Why Is Sarah Mentioned in the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith?

In a land where camels roamed and desert winds swept across the sun-scorched sand, the city of Harran stood like a desert oasis. Narrow streets wound through the earth tone buildings fashioned from sunbaked clay. At the heart of Harran, a grand bazaar offered silks, spices, and jewels to traders from lands near and far.

Here lived a woman named Sarai. Her husband Abram was a righteous man who worshiped the God of creation. He was a prosperous man who provided well for his wife. Sarai loved her husband with a deep, abiding love. She believed in Abram and trusted him without reservations.

The Faith of Sarai

God called Abram to “go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:1-2).

Unsure of the destination or duration, Abram and Sarai embarked on a journey with his nephew Lot, their belongings, and servants. This was not the first time that Sarai had to uproot her family. Five years earlier, God called them to leave the beautiful city of Ur of the Chaldeans (Genesis 11:31, Acts 7:2-4). The Euphrates River flowed majestically through the city, its waters reflecting the azure sky above. Towering palms and lush gardens adorned its banks, and fertile fields stretched as far as the eye could see. It was a stark contrast to the desert town they now lived in.

God spoke to Abram alone, and this initial promise included only him. Yet Sarai believed in her husband. Together, they trusted in the Lord and followed where God led them. Like their earlier journey, this new expedition would cover hundreds of miles and take several months to accomplish. As they traveled over the sands of the vast desert, Sarai’s faith in God never wavered. No words of discouragement or discontent were found on her lips.

Arriving in the land of Canaan, they pitched their tents. “The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him” (Genesis 12:7).

Doubts Surface When Hope Fades

Years passed, and with them, Sarai’s laughter and joy were replaced by sorrow and longing. She yearned for a child, her own flesh and blood, to inherit the promises God made to her husband. But the years were not kind, and her hope faded like a desert flower in the scorching sun.

The delayed promise motivated Sarai to do what we all do so often. She took matters into her own hands. She convinced Abram to have a child with their servant girl. Maybe God will bless Abram’s descendants through this child, she thought. But that is not who God intended. Sarai matters. It is through Abram and Sarai that the promise will come – not just Abram.

Twenty-five years had passed since God promised descendants to Abram. Sarai, now eighty-nine years old, was still barren. Then God appeared to Abram and changed his name to Abraham. “God also said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her’” (Genesis 17:15-16).

Soon after, three messengers from God appeared to Abraham. They informed him, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son” (Genesis 18:10).

“Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, ‘After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?’” (Genesis 18:11-12).

Sarah had listened to the laughter of children echoing through her tent, and long given up hope. She could not comprehend how it would be possible to have a child at her age. But the Lord assured them by saying, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14). He then repeated the promise that Sarah would have a son. The message restored her hope, and she learned the lesson that God’s timing is perfect, and His promises are sure.

Sarah had her doubts, but she still believed in God. Even though her faith was tested, she did not waver. Scripture informs us, “And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise” (Hebrews 11:11).

God Is Faithful

True to the messenger’s words, the following year, Sarah held her son in her arms. She named him Isaac, which means “he laughs.” Her laughter of doubt had turned to laughter of joy. “Sarah said, ‘God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.’ And she added, ‘Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age’” (Genesis 21:6-7).

Sarah was now a mother at an age when most women were grandmothers and great-grandmothers. Sarah’s unwavering faith had been rewarded, and her tent was filled with the joyous laughter of a child. Even though Sarah doubted, God demonstrated his faithfulness by providing a son for her.

As the years passed, Sarah watched her son grow into a young man, and she continued to live a life of faith. She knew her story was not just about the miracle of Isaac’s birth. It is a powerful reminder of God’s faithfulness, and that all things are possible with God.

Sarah’s Legacy of Faith

Sarah’s life revealed her unwavering faith in God. It was this faith that enabled her to bear a child. It turned her laughter of doubt into laughter of joy. Her legacy of faith lives on, encouraging believers to trust in the Lord, even when circumstances appear impossible.

Sarah waited over twenty-five years for the promised child to be born. But the delay was part of God’s plan, and her age was no obstacle to Him. When all human possibilities of conception were gone and all hope had faded, the only answer was a miracle from God. His timing is always perfect.

When we face trials and uncertainties, we can turn to Sarah’s story as a reminder to continue to walk in faith. We may have doubts about how God can use us, but we can remain steadfast in our faith. As Sarah’s life confirms, faith can overcome any doubts or fears we may have. We can trust God and His timing, knowing He is the one who performs miracles.

Faith is not a one-time decision, but a daily choice. It’s about trusting God, even when the path is unclear, and human possibilities have faded. Faith is believing God will act in His perfect timing. Just as God fulfilled His promise to Sarah, He is faithful to keep His promises to us.

Her story reminds us, God can bring joy and blessings even in the most unlikely of circumstances. Like Sarah, we may face challenges and situations that seem insurmountable. But God is faithful. The Lord can perform the impossible, and our faith in Him can move mountains.

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Brad Simon has shared God’s Word for over forty-five years, with a unique blend of storytelling and Bible exposition. He is a retired Master Jeweler and relies on the God-given creativity that won him several national and international jewelry design awards to craft Biblical Narratives and Life Stories that are engaging and thought-provoking. Once a speaker, author, and publisher for the jewelry industry, now he is putting those skills to work to promote the beauty and appeal of God’s Word. Download a free copy of his devotional on prayer.