Read A Chapter A Day (RACAD) Study Of Sarah

Psalm 12&14

Table of Contents

RACAD Study Of Bible Character:

SARAH

Sarah was the wife of the great patriarch Abraham, the holder of the covenant, whom God chose to and instructed to leave his home for a land that God had in mind for him (Gen 12)

The demand on Sarah as a 60 year old was to submit to the call of a hitherto unknown God, leave a settled existence in the Ur of the Chaldeans and become a nomad with her husband, to go to a place they did not know. At 65 the call of God was repeated to her husband and they departed from Haran for Canaan.

STRENGTHS

She was a brave woman, strong woman courageous to follow her husband in God’s Truth

She was also submissive wife in that the Bible says in 1 Peter 3:6 (part a) that: “just as Sarah obeyed Abraham [following him and having regard for him as head of their house], calling him Lord……

In Genesis 12:11-13 Abraham tells Sarah: “I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”

Although it was a half-truth, she agreed. She clearly loved her husband deeply, was selfless and committed to him and his wellbeing. She was prepared to do what it took to prevent harm coming to him.

Sarah was childless for the whole season of her female reproductive life ….. she only gave birth to Isaac at the age 90.

God had promised Abraham a son in Genesis 15;4-5 (AMP)when He said: “This man [Eliezer] will not be your heir but he who shall come from your own body shall be your heir.” And the Lord brought Abram outside [his tent into the night] and said, “Look now toward the heavens and count the stars—if you are able to count them.” Then He said to him, “So [numerous] shall your descendants be.””

WEAKNESSES

Sarah exhibited a failure of faith and patience for the actualization of God’s promises. (This decision troubled her household then and is still troubling the household of faith -Christians, till today).

In Genesis 16:2, In spite of this promise, Sarah decided to create her solution (and perhaps help God)and offered her maid Hagar to Abraham …“so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.” Abraham agreed and it resulted in the birth of Ishmael when Abraham was 86 (and Sarah 76).

In Genesis 17: 15-19 (AMP) and Genesis 18:9-15(AMP, after the birth of Ishmael, Sarah still struggled in the realms of unbelief in spite of the communication of an appointed time by God of the birth of the covenant son through her on two occasions.

God changed Abram (exalted father)’s name to Abraham (father of a multitude) and promised Abraham the covenant son by Sarah (a child other than Ishmael) within a year (Genesis 17: 15-19 AMP).

“……. “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in years; she was past [the age of] childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself [when she heard the Lord’s words], saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure and delight, my Lord (husband) being also old?” And the Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh [to herself], saying, ‘Shall I really give birth [to a child] when I am so old?’ Is anything too difficult or too wonderful for the Lord? At the appointed time, when the season [for her delivery] comes, I will return to you and Sarah will have a son…..” (Genesis 18:9-15 AMP)

WEAKNESS TURNED TO STRENGTH

Hebrews 11:11 tells us that she did not remain in that place – the weakness of unbelief and doubt metamorphosed into faith with the desired reality, she entered into the Hall of Faith as the first of the women mentioned there. “By faith even Sarah herself received the ability to conceive [a child], even [when she was long] past the normal age for it, because she considered Him who had given her the promise to be reliable and true [to His word].”

MORE STRENGTHS

In Genesis 16 and 21, Sarah showed a firmness with her husband (in spite of her submissiveness to him), demonstrating the practical illustration of 1 Peter 3:6 “… do what is right without being frightened by any fear [that is, being respectful toward your husband but not giving in to intimidation, nor allowing yourself to be led into sin, nor to be harmed].

She also see Sarah as a protective mother who is protective of family and unwilling to tolerate unkind, unsavoury behavior and the attendant atmosphere in the home. She demands, backed up by God that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away and thereby secured peace, harmony and normalcy in the home.

LESSONS

1. With God all things are possible (He places the super on the natural – supernatural). He defies, age, time, seasons and the natural. Nothing is too difficult or wonderful for the Lord (Genesis 18:4 AMP)

2. God is faithful – “The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would.”(Genesis 21:1-2 NLT)

3. Delay is not denial – God always answers, but in His perfect timing, and not ours.

4. Patience is a fruit of the spirit that we ought to manifest. It will preserve us from wrong solutions and sorrows and place us where God wants us to be

5. God’s way in a seeming infertility situation could be myriad

– He may be protecting you from something

– He may be setting you up for the appointed season (Samuel)

– He may be drawing you closer to Himself to learn dependence

6. He is faithful even when we are faithless. God is patient and kind and will bring us into alignment with His word when we are struggling in faith.

7. Wives are to submit to their husbands

8. Wives whilst being submissive and respectful to their husbands should not fear, be intimidated, be led to sin or harm.

9. God can step into our decision making to overturn it to align with His word, will and purpose. (Although Sarah had (in error) initiated the existence of Ishmael, God agreed that he be sent away, in alignment with the covenant that was purposed to be through Isaac)

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