This passage is prefaced by: "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised …" (Hebrews 11:13). The writer is saying that faith often does not have an immediate benefit, but the future blessing is unimaginably big. Abraham and Sarah died without seeing what they had given their lives for. Before Abraham's death, he blessed his descendants with the promise of God's faithfulness. However, of Ishmael and Isaac, only Isaac inherited according to God's promise (Genesis 25:5).

The next generations displayed the same faith. They trusted God's words to them, and the record of His promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), without seeing those promises fulfilled. Isaac, Abraham's 'son by faith' (Galatians 4:22-23), gave his blessing and birthright to Jacob although he was the younger twin: he also told Esau about his future (Genesis 27:1-40). Jacob did the same for his sons starting with Joseph and his sons Ephraim and Manasseh (Genesis 48:8-22).

In athletics we might call it 'passing on the baton'. Joseph affirmed God's promise about the land to his brothers before he died and prophetically instructed his family not to leave his remains in Egypt, but to bury them in the Promised Land (Genesis 50:24-25; Exodus 13:19; Joshua 24:32). Even though almost 400 years would pass, Joseph's faith would spur on Moses and Joshua to take possession of the land and fulfill Joseph's godly instruction (Exodus 13:19; Joshua 24:32). Ultimately the promise that 'all nations would be blessed, through Abraham' (Genesis 12:3) was only fulfilled in Jesus. And those of us who trust in Him must continue in faith and not give up (Colossians 1:22-23) – even though we may not see God's kingdom in all its fullness. That is why true faith eagerly awaits the coming of Jesus (Philippians 3:20).

The echoes of faith do not stop with death. In ways we cannot define or understand, God honours our trust in Him and uses our faith in building His kingdom (Matthew 17:20). Our trusting prayers continue in God's presence until they are answered (Revelation 5:8), and remain as evidence of faith. The Bible and church history are strewn with faithful people who never saw the fruit of their labours; and yet God has done far more then they even hoped for while they were still alive. Dying in faith is not the end of spiritual hopes; it is only a comma in God's powerful history-to-come of the world, but a launch-pad for the faith of the future generations. Let us give thanks for family and friends whose godly faith has marked our lives. Then let us hold onto God's promises and live confidently that He will continue to be at work in building His kingdom, so that many others may enter the blessing of knowing Jesus.