Sahara's Faith (Heb. 11:11-12)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 05-31-03

 

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Sahara’s faith

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Hebrews 11:11,12

 

            1.  Message of the verse:  “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, 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.”  (NASB)  “It was by faith that Sarah together with Abraham was able to have a child, even though they were too old and Sarah was barren.  Abraham believed that God would keep His promise.  And so a whole nation came from this one man, Abraham, who was too old to have any children—a nation with so many people that, like the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.”  (NLT)

            I like the words that are repeated in this chapter on different occasions, “by faith.”  The writer is saying to us that these men and women of faith believed what God had told them in spite of circumstances and in spite of any consequences that may have come their way.  In the case of Abraham and Sarah, as seen in these two verses they believed God would give them the promised child that would by fathered by a 99 year old man, with a 90 year old woman who had been barren all of her life.  This took courage and patience on the part of these two faithful people, and although there were times when their faith was not quite what it should have been, they still would believe the things that God had told them concerning this very important child.  They believed that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 

            2.  It is hard to have patience, and to continue to wait upon the Lord for things that He has promised He would do as seen in His Word.  I am sure that it was very hard on both Abraham and Sarah to wait all of those years to have a child, and when they tried to “help God,” in making this process happen, I am also sure that they recreated it for the rest of their lives.  I can see these things in my life to, as it is hard for me to wait upon the Lord to get me through this storm that He I leading us through with our investments.  I would pray that while we are in this storm that the Lord, by His grace, will give us all His wonder peace that passes all understanding.

 

The Word of God was challenging to my heart, and it also has brought conviction concerning the many times that I have tried to help God in different situations in my life.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To continue to trust the Lord to give me the peace that passes all understanding, that will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus, my Lord.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 40:14,15

 

14.  Let those be ashamed and humiliated together who seek my life to destroy it; Let those be turned back and dishonored who delight in my hurt.

15.  Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me “Aha, aha!”