, and empower Christian believers. According to this letter, Jesus Christ is superior to all other prophets and all other claims to truth. Since God has given us Christ, we ought to listen to what He says and not move backwards. The consequences of ignoring God are dire. Hebrews is important for drawing on many portions of the Old Testament in making a case that Christ is the ultimate and perfect expression of God's plan for mankind. This book presents some tough ideas about the Christian faith, a fact the author makes specific note of.