The Faith of Sarah

Opening:

It is a beautiful thing to open the Word of God on the Lord’s Day.

Introduction of the Passage:

We are continuing on in our study of what the Apostle calls Our Great Cloud of Witnesses. This morning we will be in Hebrews 11:11-12. We are studying the faith of Sarah, the wife of Abraham. Sarah is an interesting study. In the Old Testament we don’t have much detail about her. She has little dialogue and what she does have does not always paint her in a particularly flattering light. But the New Testament speaks very highly of this woman of faith.

Particularly, she is listed here in this list of the faithful saints of old that we are to learn from and emulate. Remember, this list was given to show what living by faith looks like. We are to see the examples of these faithful saints and learn how we can live by faith like them.

So if you are able, I would ask you to stand with me for the reading of God’s Word.

Reading of the Passage:

Hebrews 11:11–12“11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.”

Behold the Word of God, let’s pray.

Prayer:

Our gracious Heavenly Father, we commit this time in your Word to you this morning. Use it to sanctify us and conform us into the image of your Son. We ask this in Jesus name, amen.

Text Idea:

In our text this morning we see that it was by faith in the character of God who made the promise that Sarah received strength to conceive and bear a child in her old age. It was through the faith of Abraham and Sarah that the promise of God was fulfilled.

Sermon Idea:

This morning I hope we see that by faith in the One who Promises, we too can be strengthened even when our faith wavers.

Interrogative:

But what do I mean when I say that we can be strengthened even when our faith wavers? Well, let’s dive in to the life of Sarah.

Transition:

You see, it is striking that Sarah would be included in this list. When we read the Genesis account, Sarah is a rather unlikely example of faith.

An Unlikely Example.

Explanation:

What do I mean. Well, as I mentioned, there is not much included about Sarah. We know she was old, we know she was the half sister of Abraham. We know God changed her name from Sarai to Sarah. But when it comes to dialogue, we really don’t have much. But perhaps the two most notable examples are actually depicting a lack of faith.

Let me set the stage a little. God promised to Abraham from him would come seed that would bless all the nations of the World. God would make from Abraham a great people, kings, and nations even though Abraham and Sarah were old.

We read of this in Genesis 12:1–3“1 Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.””

After some time passes God renewed this promise. Abraham complained to the Lord saying that he still had no offspring to be his heir. Abraham told God that his slave Eliezer would have to be his heir. And God responds in Genesis 15:4–6“4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” 5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”

But then some more time passes. And finally we get some input from Sarah. And it isn’t flattering. You see:

Sarah Doubted God’s Promise and Gave Hagar to Abraham.

In Genesis 16:1–4 we read “1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. 3 Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. 4 So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes.”

Sarah looked at the physical circumstances and thought maybe she could find a loophole in the promise of God. Maybe it was her responsibility to make God’s promise happen. Maybe the promise was to Abraham but not to her. Maybe God wanted Abraham to have children with someone else.

We aren’t given reasoning for exactly why Sarah did this. If we are being charitable, we could assume even the best of motivations. She may have been doing this thinking she was being faithful. But fundamentally, she took her eyes off of God’s promise and God’s faithfulness to attempt to make it happen. She was willing to violate the way God had ordained marriage in an attempt to force the promise to be fulfilled. And this was genuinely a lack of faith and lack of patience.

But God was gracious. You see, Ishmael was born from Hagar, and much transpired. Hagar and Sarah hated each other. But once again God comes to Abraham and renews the promise. God comes to Abraham and gives him the covenant seal of the Old Covenant, circumcision. And in giving this seal to Abraham God makes this promise in Genesis 17:15–16“15 Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.””

Abraham then shows his lack of faith by laughing at this. You see, he was 100 and Sarah was 90. Abraham then asks if Ishmael would be acceptable to God. But God answers.

Genesis 17:19 “19 Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him.” The promise was to Abraham and Sarah. God would honor Sarah. From her would come the fulfilment of the promise.

And the next time we hear from Sarah is when she, like her husband actually laughed at God’s promise.

Sarah Laughed at God’s Promise.

In Genesis 18, we get the fascinating account of God coming to visit Abraham. We do not have the time this morning to delve into all the theological intricacies of this passage. So suffice it to say that the Lord speaks to Abraham and says Genesis 18:10 “10 And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.” (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.)”

And then we read this. Genesis 18:11–12“11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?””

Sarah here directly expresses doubt. And God calls her on it. Listen to the rest. Genesis 18:13–15“13 And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh!””

Sarah doubted and then was afraid. She laughed in doubt at the promise of God.

Argumentation:

And you may be wondering why am I spending so much time on Sarah’s doubts? Didn’t Abraham doubt too? Absolutely, Abraham doubted too. But what sets Sarah apart is that there is so little dialogue from her. These are some of the only passages we have that relate directly her actions and words. We see Abraham doubt. But we also see Abraham repent. We see him change and become someone of incredibly unwavering faith. We do not get to see this from Sarah.

And that is where our passage this morning comes in. You see, the Bible does not spare the heroes of old. It paints them “warts and all.” And we see clearly Sarah was a woman who struggled with her faith. But, the apostle in our passage hails her as a pillar of the faith. Peter in his letter says she is a model that godly women today should emulate. And this gives an absolutely central point we have to see as we study Sarah.

Even When Sarah’s Faith Wavered, It Did Not Cease.

The life of Sarah is one that ought to give us all hope. The overwhelming majority about her in the Old Testament is about her struggles. But even in that, she remained faithful. She struggled with doubt. She struggled to trust God, but the record of Scripture is that she judged God as faithful. Her life is a record not of perfect unwavering faith, but of a woman who seriously struggled and yet remained faithful. In the end, she was faithful. And in the end, her faith is one of remarkable note.

Indeed, Abraham believed God and became the father of the faithful. So also we can see Sarah is as Calvin calls her, the mother of all the faithful.

Transition:

So let us now look at the outstanding faith of this woman who pushed through her doubts to become the mother of all the faithful. The first thing our text tells us is that by faith Sarah received strength to conceive.

By Faith Sarah Received Strength to Conceive.

Explanation:

Now we must keep in mind Abraham was 100, Sarah was 90 years old. One of the central causes for doubt in God’s promise for both Abraham and Sarah was their old age. As Scripture records, Sarah was past the age to have children and Abraham’s body was as good as dead.

But by faith she was strengthened. Her faith is what caused her to receive strength to conceive.

Argumentation:

And think of the faith it must have taken. I know it may have seemed like I was picking on Sarah before, but is it any wonder she doubted? She was old, well beyond the age where she could conceive a child. And years passed between the promise and and fulfilment. Abraham was 75 years old when God made the promise. Sarah would have been 65. Then 25 years pass before Isaac is conceived.

Imagine waiting 25 years to see the fulfilment of God’s promise. And think of the shame. Abraham’s name used to be Abram which meant the father of many. Then it was changed to Abraham, the father of many nations. Imagine when people would first meet Abram. “Oh you’re the father of many? The father of many nations? How many sons do you have?” How must Sarah have felt? She was barren.

I have known multiple women who have struggled to have children. And the one thing I know is that women who face that struggle feel the pain of it on an incredibly deep level. It is absolutely heart breaking. And that was likely how Sarah felt.

And I imagine the promise of God must have been of some comfort, but also could have been painful. As year after year passed and the promise did not come, I cannot imagine the pain that Sarah felt. But clearly she trusted God’s Word. Her faith faced it’s trials, but she remained faithful. And that faith gave her strength. And it was faith that even strengthened her body so that she could conceive.

Transition:

And that faith carried her through. And we see this next.

By Faith Sarah Gave Birth To Isaac in Her Old Age.

Explanation:

Imagine the joy when she did conceive. When she and Abraham finally were able to see the fruit of God’s promise. Her faith gave her strength to conceive. Her faith is what carried her through the pregnancy. I imagine there must have been incredible stress during that pregnancy. Ladies, imagine being pregnant at 90 years old. There must have been so many days and nights of stress. But God had promised, and Abraham and Sarah trusted God’s promise. And finally Sarah gave birth to Isaac. Listen to this beautiful passage.

Genesis 21:1–7“1 And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. 2 For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him—Isaac. 4 Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.” 7 She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.””

Isaac, which means laughter, was born. The child of the promise.

Argumentation:

Centrally, we must see that what carried Sarah through her doubts and struggles was faith. Faith in God and God’s promise kept her going in the darkest of days.

Transition:

And it is here that the Apostle gives us one of the most beautiful statements about Sarah’s faith. You see:

By Faith Sarah Judged God to be Faithful.

Explanation:

Hebrews 11:11 “11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” She judged Him faithful who had promised. What was it specifically that carried Sarah through those dark nights? What was it specifically that allowed her to overcome her doubts and failures? Why was it that her faith could be shaken profoundly and yet she never abandoned the faith? She judged God to be faithful. When she would look back on the promise God made, she judged that He was faithful. John Calvin put it so wonderfully. “Sarah counted God to be true to His Word.”

Even though every factor was against them, even though everything in their lives was shaken, she knew God was true to His Word.

Argumentation:

True faith is not a faith that never struggles. True faith is a faith that endures. True faith is not faith that never has a single doubt. We will all stumble and fall. But true faith endures to the end.

Transition:

We have seen what happened, but the Apostle continues. He directly transitions into the fruit of faith.

By the Faith of Abraham and Sarah, the Promise Was Fulfilled.

Explanation:

Hebrews 11:12“12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.”

The Apostle is here referencing God’s covenant promise to Abraham in Genesis 15:5–6“5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”

Abraham and Sarah likely could not fully imagine the fulness of God’s promise. Descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, as the sand on the sea shore. And by faith, this promise of God was fulfilled.

Argumentation:

It was the faith of Abraham and Sarah. God used both Abraham and Sarah. Both of them had true faith. Both of them stand as pillars of the faith. Both fit the definition of faith. Hebrews 11:1“1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Both of them hoped for a child. And their faith in the promise of God was the title deed of that hope. Isaac was promised by God. Neither Abraham nor Sarah could see the fulfilment in the moment. How could God give them a child? How could nations come from their bodies? But their faith in the character and promise of God was the evidence of things not seen.

And I want you to see the fulfilment of this. There was a partial fulfilment of God’s promise. Several places in the Old Testament we see that Israel became as numerous as the stars in the sky. It is true that Israel, the descendants of Abraham and Sarah did become an incredibly large people. But that was only a partial fulfilment. God promised that from Abraham and Sarah’s offspring all the nations of the earth would be blessed. And that is fulfilled by Christ. Christ is the blessing to all the nations. He is the savior of the World. And through Him, we learn something incredible.

If you recall last Sunday I opened by saying Abraham is the father of the faithful. Galatians 3:6–9“6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.” And listen to Galatians 3:29 “29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Who are the children of Abraham and Sarah? It is not the physical descendants. It is the church. Christians are the offspring of Abraham and Sarah. And let me tie this together. The promise of God to Abraham was that from he and Sarah would come a multitude as numerous as the stars of the sky and the sands of sea shore. This is poetic language of a multitude unable to counted. All those who have faith in Christ, Old and New Testament are heirs according to the promise. And we directly see the fulfilment of this in Scripture. Listen to this.

Revelation 7:9–12“9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.””

We are still living out the fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah today. Indeed, on that day, the number will be as many as the stars and sand of the sea. Abraham and Sarah’s faith was not in vain. We, right here, right now are the fruit of the faith of our ancient father and mother.

Transition:

So let’s summarize the faith of Sarah. Let us ask our first question.

Conclusion:

How Did Sarah Live by Faith?

Sarah lived by faith by trusting the faithfulness of God in spite of doubts.

She could have easily been tempted to give up. But even though she had doubts, she remained faithful. And through that faith we are here today.

Visualization:

So let us ask our next question:

How Can We Live By Faith Like Sarah?

We can live by faith like Sarah by trusting God’s Word even in the midst of our trials.

Sarah is an example to us all. She could have easily justified giving up. All the odds were stacked against her. Yet, she remained faithful. She remained faithful to her husband. She remained faithful to God. And her faith is one of the reasons we are blessed in Christ today.

Reiteration:

We too must continue to trust God’s Word, even when it is hard.

Application:

But let us close by looking at the specifics of how we can apply the faith of Sarah to our lives. The Apostle Peter specifically says Sarah is an example to godly women.

Sarah is an example to godly women.

1 Peter 3:1–6“1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.”

Sarah is the central example here. Specifically the Apostle Peter is saying that Sarah is an example of faith for you women. How can a godly woman live by faith? God has told us here through saint Peter. Ladies, you should look at Sarah as your mother in the faith who is attempting to teach what it means to be a godly woman. Do not buy the feminist lie of our age. Learn from the faith of your mother. And there are three things Scripture calls you to imitate.

The beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. Sarah was a woman not defined by her physical adornment. She stands as an example of inner beauty that is built by faith. She was not loud and obnoxious. She was gentle and quiet in her soul. Not nagging.

Godly submission to your husband. Think of the life of Abraham and Sarah. Abraham was a deeply flawed man. He was a liar and bull headed. And Sarah knew this deeply. And yet she is seen here as an example of submission. In faith, she submitted to her husband, calling him Lord. His mistakes did not shake her honoring him. She saw him at his lowest, and yet still submitted to him and to God’s commands for her.

Do not fear. I cannot imagine the fear Sarah must have endured in her life. But by faith, she possessed true feminine bravery. She never gave in to fear. She counted God faithful to His promise even in the midst of fear.

Sarah was gentle and quiet, submissive, and brave. Ladies, she did all this by faith. I am sure, none of this came naturally to her. I am sure there were moments where she failed and even more moments where she was tempted in these areas. But by faith in God and His Word, this is the legacy she left. My prayer for you ladies is that you would emulate this woman and her feminine faith.

Transition:

But there is more that must shape our lives from the life of Sarah. Not just you women, all of us must learn one more thing from the mother of the faithful. And I would end with this:

Endure Because God is Faithful.

Sarah was right in judging that God is faithful. She was right. Hebrews 10:23 uses almost the exact same wording “23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” This was what Sarah knew about God. He who promised is faithful. We may not see the fulfillment of God’s promises for a very very long time. And that is discouraging. Let me give just one example.

Think of 1 Corinthians 15:25–26 “25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.” When we look around, there sure seem to be a lot of enemies of Christ. They seem to be everywhere. And from our extremely limited perspective, they seem to be winning right now. But God has promised that He will crush them. All those enemies WILL be under Christ’s feet. We must never take the black pill of doom. We must always hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. Why? Because He who promised is faithful.

Appeal:

This is the evidence of the life of Sarah. She struggled, but she remained faithful. She held fast the confession of her hope because she knew that He who promised is faithful. Let us do the same.

Let’s pray.

Closing Prayer:

Offering:

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.

Closing Hymn: