Why can we learn from Old Testament believers even though they lived under the Old Testament economy?
Old Testament believers are instructive because the same God worked in them despite the Old Testament economy. Their examples—quenching fire, escaping swords, gaining strength from weakness, and enduring torture without renouncing faith—display God's power and the constancy of trust in Him.
Les teaches from Hebrews 11:34–35 that these are God's choicest believers, not wicked people or backsliders. Even though they lived back in the Old Testament economy, that does not make much difference because it is the same God. They quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the aliens, or unbelievers. On the other side, women received their dead raised to life again, while others were tortured and did not accept deliverance, though they could have escaped by renouncing their faith. Les also references Fox's Book of Martyrs and early church believers who went through horrible persecutions but never flinched, going to their death singing hymns just like Paul and Silas in Philippi.
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.