Can we genuinely believe and yet not receive just as God promised? The Case of Hebrews 11.
In Hebrews 11:39, we read that “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise”. When we only isolate Hebrews 11:39, without paying attention to the verses that precede and follow it, we may wrongly conclude that the Bible says there were some who properly believed what God promised and yet died without God honoring His promise. But Hebrews 11:39 only expresses part of a sentence or an idea that was being made. You get the whole picture when you add the verse that follows it. It is worth noting that the Bible wasn’t written in chapters and verses; these were later additions by men that helps with quotations and referencing. Although the chapters and verses are useful, we can run into the error of taking biblical texts out of context and making them say what we want instead of what they actually say, if we do not get into the habit of reading the Bible in context but only focus on selected verses or chapters and neglect the rest.
Now, let’s read what Hebrews 11:39-40 says: These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect”. If we look at this Scripture in context, we are shown that these people died without seeing the promise in their life time because what God promised them went beyond the generation they lived in: “It is only together with us that they would be made perfect (Hebrews 11:40)”, i.e. what God had planned for them will also include those of us living now, as well as all of God’s children for whom this Scripture was written (up to the last generation) for the manifestation of that promise to be seen in its fullness. So Hebrews 11 does not say that even though men can be faithful, God can choose not to keep His Word or promise. Otherwise, we can challenge His integrity but as the Bible says “Let God be true and every man a liar; for God cannot lie nor vacillate” (Numbers 23:19, James 1:17, Romans 3:4, Titus 1:2, Isaiah 55:11). Rather, in the fullness of time, our faith will definitely yield its results if we do not faint (Galatians 6:9, Luke 1:20b, Habakkuk 2:3).
The case of Hebrews 11:39-40 emphasizes the importance of recognizing God’s timing when we come to Him in faith. Although God had promised to send Jesus many centuries earlier (Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 9:6-7), the Bible says He sent Jesus in the fullness of time (Galatians 4:4-5). In Habakkuk 2:3, we read that “For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay”. So, God does not just give us promises; He has appointed times for His promises to come to pass.
In the Scriptures God tells us what His promises are, but He doesn’t always give us the exact time His promises will manifest or how He will bring them to pass. If God doesn’t specify how or when He will bring about His promise, let us not create our own “hows” and “whens”. We will be disappointed if we build our faith on our own assumptions, not on exactly what God has said. There are promises of God that are meant for us in this life (e.g. health, healing, provision – 3 John 1:2, Philippians 4:19), and those that are for the age to come (e.g. immortality – Mark 10:30). For those promises that are meant for us in this life, we are to believe we receive them when (i.e. at the time) we pray, and God Himself will ensure that we have them at the appointed time and without delay because we believe we receive (Habakkuk 2:3, Luke 18:7-8, Mark 11:22-24). For those that are for the age to come, we are to be faithful unto the end that we may enter into the fullness of what God has for us (Mathew 24:13, Matthew 25:23, Revelation 3:5). In all things, we must not be weary in well doing because in due time we shall reap if we do not faint (Galatians 6:9).
Dr. K. Omari
July 20, 2021.
A Very Important Message
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). Therefore, If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I invite you to put your faith in Him. Pray the prayer below to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour: “I come to you God in Jesus’ name and surrender my life unto you. I repent of my sins and I ask You to forgive me all my sins. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with my heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. I thank you God for saving me, in Jesus name, Amen”. If you sincerely prayed this prayer, believe and be assured that you are saved, for the Bible says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9-10, Acts 16:31). Find a Bible believing church to attend so that you can be discipled to grow in the ways of God. You can also email me ([email protected]) and I will be happy to grow together with you in Christ.