The Faith of a Princess
Today’s Verse:
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. ~Hebrews 11:11
As we get older, we become more knowledgeable about things in life. We know that getting older means that there are certain things we could do as a youth that we cannot do as an adult. Our eyesight changes to where reading glasses are necessary. Unless we exercise daily, our strength ebbs from us. We also become more skeptical of promises made by others. What would you say if you were a woman who was 89 years of age and you were told that you will conceive and bring forth a son? You would cry, “Impossible!” This morning, we are examining the life of Sara. Her name means “princess.” Let us see the faith of a princess.
We see Sara, the spouse.
“Through faith also Sara.” In the listing of the great heroes of faith, the wife of Abraham is included. Many times, a wife is in the shadow of her husband, and little is said or known of her. I am thankful that our Scripture this morning says, “Also Sara.” The promise of the son had been given several times to Abraham. However, Sara couldn’t get her head and heart wrapped around this promise. She thought, at first, that the promised son would come by way of a surrogate mother. That turned out to be a disaster. Then, at age 89, as she sat in her tent and listened as God told Abraham for the last time that in due season the son would be conceived, she laughed within herself. It was at that critical moment that God came, asked her why she laughed, and said, “Is there anything too hard for the Lord?” Faith arose in her soul, and, along with her husband, she “also” believed.
We see Sara and her strength.
We are told that “she was past age.” The Bible describes the bodies of Abraham and Sara “as good as dead.” Humanly, conceiving a child was impossible. No woman at that age could conceive and bear a child. However, “Sara herself received strength to conceive seed.” The word for “strength” is the Greek word “dunamis,” which means “power.” We get our words “dynamic” and “dynamite” from this word. She received power. God gave her the power to conceive! Her faith opened the door of opportunity for God to enable her aged, infertile, and weakened body to conceive. The strength that God gave her to conceive was equal to that of a younger woman of child-bearing age. Faith is the door that leads to power from above.
We see Sara and her submission.
“She judged him faithful who had promised.” At her old age, she put away her skepticism and had faith in God’s Word. She submitted herself completely to God to do what was pleasing in His sight. It might have sounded strange and it looked weird for an 89-year-old woman to conceive, but it demonstrated incredible submission and faith in God’s Word. Many times, God begins something in us and we try to understand what is being accomplished. It is only through submission and waiting on God that we see His perfect will unfolding. Where faith is exercised, submission must accompany it.
We see Sara and her son.
“And was delivered of a child when she was past age.” Nine months after she conceived, when she was 90 years of age, Sara gave birth to the promised son! Isaac was the product of faith! Isaac’s birth demonstrated how the impossible was possible with God. Sara and Abraham are both commended for “having seen [the promises] afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” She saw, was persuaded, embraced, and confessed that without faith it is impossible to please God.
Sara demonstrates the faith of a princess. As children of God, we are heirs who must live and demonstrate this royal heritage.
Have a faith-filled God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Esther 1-5