He Who Promised is Faithful

20 Jan He Who Promised is Faithful

“Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive the seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised” Hebrews 11v11 KJV

We are hopefully entering the final stages of the pandemic that we have been living with for almost two years. It has been a difficult period for many people and the nation has had to face circumstances that have not been seen for over a 100 years. Whilst our outward circumstances may have changed our God has not changed. His word is still a very present help in a time of need, He is still with us and His promises are still yes and amen in Christ. I want to remind you that your God is faithful and that your circumstances are subject to change.

In the verse I have highlighted we see that Sarah herself received strength to conceive the seed. Jesus tells us the seed is the word of God and that Sarah received the power to conceive that seed so that even though she was past child bearing age was able to give birth to the promised son, Isaac.

When we think of the word “receive” we can think of something very passive like receiving a letter in the post. You do nothing but wait for the letter to be delivered. In this verse of Hebrews the word translated received is not passive but involves activity.

The Greek word here is  λαμβάνω (lambanō) and means  –To take, lay hold of, To take in order to carry away, To take what is one’s own,  To take what is offered, To receive (what is given), to gain, to get, obtain (Strongs G2983).

So when it says by faith Sarah herself received the strength you have a picture of someone going to God and receiving the power that has been promised in order to bring to germination the seed that has been sown.

The same word is found in Hebrews 4v16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We are invited to draw near to God in order for us to λαμβάνω (lambanō) Grace and Mercy for the road ahead. For you and I to walk by faith and see the promises of God come to pass in our lives we need to be strengthened by the Grace of God along the journey.

Sarah had been waiting over 20 years for the promise to come to pass. All the natural circumstances were telling her there was no way that the promise was going to come to pass. Yet through faith she was able to receive strength to continue until the seed was conceived. Once conceived it was only a matter of time before the promise manifested.

This scripture is suggesting faith grew in her because she considered Him who promised faithful. Another way of saying this is that faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. As she was considering the faithfulness of her God, faith started to grow in her to such a degree that she was able to obtain strength so that the seed was conceived and the child was born.

We do well to learn from Sarah and consider that the one who gave us promises is faithful. Our heavenly Father is faithful in the following ways:

• He is faithful to His character. God is not man that He should lie. If He says it He will do it, if He spoke it He will fulfil it. Even when we are faithless He remains faithful— for He cannot deny himself.
• He is faithful to His word. He says to us “My word that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
• He is faithful to His promises – The bible teaches us that all the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
• He is faithful To His people – God never forgets His people and has proved faithful to bring the children of Israel back to the Promised Land.
• He is faithful to His purposes – Our God is faithful to His purposes and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.  

He who promised is faithful. If you are struggling to stand on the promises of God then meditate on the faithfulness of God and draw near to Him and obtain mercy and grace until the word comes to pass.