Examples of Faith -
The Faith of Sarah (Abraham's Wife) - Hebrews 11:11-12
 "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, also, there was born 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
(NAS)
Later on in Abraham's life, God promised Abraham and Sarah (his wife) that they
would have a son. From this son there would arise a great nation.
The Promise of a Son
"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 indeed I will give you a son
by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of
peoples shall come from her."
17 Then Abraham fell on his
face and laughed, and said in his heart, "Will a child be born to a man one
hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?
18
And Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live
before Thee!"
19
But God said, "No, but Sarah your wife
shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My
covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.
20
"And as for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will
bless him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He
shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
21
"But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom
Sarah will bear to you at this season next year."
22
And
when He finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham." Genesis
17:15-22 (NAS)
Sarah is Told of the Promise
Then they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?"
And he said, "Behold, in the tent."
10
And he said, "I
will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife
shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind
him.
11
Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age;
Sarah was past childbearing.
12
And Sarah laughed to
herself, saying, "After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being
old also?"
13
And the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah
laugh, saying, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, when I am so old?'
14
"Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will
return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son."
15 Sarah denied it however, saying, "I did not laugh"; for
she was afraid. And He said, "No, but you did laugh." Genesis 18:9-15
(NAS)
Question:
According to Hebrews 11:11-12, what was it that Sarah had hoped for?
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By
faith Abraham, even though he was past age-- and
Sarah herself was barren-- was enabled to become a
father because he considered him faithful who had
made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and
he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as
the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on
the seashore. (NIV)
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. (NKJ)
By
faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive
seed when she was past age, since she counted him
faithful who had promised: 12 wherefore also there
sprang of one, and him as good as dead, (so many) as
the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand,
which is by the sea-shore, innumerable. (ASV)
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)