Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which had foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 

‘City’ – The new Jerusalem, the capital city of God over the universe (11:10, 13-16; 12:22-23; 13:14; Rev. 3:12; 21:1-22:5).

‘Builder’ [Greek: technites] is an architect, one who plans, calculates, and constructs a building. Translated builder (11:10) and craftsman (Acts 19:24, 38; Rev. 18:22). From the same Greek root we have the word tekton which means a carpenter, one who is a builder and constructor (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3). The word is used in contempt of Christ. The Lord chose this occupation in preference to being a shepherd, like David. Christ is the great Architect, Designer, and Fabricator of all material creations (11:10; John 1:3; Eph. 3:9), and of all moral creations of all moral creations (Co. 1:15-18). He is the Preparer, Arranger, and Constitutor of the ages and dispensations (1:2; 11:3; Isa. 9:6). God worked through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:2; Ps. 104:30).

‘Maker’ [Greek: demiourgos] is a maker; author; magistrate; one who calls men to work. Employed only here in the Bible, but this Greek term was used by the Gnostics of the Creator of the world.

Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which had foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 

‘Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.’ Abraham – faith’s obedience: Called to go into a new life and new land (Gen. 12:1-4). Promised the new land (Gen. 15:18). Obeyed, not knowing whither he went. Sojourned in the promised land with Isaac and Jacob (11:9). Jacob was 15 years old when Abraham died. Dwelled in tents with his heirs. Looked for a permanent dwelling – a city in heaven (11:10, 13-16).

Abraham saw three things clearly: The plan of God in sending the Messiah for His people to redeem them and guarantee to them the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession; and he was happy (Gen. 12:1-3; 17:1-22). He saw the plan of God in the Messiah being sent through his natural seed (Rom. 4:13-22; 9:4-7; Gal. 3:16) and rejoiced by faith (Rom. 4:1-25). He saw the second person of the Trinity in visible form (Gen. 18:1-8, 19-20; 19:24).

The Abrahamic covenant is noted in Genesis 12:1-3. This was made with Abraham after the confusion of tongues – at Babylon – when God saw that it was impossible to deal with the race as a whole. It ushered in the Dispensation of Promise (Gen. 13:14-18; 15:1-21; 17:4-8; 22:15-18; 26:1-5; 28:3, 10-15). The covenant consisted of two parts: (1) The sevenfold promise: “I will make of thee a great nation” (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:16; 17:18-20; 24:34, 35; Gal. 3:1-29); “Make thy name great” (Gen. 12:1-3; Ex. 2:24, 25; 6:3-8); “Thou shalt be a blessing” (Gen. 12:1-3; Gal. 3:13, 14); “I will bless them that bless thee” (Gen. 12:1-3; Matt. 25:31-46); “I will bless thee” (Gen. 13:14-18; 15:18-21; Gal. 3:1-29); “I will curse them that curse thee” (Zech. 14:1-21; Matt. 25:31-46); “In thee shall all the nations of the world be blessed” (Deut. 28:8-14; Isa. 60:3-5; 66:18-21; John 8:56-58; Gal. 3:16). (2) The sign of the covenant: circumcision (Gen. 17:1-21; Isa. 24:5).

To be continued…