Encouragement to Steadfastness from God’s Faithfulness to His Word and Oath CONTINUES. Heb. 6:13-15.
“For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could sware by no greater, He sware by Himself” v. 13. The one to whom God made promise was Abraham, “for a father of many nations have I made thee” Gen. 17:5. The reference was not only to those nations which should proceed naturally from him—the descendants of Ishmael Gen. 17:20 and of Keturah’s sons Gen. 25:1–4—but to the elect of God scattered throughout the world, who should be brought to embrace his faith and emulate his works. Therefore, is he designated “the father of all of them that believe”, and “the father of us all” Rom. 4:11, 16.
“Because he could sware by no greater, He sware…” Gen. 22:15–18, Eze. 32:13, Ps. 105:9, 10, Is. 45:23, Jer. 22:5; 49:13, Mic. 7:20, Lk. 1:73. Observe He swear “by Himself”: He staked Himself; it was as though He had said, I will cease to be God if I do not perform this. “Saying, surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee” v. 14. Gen. 17:2; 48:4, Ex. 32:13, Deut. 1:10, Neh. 9:23. Our present verse, which are a direct quotation from Genesis 22:17, and that was uttered after Isaac was born. The phrase is a Hebrew mode of expression, denoting emphasis, and certainty. It also respects and extends the thing promised or threatened: I will do without fail, without measure, and eternally without end. God hath blessed Abraham in all things” (Gen. 24:1 and cf. v. 35)—were typical of the spiritual blessings wherewith God has blessed Christ. So too the earthly inheritance guaranteed unto Abraham’s seed, was a figure and pledge of the Heavenly inheritance which pertains to Christ’s seed. In Gal. 3:14, “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ”. Thus, in blessing Abraham, God blessed all the heirs of promise, and pledges Himself to bestow on them what He had sworn to give unto him: “If ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” Gal. 3:29. That the deeper and ultimate signification of Genesis 22:17 had reference to spiritual and future “blessing” is not only established, unequivocally, by Romans 9:7, 8, but also by the fact that otherwise there had been no relevancy in Paul’s setting before the Hebrews, and us, the example of Abraham.” Pink Arthur W
“And so after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” v. 15. Hab. 2:2, 3, Rom. 4:17–25. This means that, amid all the temptations and trials to which he was exposed, he persevered in believing and expecting God to make good His word. “He obtained the promise”: by installments. First, an earnest of it in this life, having the blessing of God in his own soul; enjoying communion with Him and all that that included—peace, joy, strength, victory. By faith in the promise, he saw Christ’s day, and was glad (John 8:56). Second, a more complete entering into the blessing of God when he left this world of sin and sorrow, and departed to be with Christ, which is “far better” (Phil. 1:23) than the most intimate fellowship which may be had with Him down here. Abraham had now entered on the peace and joy of Paradise, obtaining the Heavenly Country (Heb. 11:16), of which Canaan was but the type. Third, following the resurrection, when the purpose of God shall be fully realized in perfect and unending blessing and glory.” Pink Arthur W
