2 ARST In fact, because the Israelite ancestors trusted God, he approved of them. BSB BSB: This is why the ancients were commended.
3 ARST Because we trust God, we recognize that, by speaking, God set up everything that exists. So then, the things we see did not come from other things we can see. BSB BSB: By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 ARST Because he trusted God, Adam’ s son Abel presented a more acceptable offering to God than did his older brother Cain. Because he trusted God, God approved of him for what he presented and declared that he did what was right. Although Abel died, we can still learn from how he trusted God. BSB BSB: By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
7 ARST Because he trusted God, Noah honored God{ by believing him} when God revealed to him what he could not yet experience. So, Noah built the ark to rescue his family{ from the flood that God would send}. Since Noah trusted God{ in this way}, he proved that everyone else was guilty. Further, Noah became a person whom God made right with himself because Noah trusted him. BSB BSB: By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 ARST Because he trusted God, Abraham did what God said when God spoke to him. He left{ his home} to travel to a location that God would soon make to be his new home. When he left{ his home}, he did not even know exactly where{ this new home would be}. BSB BSB: By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.
9 ARST Because he trusted God, Abraham stayed in the country that God had promised{ to give him}, but it was not yet his country. He lived with Isaac his son and Jacob his grandson in temporary shelters,{ even though} God promised to all three of them{ that he would give them this country}. BSB BSB: By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
10 ARST { Abraham lived like that} because he was looking forward to{ living in} the secure and permanent{ heavenly} city that God created. BSB BSB: For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 ARST Because he believed, Abraham was able to have a son with{ his wife} Sarah even though he was old enough that he could not normally have had a child.{ That happened} because he reckoned that God would certainly do what he said. BSB BSB: By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.
12 ARST So then, even though he was very old, Abraham had many descendants,{ the Israelites}.{ Just as God promised,} there are as many{ Israelites} as there are many stars in the sky and as there are many grains of sand on a beach by the ocean. BSB BSB: And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 ARST All those people trusted God until they died.{ While they lived,} they did not experience what God had promised{ to give them}, but they knew that God would soon do what he had promised. They showed everyone that they did not really belong in this world. BSB BSB: All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
14 ARST Indeed, all people who speak what they spoke{ about not belonging in this world} show clearly that they desire{ to live in} their own country. BSB BSB: Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.
15 ARST But suppose these{ faithful people} considered the country they had left{ to be their own country}. In that case, they could have gone back there{, but they did not}. BSB BSB: If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 ARST But here is what is true{ about them}: they longed for a greater country that is in heaven. Because of that, it honors God when other people describe him as the God of these people{ who trusted him}.{ You can tell that this is true,} because God has made a city for them{ to live in}. BSB BSB: Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
18 ARST { In fact,} God{ had already} said to Abraham,“The many descendants{ that I promised to give you} will come from{ your son} Isaac.” BSB BSB: even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
19 ARST { Abraham acted in this way because} he reckoned that God could make dead people alive again. In fact, in a manner of speaking, Abraham did get Isaac back after he had died. BSB BSB: Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 ARST Because he trusted God, Isaac blessed{ his sons} Jacob and Esau, declaring what would happen{ to each of them}. BSB BSB: By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.
21 ARST Because he trusted God, when he was about to die, Jacob blessed both sons of{ his son} Joseph. He praised God while he leaned on his walking stick. BSB BSB: By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 ARST Because he trusted God, when he was about to die, Joseph spoke about how the Israelites would leave{ the land of Egypt}. Also, he commanded{ them to take} his bones{ with them when they left}. BSB BSB: By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.
23 ARST Because they trusted God, Moses’ father and mother kept Moses hidden for 13 weeks after he was born. They bravely disobeyed what the king{ of Egypt} commanded{ about killing the sons of the Israelites}.{ They did that} because they could tell that Moses was a good child. BSB BSB: By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.
24 ARST Because he trusted God, when he grew up, Moses rejected how he was living as the{ adopted} son of one{ of the daughters} of the king of Egypt. BSB BSB: By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
25 ARST He decided to experience how people mistreated God’ s people rather than to enjoy sinning for a little while. BSB BSB: He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.
26 ARST He reckoned that people insulting him because of the Messiah was more valuable than all the valuable things in{ the land of} Egypt.{ He thought in this way,} because he focused on how God would reward him. BSB BSB: He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.
27 ARST Because he trusted God, Moses departed from{ the land of} Egypt. He was not afraid of{ what} the king{ would do} while he was angry.{ He acted in that way,} because he continued{ to trust God as completely} as if he could see God, who is invisible. BSB BSB: By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.
28 ARST Because he trusted God, Moses led the Israelites in celebrating the{ first} Passover festival and spreading blood{ from lambs on their doors}.{ They did that} so that the spiritual being who killed the eldest children{ of the Egyptians} would not kill their{ eldest children}. BSB BSB: By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.
29 ARST Because they trusted God, the Israelites walked across the Sea of Reeds like{ they were walking on} hard ground{ when God made a path for them}. Then, when the Egyptians tried to follow, they drowned in the water{ when God covered the path}. BSB BSB: By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.
30 ARST Because the Israelites trusted God, he broke down the walls{ around the city} of Jericho after the Israelites{ repeatedly} marched around the city during one week. BSB BSB: By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
31 ARST Because she trusted God, Rahab, who was a prostitute, kept the spies{ whom Joshua had sent} safe.{ Because she did that,} the Israelites did not kill her when they killed{ everyone else who lived in Jericho}, everyone who did not obey{ God}. BSB BSB: By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.
32 ARST I cannot now say any more about this. Indeed, I do not have the time to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the{ other} prophets. BSB BSB: And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, 33 ARST Because such people trusted God, some of them defeated foreign armies. Others ruled justly. Others received what God had promised. Others kept lions from eating them. BSB BSB: who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,
34 ARST Others stopped fire from burning them. Others survived when someone violently attacked them. Others became powerful when they were weak. Others fought their enemies powerfully. Others completely defeated soldiers from other countries. BSB BSB: quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.
36 ARST Further, other people suffered when others made fun of them or struck their backs with ropes. Sometimes, rulers even arrested them and put them in jail. BSB BSB: Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
37 ARST People killed these{ faithful people} by throwing rocks at them or by cutting them in half. People tempted them{ to disobey God}. People killed them with swords. These{ faithful people} wandered around wearing only animal skins. They had nothing, and people persecuted them and treated them badly. BSB BSB: They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.
38 ARST { People treated them like that even though} they did not deserve to live in the same place with those who trusted God.{ Despite that,} these faithful people had to live in wilderness places, on hills, and in caves in the earth. BSB BSB: The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.
39 ARST Although God approved of all these people because they trusted him, he did not{ yet} give them what he had promised{ to give them}. BSB BSB: These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.
40 ARST Rather, God prepared ahead of time to give us something greater{ than what those people received while they lived}. That way, only when we and they are all together will we all be what God wants us to be. BSB BSB: God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.