The faith of Sarah

Wednesday, 19 July 2023

"It was by faith that Sarah herself, despite her advanced years, was enabled to have posterity, because she believed in the faithfulness of him who had made the promise." Hebrews 11. 11

The faith of Sarah

Sarah, aged 90, had laughed to herself when she heard what the Angel of the Lord announced to Abraham : "Sarah, your wife will have a son". Sarah denies this inner laughter of disbelief before the Angel of the Eternal. The response of the Eternal : "On the contrary, you laughed" (Genesis 18. 10-15), undoubtedly led her to understand that she was in the presence of the One who reads hearts. Sara will turn this laugh into a joyous exclamation after the birth of her son Isaac : "God made me laugh with joy. All who hear of Isaac's birth will laugh with me", and she adds : "Who could say to Abraham : One day, Sara will breastfeed children ? However, I gave her a son in her old age !" (Genesis 21. 6, 7).

It is this change in Sarah attitude that is credited with her faith in Hebrews 11. The divine promise to have a child had not been fulfilled when it was still biologically possible. But she knew the Lord and his power, she trusted in his faithfulness. It was to her two attributes that she relied for the fulfillment of God's promise.

1. His power : Since the Eternal is “the Almighty God” (Genesis 17:1), he is able to perform such a miracle. There's no doubt about it, Sarah was convinced of it.

2. His fidelity, the pledge of love : He who truly loves cannot fail in his commitment. Sarah knew that God had promised her a child, she knew that he would keep his word.

The Spirit of God leads the author of the epistle to the Hebrews to discern in Sarah a remarkable intelligence of the thoughts of God. Beyond God's omnipotence, Sarah understood that God is trustworthy, as Ethan the Ezrachite would later say : "Eternal, God of hosts ! Who is mighty like you, O Eternal ? Your faithfulness surrounds you” (Psalm 89.9). What God has promised, he is powerful to accomplish (Romans 4.21), for he is faithful to his promises, faithful to answer those who trust in him (see Deuteronomy 7.9; 32.4).

Take Sarah faith as an example : God honors even the weakest faith, when we let go of our mistrust to grasp the promises of God.

Source (Pleasing the Lord)