Bible: Hebrews 11:13-40

11:13 These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, 1  but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners 2  on the earth. 11:14 For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 11:15 In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 11:16 But as it is, 3  they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He had received the promises, 4  yet he was ready to offer up 5  his only son. 11:18 God had told him, “Through Isaac descendants will carry on your name,” 6  11:19 and he reasoned 7  that God could even raise him from the dead, and in a sense 8  he received him back from there. 11:20 By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future. 11:21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped as he leaned on his staff. 9  11:22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, 10  mentioned the exodus of the sons of Israel 11  and gave instructions about his burial. 12 

11:23 By faith, when Moses was born, his parents hid him 13  for three months, because they saw the child was beautiful and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 11:24 By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 11:25 choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to enjoy sin’s fleeting pleasure. 11:26 He regarded abuse suffered for Christ 14  to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on 15  the reward. 11:27 By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king’s anger, for he persevered as though he could see the one who is invisible. 11:28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, 16  so that the one who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. 11:29 By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if on dry ground, but when the Egyptians tried it, they were swallowed up. 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho 17  fell after the people marched around them 18  for seven days. 11:31 By faith Rahab the prostitute escaped the destruction of 19  the disobedient, because she welcomed the spies in peace.

11:32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets. 11:33 Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, 20  gained what was promised, 21  shut the mouths of lions, 11:34 quenched raging fire, 22  escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, 23  became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to flight, 11:35 and women received back their dead raised to life. 24  But others were tortured, not accepting release, to obtain resurrection to a better life. 25  11:36 And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 11:37 They were stoned, sawed apart, 26  murdered with the sword; they went about in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 11:38 (the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and openings in the earth. 11:39 And these all were commended 27  for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. 28  11:40 For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us. 29 

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