By faith the son of Adam gave from his earthen table
A better gift than Cain, who was, it seems, not Able.
Then came the Enoch lad. He lived his life for God,
And God said, “Pack your bags”: he was there, then he was not.

When Noah built the boat, he hoped that it would float.
God had told him so, man and beast to save.
Water drawing nigh, he built the vessel high
To keep his family dry – he lived and loved the Lord by faith.

One, two, three, four, five.
All of these believed by faith and then they died,
Before they did receive the promises of God.

By faith when Abe was called to voyage far away
He tarried not nor dawdled, instead he did obey.
And traveled to a land, where foreign men did roam
And thus said Abraham: “This place will be my home.”

Though she was too old, Sarah, she was told,
“A baby you will hold, a child you will embrace.”
Sarah laughed at first, but God he kept his word,
At the joyous birth, Sarah loved the Lord by faith.

One, two, three, four, five.
All of these believed by faith and then they died,
Before they did receive the promises of God.

By faith then Abraham offered up his son,
But God gave him a ram and a hearty job-well-done.
So the son lived on. When he wasn’t wrestling
He raised his own two sons, he gave them both a blessing.

Jacob gray and old, a blessing of his own
He graciously bestowed on Joseph’s sons one day.
Joseph thusly spoke, “When Israel goes home
Take along my bones” – they lived and loved the Lord by faith.

One, two, three, four, five.
All of these believed by faith and then they died,
Before they did receive the promises of God.

By faith when Moses led the Jews from slavery
They bravely pushed ahead and entered through the Sea.
Marched around the town of Jericho one week
The walls came tumblin’ down, O what a sight to see!

Despite her occupation and her reputation,
Rahab gave salvation – the Israelites were safe.
When the Jewish spies needed a place hide,
She hid them way up high – we’re told she served the Lord by faith.

One, two, three, four, five.
All of these believed by faith and then they died,
Before they did receive the promises of God.

And so much more to say, but time would not allow
To sing the list of saints from Gideon till now:
Folks who risked their lives and suffered in their days
Enduring for the prize – the promise never came.

They saw them from afar, greeted them like stars,
Tasted them in part but never known in whole.
Yet they did embrace the call to live by faith,
Strangers in this place – A better land will be their home.

One, two, three, four, five.
All of these believed by faith and then they died.
Before they did receive the promises of God.

But you who have believed in Christ
By faith you have received in life
The promises of God.