Hebrews 11:11 tells us that Sarah had faith. This might be contrary to what a lot of people may think or have been taught because she drummed up the dumb idea to have Ishmael and because she laughed when she overheard the Lord telling Abraham at their old age they would now conceive and bring forth a child.
But scripture tells us she had a certain kind of faith that enabled her to conceive in a barren womb at the age of 90. Yes a miracle kind of faith. This verse in Hebrews 11:11 intrigues me… I don’t know about you but I like to suck all the meaning out of verses to find the keys and instructions that are present. Here is Hebrews 11:11 in the AMPC version.
“Because of faith also Sarah herself received physical power to conceive a child, even when she was long past the age for it, because she considered [God] Who had given her the promise to be reliable and trustworthy and true to His word”.
Number 1, we see Sarah as noted to having faith that enabled her to step into a miracle. Number 2. God gave her the promise. It wasn’t her made up desire or idea, this was what God promised. Now that right there is very important to be able to understand number 3. Number 3, we see the word “because”. In other words the “reason why” was she “considered” God as faithful. Consider in the Greek can also mean to “judge”. We can only judge or consider God faithful to something that has come out of His mouth. Now we know that when He says something He establishes it out of the mouth of two or three. In other words He will say it more than once. So we must know what we are believing in is a promise from God. Now the concept of judging God is an interesting concept to think on.
How do we judge God? This can truly effect our outcomes.
Sometimes we see faith as boldness or risk taking obedience, and at times faith does require that and is that. But let us consider another type of faith that was highlighted here to be attached to Sarah’s miracle. It was the way she “judged” God.
She “judged” Him, or we could rather say, “Her conclusion about God, was that He was trustworthy in character and faithful to what He had promised.
Sometimes we can loose heart, become weary and feel faithed out, faith- less even… but the Lord says even when we feel faithless He is faithful (2 Timothy 2:13). Don’t put faith in your ability to trust, or your ability to believe or have faith, but just judge God as faithful and true… turn your energy to judging Him as trustworthy in keeping His word.
Numbers 23:19
“God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie, neither the son of man, that He should feel repentance or compunction [for what He has promised]. Has He said and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken and shall He not make it good?”
Sarah was counted among those of faith, even though she made mistakes. One thing she got right though was how she judged God. This, scripture tells us was the “because” or the “reason why” she received her miracle.
Consider Him faithful…. when there is no possible way, the way or the how is not your responsibility, our responsibility is how we continue to judge Him when everything is screaming impossible. Impossibilities do not define who God is in a situation. He is faithful who has promised (Hebrews 10:23). Let that be your meditation, your noble, true, pure, just, worthy of praise, lovely and virtuous thought that keeps you in perfect peace. (Philippians 4:8, Isaiah 26:3).
Shalom
Anita Alexander
