For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.”
Who’s words do you trust? There have been times that my wife has told me that I’m good at something, and then a short time later, someone else tells me that I’m good at it as well. When that other person complemented me, it’s like I heard it for the first time! It hit my heart, and I excitedly told my wife what they said. Upon sharing my new-found revelation, my wife responded with something like, “I just told you that!” In that moment, I remembered that I should allow her words to hold more weight in my soul. There was something inside of me that didn’t allow me to receive her words.
What would it take for me to listen to her words? Would it help if she did research, took a poll or a survey of the people around me, and then presented the findings? Would it help if she swore to me by some authority in the subject she was complimenting me by? Truthfully, just the fact that my wife, who loves me and is trustworthy, spoke it should be enough for me to receive it.
The author of Hebrews, encouraging the church to hold on to the promises of God even in persecution, reminds the church of all that Abraham had to endure.* The author reminds his audience of the promises of God and the patience of Abraham in the lengthy waiting for the promise of God.* How did Abraham wait so patiently (25 years)?*
Abraham could wait patiently because he actually trusted what God said. Unlike my lack of trust (like in what my wife said to me), Abraham trusted God when God swore by Himself.* Why would God swear by Himself? It’s simple: there is no greater authority.* Grindheim shares that “the purpose of an oath is to call upon a superior witness to vouch for what is said.”* Since God is the highest, there is no where else to turn to but Himself.
The question we must ask points straight to our heart: is that enough? God loves you and is trustworthy. Are His words enough for you to receive them?
Verse 18 tells us:
…we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us
There are difficulties in this life that we will not make it through unless we have hope. Where does that hope come from? Stedman tells us that true faith awakens hope.*
Have we put our trust in what God has said? Do we lack hope? We may lack faith in what God has promised us.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to trust what He says. Perhaps today He wants to talk to you about the why behind an area that you lack trust in Him. Maybe today God wants to convince you of HIs love for you. Perhaps today God wants to renew your hope.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
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*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 6:13–15). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 328–329). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
France, R. T. (2006). Hebrews. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, p. 87–88). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (p. 241). Zondervan Publishing House.