ACC ~ Hebrews 11 v20 - 22

HUMAN AND DIVINE ORDERS. SEVERIAN OF GABALA: “By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.” First he gave it to Jacob, then to Esau, not according to the sequence of their birth but according to the order of spiritual blessing. FRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 11.20

JACOB FIRST PREFIGURED THE CROSS. JOHN OF DAMASCUS: The tree of life that was planted by God in paradise prefigured this honorable cross, for, since death came by a tree, it was necessary for life and the resurrection to be bestowed by a tree. It was Jacob who first prefigured the cross, when he adored the top of the rod of Joseph.And when he blessed Joseph’s sons with his hands crossed, he most clearly described the sign of the cross. Then there was the rod of Moses which struck the sea with the form of a cross and saved Israel while causing Pharaoh to be swallowed up; his hands stretched out in the form of a cross and put Amalek to flight; the bitter water being made sweet by a tree,and the rock being struck and gushing forth streams of water. Further, the rod of Aaron miraculously confirmed the dignity of the priesthood, a serpent was raised in triumph upon a tree, as if dead, with the tree preserving those who with faith beheld the dead enemy, even as Christ was nailed up in flesh of sin but which had not known sin…. May we who adore this attain to the portion of Christ the crucified. Amen. ORTHODOX FAITH 4.11.

BOWING IN WORSHIP. PHOTIUS: Thereupon he not only spoke but he also was bold to demonstrate it to coming generations by his action. For since another king would arise from Ephraim, for this very reason he says, “and Jacob bowing in worship over the head of his staff,” that is, being an old man, he bowed down to Joseph, showing the obeisance of the whole people that would take place for him. And this has already come to pass, when the brothers bowed down to him, and it was about to come to pass later through the ten tribes. FRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 11.21.

THE RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE KNEW ALL THE THINGS TO COME. CHRYSOSTOM: “Many prophets and righteous men,” it is said, “longed to see what you see, and did not see it; and to hear what you hear and did not hear it.” Did then those righteous people know all the things to come? Yes, most certainly. For if, because of the weakness of those who were not able to receive him, the Son was not revealed, he was with good reason revealed to those conspicuous in virtue. This Paul also says, that they knew “the things to come,” that is, the resurrection of Christ.

Or he does not mean this, but that “by faith, concerning things to come” means not concerning the world to come but “concerning things to come” in this world. For how, except by faith, could a man sojourning in a strange land, give such blessings?

On the other hand, he obtained the blessing and yet did not receive it. You see that what I said with regard to Abraham may be said also of Jacob, that he did not fully enjoy the blessing. The blessings went to his posterity, while he himself obtained the “things to come.” For we find that his brother rather enjoyed the blessing. For Jacob spent all his time in servitude, working as a hireling amid dangers and plots and deceits and fears; when asked by Pharaoh, he says, “Few and evil have my days been,”while the other lived in independence and great security and afterwards was an object of terror to Jacob. Where then did the blessings come to their accomplishment, save in the world to come?

Do you see that from the beginning the wicked have enjoyed things here, but the right-eous the contrary? Not all, however, for behold, Abraham was a righteous man, and he enjoyed things here as well, though with affliction and trials, for indeed wealth was all he had, seeing all else relating to him was full of affliction. For it is impossible that the righteous man should not be afflicted, though he be rich, for when he is willing to be overreached, to be wronged, to suffer all other things, he must be afflicted. So while he may enjoy wealth, it is still not without grief. … “By faith,” he says, “Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.” Esau was the elder; but he puts Jacob first for his excellence. Do you see how great his faith was? How did he promise to his sons so great blessings? Entirely from his having faith in God.

“By faith, Jacob, when dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph.” Here we ought to set down the blessings entirely, in order that both his faith and his prophesying may be made manifest. “And worshiped leaning,” he says, “upon the top of his staff.” Here, he means, he not only spoke but was even so confident about the future things as to show it also by his act. For inasmuch as another king was about to arise from Ephraim, therefore it is said, “And he bowed himself upon the top of his staff.” That is, even though he was now an old man, “he bowed himself” to Joseph, showing the obeisance of the whole people which was to be directed to him. And this indeed had already taken place, when his brethren “bowed down” to him, but it was afterwards to come to pass through the ten tribes. Do you see how he foretold the things which were to be afterwards? Do you see the great faith they had, and how they believed “concerning the things to come”? ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 26.1-2.

THE THINGS THAT CONCERN JOSEPH ARE OF FAITH ONLY. CHRYSOSTOM: For some of the things here, the things present, are examples of patience only and of enduring ill treatment and of receiving nothing good, as, for instance, what is mentioned in the case of Abraham and Abel. But others are examples of faith, as in the case of Noah, that there is a God, that there is a recompense. … And the things that concern Joseph are also of faith only. Joseph heard that God had made a promise to Abraham, that God had engaged God’s word, “to you and to your seed will I give this land”; and, though in a strange land and not yet seeing the engagement fulfilled, he never faltered even so, but believed so as even to “speak of the exodus and to give directions concerning his burial.” He then not only believed himself but led the rest also to faith, that, having the exodus always in mind—for he would not have “given directions concerning his burial” unless he had been fully assured of this—they might look for their return to Canaan.

On hearing this, some people say, “See! Even righteous people had care about their sepulchers.” Let us reply to them that it was for this reason—that he knew that “the earth is the Lord’s and all that is therein.” He could not indeed have been ignorant of this, who lived with such great love of wisdom, who spent his whole life in Egypt. And yet if he had wished, it was possible for him to return and not to mourn or vex himself. But when he had taken up his father, why did he enjoin them to carry up then his own bones also? Evidently for this same reason.

Tell me, are not the bones of Moses himself laid in a strange land? And those of Aaron, of Daniel, of Jeremiah? And as to those of the apostles, we do not know where those of most of them are laid. For of Peter, indeed, and Paul and John and Thomas, the sepulchers are well known, but those of the rest, being so many, have nowhere become known. Let us not therefore lament at all about this or be so little-minded. For wherever we may be buried, “the earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it.” Certainly what must take place does take place. Inordinately to mourn, however, and lament and bewail the departed arises from littleness of mind. ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 26.2.

DIRECTIONS CONCERNING HIS BURIAL. THEODORET OF CYR: Joseph would not have given directions about his remains if he had not believed the divine promises. INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 11.

MOSES HEBREWS 11:23-31

OVERVIEW: The miraculous acts and lives of the Old Testament saints are a work of God’s grace granted to them according to their faith. For instance, Moses refused the palace of the pharaoh because of his faith in the kingdom of God and was rewarded accordingly (CHRYSOSTOM). In this passage Paul uses an economy of words to present great things through simple acts in Israel’s history. Chrysostom refers to the sprinkling of blood in the exodus: “Although what was done was nothing, what was achieved was great. For what was done was blood, but what was achieved was salvation and the stopping and preventing of destruction. The angel feared the blood, for he knew of what it was a type; he shuddered, thinking on the Lord’s death; therefore he did not touch the doorposts. Thus the hearer is to be confident.” Moses is a type of Christ; as Moses brought his people out of Egypt, a place deprived of faith (EPHREM), so Christ brought us through suffering from death to eternal life (PHOTIUS). Faith can do all things and transcends human reasoning.

Rahab is a type of the church (GREGORY OF ELVIRA) as through her faith she received those who signify the Trinity (IRENAEUS) and was saved according to her faith (CHRYSOSTOM, EPHREM). Moreover, everyone in her home was saved because of the scarlet rope that signifies the blood of Christ as well as his passions (JUSTIN, HILARY). Salvation of the former harlot calls all of us to repentance (ORIGEN).

Heb