Hello, my lovely friends! It’s time for another Women of the Bible post! I’ve really enjoyed researching and writing these, and I hope you’re enjoying reading them. This week’s woman of the Bible is from the Old Testament and well-known for her faith in God. Her name is Sarah, which means “princess”!
Who was Sarah?
Sarah was Abraham’s wife and the mother of Isaac, and her story is found in Genesis.
6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” 10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?” 13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.” (Genesis 18:6-15)
The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3 Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac.[a] 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6 And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” 7 And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” (Genesis 21:1-7)
Sarah lived 127 years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. (Genesis 23:1-2)
What Can We Learn From Her?
She Showed Hospitality
Sarah, like her husband, was a hospitable person. When three unexpected visitors arrived at her home, she helped her husband prepare a meal for them.
And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.”
Genesis 18:6
Unexpected visitors are exactly that – unexpected. Sarah and Abraham probably didn’t have anything ready to serve visitors. But they quickly prepared a meal to serve their special guests, all without complaining. They demonstrated the kind of hospitality that I would like to be known for: generous and inviting, no matter what time or day it is. Because Sarah’s guests didn’t arrive in the evening, when we often get company today. No, her company arrived “in the heat of the day,” when temperatures were in the eighties or higher. Can you imagine cooking food over a fire in that kind of weather? Yet Sarah made sure there was bread for the meal and did it quickly. Hospitality can be hard sometimes, but it’s worth it to have meaningful conversations with our guests.
She Is Remembered for her Faith
When I think of faithful women in the Bible, Sarah is the first one to come to mind. She was faithful for her whole life, even though it must have been incredibly hard sometimes.
By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
Hebrews 11:11
Sarah was ninety years old when Isaac was born. God’s promise to Abraham that he would have descendants that numbered more than the stars came 25 years earlier. Imagine waiting 25 years, knowing that you were already past the age of having a child. Would your faith stay strong like Sarah’s? When I’m struggling to believe that God’s promises will be fulfilled, I think of Sarah and how she remained faithful for years, trusting that God would do what he promised. And now she is remembered for her faith in the “Hall of Faith” chapter in the Bible.
Go Live It
How can you show hospitality this week?
What area(s) of your faith need to be strengthened?
