Tag Archives: Sarah

Your Response?

08 Wednesday Nov 2017

Posted by in Bulletin Article, Genesis, Salvation

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In our last article, there were two things that were highlighted. First, God created man and woman perfect, but sin was introduced by the Serpent into this world by extending an invitation to the first couple to disobey God. This invitation was received and resulted in  a corrupted relationship with the Lord, a relationship the Lord could not accept. Yet, in His mercy and love, He gave man a temporary bridge wherein man could get back to God.

In this article, our attention will focus on Abraham. Abram (as he was called early on) was a man of great faith, but he was a man without a home. He had a home for the first seven decades of his life, but after he traveled with his father away from his original homeland, the Lord called him to go to a land he would be told about later. Abram gathered his possessions and his family and traveled hundreds of miles on foot to arrive at a land now known as Israel (or Palestine) today.

Abram was a man devoted to the Lord, but in his devotion to the Lord he was perplexed about God’s promise to him (Genesis 12:1-3). The Lord reassured him (15:1-6), and Abram trusted in the Lord answer to his perplexity. Sarai, on the other hand, was still perplexed. She knew about the Lord’s promise, but many years had come and gone and, still, no promise fulfillment. She, then, intervened and gave Abram her maid (Hagar) so children could be born, thus fulfilling God’s promise to Abram. She reasoned that if this occurred, she (Sarai) would be the beneficiary of the union between Abram and Hagar.

Sarai presumed on the Lord’s prerogative and His will. Much heartache came to the family because of Abram, Sarai and Hagar. Apart from the heartache, the Lord’s purpose was not thwarted by confused intentions of three people. About 13 years later, the original promise to Abram was brought to completion in the union between Abraham and Sarah. The promised son, Isaac, was God’s message to Abraham and Sarah there is no obstacle in human affairs the Lord can’t overcome if He chooses to do so. Sarah was beyond the normal years of child bearing, but the Lord was not beholden by any physical limitations.

Abraham and Sarah were tested again, but a test unlike any a parent can comprehend (Genesis 22). Yet, a test (trial) it was. Abraham was called by God to take his son of promise and give him to the Lord. Abraham was prepared to do exactly that. The Lord was pleased with Abraham’s response, and reassurance was given to Abraham about the promise from God much earlier in Abram’s life (12:1-3).

It’s likely you know the story reasonably well, but though it is known, what application can we make? Let me offer two applications. First, there is no obstacle known to man the Lord can’t circumvent. This makes sense, I am sure, because as the Creator of the entire material universe, nothing is beyond Him. To Abram and Sarai, the impossible not only became possible, but was realized in experience. Do you have this kind of trust in the Lord?

Second, the Lord does not need (or want) man to help Him. What can man do to help the Lord? Not-one-thing! If this is so (and it is), then it is our duty and it should be our desire to trust in the Lord, obeying His will. Abraham was called on by the Lord to choose between two of his greatest possessions in life – will he give one or the other away. How would you have responded? RT

WOMEN IN HEBREWS

10 Wednesday Sep 2014

Posted by in Faith, history

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Having previously written two articles on women in the New Testament (“Women in 2 Timothy” and “Women in Titus”), there is but a brief reference to women in Hebrews. Nevertheless, there are some things that we can gain from that which we read.

In the great “hall of faith” (chapter 11) there is reference to Abraham’s wife, Sarah. That which is known about Sarah is little, but what is known paints a picture that is both positive and not so much. The ASV reads: “By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised” (Hebrews 11:11). Yet, when one compares this with that which the book of Genesis says, we might wonder where her faith was.

And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” And Jehovah said unto Abraham, “Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, who am old? Is anything too hard for Jehovah? At the set time I will return unto thee, when the season cometh round, and Sarah shall have a son.” Then Sarah denied, saying, “I laughed not;” for she was afraid. And he said, “Nay; but thou didst laugh.” (Genesis 18:12-15, ASV)

It seems rather clear that Sarah was not one who believed the Lord when this promise was initially given to her from the Lord. In Genesis Sarah had her doubts; in Hebrews she had none. It appears we have a problem between two sentiments expressed.

But do we?

There is little reason to wonder why Sarah had her doubts. She was an old woman, even by the standards of that day (Genesis 18:12). Yes, she knew that her husband had received a promise, an encouraging word concerning that which would come from his loins, but the natural processes of life wherein child-bearing was possible/probable had come and gone for women such as Sarah. In part, this is the point of the Lord’s promise to both Abraham and Sarah – He is not constricted by the natural processes of life.

Sarah, learning this, and feeling humbled by the Lord’s rebuke to her, had a new outlook on the promise given to her husband. She was now taking it as a promise to her also.

There is a great lesson in this for us. It may be that doubts exists within us. We might ask, however, why is it that doubts exists within us (me). After taking some thought (2 Corinthians 13:5) and after reflecting on the steadfastness of the Lord, we should allow those doubts to fade away. No doubt Sarah did, and those doubts she had began to wane away. Thus the Holy Spirit is able to say that in faith she received power to conceive seed.

Sarah Laughed

31 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by in Uncategorized

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It has been a peculiar thing to notice the Lord’s response to Sarah’s laugh in comparison to when Abraham laughed. In Genesis 17, the Lord told Abraham he would have a child in about a year’s time; Abraham did not understand, laughed, and prayed for Ishmael. The Lord corrected Abraham’s knowledge, but gave no rebuke to his laugh. In Genesis 18, perhaps a little while later, the Lord visit Abraham and repeats the same promise. Sarah heard and laughed (from disbelief). The Lord rebuked her. Why the difference in response? Abraham’s doubt was corrected by the Lord on that particular occasion. No doubt, Abraham told Sarah the news. It’s likely Sarah had her doubts when her husband told her. Now, when the Lord told her, her doubts were without warrant.