Welcome
To Summer Bible Study
Sarah
The Mother of Nations
Genesis 17.16
Sarah-The Name
•The name Hebrew root word for both Sarai and Sarah is “princess.”
•Originally she is introduced as “Sarai.”
•“The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai.” Genesis 11.29
•Her name is changed from “Sarai” to Sarah in Genesis 17.15 by God.
Name Change
•According to John Phillips in his book Exploring Genesis:
•The name “Sarai” meant “my princess.”
•The name Sarah meant “a princess.”
Abram’s Name Changed Also
•Abraham was originally “Abram.”
•John Phillips says Abram meant “high father.”
•Abraham meant “a father of many nations.”
•The name changes occur in Genesis 17.
•God promised a son to Abram and Sarai
Sarai’s Beauty
•Sarai was a beautiful woman.
•Abram said to Sarai: “I know what a beautiful woman you are.”
•Abram had a fear that the Egyptians will kill him to get his beautiful wife.
•His plan is to pass Sarai off as his sister while in
Question
•Do you agree with Abram’s plan to pass Sarai off as his sister? Why or why not?
Abram’s Plan
•Abram told half a truth.
•Sarai was truly his half sister that became his wife.
•Sarai is the daughter of Abram’s father, but not of his mother.
•“Besides, she is really my sister; the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife.” Genesis 20.12 Abraham to Abimelech
Sarai’s Beauty
•Sarai’s beauty is noticed by the Egyptians.
•“When Abram came to
•She was 64 years old when this statement was made.
Sarai Taken Away
•Because she was so beautiful, Sarai was taken from Abram into the
•She was taken to be a part of Pharaoh's harem.
•“But the LORD inflicted diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife, Sarai.” Genesis 12.17
God’s Purpose
•God intended Abram to be a blessing to all nations. Genesis 12.1-2
•Yet, in
God’s Promise of a Son
•A son was necessary to pass on the blessings promised of the land and of descendants.
•Abram asks God about a son even when his wife is barren.
•God promised a son.
•“A son coming from your own body will be your heir.’ Genesis 15.4
The Promise of a Son
•Again the promise of a son is affirmed in Genesis chapter 17.
•“I will bless her (Sarai) and will surely give you a son by her.” Genesis 17.15
Laughter
•Both Sarah and Abraham find this promise funny.
•“Will a son be born to a man 100 years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of 90?” Genesis 17.17
The Laugh of Unbelief
•“Abraham and Sarah both laughed at the promise of God and in both cases their laugh was that of unbelief.”
•Dr. Harold OcKenga
•Women Who Made Bible History
Laughter of Unbelief
•“This laughter in Sarah was not that of an unbeliever. It was that of a believer who did not trust a particular divine promise. Her laughter was not that of mockery, but it was that one single act of unbelief in the life of a believing person.”
•Harold OcKenga
More Laughter
•Sarah laughs again in Genesis chapter 18.
•“So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, ‘After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?’” Genesis 18.12
Laughter Rebuked
•God rebukes Sarah for her laughter.
•Read Genesis 18.13-15
Question
•Why do you think Sarah denied the fact she laughed?
Isaac’s Name
•The name Isaac means “laughter.”
•The reason for the name is provided:
•“Sarah said, ‘God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” Genesis 21.6
Sarai’s Condition
•“Now Sarai was barren; she had no children.” Gen. 11.30
•Barrenness was considered in the days of the OT to be
–A source of embarrassment
–A reason for reproach
–A punishment from God
Barrenness
•The great desire of a married woman in the days of the OT was to give her husband a descendant.
•A descendant was male not female.
•Sarai could not give her husband a descendant to inherit the promises God made to Abraham.
More on Barrenness
•“The reproach attached to barrenness, especially among the Hebrews, was doubtless due to the constant expectation of the Messiah, and the hope cherished by every woman that she might be the mother of the promised seed.”
•Unger’s Bible Dictionary
Barrenness and Handmaidens
•“In order to avoid the disgrace of barrenness women gave their handmaidens to their husbands, regarding the children born under such circumstances as their own.”
•Unger’s Dictionary of the Bible
Sarai Uses Hagar
•“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; so she said to Abram, ‘The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.’ Abram agreed to what Sarai said.” Genesis 16.1-4
Question
•Do you think Sarai did the right thing by permitting Abram to sleep with Hagar?
•Why or why not?
Question
•Should Abram have listened to Sarai’s suggestion and followed her advice?
•Why or why not?
Results of the Mistake
•“When she (Sarai) knew she (Hagar) was pregnant, she (Sarai) began to despise her (Hagar).” Genesis 16.4
The Home
•The pregnancy of Hagar upset the harmony of the home of Abram and Sarai.
•“The blessing and harmony of Abram’s home was gone, not to be restored for some sixteen or seventeen years. Such is the fruit for impatience in the things of God.” John Phillips
Sarai’s Actions Against Hagar
•Her rebellion of offering Hagar manifested itself in 2 ways:
–Untamed tongue: She blamed Abram Genesis 16.5 Read
–Untamed temper: She vented her anger on Hagar. Read Genesis 16.6
Current Application
•Ishmael is the son born to Hagar.
•Ishmael becomes the father of the Arabs.
•Isaac is the true son of Abraham and Sarah.
•Isaac becomes the father of the Jews.
Current Application
•“Their rage (descendants of Ishmael) against
•Read Genesis 16.11-12
•Agree or disagree with Phillips?
Isaac
•“Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.” Genesis 21.1-2
The Role of Faith
•Faith played a very important role in the conception of Sarai and the birth of Isaac.
•“By faith Abraham, even though he was past age-and Sarah herself was barren-was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.” Hebrews 11.11
•Abraham was 100 at the birth of Isaac. Genesis 21.5
The Offering of Isaac
•Abraham is instructed to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice. Genesis 22
Question
•Assuming that Sarah knew all about Abraham’s intention to go to
Legend in Josephus
•“An old legend stated by Josephus is that when Abraham and Isaac returned from
•Harold OcKenga
Sarah’s Death
•The Bible does not say exactly why she died.
•“Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. She died at kiriath Arba (that is,
Abraham Mourns
•Abraham’s love for his wife is clearly noticed in his grief at her loss.
•“and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her.” Genesis 23.2
Burial of Sarah
•“Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is
The Cave and Field
•“Sarah’s grave is important because her tomb was the only piece of real estate in all of
•John Phillips
All Abraham’s Real Estate
•Some day all of the land would go to Abraham’s descendants.
•Abraham only had a tiny slice of the whole pie to come.
The N.T. and Sarah
•Read I Peter 3.1-7
Submission????
•Wives are commanded to be submissive.
•Is this acceptable in our modern society?
•What does Peter mean by the command for wives to be submissive?
•In what specific ways do you think Sarah was an example of submission to her husband?
Submission in Marriage
•“Submission within marriage does not mean total, unquestioning obedience, whatever the demands. It does involve loyalty and unswerving commitment.”
•I Peter: Free to Hope, Andrew Whitman
Submission in Marriage
•“To us at the end of the 20th century, talk of submission and obedience has a rather ‘old fashioned’ ring to it. Are Christian wives being called to be ‘holy doormats?’ Certainly not! Peter had firsthand experience of married life and took his wife with him when he traveled (I Cor. 9.5). Here he portrays submission as the path of true beauty and true spirituality.”
•I Peter: Free to Hope. Andrew Whitman
Question
•What are your thoughts about Peter’s command for wives to be submissive?
Sarah and Inward Beauty
•“Many have taken Peter’s words to be an absolute prohibition of any outward adornment. But Peter’s emphasis is not on prohibition but on proper sense of values.”
Sarah Mentioned in Galatians
•Paul refers to Sarah in Galatians.
•Her name is not used, but it is obvious he is talking about Sarah.
•Read Galatians 4.21-31
Allegory
•Sarah represents the line of faith and freedom.
•Hagar represents those not in the faith and in slavery.
Living by the Law v. Living by faith
•The contrast is made between Ishmael and Isaac and the two groups they represent.
•Similarly, there are two groups: those who adhere to the law and those who adhere to faith.
•Hagar represents the
•Sarah represents the
Live by Faith
•Paul shows that we can not live by the law. It must be by faith and not the law.
•Sarah’s life is used to illustrate this point in the allegory in Galatians.
Paul Mentions Her in Romans
•Read Romans 9.9
Isaiah Mentions Sarah
•Read Isaiah 51.1-2
