Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Hebrews 6:13-20. Let’s go!
On verses 13-17: As an example of “those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised” (v12), the writer of Hebrews mentions the story of Abraham. Despite Abraham’s old age and his wife Sarah’s inability to have children, God promises to Abraham and Sarah that “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” (v14) To show how serious God is about fulfilling that promise, God “swore by himself” (v13) because “there was no one greater for him to swear by” (v13) and people usually swear on something that is greater than themselves (v16). The specific wording can be found in Genesis 22:16-17:
16 …”I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,
17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,
In addition to swearing by himself, God did one more thing: He gave an oath. By making this oath (promise), God was trying to make it “very clear” to Abraham and his descendants that God was serious about doing what He said He would do (v17). As verse 16 says, “the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.”