They "Saw" the Things Promised

THEY IMAGINED THE TIME WHEN GOD'S PROMISES WOULD COME TRUE 

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob could imagine a wonderful future.  Jehovah had promised them that people from all the nations would be blessed by means of their "offspring." (Genesis 22:18; 26:4; 28:14)  God had promised them that their family would become a large nation and would live in the beautiful Promised Land.   (Genesis 15:5-7) Because Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew that Jehovah's promises would come true, they could clearly imagine their families already living in that land.  In fact, ever since Adam and Eve sinned, Jehovah has helped his loyal servants to understand how humans would one day have perfect life again. 

Because he had strong faith, Abraham was obedient to Jehovah even when circumstances were very difficult. Abraham and other loyal ones could clearly imagine the things Jehovah promised, even though these promises did not come true while they were alive.  The Bible says:  "They saw them from a distance and welcomed them." (Read Hebrews 11:8-13)  Abraham knew that Jehovah had always kept his promises in the past, so he was sure that all of Jehovah's promises for the future would come true as well. 

Because Abraham had faith in what Jehovah had promised him, he kept on doing what Jehovah asked him to do.  For example, he left his home in the city of Ur, and for the rest of his life, he did not live in any city permanently . He knew that the cities around him would not last forever because the rulers did not serve Jehovah.  (Joshua 24:2) Instead, he looked forward to the time when Jehovah and his government would rule the earth forever.  This government is "the city having real foundations, whose designer and builder is God." (Hebrews 11:10) Abraham as well as Abel, Enoch, and Noah, and others believe in the resurrection forever on a beautiful earth, their faith in Jehovah grew even stronger . -Read Hebrews 11:15, 16.

Abraham's wife, Sarah, had strong faith in Jehovah's promises.  Even when she was 90 years old and still had no children, she looked forward to the time when she would have a baby.  Sarah could even imagine her children becoming  a large  nation.  (Hebrews 11:11, 12) How could she be so sure of that ?  Because Jehovah had told her husband;  "I will bless her and also give you a son by her; I will bless her and she will become nations; kings of people will come from her." (Genesis 17:16) Just as Jehovah had promised, Sarah had a son, Isaac.  This miracle convinced her that the rest of Jehovah's promises would come true.  We too can strengthen  our faith when we imagine all the wonderful things Jehovah has promised us.

Next time: They "Saw" the Things Promised - HE KEPT THINKING ABOUT THE REWARD

From the Watchtower magazine, 2015