Enthusiasm is as natural as breathing, especially when it comes to things we enjoy, anticipate and expect. However, when it comes to faith this attitude is sometimes lacking and almost absent. This could be the result of its spiritual nature and because it also conflicts with stereotypes with which we’ve become programmed. Examples of instances like this abound in the Bible and a classic one is the promise God made to Abraham and Sarah.
In Genesis 17:15-17 & 18:9-15 both Abraham and Sarah laughed when God gave promised them a child. They both thought it was impossible given their age and the physiological developments that had arisen from this and so they had a jolly good laugh. As improbable as it first appeared Isaac was conceived and delivered as recorded in Genesis 21. However both parents had to develop and exercise faith to make it a reality.
In Abraham’s case he believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness (Romans 4:16-22). God told Him what He would do and he simply accepted it in his case. For Sarah this was not the case. The bible records, ‘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.’ (Heb 11:11)
In Sara’s case her faith sprang from her consideration i.e. because she judged Him faithful who had promised of the faithfulness of the Lord. Other translations shed more light on the word judged as follows:
By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised. (World English Bible)
By faith, even though Sarah herself was barren and he was too old, she received the ability to procreate, because she regarded the one who had given the promise to be trustworthy. (NET)
Between Genesis 18 and 21 her mind went to work (though initially laughing) and a process of meditation began by which she ‘judged’, ‘counted’ and ‘considered’ the faithfulness of Him who had made the promise. In her moments of solitude, she reflected on the track record of God’s faithfulness since they left the Ur of the Chaldees until they arrived in Canaan. They had a history with God which spanned over two decades and in that time He had kept all the promises He made to them and more. So when she thought (meditated) on those instances continually her faith was built up and the result was Isaac!
Sara’s example and journey of faith is an example to us that that meditating, thinking and reflecting on scriptures and God’s promises also builds faith and should be part of our daily lives. When we regularly and consciously think on past incidents in our walk with God we’ll come to a place where we’re certain that faithful is He that has promised and that will also perform what He has said.