The Faith of Abraham and Sarah

(Genesis 15–22; Romans 4:1–12)

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to the place[fn] he would later receive as [his] inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. 9 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 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder [is] God.

11 By faith Sarah, even though she was beyond the proper age, received power and[fn] was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12 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 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[fn] that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

14 Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of [the country] they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 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.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac [ on the altar ]. He who had received the promises was ready to offer [his] one and only son,[fn] 18 even though [God] had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”[fn] 19 [Abraham] reasoned that God could raise [the] dead, [and] in a sense, he did receive [Isaac] back from [death].