Gen 18:10, 21:1-2, Heb 11:11-12 | Barnes

Genesis 18:10

Genesis 21:1-2

Hebrews 11:11-12

Verse 11. Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed. The word "herself" here--αυτη--implies that there was something remarkable in the fact that she should manifest this faith. Perhaps there may be reference here to the incredulity with which she at first received the announcement that she should have a child, Gen 18:11,13. Even her strong incredulity was overcome; and though everything seemed to render what was announced impossible, and though she was so much disposed to laugh at the very suggestion at first, yet her unbelief was overcome, and she ultimately credited the Divine promise. The apostle does not state the authority for his assertion that the strength of Sarah was derived from her faith, nor when particularly it was exercised. The argument seems to be, that here was a case where all human probabilities were against what was predicted, and where, therefore, there must have been simple trust in God. Nothing else but faith could have led her to believe that in her old age she would have borne a son.

When she was past age. She was at this time more than ninety years of age, Gen 17:17. Comp. Gen 18:11.

Because she judged him faithful who had promised. She had no other ground of confidence or expectation. All human probability was against the supposition that, at her time of life, she would be a mother.

(a) "Sarah" Gen 21:1,2 (b) "faithful" Heb 10:23

Verse 12. Therefore sprang there even of one. From a single individual. What is observed here by the apostle as worthy of remark is, that the whole Jewish people sprang from one man, and that, as the reward of his strong faith, he was made the father and founder of a nation.

And him as good as dead. So far as the subject under discussion is concerned. To human appearance there was no more probability that he would have a son at that period of life than that the dead would have.

So many as the stars in the sky, etc. An innumerable multitude. This was agreeable to the promise, Gen 15:5, 22:17. The phrases here used are often employed to denote a vast multitude, as nothing appears more numerous than the stars of heaven, or than the sands that lie on the shores of the ocean. The strength of faith in this case was, that there was simple confidence in God in the fulfilment of a promise where all human probabilities were against it. This is, therefore, an illustration of the nature of faith. It does not depend on human reasoning, on analogy, on philosophical probabilities, on the foreseen operation of natural laws; but on the mere assurance of God--no matter what may be the difficulties to human view, or the improbabilities against it.