Sarah

Women of the Bible

Sarah

Scripture References:

Genesis 11:29-31; 12:5-17; 16:1-8; 20:2-18; 21:1-12; 23:1-19; 24:36-37; 25:10-12; 49:31; Isaiah 51:2; Romans 4:19; 9:9; Hebrews 11:11; 1 Peter 3:6

About Sarah:

·         Sarah means “Princess”

·         Was the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac

·         Became the mother of a nation

·         Was an ancestor of Jesus

·         Was the first woman listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11

Read Genesis 12:1-6

Her Journey:

Destination: UNKNOWN

God calls each of us as believers to leave our old self and our old lives in the world to live in a new kingdom and put on a new self. Just like Sarah, we all don’t know what lies ahead…but that is the exact reason the journey becomes an adventure and a way to draw close to the Lord and know Him better.

God has a journey for each of us and all of our destinations are unknown.

It is on this journey that God tests our faith, shows Himself strong, and sanctifies us.

Psalm 16:11 (NKJV) “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

On this Journey…

1.      God wants to show us the path. He doesn’t want us to make our own and add Him to ours.

2.      God wants us to discover His presence. Through this discovering of His presence we will receive a blessing of the fullness of joy. A discovery we all want to make!

3.      God wants us to obtain our inheritance. We have pleasures forevermore we know nothing of. On this path God has for us we discover God’s presence and it is IN God’s presence we will discover these pleasures. Our inheritance is intimacy with God.

Path  ---> Presence---> Pleasures

Psalm 119:105 (NKJV) “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

We have a map for the journey! It is God’s Word. Every day we need to spend time in God’s presence and read His Word. This is how we get to know Him. God wants to speak to you daily through your time in His Word.

Get a DAILY BIBLE READING PLAN!

Her marriage:

Read Genesis 12:7-20

Sarah was the wife of Abraham. She is known as the mother of many nations.

Sarah was under the authority and leadership of her husband and even though Abraham made a foolish and unwise decision, God protected her and blessed them.

“The most comforting thing to a child of God is the sovereignty of God.” –Charles H. Spurgeon

Read 1 Peter 3:1-6

There is order in marriage.

As a Christian wife our actions always speak louder than our words. We need to understand and grasp this. A lot of times we speak in fear. It is an act of faith to be submissive to our husbands and to trust the Lord.

When we learn to not act out of fear and insecurity, and allow the Lord to create a gentle and quiet spirit within us, we will be very attractive to our husbands. They will be drawn toward us, not pushed away.

Fear --->Worry ---> Speak (Nag) ---> Controlling ---> Irritable and Unpleasant

1 Peter 3:6 (NASB)

Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.

Proverbs 21:9 (ESV)

It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

2 Peter 1:5-8 (NKJV)

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, [you] will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are often tempted to overlook the importance of our character growth and we resort to examining our lives by what we are doing.

Her Beauty

Genesis 12:11b NASB “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman”

Beautiful Woman literally means “woman of beautiful appearance.”

We have all these ideas that come with all that comes with beauty…but there are negative things that come with it as well!

Review 1 Peter 3:3-4 (NASB)

Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

Proverbs 31:30 (NKJV)

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 9:13 (NASB)

The woman of folly is boisterous, She is naive and knows nothing.

Proverbs 11:16 (NASB)

A gracious woman attains honor.

Proverbs 11:22 (NASB)

As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

Her Faith:

Read Genesis 15:1-5; 16:1-6

“To a Hebrew woman, barrenness was looked upon as a gnawing grief, and sometimes regarded as a sign of divine disfavor.” –Herbert Lockyer

God promised Abraham and Sarah a son.

v. 2 –Sarah took the “fact” and presumed upon it herself. This is a dangerous attitude to have. “Well, God hasn’t provided for this…” “I need to do this because…” We justify our actions with “factual thoughts”. But our actions can be very far from pleasing God. It is the duty of a Christian to wait on God. Satan will tempt us to “help God along” or to start to act when it isn’t God’s timing. This is very important lesson in your walk. You will miss God working situations out EVERY TIME to make your own presumption and then act upon it.

On all of our journeys we will have doubts and failure. Continue to seek the Lord and let him redeem those times and work them out for your good and for His glory.

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Life Lesson:

Hebrews 11:11 (NASB)

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

**When you trust in the Lord, you will have a submissive heart because your faith is that God will take care of you.

(Magnify Him Women's Bible Study at Calvary Grace Fellowship!)