Paul writes to comfort the believers in Thessalonica who had been deceived to think they were in the Day of the Lord. He comforts them by explaining the prophetic sequence that will precede the day of the Lord and assures them that history is unfolding under God’s sovereign control.
You’ll remember at the end of chapter 23, Saul was hunting David and was nearly ready to catch him, but God sent the Philistines to invade the land and distract Saul. Saul left David to deal with the Philistines. It was all the sovereign work of the Lord. And in Chapter 24 we see God’s sovereignty at work again. Once Saul had dealt with the Philistines, he was told that David was in the Wilderness of En Gedi.
Hebrews 11:8-16 highlights the faith of Abraham and Sarah, who obeyed God by leaving their home for an unknown land, living as temporary residents, and trusting in God’s promise of descendants and a city built by God.