The Cloud of Witnesses

¹⁷ By faith Abraham offered Isaac when he was tested. The one who received the promises was offering his only son. ¹⁸ He had been told concerning him, Your legitimate descendants will come from Isaac. ¹⁹ He figured that God could even raise him from the dead. So in a way he did receive him back from the dead. ²⁰ By faith Isaac also blessed Jacob and Esau concerning their future. ²¹ By faith Jacob blessed each of Joseph’s sons as he was dying and bowed in worship over the head of his staff. ²² By faith Joseph recalled the exodus of the Israelites at the end of his life, and gave instructions about burying his bones. ²³ By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months when he was born, because they saw that the child was beautiful and they weren’t afraid of the king’s orders. ²⁴ By faith Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter when he was grown up. ²⁵ He chose to be mistreated with God’s people instead of having the temporary pleasures of sin. ²⁶ He thought that the abuses he suffered for Christ were more valuable than the treasures of Egypt, since he was looking forward to the reward. ²⁷ By faith he left Egypt without being afraid of the king’s anger. He kept on going as if he could see what is invisible. ²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, in order that the destroyer could not touch their firstborn children.