SARAH, WIFE OF ABRAHAM
Sarah, who was initially called Sarai, holds great importance in the Bible as the wife of Abraham and the mother of Isaac. Her story is mainly featured in Genesis, specifically chapters 11-23, and her life teaches valuable lessons that remain relevant today.
Sarah, the daughter of Terah, was Abraham’s half-sister, having the same father but different mothers. She married Abram (who would later be called Abraham) and started a journey with him from Ur to Canaan, in obedience to God’s call. This journey marked the beginning of a life filled with divine encounters and profound challenges.
TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS
Sarah and Abraham traveled to Egypt during a famine. Fearing for his life, Abraham instructed Sarah to say she was his sister. Consequently, Pharaoh brought her into his house, but God intervened, and she was returned to Abraham. Sarah’s obedience came into focus during this incident, bringing to the forefront the complexities of their faith journey.
In order to fulfill God’s promise of a child, Sarah offered her maidservant Hagar to Abraham. The birth of Ishmael by Hagar resulted in serious discord among the relatives. This decision highlights the lasting consequences of our choices and the challenges that arise when we seek to manipulate outcomes instead of relying on God’s timing.
Despite being barren for many years, Sarah eventually bore a child, Isaac, at the age of 90. This miraculous occurrence demonstrated the importance of faith and patience when awaiting divine promises. Nevertheless, her initial inability to conceive brought immense sorrow, particularly considering God’s pledge to Abraham for innumerable offspring.
DIVINE INTERVENTION AND FULFILLMENT
God renamed Sarai as Sarah, which signifies her crucial part in the divine covenant and means “princess.” Sarah, despite being old, gave birth to Isaac, whose name “he laughs” reflects Abraham and Sarah’s initial reaction to the promise of a child. This event demonstrated that divine faithfulness does not rely on human belief.
God supported Sarah’s insistence to send Hagar and Ishmael away, ensuring Isaac’s position as Abraham’s heir, and promised that Ishmael would become a great nation. The action emphasized Sarah’s maternal instincts towards her son and the revelation of God’s wider designs.
Sarah survived for an incredible 127 years. Her demise occurred in Hebron, prompting Abraham to acquire the cave of Machpelah as her burial location, later establishing it as a family tomb.
TYPOLOGY
Sarah’s life prefigures themes and truths that are more fully revealed in the New Testament. Sarah’s conception and birth of Isaac at an advanced age mirrors the theme of miraculous births in the New Testament, such as John the Baptist and Jesus. Isaac’s birth to Sarah symbolizes the realization of God’s promise and foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise through Jesus Christ.
In Galatians 4:21-31, Sarah and Hagar are explicitly utilized by the Apostle Paul as an allegory for the two covenants. Sarah symbolizes grace and freedom in the New Covenant, while Hagar symbolizes the Law and bondage in the Old Covenant. Paul states that Christians are heirs of God’s promise through faith, not through adherence to the law, highlighting their connection to Sarah as the “free woman.” Hebrews 11:11-12 highlights Sarah’s faith and its alignment with the New Testament’s emphasis on trusting God’s promises for righteousness and blessings.
Sarah’s role as the mother of Isaac can be seen as a foreshadowing of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Sarah and Mary both experienced divine interventions resulting in the birth of Isaac and Jesus respectively, fulfilling God’s promise. Both women played essential roles in the plan for God’s redemption. Sarah’s elevated status as the matriarch and her significant role in God’s plan foreshadow the New Testament’s view of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as an esteemed participant in God’s redemptive work.
The concept of being a “child of promise” is central to Sarah’s typology. Isaac, Sarah’s child, fulfills God’s covenant with Abraham. According to the New Testament, Jesus is the promised child, born to Mary (Gal 3:29).
REFLECTION
Faith and patience are key lessons from Sarah’s story. Despite her infertility, she witnessed God’s promise fulfilled, inspiring believers to have faith in His timing. Sarah’s faith remained strong despite her initial skepticism. She exemplifies the importance of remaining faithful to God’s promises, even in seemingly improbable situations. Sarah’s imperfections are evident in her treatment of Hagar and her initial laughter at God’s promise. Yet, God’s grace and faithfulness prevailed, demonstrating His ability to work through our flaws. Sarah’s important role as Isaac’s mother demonstrates the significance of women in God’s plans. Through her story, we see that women are included and uplifted in God’s promises and purposes. Sarah’s life, filled with challenges, victories, and personal growth, is a testament to the power of faith, patience, and the remarkable results of relying on God’s promises.