The Birth of Isaac as an Example of Faith: Hebrews 11:11-12
“11) By faith even Sarah herself received 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 at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.” Hebrews 11:11-12
The story of Sarah reminds us that faith turns seemingly impossible situations into a reality. She was well past menopause, and yet God promised a child would be born through her. (See Genesis 18 & 21) Even more, God promised as many descendants as the stars in the shy for numbers.
The bigger the promise the more impossible it often appears. Jesus is Lord of the big things as well as the little things. He is Lord of all.
Romans 5:18-22 adds significant details to this story. In hope against hope Abraham believed. He did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, being fully assured that what He had promised, He was able also to perform.
But keep in mind, this example of faith came 12 years after his lapse of faith and the birth of Ishmael. Both he and Sarah were over a decade older. They became pregnant with faith before Sarah became pregnant with child.
God often let’s us fail before He shows up in great ways. The longer it takes us to yield to Him, the more impossible things become. But as the angel asked Sarah; ”Is anything too difficult for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14)
We need to train ourselves to see our situation through the power of God and not through our own ability. Faith starts where human effort ends. This is what separates the extraordinary from the mediocre. Many Christians never see great things happen because they never attempt for God anything greater than mere human effort can achieve.
But faith goes beyond self. It transcends past failures. Faith concentrates 100% focus on God and His power. Faith fills in the gap between what we can do and what God can do! Therefore, God alone gets all the glory for the outcome of works of faith.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
