"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. 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." —Hebrews 11:11-12
Isaac was pre-eminently a child of
faith. His birth was a supernatural work of God, a work of grace, for his birth
was typical and prophetic of our Savior’s incarnation. But his birth was no
less miraculous, no less supernatural, no less the work of God’s grace than the
fact that Sarah believed God would do it!
Abraham was 100 years old when
Isaac was born. Sarah was 90! Not only was she well past the age of bearing
children, she had never given birth to a child. Her womb was dry and barren. It
was, as they say, “biologically impossible” for her to give birth to a son; but
she did. It was totally contrary to “common sense” for her to bare a child; but
she did. It was totally contrary to reason for her to believe that God would do
this thing; but she did!
Sarah
believed God. – “Through faith Sarah also
herself received strength.” Here is a happy, blessed family. –
Both Abraham and Sarah believed God! What a blessing it is when both husband
and wife are believers, when both in the same yoke pull together. They were
heirs together of the same promises. They lived by the same principles, sought
the same things, loved the same things, and sought to avoid the same things,
because both believed God. Blessed is that house where both the husband and
wife love someone else more than they love each other, their children, or
themselves. – Where Christ is loved supremely! Like Zechariah and Elizabeth,
Abraham and Sarah “were both righteous
before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord
blameless” (Luke 1:6).
Here
is an exemplary woman of faith. Abraham did not and could not believe God for Sarah.
Sarah herself believed God. Her faith is specifically mentioned so that all
might understand that in Christ all social distinctions are insignificant (Col.
3:10-11). Sarah is held before us as an example for all to follow, particularly
for all women to follow (1 Pet. 3:6).
Here is
a marvelous display of grace. In the Genesis
record no mention is made of Sarah’s faith, only of her unbelief. Here no
mention is made of her unbelief, only of her faith. Her unbelief is forgiven
and hidden by the inspired writer. Her faith is recorded and honored. How
gracious our God is (Mark 16:7). Let us ever seek to be like him (Eph.
4:32-5:2).
Because
she believed God, Sarah received strength to conceive. – “Through faith Sarah also
herself received strength to conceive seed.” The word “herself”
is emphatic Sarah did not receive the strength she needed from Abraham, or from
Abraham’s faith. She received it from God by the gift of his grace through her
own faith.
By believing God, Sarah obtained
that which she did not have before and could not get any other way. Her dead
womb was given life to conceive. The Lord God did exactly the same thing for
Sarah that he did for Abraham (Rom. 4:17). Sarah discovered the answer to the
angel’s question for herself. – “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Matt. 19:26; Mark 9:23).
Sarah
waited for God to fulfill his promise for 25
long, long years. In that time, she erred greatly, failed miserably, and
brought upon herself and her house great pain and sorrow. Yet, all that time,
she believed God and waited. At last, she received the strength she required
(Ps. 27:13-14; Isa. 40:31; Lam. 3:25-26).
Like Sarah,
you and I obtain strength by faith in Christ by believing God. Our God has
promised to honor those who honor him (1 Sam. 2:30). Nothing honors God like
faith. God always honors faith. His word to us is, “Lay hold of my strength” (Isa. 27:5;Job 8:7; Eph. 6:10; Phil.
4:12-13; 2 Tim. 2:1).
Because
she believed God, Sarah “was delivered of
a child when she was past age.” Her faith
was persevering. This ninety year old woman went into labor with confidence,
believing God and nursed a son like a twenty year old! There was no abortion
and no miscarriage! Why? Because Sarah believed God (1 Tim. 2:15).
Rachel died in giving birth.
Phineas’ wife did, too, as have many, many others. The pain and travail of
giving birth is but a part of the curse. God has arranged that the birth of a
child, perhaps the happiest of all human experiences, have with it a reminder
of the curse and the threat of death.
Most women are delivered from
death in child bearing, believers and unbelievers. The one who delivers them is
God, whether they know it or not. But believers worship God in all things. We
live by faith! Sarah believed God, worshipped him, gave birth to Isaac by faith
(worshipping God), and gave thanks to God for the child he gave (Prov. 3:5-6).