Hebrews 11_11_12 Obs

11 By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she[f] considered that the one who had promised was faithful. 12 Therefore, from one man—in fact, from one as good as dead—came offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and as innumerable as the grains of sand along the seashore. (CSB)

11 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. 12 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 (KJV)

By faith even Sarah herself received [j]ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead [k]at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. (NASB)

Intro: Note: (Abraham’s faith is still the subject it digresses to bring in Sarah)

How many stars are in the sky?

How much sand on the earths beaches?

This hyperbole shows the vastness of the descendants that were to come from an elderly man and his barren wife.

The Hebrews were to trust in God’s faithfulness! He would deliver them from judgment/wrath even though they could not see deliverance in their near future, all they saw was persecution. Deliverance seems impossible because of their persecution.

Sarah is an example of the impossible becoming possible through faith. Trusting in God’s faithfulness!

Faith overcomes the impossible Vs. 11

Past the age (Gen 18:11-12)

Verbs vs 11

Received - to get hold of

Delivered – produce, to bring forth (Born)

Judged – consider, regard (She regarded Him as faithful)

Promised - ἐπαγγέλλω ĕpaggĕllō, ep-ang-el´-lo; from 1909 and the base of 32; to announce upon (reflex.), i.e. (by impl.) to engage to do something, to assert something respecting oneself:—profess, (make) promise. (Past Tense)

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Hebrews 6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he ware by himself,

Romans 4:19-21 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

but concluded that the certainty of God’s word far outweighed them all.

Adjective vs 11

Faithful - πιστός pistŏs, pis-tos´; from 3982; obj. trustworthy; subj. trustful:—believe (-ing, -r), faithful (-ly), sure, true. (Reliable) is God reliable

Past (beyond the season of age)

Through faith (trusting God will deliver) Sarah received her promised child, even though she lived 90 years barren. Even as old as she was, believed God who had promised. Faith is the power over the impossible. To live 90 years one way (Barren) then to say something has changed even though I know people my age are unable to bear children. She had past that age, she was barren during her child barren years. But she trusted God who is faithful.

The Hebrews were to trust in God’s faithfulness! He would deliver them from judgment/wrath even though they could not see deliverance in their near future, all they saw was persecution. Deliverance seems impossible because of their persecution.

Faith delivers the impossible Vs. 12

Even as one as good as dead, Abraham was 100.

Isaac born (Gen 21:1) As He had said, and did as He had promised.

God’s faithfulness to protect the promise. Abimelech (Gen 20:17-18)

Verbs vs. 12

Sprang – became the parent of. “Born”

As good as dead – as far as the hope of founding a family