Sarah’s Wonder of Faith
Hebrews 11:11-12
Introduction
There were only two women specifically mentioned in Faith’s Honor Roll or in Faith’s Hall of Fame. Sarah is the first and the other is Rahab. Why other remarkable women like Elizabeth, Ruth, Mary the mother of Jesus, Hannah, Ester, etc., didn’t make it, I can’t find a good explanation. There are so many things we cannot explain in the Bible (Deut. 29:29). I want to remind you that the people we are talking about in this beautiful Chapter were not perfect or without fault. Their faith was clearly presented in the Bible but their failure and mistakes are never mentioned here in Chapter 11. Why? Because of God’s amazing grace. Grace doesn’t focus on failures. Sure, the Bible heroes failed, but they didn’t remain a failure. They were able to get things right and is now seen in Hebrews as persons of great faith in God. Sarah is one of them.
I. Sarah
A. Sarah (princess). The wife of Abraham. Sarah’s name was originally Sarai, but it was changed to Sarah by God. It was made at the same time that Abram’s name was changed to Abraham. She is ten years younger than Abraham. Sarah was his half-sister; they had the same father but different mothers (Gen. 20:12).
B. This name was given to her at the time that it was announced to Abraham that she should be the mother of the promised child. Her story is from her marriage to Abraham till the time of her death. Her death, at the age of one hundred and twenty-seven years is the only instance in Scripture where the age of a woman is recorded.
Illustration/Application: The Duration of Life (just for laughs)
God originally determined 30 years as the ideal span of life for all animals, including mankind. The donkey, the dog, and the monkey considered it much too long, however, and begged God to reduce their years by 18, 12, and 10. Being healthy, vigorous, and somewhat greedy, the man asked to be given those extra years.
God agreed, so man’s years totalled 70. The first 30 are his own and they pass quickly. The next 18 are the “donkey years,” during which he has to carry countless burdens on his back. Then come the “dog years, 12 years when he can do little but grow and drag himself along. This is followed by the “monkey years,” his closing 10, when he grows rather strange and does things that make children laugh at him. — 10,000 Sermon Illustrations
II. Sarah Had A loyal Faith
A. Through faith also Sara herself… (Heb. 11:11). This verse talks about Sarah who has faith just like Abraham. She stepped out on faith with Abraham. She left everything just like her husband. For many years she wandered through the wilderness and deserts with her husband. Not all woman would do that, Sarah remained loyal and followed her husband. In 1 Peter 3:6 Sarah even call Abraham lord to show her being subject to her husband as the head of the family. Abraham had a great vision and Sarah shared that vision and she followed her man wherever he went, looking for the city whose builder was God. She was a godly woman of great faith.
B. Sarah was about 65 years old when she and Abraham left Haran (Gen. 12:5; 17:7). Passing through Egypt, Abraham introduced Sarah as his sister, apparently to keep himself from being killed by those who would be attracted by Sarah’s beauty (Gen. 12:10-20; 20). They both lied for they told only half-truth. Sarah agreed to lie to protect her husband. I would call that love, loyalty and self-sacrifice. God preserved Sarah’s honor in spite of her husband’s folly. (Gen. 12:17) and her being an accomplish for the lie of her husband.
III. God’s Promise
A. Sarah was given the promised son in her old age (Gen. 17:19-21; 18:9-14; 21:1-8). Abraham and Sarah both laughed about God’s promise at one point as recorded (Gen. 17:17; 18:12), but they went on to trust God and believe His promises.
IV. Sarah’s Faltering Faith
A. In spite of God’s promise to Abraham that he would become the father of a chosen nation, Sarah remained childless. When she was 75, she decided that the only way to realize God’s promise was to present Abraham her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar, by whom he could father a child. In the ancient Near East, it was important that women produce male children in order to perpetuate the family. Barrenness was the greatest misfortune that could happen to a woman and her family. God had promised Abraham innumerable descendants who would possess the land of Canaan and be a blessing among the nations (Gen. 12:1-3; 13:14-17; 15:1-6,18-21; 17:1-21; 18:17-19). Sarah’s barrenness prevented the fulfilment of these promises.
B. Rather than relying and waiting on God for the promised son, she resorted to the common practice. A plan which Abraham also consented. We can say that at this point, Abrahams’ faith also faltered. As a result, Ishmael was born (Gen. 16). God however, rejected Ishmael and to make the story short, he and Hagar was sent away. When the Lord visited Abraham in the plains of Mamre, Sara heard that she was going to become pregnant and have a baby, the Bible says that she laughed within herself. (Gen. 18:12). When the Lord asked why she laughed, she denied it; God knows she lied but did not punish her.
C. Circumstances sometimes affect our faith. The disciple’s despite of witnessing the healing power of the Lord, His power over death and the devils, in the midst of the storm became afraid in which they were rebuked by the Lord (Mt. 8:26 Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?). It can happen to us also. We believe and show our faith in the Lord but in a moment of weakness, our faith fails.
V. Sarah’s growing and strengthening Faith
A. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. (Heb. 11:11). This is an amazing account of God’s grace. Despite the fact that Sarah wavered in her faith, God remained faithful. It is written, “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself”. (2 Tim. 2:13). Because God abideth faithful, He kept His promises to Abraham and Sarah.
B. Sarah… received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age. Sarah overcame her doubt and distrust, and it was by faith that she was able to conceive a son. The next year she gave birth to Isaac, and the laughter of doubt and distrust (Gen 17:17; 18:12) was replaced by the laughter of joy and happiness (Gen. 21:1-7). Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 years old when Isaac was born.
C. This is where God’s power and ability meets and overcomes human weaknesses …. because she judged him faithful who had promised. Sarah’s faith had been restored and she firmly believed what God said. She laughed at the idea of having a baby at her age, but she didn’t continue laughing, doubting. and distrusting. God asked her with a challenging question, Is anything too hard for the Lord? (Gen. 18:14). What a heart piercing question! Sarah got things right with Lord and her faith grew and become stronger. She showed genuine faith to God.
VI. Sarah’s Fruitful Faith
A. Therefore, sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. (Heb. 11:12). From Abraham and Sarah’s faith a nation came into existence. Sarah’s faith must have pleased the Lord that is why her name was written in this chapter. Truly God forgets our failures and looks at our renewed faith. By faith Sarah was transformed from a doubting barren woman to a rejoicing mother.
VII. Spiritual Lessons
1. God’s will never fail, it will always prevail (Gen. 16-17)
2. God knows everything even our secret thoughts. We can’t hide from God. (Gen. 18:9-15)
3. There are times that our faith falters, it all happened to people of great faith (Gen. 16:1-6; 18:9-15).
4.We can always bounce back from our failures and be victorious just like our Bible heroes.
VIII. Conclusion:
By faith Sarah was able to give birth to a son even when she is old. Though her faith wavered while they are waiting for God’s promise to happen, she got things right and showed genuine faith. How is your faith my friend, can you say it is genuine?
