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 Correct.
 "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)
What did God ask Sarah to Do?
The answer is...nothing. There is nothing recorded that God asked Sarah
to do. At first Sarah laughed at the prospect of her being able to have
children:
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?" Genesis 18:10-12 (NAS)
Despite Sarah's first reaction of laughter, Hebrews 11:11 says that Sarah
"considered Him (God) faithful who had promised."
What was God's Part in This?
God did everything. He gave Sarah the ability to conceive, even though
it was beyond normal childbearing years (she was 90 years old -- See Genesis
17:17).
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By Faith
Sarah Received the Ability to Conceive (Hebrews 11:11)
Faith is the assurance of things
hoped for...
the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews
11:1 |
| 1. What is the
thing hoped for...or is not seen? |
What Is
The Thing Hoped For:
The
ability to conceive and bear children. |
| 2. What is
man's
part, if any? |
Nothing. The promise was not
conditional upon Sarah doing anything.
There is no record of God asking Sarah to do
anything to receive the promise. |
| 3. What is
God's part? |
God did everything. By faith Sarah received the
promise..."since she considered Him faithful who had promised." |
| 4. How did
Sarah have this assurance and conviction
that God would give her the ability to
conceive? |
-
Understand the thing hoped
for...or the thing not seen.
-
Hear God's word (Faith comes
by hearing...and hearing by the word of
Christ. Romans 10:17) to
understand God's power and faithfulness
to His promises.
-
Do your part, if any.
-
Trust God that He has done what
He has said...and/or that He will do
what He promises.
-
Pray that God will help increase
your belief and faith (Luke 17:5, Mark
9:23-24) and give you wisdom (James 1:5).
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In certain instances, God has made promises that are not conditional upon us
doing anything. In the case of Sarah, she did nothing other than to
believe and have faith that God would deliver what He promised.
Click on the next question to continue...
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