^{17-18 (A)(B)} Abraham had been promised that Isaac, his only son,^[a] would continue his family. But when Abraham was tested, he had faith and was willing to sacrifice Isaac, ¹⁹ because he was sure that God could raise people to life. This was just like getting Isaac back from death.

^20 (C) Isaac had faith, and he promised blessings to Jacob and Esau. ^21 (D) Later, when Jacob was about to die, he leaned on his walking stick and worshiped. Then because of his faith he blessed each of Joseph's sons. ^22 (E) And right before Joseph died, he had faith that God would lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. So he told them to take his bones with them.

^23 (F) Because Moses' parents had faith, they kept him hidden until he was three months old. They saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king's orders.^{[b] 24 (G)} Then after Moses grew up, his faith made him refuse to be called the king's grandson. ^25 (H) He chose to be mistreated with God's people instead of having the good time that sin could bring for a little while. ²⁶ Moses knew that the treasures of Egypt were not as wonderful as what he would receive from suffering for the Messiah,^[c] and he looked forward to his reward.

²⁷ Because of his faith, Moses left Egypt. Moses had seen the invisible God and wasn't afraid of the king's anger. ^28 (I) His faith also made him celebrate Passover. He sprinkled the blood of animals on the doorposts, so that the first-born sons of the people of Israel would not be killed by the destroying angel.

^29 (J) Because of their faith, the people walked through the Red Sea^[d] on dry land. But when the Egyptians tried to do it, they were drowned.

^30 (K) God's people had faith, and when they had walked around the city of Jericho for seven days, its walls fell down.

^31 (L) Rahab had been a prostitute, but she had faith and welcomed the spies. So she wasn't killed with the people who disobeyed.