Sarah (Mother of Many Nations) used to be called Sarai (Princess) (Gen 17:15) and her name change reflected God’s promise for her. Depending on perceptions, she is either seen as a wife who forced another woman on her husband, or a wife who was grappling to keep her faith in God.
Sarah was the daughter of a wealthy Chaldean tribesman named Terah, who was also her husband Abraham’s father. (Gen 20:12–13, and yes, step siblings were allowed to marry then.) She left her wealth and position to follow her husband’s wild faith to “a land God would show him.”(Gen 12:1) She must have trusted God enough, and known her husband’s heart, to go on the journey with no clue of their destination.
Now, because Sarah was very beautiful, Abraham offered her twice in an attempt to save his life: first to Pharaoh (Gen 12:10–20), then to Abimelek (Genesis 20). The thought of a husband leaving his wife to another man is cringe-worthy, so I can only imagine how vulnerable Sarah felt. She must have trusted God even when her husband didn’t protect her¹ and He intervened for her in both instances-she was untouched by either man.
The same God who had delivered her during those times had promised through Abraham that she would conceive and bear a son (Gen 17:16). Sarah however did not believe it. She was way past menopause and this was near impossible. Her doubt led her to devise her own way of realizing the promise. Sarah gave Abraham her servant, Hagar, so that Hagar might bear a child for them. This act was allowed in Biblical times, so it was not wrong in itself. What made it wrong was Sarah’s motive- she acted because she doubted God’s word to her. When God repeated His promise, Sarah laughed out sarcastically, and thought to herself “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” (Gen 18:12)². When she was confronted her about her doubt, she denied it because she was scared (v 13–15).
Sarah endured suffering because her plan for Hagar to give birth had come back to slap her in the face. Hagar got pregnant, treated Sarah badly, and other events eventually led Sarah to ask Abraham to take Hagar and her son out of their home (Gen 16; 21:8–21). Altogether, Sarah and Abraham waited about 25 years for God’s promise to be fulfilled. God first promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations at age 75 (Gen 12, 15), but Isaac was born when Sarah was 90 years old and Abraham was 100 (Gen 21:5)³. It must have been challenging to wait that long for God’s promise, especially in a time where a woman’s purpose was so aligned with child-bearing.
God was faithful to His word and He literally turned Sarah’s sarcastic laugh into laughter from 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 (Gen 21:6–7). Though Sarah had a crisis of faith at one point, she still considered God as faithful and able to fulfil His promises. By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised. (Heb 11:11).
We often take God’s promises without considering the realities they might entail, but walking by faith is not always cozy or a constant state of euphoria. Our faith should not be unrealistic but rather steadfast, and full of trust in God, in His faithfulness, and in His ability!
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2 Cor 1:20)
References:
- Barrier, J. (2020, January 15). Why Is Sarah in the Bible So Inspiring? Crosswalk.com. Retrieved November 1, 2020, from https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/why-is-sarah-in-the-bible-so-inspiring.html
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). Sarah. Britannica. Retrieved November 2, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sarah
- Compelling Truth. (n.d.). How long did Abraham and Sarah have to wait for Isaac? Compelling Truth. Retrieved November 2, 2020, from https://www.compellingtruth.org/Abraham-Sarah-Isaac.html
