The lives of Abraham and Sarah are full of lessons from which we can learn much. Because Abraham believed God was faithful to His promises, he stepped out in faith and followed God’s leading. Because Sarah believed God was faithful, she gave birth to a son well past her childbearing years. They believed God would do what He said He would. It was not always easy for them to believe, but, in the end, God honored them for their faith.
Hebrews 11:1-3 1: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2: For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Heb:11:8-16 8: By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9: By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11: 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. 13: These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14: For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15: And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16: But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
These verses give three examples of Abraham’s actions of faith, and one of Sarah.
The first example is that Abraham obeyed God’s calling.
Heb:11:8: By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Let’s look at that calling as given to us in Genesis.
Ge:12:1-8 1: Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 4: So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. 5: And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. 6: And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. 7: And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. 8: And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
Here in Genesis, it says, God gave Abraham two instructions to follow. First, he was to leave his country, and second he was to leave his family. He obeyed the first, but not the second. God did bless him because he obeyed the first command, but could not bring full blessings. It is important to follow the instructions that God gives each of us for our lives.
Psalm 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
It does not tell us that God will give us the big plan for our lives, but that he will instruct and teach us as we go. We need to be obedient and take the first steps in order for God to lead us. There were twelve disciples in the boat, but only one walked on the water, because he took the first step of faith at Jesus command of come. Don’t look to what those around you are doing, look to Jesus for the instructions for your lift. In fact, many people have failed greatly just because they took a word prophesied over them as God’s word to them, instead of looking at what their heart was telling them.
Abraham is in the learning process…he would be learning by his mistakes. We can learn by his mistake, and also ours.
Psalm 37:23-24 23: The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24: Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
He took Lot with him which would cause problems for him later. He obeyed and left the country. God did not tell him where he was to go to, but he had to be faithful and obey the first step in order for God to give him the second step. Let’s read what happened as a result of Abraham not obeying the second command from God.
Genesis 13 1-18 1: And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 2: And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 3: And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; 4: Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD. 5: And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. 6: And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. 7: And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. 8: And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. 9: Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. 10: And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11: Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12: Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13: But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. 14: And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16: And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17: Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. 18: Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.
Abraham journeyed with Lot from Ur to Canaan. He then went to Egypt with Lot. He returned again to the same location in Canaan after the famine was over, but God did not speak to Abraham about his calling all this time. It was not until Lot left Abraham that God spoke to him again. Let’s look again at the two messages of God spoken to Abraham.
Ge:12:1-8 1: Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Genesis 13:14-17 14: And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. 16: And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17: Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
Sometimes we get in the way of God’s blessings. Abraham did this with Lot. It was not until Lot left that God could speak to him again. This second time he gives him further instructions. He shows him the land. He also tells him again about the abundant blessings that He would give to Abraham and his seed.
Let’s go back to Hebrews 11 to see the second action of faith by Abraham.
Hebrews 11:9-10, 13-16 9: By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 13: These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14: For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15: And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16: But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
This tells us that Abraham lived in a tent because he was looking in faith to heaven. Let’s look at Genesis 13 again.
Ge:13:3: And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;
Ge:13:5: And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.
Ge:13:12: Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
Ge:13:18: Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.
So it shows us here that Abraham was living in a tent as well as Lot. Now Lot went into town, but Abraham continued to live in a tent, all to show that he was looking toward his eternal home in heaven, and not an earthly one. This takes us to the promise of God and Sarah’s faith. Let’s read Hebrews 11 again.
Hebrews 11:11-12 11: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.
In the previous verses we have studied that Abraham had been told by God that he would have children twice. Now let us see other verses that God promised him a son, and then we will examine further the one that speaks of God telling Sarah about the child.
Ge:15:1-6 1: After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. 2: And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 3: And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4: And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 5: And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6: And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Here it tells us that because of Abraham’s faith he was counted righteous. Let’s read where Paul quoted this in Galatians.
Ga:3:6-9 6: Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7: Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8: And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9: So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
So not only is Abraham made righteous by faith, but we are also. And the children God promised to Abraham here in Genesis are really the children of faith, and not just physical children.
Now let’s go in in Genesis.
Ge:17:1-9 1: And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 2: And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3: And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4: As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5: Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6: And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7: And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8: And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. 9: And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.
God promises here again that many nations will come out of Abraham, but he also promises something else. He said that the everlasting covenant would be between Abraham and his seed, Jesus Christ. Let’s look again at Galatians for the explanation of this.
Ga:3:16-18: Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.17: And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.18: For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Ga:3:26-29 26: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27: For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29: And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Now let us look at where Sarah heard about the son.
Ge:18:1-2,10-15 1: And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 2: And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, 10: And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. 11: Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12: Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? 13: And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? 14: Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. 15: Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.
Here we are told that Abraham was still sojourning in a tent. So he was still in faith about his eternal home. But here it is told us that Sarah was told about her child. It seems by Genesis that Sarah was not in faith, but let’s look at Hebrews again.
Hebrews 11:11-12 11: 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.
Let’s go to Romans for an explanation about their faith for the child.
Romans 4:17-22 17: (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18: Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19: And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 20: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21: And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22: And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
This shows us exactly how Abraham and Sarah stood in faith. First of all they heard God’s word. It says in Romans 10:17 that faith comes by hearing God’s word. God promised to Abraham four times that he would become a father. Here we are told the four steps of Abraham’s faith.
- Abraham believed in hope that he would be the father of many nations, even though there was no natural hope. When we take God at his word, and believe it, even though all the circumstances around us look impossible, that is the first step of faith.
- Abraham considered not his own body, now dead. When we stand in faith we are not to consider what our body or circumstance are saying to us. No matter how big the problem, you must not consider it. In other words, don’t talk the problem, talk God’s promise.
- Abraham staggered not at the promise of God but gave glory to God. A lot of times we think that when we are healed or get our answer, then we will then give glory to God. But here it says Abraham did it before he received. It is very important when we are standing in faith for something to praise God, and give him glory for the answer to our prayer before we see it.
- Abraham was fully persuaded that God was able to perform his promises to him. In other words, he would not take no for an answer. Too many times we give up before the answer is there. We need to be as Abraham, and be willing to stand on God’s promises with full assurance that we have the answer.
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