“Strangers and pilgrims on the earth”
They were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. —Hebrews 11:13
Read Genesis 25:7-11 & 1 Corinthians 15:40-45
Although Abraham was given long life, death was also inevitable for him. We read that Abraham became “an old man full of years”, and that he “gave up the ghost.” Most commentaries write that these descriptions indicate two things, namely, that Abraham was weary of his earthly life and that he had a deep longing for the rest of the next life.
The Lord had fulfilled the promises He made to Abraham during his life. When Abraham turned one hundred years old, Sarah gave birth to Isaac. This means that Isaac was seventy-five years old when his father died. Abraham also saw his grandsons, Jacob and Esau, grow up. And so the Lord revealed His faithfulness and trustworthiness in Abraham’s life. As a result, Abraham died in faith, in spite of his weak moments. Abraham was not given to see the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise concerning the “promised seed”, but he saw its future possibility and embraced it. The body of this father of the faithful rests in the earth until the promise of the resurrection of the dead will be fulfilled. Let us take to heart the example Abraham has given us.
What is the real meaning of Hebrews 11:13?