Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 11:8

"By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." — Hebrews 11:8 (ASV)

Abraham is mentioned ten times in Hebrews. The author shows a strong interest in this patriarch. He obeyed God’s call the moment it came. His prompt obedience took him out to a region as yet unknown to him but which he would later receive “as his inheritance” (GK 3100). The last half of this verse is a classical statement of the obedience of faith. People like to know where they are going and to choose their way. But the way forward can be obscure. Abraham was one who could go out, knowing that it was right to do so, but not knowing where it would all lead. God told him to go “to the land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). Yet it was not till some time after he reached Canaan that he was informed that this was the land God would give his descendants (Genesis 12:7; later on Abraham himself was included in the same promise, Genesis 13:15). To leave the certainties one knows and go out into what is quite unknown—relying on nothing other than the Word of God—is the essence of faith.