Who was Sarah in the Bible?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Sarah, originally named Sarai, accompanied her husband Abraham on their journey from Ur to Canaan with her father Terah and nephew Lot. Despite struggles with infertility, Sarah bore a son, Isaac, in her old age, fulfilling God's promise. Throughout their travels, Sarah faced challenges, including hiding her marriage to Abraham to protect their lives. Despite doubts, Sarah's faith in God's promises was praised in the New Testament, teaching us to trust in God's faithfulness and timing, even in seemingly impossible situations. This underscores the importance of patience and unwavering faith in God's plans.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Sarah was Abraham's (originally called Abram) half-sister, born to the same father by a different mother, and was originally named Sarai (Genesis 11:29; 20:12).
• Sarai accompanied her father, Terah, husband, Abram, and nephew, Lot, when they left their homeland of Ur for Canaan (Genesis 11:31). Instead of reaching Canaan, the family settled in Haran. Eventually, God called Abram to leave Haran and go to the land where God would lead him (Genesis 12:1–3). Sarai and Lot went with Abram to Canaan (Genesis 12:4–5).
• Sarai was a beautiful woman (Genesis 12:11, 14). Due to living in dependence upon the land, Sarai and Abram moved around following the availability of food. A famine once took them to Egypt, and many years later, they journeyed to Gerar. At both places, Abraham and Sarah hid the fact that they were married because Abraham feared that the local men would kill him so that they could take Sarah as their own wife (Genesis 12:10–20; 20:1–18). In both instances, the ruling men took Sarah into their households. However, God revealed to the Egyptian Pharaoh and to Abimelech of Gerar that Sarah was Abraham's wife. Each man returned Sarah to her husband with her honor still intact. They also gave Abraham livestock and other goods. Thus Abraham's wealth increased.
• God promised Abram a descendant to inherit the land, but Sarai had been unable to conceive for the entire length of their marriage (Genesis 11:30). So Sarai devised a plan whereby Abram could father a child through one of the maidservants they gained in Egypt. This servant, Hagar, did bear a son, Ishmael, to Abram, but he was not the son God had promised (Genesis 16).
• God reiterated His promise for a son through Sarai and changed Abram's and Sarai's names to Abraham and Sarah as a sign of this covenant (Genesis 17:5, 15). Abraham originally laughed at the thought that after all these years, in their old age, Sarah would bear a child (Genesis 17:17). Later, when Sarah overheard divine guests reiterating this promise to Abraham, she too laughed, but denied it out of fear (Genesis 18:12, 15).
• God kept His promise, and Sarah gave birth to Isaac a year later at over ninety years old (Genesis 21:1–2).
• Sarah died at the age of 127 (Genesis 23:1). Abraham bought a tomb from Ephron the Hittite, known as the cave of Machpelah, in which he buried Sarah (Genesis 23:19–20; 50:13). This cave and later became a family burial place for his descendants (Genesis 49:29–33).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The writer of Hebrews commended Sarah for her faith saying, "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).
• In 1 Peter 3:6 Sarah is remembered for obeying her husband without fear, so she was not only beautiful but brave too.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Sarah's story teaches us the importance of trusting in God's promises, even when circumstances seem impossible. Despite Sarah's advanced age and infertility, she ultimately became the mother of Isaac because she believed in God's faithfulness. This teaches us to have faith and patience in God's timing, knowing that He is always faithful to fulfill His promises, even if they seem unlikely or delayed from our perspective.

UNDERSTAND

• Sarah, Abraham's wife, journeyed with him from Ur to Canaan.
• Because of Sarah's infertility, she suggested Abraham have a child with her servant Hagar, leading to Ishmael's birth, but not fulfilling God's promise.
• God reaffirmed His promise, changing Sarah’s name and granting Sarah a son, Isaac, in her old age.

REFLECT

• In what ways is it hard to wait for something you prayed for? How can you maintain faith in God's timing during your time of waiting?
• How can Sarah's story inspire you to approach challenges with faith and trust in God's promises instead of taking matters into your own hands?
• How does Sarah's journey encourage you to hold steadfastly to God's promises, even when circumstances seem impossible? How can you deepen your confidence in God's faithfulness through studying and meditating on His Word?

ENGAGE

• What do you learn about God in the way He protected Sarah with Pharaoh and Abimelech, despite her and Abraham’s lying to try to protect themselves?
• What do you learn about God in the way that He kept His promise to give Sarah a son?
• What does doubt lead to when it does not lead to seeking truth?