Heb. 11:8-22, The Pilgrimage of the Patriarchs

Let’s make some observations from the previous post, “From Abraham to Moses.”

·       The dates we provided were based on Usher’s date of 4004BC for Creation.  As you can see, we have placed Abraham at 2126-1951.  But many Bible scholars, and I mean those who take the Bible as inspired and trustworthy, question Usher’s chronology.  They don’t believe in the evolutionary idea of millions of years, or even one-hundred-thousand years.  But they see possibilities in the Biblical record for additional time.  Here is a link to an article from “Answers in Genesis” that suggests an earlier date for Abraham.  This might be of interest to you.

Abraham and the Chronology of Ancient Mesopotamia | Answers in Genesis

·       Scripture teaches us that the Patriarchs saw themselves as pilgrims or strangers in the land (Gen. 47:9; Heb. 11:13).  They died in faith, not having received the promises (Hb. 11:13).  Abraham was in the land for 100 years (outside of a short time in Egypt).  Isaac lived in the land all his 180 years.  Jacob lived in the land for 170 years before going to Egypt.  This encourages me in the matter of my own pilgrimage; I haven’t lived, and certainly won’t live, for the length of years of these men of faith. 

·       In terms of these long lives, each man has a story that is told in Scripture about the later years of their lives.

o   Abraham amazingly fathered Isaac at 100.  But the difficulty in conception was Sarah’s, who finally gave birth at 91.  After she died, Abraham fathered other children through Keturah (Gen. 25:1-6).

o   Isaac struggled with his eyesight “early” in his life, and so around the age of 100 awarded the birthright.  Yet, he lived for another 80 years before he died and was buried by both of his sons (Gen. 35:27-29).

o   Jacob, spiritually speaking, thought his days were over (Gen. 42:36).  Yet, at age 130 made the move to Egypt.  Essentially from his death-bed, he blessed Joseph’s two sons (Ephraim and Manasseh, Gen. 48) and prophesied concerning all twelve sons (Gen. 49).

o   Moses was 120 when he died.  Yet, he had to climb Mt. Nebo to “the top of Pisgah” on the day he died (Deut. 34:1).  The Bible’s description of him is amazing: Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished (Deut. 34:7).  Either desert life agreed with him; or we can say, compared to the others, he was a young man.

·       Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah (his first wife) are all buried in a cave at Machpelah (Gen. 49:29-33).  Jewish tradition says the head of Esau is also buried there, having been cut of by a son of Dan, son of Jacob.  It’s an interesting place to visit when in Israel.