Sarah’s Faith

By Susie Frederick

The Bible tells of many men and women who pleased God by their manner of life. We are to learn from their examples, so that we may please God in our lives. The first step toward pleasing God is developing our faith. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). What must our faith in God include? Let us consider the faith of a great woman in the Bible.

Sarah had faith in God’s promises. God had promised Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son, and through him, more descendants than could be counted (Genesis 12:16). God also promised that through Abraham and Sarah’s descendants, the whole world would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). As time passed, Sarah was barren. But God renewed His promise (Genesis 18:10) when Sarah was old. When she heard the promise this time, she laughed within herself. But God said, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14). The birth of their son Isaac happened just as God had promised (Genesis 21:2). We find in Hebrews 11:11 that it was through faith that Sarah was able to conceive and bear a child when she was old. She had faith in God’s promise.

God has made many promises to us through His written word, the Bible. Many scriptures in the Old Testament foretold the coming of Christ. Christ was the descendant of Sarah and Abraham who was the blessing to all the nations of the world. God fulfilled that promise when Jesus was born on the earth to live a perfect life as a man, and die as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. Now God promises to us, who live in the Christian Age, forgiveness of sins and eternal reward. These promises are given on the condition that we believe in God’s Son Jesus. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). God kept His promise to Sarah because of her faith; God will keep His promise to us if we have true faith.