By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.
20. By faith Isaac, etc. It was also the work of faith to bless as to future things; for when the thing itself does not exist and the word only appears, faith must necessarily bear rule. But first we must notice of what avail is the blessing of which he speaks. For to bless often means to pray for a blessing.
Abel is our first pattern of faith at work: he offered a sacrifice acceptable to God while his brother's was rejected. By faith he was commended as righteous, and though he died long ago, his faith still speaks.
AI summary
Commenting on Hebrews 11:4-31
By faith Joseph, when he died,.... The riches and honours of Joseph, as they could not secure him from death, so they did not make him unmindful of it; nor was he afraid of dying, or uneasy about it; nor did his prosperity make him proud, or above speaking to his brethren, nor revengeful to them, nor unthoughtful of their future afflictions; nor did his...