17-18 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, 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.

20-21 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 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. Hebrews 11:17-22 English Standard Version

Hebrews Chapter 11 is a wonderful reminder of things that were accomplished through faith in God. The writer has already told of how Abel offered a sacrifice by faith, which God accepted; how Enoch walked with God by faith and was caught up to heaven; how Noah believed God's word and built an ark that saved him and his family; and how Abraham left the place he lived in to set off for a land God was going to give his descendants. All very inspiring. But it doesn't mean that living by faith in an unseen God will not encounter obstacles. In fact, God Himself may put our faith to a test. (vs 17-18)

In Genesis 22:1-2 we read some amazing words. “God tested Abraham and said to him, 'Abraham!' And he said, 'Here am I.' God said, 'Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.'” We can only speculate what was behind this. Was it that pagans by now were offering child sacrifices and God tested Abraham to see what his response to such a demand would be? Was it simply a test to see whether Abraham's faith was willing to trust Him no matter how difficult such a journey might be? Whatever it was, we are told that:“Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.” What does Hebrews say enabled Abraham to trust God at such a time. (vs 19)

He believed that if he went through with what God had asked him to do, God would bring Isaac back to life. After all, God had promised that “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” But that didn't make the journey to Moriah any easier. Each step must've been a painful one for Abraham. So too the journey of faith for believers when Hebrews was written, and still today, might often be very testing – even life threatening. Like Abraham we need to cling to our assurance that God is able to raise His people from the dead.

Isaac did live, and near the eventual end of his life he passed on the blessing and promise of God to his sons Jacob and Esau, particularly Jacob. And when Jacob neared the end of his journey of faith he passed the covenant blessing on to his grandchildren born to his son Joseph. What was one amazing thing that Joseph's faith enable him to foresee? (vs 22)

He knew that, although his 12 sons were currently living in Egypt, the day would come when God would bring the tribes of Israel to the land He had promised to Abraham. So he said to his sons: “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite . . . in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place.” (Genesis 49:29-30) One could say that, in a way, even Joseph's faith had been put to the test. Circumstances had caused him and his sons to move from the land of promise to live in Egypt with Joseph. They must’ve wondered how that fitted in with God's promise and plans. That can be true of our lives too. Things can happen that tempt us to doubt God's goodness. But Joseph trusted God, and told his sons to bury him in the tomb Abraham had bought in the land they believed God would one day give to Israel. Let us not draw back from our Saviour if we come into circumstances that make it look as if faith is futile and our hopes are misplaced. God is faithful and will do all He has promised.