Ask the Pastor – Receiving the Promise

Question:

In Hebrews 11:13, it is stated that those who are mentioned in this faith chapter died, and they never received the promises. But both Enoch, who was translated, and Moses, who was resurrected, are mentioned in this chapter. Can you explain how Enoch and Moses never received the promises, yet they went to heaven?

Answer:

Hebrews 11 is called the faith chapter. It rehearses for us the experiences of many of the ancients who, in spite of the odds of their day, followed the leading of the God of heaven.

We must remember that, in order to understand what is being taught here, we must read the whole of the narrative. First of all, we must understand what promises are mentioned in this chapter.

In Genesis 12 and 13, we find what it was that God promised to Abraham, the father of the faithful. “And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.” “And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.” Genesis 12:5, 7. In Genesis 13:15, the promise is repeated to Abraham. “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.”

What God promised to Abraham was the land of Canaan. That was to be his home forever. All of his offspring were to have a part in that inheritance.

In connection with the plan of salvation was the promise according to Galatians 3:29, that, if we belong to Christ, we are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. By adoption through the blood of Christ, we become members of Abraham’s family, and we will receive of the promises also.

Enoch, Moses, and even Elijah, who are now alive in heaven, will partake of this same promise of inheriting the earth. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, in Matthew 5:5, “Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”

If, according to Hebrews 11, these all died not having received the promises, then why are they in heaven? Heaven was not what was promised. It was the earth that was promised. The heavenly part is the New Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven to settle on this earth. It will rest upon the Mount of Olives. The fact that they are involved in heavenly matters during the interval of time between their translation and the city coming down has nothing to do with the promises of inheritance of the earth.

The promises are still to be fulfilled to them. The fact that they have to wait like all the rest does not mean that they will miss anything. God’s plan is for all to enjoy the blessing of the inheritance at once.

Rest assured that God has a plan, and that plan is inclusive of all who, by faith, have accepted Jesus as Saviour. Then it will be that this earth becomes the eternal home of the redeemed, according to the promise.

Pastor Mike Baugher is Associate Speaker for Steps to Life. If you have a question you would like Pastor Mike to answer, e-mail it to: landmarks@stepstolife.org or mail it to: LandMarks, Steps to Life, P. O. Box 782828, Wichita, KS 67278.