8-10 By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise. Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God.

11-12 By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said. That’s how it happened that from one man’s dead and shriveled loins there are now people numbering into the millions.

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13-16 Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.

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By faith (A)Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place (B)that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in (C)the land of promise, as in a foreign land, (D)living in tents (E)with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to (F)the city that has (G)foundations, (H)whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith (I)Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered (J)him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and (K)him as good as dead, were born descendants (L)as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

13 These all died in faith, (M)not having received the things promised, but (N)having seen them and greeted them from afar, and (O)having acknowledged that they were (P)strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, (Q)they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed (R)to be called their God, for (S)he has prepared for them a city.

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