Hebrews 11:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Tell me, whom did Abraham see whom he could imitate? His father was a pagan and an idolater. He had not heard prophets, and he did not know where he was going. Since the believers from among the Jews regarded the forefathers as having received countless blessings, the Apostle says that none of them received anything. All remained without reward, and not one received the recompense. Abraham left his homeland and house, and went out, not knowing where he was going. Yet what is wondrous if he himself acted thus, when his descendants lived in the same way? Seeing that the promise was not fulfilled, he did not lose heart. For the Lord said to him: "All the land that you see I will give to you and to your seed forever" (Gen 13:15).

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he was to receive as an inheritance." Since the believing Hebrews regarded him and the other patriarchs as having received countless blessings, the Apostle intends to show that none had yet received anything. Therefore he says that by faith Abraham obeyed, having received the command to leave his homeland. For whom did he know, whom could he imitate? His father was an idolater, and he had not heard prophets. Therefore it was an act of faith for him to obey God as One Who speaks the truth concerning what He promised, and to leave what he possessed. "And he went out, not knowing where he was going." Even if he had known, who would have moved him to leave what was ready and seek what was not ready? But he did not know what sort of land he was being called to.

By faith, obeying God, Abraham left his father and his household, in order to go not to his own possession, but to the inheritance prepared for him.

Even after coming into the promised land, he did not become its owner. He himself, his son, and his grandson lived as migrants, dwelling as in a foreign land upon the land that was their own by promise. Therefore they did not build houses, but spent their life dwelling in tents. Yet they believed that He Who had promised is true, even though they did not see the testimony of events agreeing with faith. The Apostle said, "Abraham, when called," because of the change of name. For he was called Abram and was named Abraham. Having believed Him Who called, he left his father's house and followed, not knowing what land He promised to give him. For He Who called him said, "Go to the land that I will show you" (Gen 12:1).

"By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to the place which he was to receive as an inheritance." Scripture says, "The Lord said to Abraham: Go forth from your land, from your kindred, and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you; and I will make you a great nation," and so forth (Gen. 12:1). And Abraham went, as the Lord had spoken to him (Gen. 12:4). Indeed, if Abraham had not believed God's words, he would not have obeyed. The land which God promised to show him was Palestine. "And he went out, not knowing where he was going." In this the power of faith is revealed.

Where was the height and purity of Abraham's faith shown here? It was precisely in this: when he came into the promised land, he did not hasten to settle in it with his son and grandson as its wealthy material possessor. Rather, he was content for the time being to dwell in tents. He was filled with the conviction that God's promise to him concerning possession of the land of Canaan would be fulfilled in a far better and higher sense. It would be fulfilled as possession of the heavenly fatherland (Heb. 11:13-19).

Further, Abraham's faith was revealed in this: he exchanged his fertile land for a country foreign to him, which God only afterward promised to give him as an hereditary possession. Abraham, and likewise Isaac and Jacob, preserved their faith even when they settled in Canaan. They lived in tents, not in a house, thereby showing that they expected their dwelling not in an earthly city, but in the heavenly one.