Faith That Moves: Understanding Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Ever wonder what faith really looks like in action? The writer of Hebrews gives us both a definition and a beautiful example through Abraham's story. Let's explore what it means to live by faith that truly moves.

What Is Faith? (Hebrews 11:1-3)

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

The New Interpreter's Bible Commentary explains that the Greek word hypostasis (confidence) means "that which stands under"—like a foundation supporting a building (NIB, vol. 12, p. 98). Faith isn't wishful thinking; it's the solid ground beneath our hopes.

Wesley's commentary adds that faith gives "a kind of present subsistence to things hoped for" (Wesley, p. 892). It makes future promises real in our present experience. Think of it like holding the deed to a house you haven't moved into yet—you know it's yours even though you're not there.

The passage immediately connects this to creation itself. By faith, we understand God spoke everything into existence from nothing. As one UMC pastor notes, "If God can create the universe from nothing, He can certainly fulfill His promises to us" (UMC Pastors' Resource, 2019, p. 156).

Abraham: Faith in Motion (Hebrews 11:8-12)

Abraham's story shows us three powerful ways faith works:

1. Faith Takes the First Step (v. 8)

When God called Abraham to leave home, he obeyed without knowing his destination. The NIB Commentary observes that Abraham's obedience came "not from seeing the end result, but from trusting the One who called" (NIB, vol. 12, p. 101).

Sometimes faith means taking the next step without seeing the whole staircase. Abraham didn't need a GPS—he had God's promise.

2. Faith Lives as a Sojourner (vv. 9-10)

Even in the promised land, Abraham lived in tents. Wesley notes that Abraham "preferred the moveable habitation, as more suitable to his character as a pilgrim" (Wesley, p. 893). He was looking for something better—"the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God."

This changes everything about how we view our current circumstances. We're not just getting by—we're traveling toward something magnificent.

3. Faith Trusts God's Timing (vv. 11-12)

Abraham and Sarah waited decades for Isaac. When he finally arrived, they were around 100 and 90 years old respectively—"as good as dead" for having children. Yet from this impossibility came descendants "as numerous as the stars."

A UMC pastor beautifully puts it: "God's delays are not God's denials. His timing is always perfect, even when it seems impossible to us" (UMC Pastors' Resource, 2019, p. 158).

The Bigger Picture (Hebrews 11:13-16)

Here's what's remarkable—these heroes of faith died without receiving everything God promised. But they "saw them and welcomed them from a distance." The NIB Commentary explains they had "the vision of faith that sees beyond present circumstances to God's ultimate purposes" (NIB, vol. 12, p. 103).

They lived as "foreigners and strangers on earth," admitting this world wasn't their final home. Wesley adds that they were "seeking a better country, that is, a heavenly one" (Wesley, p. 894). And here's the beautiful result: "God is not ashamed to be called their God."

What an incredible statement! When we live by faith, looking beyond temporary troubles to eternal promises, God proudly claims us as His own.

Faith for Today

So what does Abraham-level faith look like in our lives?

It's forward-looking. We don't need all the answers right now—we trust the God who holds tomorrow.

It's obedient. When God speaks, faith responds, even when the path seems unclear.

It's patient. Faith can wait for God's timing without losing hope or giving up.

It's heavenly-minded. We find our ultimate satisfaction not in earthly comfort but in God's eternal promises.

Your Faith Journey

Maybe you're facing a situation that seems impossible. Perhaps God is calling you to step out in faith, but you can't see the whole picture. Remember Abraham—he didn't know where he was going, but he knew Who was leading him.

Or maybe you're in a waiting season, wondering if God's promises will ever come to pass. Take heart from Sarah, who received strength to conceive "because she considered him faithful who had made the promise."

Faith isn't about having perfect understanding or ideal circumstances. It's about trusting in God's character and His promises, knowing that what He has promised, He is faithful to perform.

As you continue your own journey of faith, remember you're walking in the footsteps of Abraham and countless others who chose to believe God's word and live as citizens of a better country. And just like them, God is not ashamed to be called your God.

Bibliography

New Interpreter's Bible Commentary, Volume 12. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2012.

UMC Pastors' Resource Guide. Nashville: Discipleship Ministries, 2019.

Wesley, John. Wesley's Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1987.