Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 6:15

"And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise." — Hebrews 6:15 (ASV)

“So” should not be taken too closely with “waiting patiently.” It is not so much “waiting thus” as “thus [confident in God’s promise], he waited patiently.” Abraham was content to await God’s time for the fulfillment of the promise. This meant real patience, because Isaac was not born till twenty-five years after the promise was first given (Genesis 12:4; Genesis 21:5) and long after Sarah could have been expected to bear children. Abraham’s grandchildren were not born for another sixty years (Genesis 25:26), only fifteen years before his death (Genesis 25:7). The complete fulfillment of the promise, of course, could not take place within his lifetime (a nation cannot be born so quickly). But enough happened for the writer to say, “Abraham received what was promised.” We should possibly also bear in mind Jn 8:56: “Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” In that sense Abraham did see the fuller working out of the promise. But the important thing in the present context is that Abraham had to be patient if he was to see anything in the way of fulfillment. He was patient and he did see it. So the readers are encouraged to be patient and await God’s action. He does not go back on his promises; he is completely reliable. But he works in his own way and time, not ours.