Judging Him Faithful
Hebrews 11:11, NKJV
By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
Romans 4:19-21, NKJV
19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
We see a recurring pattern throughout the Scriptures and in our lives. And whenever God speaks a word to us, opposition almost immediately arises. It would seem that instead of the promised blessing, we get wave after wave of “not-so-good” events, and that might make the heart sick and make holding on to God’s promises feel like an uphill battle or a herculean task.
There’s an explanation for this. Mark 4:17 tells us clearly that persecution will arise for the word’s sake. Since the devil cannot stop God’s word from coming to pass, because the Bible says, “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven” Psalm 119:89, Matthew 5:18, Isaiah 55:1.
He might also use another method to keep you from coming into the promise: giving you “alternative considerations” that bring doubt and unbelief. Notice why this is a strategy? Simply because James 1:6 tells us clearly to ask in faith and not be double-minded and doubtful, and verse 7 of the same chapter tells us, “Let not such a person think that they will receive anything from God!” So the devil may not be able to stop the giving (the legal side of the miracle), but he can stop or disrupt the receiving (the vital side of the miracle).
Alternative considerations and doubts are key weapons in the devil’s arsenal. Still, because it’s an open secret, the Bible tells us to be sober and vigilant because we’re not unaware of the devices of the enemy. Whatever the devil is bringing up is not new. Scripture gives us precedent for his antics and wiles. Therefore, when we have a healthy bank of the Word, we will quench the fiery darts of the enemy with the shield of faith. Notice that in our opening texts, we see the example of Abraham and his wife, Sarah. Pay close attention to the language used here; we see the words “judged,” “considered,” and “convinced.” These words all point to something done by thoughts or with the mind.
Another thing to note is that these words have a legal context. The KJV uses the word “judged,” meaning Sarah brought God before a jury, took all He had promised, examined evidence of His continued faithfulness in leading her husband and all He had promised him and her, and passed a verdict! Why is the legal context important? Well, it’s because there is an accuser of the brethren, who is the devil, who has a long history of accusing us to God, accusing God to us and accusing us to ourselves. The term accuser is a legal term; hence, to say that she judged Him means she brought the case of the accuser, the evidence that he has brought, and she also brought up the promises of God and the evidence of His goodness and, in faith, gave a verdict of God’s faithfulness, that despite the fact of “perceived absence” of the physical manifestation of the promise, her faith rested on God’s faithfulness. She was convinced that He who had promised was also able to perform it.
Many times, we may not see clear evidence of God’s faithfulness. Still, the Bible says we have a more sure word of prophecy (2 Peter 1:18). The only antidote to the devil’s accusations is God’s Word: a sure verdict and stronger evidence against every accusation.
We also see the same case with Abraham, knowing fully well what God had said, who was brought to the courts of accusation by the enemy, faced with his old age and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. The devil will bring evidence against you, whether “true” or false. To the devil, nothing you do will ever be good; he will always look for holes to poke in your conviction, faith, and trust in the Lord.
Take Job, for instance: the devil said to God, “does Job serve you for nothing?” This is nothing new, but we must always be prepared to counter it with a stronger argument. Abraham didn’t consider the impediments of his age and the condition of Sarah’s womb enough to stop what God had said. He sat in that court and didn’t treat the devil’s points as worthy of serious consideration.
There will be times when the enemy’s accusations will come at you like a flood. But the Lord will raise a standard against Him (Isaiah 59:19). This is a prophecy of Jesus, rushing in against the onslaught of the devil, driven as with the power of God (Acts 10:38). The realm of the spirit is interesting because there is no middle ground or sitting on the fence; hence, if Abraham wasn’t considering the deadness of Sarah’s womb or His own old age, surely, He was considering something else, and the verse tells us it was the promises of God. God made us a promise this year, and the devil, in his usual fashion, will bring alternative considerations against it, questioning you like He questioned Eve and asking, “Did God say?” To win, you cannot answer like Eve; you must answer like Jesus, saying, “It is written”.
In conclusion, Abraham didn’t stagger at God’s promises through unbelief but stood firm in faith and praised God. Notice how, instead of considering the enemy’s accusations or other options, he praised God. When we praise God, our focus shifts from what has not happened yet and what we are still trusting Him to do to who He is and what He has already done. In true praise and worship, your sights and heart are set on the Lord; you are preoccupied with offering Him your sacrifice of praise, the fruit of your lips, which pleases God.
Finally, we understand from Scripture that the enemy is a bully. The Bible calls him an impostor, roaming like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). In the face of the accuser of the brethren and his accusations, don’t flee; stand! Stand, therefore (Ephesians 6:13–14). The Bible tells us to resist the devil, standing steadfastly in our faith, and he will flee from us (1 Peter 5:8–9). Notice that faith is mentioned here. So, how did it get there? Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. So we can also say: “Resist the devil, standing steadfastly on God’s Word, which is the basis of your faith, and he will flee from you.”
