Welcome to the second week of Faithlogue’s 2024 Winter Series: “The Women of the Promise.” Please subscribe to receive each week’s post in your email inbox and to receive Faithlogue’s monthly subscriber newsletter. You can catch up on any missed posts here.
Passages: Genesis 12-23; Hebrews 11:11–12
By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
Hebrews 11:11-12 ESV
I couldn’t blame her for striving
I’d do the same thing if I were driving
With a half view and a wild tale
Delivered by an angel
– Margaret Becker, Just Isaac[1]
I imagine she was breathless from frantically preparing bread for Abraham’s visitors. She stood at the entrance of her tent, hidden from view but listening to every word spoken between her husband and these strange men. I wonder if her heart sank as she heard them ask, “Where is your wife Sarah?” (Genesis 18:1-9). Perhaps she feared Abraham would once again claim she was his sister and allow these men to take her away.
Instead, she overheard the voice of the Lord say, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son” (Genesis 18:10). His words made her laugh. I doubt she could help herself. She scoffed, thinking, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” (Genesis 18:12).
You see, Sarah had been waiting decades for God to fulfill His promise of a son for Abraham. She schemed to intervene by using Hagar as a surrogate, and it backfired (big time). And, despite God’s recent affirmation that she would become the mother of nations and kings (Genesis 17:15-16), Sarah remained childless.
Even Abraham fell facedown laughing earlier when God affirmed His promise to bless Abraham with a son through Sarah (Genesis 17:17-19). After all, Abraham already had his son Ishmael through Hagar. But God’s response was clear, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son” (Genesis 17:19).
From the first time God spoke to him, Abraham believed God’s promise that He would bless all peoples on the earth through Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 12:2-3). However, Abraham did not understand that God’s promise included his wife, Sarah.
Likewise, Sarah could not comprehend her place in God’s promise as the mother of nations. She was barren, after all. Instead, Sarah strove to make an heir happen for Abraham through another woman’s womb (thus, the Hagar conflict). Sarah also did not realize that God’s promise was meant for her, too.
But, as we know, nothing is impossible for God. Indeed, one year (and lots more drama) later, Sarah gave birth to Isaac, just as the Lord promised. Isaac’s name means “he laughs,” and Sarah celebrated his birth, proclaiming, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me” (Genesis 21:6).
Even after Isaac’s arrival, Sarah continued to struggle with Hagar and Ishmael. I also imagine her faith was tested alongside Abraham’s when God narrowly redeemed Isaac from sacrifice. These were imperfect people, but they believed in the promise of their righteous God.
Sarah lived for many years after Isaac’s birth. When she died, Abraham purchased deeded property in the land of Canaan for her burial (Genesis 23). In this way, God worked through Sarah not only to establish the lineage of Abraham but also to signal their possession of the land God promised. One day, Abraham’s descendants would settle in the land of Sarah’s bones. Sarah indeed became the mother of nations and kings.
Sarah’s story reveals the nature of God as One who makes and keeps His promises. God was faithful despite Abraham’s misunderstanding and Sarah’s striving. Likewise, God cared for those negatively affected by their missteps. As Hagar learned, God is the One who sees (Genesis 16:13).
The Lord saw Sarah struggle in her tent. He heard her laugh and doubt, and in response, He asked, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14). Friend, nothing is too hard for the Lord. He is the One who makes and fulfills His promises, for “No word from God will ever fail” (Luke 1:37).
God will do everything He says He will do. Our task is to trust Him and believe His promises are meant for us, too.
© 2024 Lori Myers Berry
[1] Margaret Becker, “Just Isaac,” Air, (Go Global, 2007).
Thought Questions
- Sarah believed God’s promise for Abraham but failed to grasp that God’s promise included her. Jesus promised that all those who believe in Him will have eternal life. Do you struggle to believe this promise includes you? Why or why not?
- Sarah assumed that God needed to work around her barrenness to provide Abraham with an heir. What conditions affect your life that you feel you must work around to serve God? Do you think God could work through those conditions instead to do the impossible?
- Sarah’s story teaches us that God is faithful to His promises despite our missteps. What area of your life do you need to surrender to the Lord and cease striving?
Prayer
Father, You are the One who keeps His promises. Thank you for making and keeping your promise to Abraham so we might witness your faithfulness through the generations. Thank you for including Sarah so that we might remember that your promises include us, too. We surrender those areas of our lives where we struggle to trust and believe that nothing is too difficult for You. We believe you; please help our unbelief. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.