Hope and Assurance
11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. Hebrews 11:1-2
She Laughed
Abraham and Sarah wanted a baby of their own more than anything. They had tried for years, but Sarah was barren. However, one day the Lord spoke to Abraham telling him that he would have a son. In fact one certain day three visitors came to Abraham’s tent. Abraham asked Sarah to make some bread, and a servant to prepare a young tender lamb. While they were eating the three visitors mentioned that this time next year Sarah would have a son. Sarah overheard and she laughed. (See Genesis 18:12- God knew and asked Abraham why does Sarah laugh.
She Had Faith
Consider for a moment that her laughter wasn’t necessarily without doubt, however, she still had faith. For years the promise of a son being born to Abraham and Sarah is one they waited for. For a very long time. One day in the waiting they took matters into their own hands and Sarah offered up her slave, Hagar, to her husband so that she may become pregnant and bear a child for him and Sarah. She didn’t know how to accept God’s promise for what it was. Yet, let us consider for a moment that her laughter wasn’t necessarily a complete lack of faith. She just didn’t know God was the one whose hands her promised son would come from. Yet she still had faith in God’s promise when she thought she could take matters into her own hands.
How Do We Know
11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she[b] considered him faithful who had made the promise.
Scripture tells us she never thought she might have a child at her age, but she did consider God to be faithful. This is why she hoped that taking matters into her own hands would work. She just didn’t realize that when God makes a promise His word never fails to come to pass from His hands.
How About Us
Have we ever taken God’s promise and thought that is impossible. At my age, or not for me. I know I have. Considered for instance that my heart would never have the ability to love again after my husband of twenty years left me. Yet, it is. It is still hoping. It still beats and there’s still fire lit under the love I have to give someone. It started off as me remembering that my maker was my husband and that the Lord of Hosts was His name. Then suddenly, when I wasn’t looking for it. My heart was believing in love again. This took time however, a broken heart doesn’t mend overnight. Yet steeped in God’s love it can be bound up, heal, and be open to love again. Be open to promises God has made.
What can we learn from Sarah? We have a faithful God! One who does the impossible because nothing is too hard for Him to accomplish. That even when we try to make things happen for ourselves God really does have perfect timing. And if you think a woman in her nineties carrying a healthy child full term and birthing him into the world isn’t a miracle. You are wrong. The fourth child I carried was a high-risk pregnancy, and that was at thirty-three.
Living Water Takeaway
- Believe what God has promised will come to pass.
- Don’t try to make it happen yourself.
- At the right time, the promise will come because He is faithful.
Another Samaritan Woman 