Sarah: Honored as a Woman of Faith
Notes
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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. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
Then Abram and Nahor took wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah. But Sarai was barren; she had no child.
And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there.
Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.
Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
Genesis 12:1
Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.
Then Abram and Nahor took wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah.
Life is a journey and must be lived by faith
Life is a journey and must be lived by faith
Genesis
She was a faithful wife to Abraham
Biblical names gives insight into the person’s character and personality
Life is a journey and must be lived by faith
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Sarai changed to Sarah
And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there.
Then Abram and Nahor took wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah. But Sarai was barren; she had no child.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
Sarai = princess
Genesis 11:
Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Sarah followed Abraham as he sought to follow the Lord
Sarah = noblewoman
She would need a submissive attitude
A woman of faith is guided by God’s will as taught in God’s word
A woman of faith is guided by God’s will as taught in God’s word
Sarah’s faith guided her in how to fulfill her role as a wife
Sarah’s faith guided her in how to fulfill her role as a wife
Genesis 11:29-31
Then Abram and Nahor took wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah. But Sarai was barren; she had no child.
And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there.
Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.
Sarah’s faith guided her as she followed Abraham who was following the Lord. Sarah was a partner with Abraham in this journey
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
Hebrews 11:8
Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.
It’s takes a submissive heart to follow God’s will
Then Abram and Nahor took wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah. But Sarai was barren; she had no child.
And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there.
God’s will requires a submissive faith
Sarah’s faith produced a submissive heart shown in her following Abraham to a new land
Sarah showed a submissive heart in following Abraham to a new land
For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
Sarah’s submissive heart showed she was willing to yield her will to God’s will
Sarah’s submissive heart set an example to follow by other women of faith
For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
Submission is evidence one is trusting in God
Submission reveals a respect for God’s design of the home
Sarah submissive heart did not declare she was inferior to Abraham
Being submissive to the word of God
Being submissive is not a statement of inequality between male and female for in Christ we are all equal
Galatians 2:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
All of us are required to be submissive to the Lord’s will and the role He has given us
giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
We are all to submit to our role in church and our role in the home
Ephesians 5
Ephesians 5:
We then live in submissive obedience to His word by fulfilling His design for us
Ephesians 5L21-24
We are submitting to God’s ordained choice of leadership
We are all to submit to the will and wisdom of God
It takes a shared vision of faith in a marriage to fulfill God’s will
Sarah and Abraham showed a singleness in faith as they went together to the place of God
Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
A
They both were entering a strange land with a strange people and culture
They both would be required to make adjustments
They needed to be unified in their pursuit of God’s will for their life
A woman of faith is guarded by the sovereign hand of God
A woman of faith is guarded by the sovereign hand of God
Sarah was protected by God when Abraham made a foolish and cowardly choice
Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land. And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.”
So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful. The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh’s house. He treated Abram well for her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
But the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.
Genesis 12:10-1
God’s sovereignty can overrule poor decisions
Sarah was protected by God when Abraham made a foolish and cowardly choice
Sarah was a beautiful woman
Physical beauty is temporary
Physical beauty can lead to trouble
Physical beauty can be fleeting
Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
Spiritual beauty is eternal
Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
Abraham made a plan based solely upon the hostile culture he was entering
The culture should not determine our choices
The faith of a husband effects his wife
Appears his faith was weak concerning God’s ability to protect Sarah and him
Appears he was weak in his leadership role by standing up for his wife
God’s sovereign plan will not be defeated
A woman of faith grows in her trust of the Lord
A woman of faith grows in her trust of the Lord
Biblical names gives insight into the person’s character and personality
Sarai changed to Sarah
Sarai = princess
Sarah = noblewoman
Sarah became the wife of Abraham
Then Abram and Nahor took wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and the father of Iscah.
She was the wife of Abraham
She followed Abraham as he sought to follow the Lord
And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there.
Genesis 11:
Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.
Genesis
submission and follow Abraham’s leadings as Abraham sought to follow the leading of the Lord
For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
Being submissive is not a statement of inequality between male and female for in Christ we are all equal
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:21-22
We are all to submit to God and to His word
We then live in submissive obedience to His word by fulfilling His design for us
We are submitting to God’s ordained choice of leadership
The husband should provide a leadership that a wife finds it easy to follow. He should submit to the Lord in his role to love his wife like Christ loves the church
She would need a growing and partnering faith
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6
But Sarai was barren; she had no child.
Genesis 11:
Sarah like Abraham was going to become a sojourner in a strange land
Sarah was a faithful wife to Abraham
Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.
Sarah was a faithful wife to Abraham
For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
1 Peter 3:5-
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Submission is accepting the will of God for our life and fulfilling the role He has given us
submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:21
Sarai was going to be living in a new culture and environment
Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.
Genesis 12:5
Ur was city and Canaan was more rural
Sarah was a beautiful wife
Physically attractive
And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance.
So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful.
Spiritually beautiful
Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
1 Peter 3:
But Sarai was barren; she had no child.
Sarai was a beautiful woman
Sarah’s condition - A barren womb
The stigma of being childless in the time and culture of Sarah made her life difficult and possibly miserable
The story of Hannah
Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons?”
1 Samuel
Sarah’s effort - She sought an answer through her own reasoning
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.
She understood the reason she was childless, the LORD has restrained me, yet it appears she did not seek His wisdom for an answer
Instead, she followed her own plan
A comment on polygamy in the Bible
“As civilization developed, and sin increased, man perverted the divine ideal and purpose in marriage, and became a polygamist, a man with more than one wife. Lamech, of the family of Cain, the world’s first murderer, appears to be the first to violate the original ordinance, for he is spoken of as having two wives, Adah and Zillah (). By the time of Noah, polygamy had degenerated into interracial marriages of the most incestuous and illicit kind (). By the time Moses came to write the Law, polygamy had apparently become general, and although accepted as a prevailing custom, was never approved. The Mosaic Law sought to restrict and limit such a departure from God’s original purpose by wise and humane regulations. The curse that almost invariably accompanies polygamy is seen in Elkanah’s home life with his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. The Old Testament presents similar indirect exposures of what polygamy can lead to. Failures and calamities in the reigns of David and Solomon are attributed to the numerous wives each had (; , see ).” Excerpt From: Herbert Lockyer. “All the Women of the Bible.” Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/us/book/all-the-women-of-the-bible/id1176712147
Excerpt From: Herbert Lockyer. “All the Women of the Bible.” Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/us/book/all-the-women-of-the-bible/id1176712147
The Bible never comments on the practices but simply records the story that includes polygamy. However its silence is not an endorsement. If you read you see God’s design for marriage and that the relationship is to be between one man and one woman for a life time. It’s obvious the fall of man led to a society and culture that did not abide by God’s design. God in His forbearance () withheld His judgement for these practices but no where does the scripture say this was God’s will for a man and a woman. SR
Excerpt From: Herbert Lockyer. “All the Women of the Bible.” Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/us/book/all-the-women-of-the-bible/id1176712147
It was a plan that was allowed by society
It was a plan that was acceptable within her culture
It was a plan that was not approved by the LORD
Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!”
Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
Genesis 17:
“As civilization developed, and sin increased, man perverted the divine ideal and purpose in marriage, and became a polygamist, a man with more than one wife. Lamech, of the family of Cain, the world’s first murderer, appears to be the first to violate the original ordinance, for he is spoken of as having two wives, Adah and Zillah (). By the time of Noah, polygamy had degenerated into interracial marriages of the most incestuous and illicit kind (). By the time Moses came to write the Law, polygamy had apparently become general, and although accepted as a prevailing custom, was never approved. The Mosaic Law sought to restrict and limit such a departure from God’s original purpose by wise and humane regulations. The curse that almost invariably accompanies polygamy is seen in Elkanah’s home life with his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. The Old Testament presents similar indirect exposures of what polygamy can lead to. Failures and calamities in the reigns of David and Solomon are attributed to the numerous wives each had (; , see ).” Excerpt From: Herbert Lockyer. “All the Women of the Bible.” Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/us/book/all-the-women-of-the-bible/id1176712147
The Bible never comments on the practices but simply records the story that includes polygamy. However its silence is not an endorsement. If you read you see God’s design for marriage and that the relationship is to be between one man and one woman for a life time. It’s obvious the fall of man led to a society and culture that did not abide by God’s design. God in His forbearance () withheld His judgement for these practices but no where does the scripture say this was God’s will for a man and a woman. SR
Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!”
Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
Genesis 17:17-
Sarah was a beautiful wife
Sarah was a beautiful wife
Physically attractive
And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance.
So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful.
Spiritually beautiful
Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
1 Peter 3:
God’s promise - She was to be a blessed woman
Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.”
Genesis
A blessing that came with a new name
Sarai comes up with her own plan to fix the problem
Sarai = princess
Sarah = noblewoman
Sarai had the Lord change her name
Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.”
Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.
Genesis
Sarai = princess
Sarah = noblewoman
A blessing that came with a sure promise
Sarah’s weak faith - She couldn’t believe it was possible
Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?”
So he said, “Here, in the tent.”
And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.”
(Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”
But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid.
And He said, “No, but you did laugh!”
Sarah’s weak faith had given up hope
It is what is
Physically impossible
No positive thoughts can change it
Both bodied are incapable of pro
Sarah’s weak faith is met with God’s omnipotence
Sarah’s weak faith is visible to God
Sarah’s joy
And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him—Isaac. Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me.” She also said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.”
God always keeps His word
God filled her with laughter
The blessing is protected
Sarah had a personal faith in the faithfulness of God
Sarah had a cooperating faith with her husband Abraham
Jochebed had faith in God’s protection
Jochebed had faith in God’s protection
The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and to Amram she bore Aaron and Moses and their sister Miriam.
Genesis 21:8-
So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned.
And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.” And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son.
But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.”
Rahab had faith in God’s power
Rahab had faith in God’s power
A woman of faith is greatly missed
A woman of faith is greatly missed
Genesis 23:1-
Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, “I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”
Genesis 24:63-
And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming. Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she dismounted from her camel; for she had said to the servant, “Who is this man walking in the field to meet us?”
The servant said, “It is my master.” So she took a veil and covered herself.
And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent; and he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
Ephesians
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Ephesians
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise:
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.