Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 11:16

"But now they desire a better [country], that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city." — Hebrews 11:16 (ASV)

“Instead” contrasts the actuality with what might have been. The people’s longing was for the heavenly country. The adjective “heavenly” (GK 2230) connects country with God and with all it means to belong to God. So firm was their commitment to their heavenly calling that God was not ashamed of them. Indeed, he is spoken of again and again as “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Sometimes God uses these very words of himself (Exodus 3:6, 15–16), and Jesus used the same expression to show the truth that the patriarchs are still alive (Mark 12:26–27). Not only is God not ashamed of those servants of his, but he honored their faith by preparing a city for them (see comments on v.10). The use of the past tense here should not be overlooked. It is not that God will one day prepare their city but that he has already done so.