Don't Lose Hope -- Sarai/Sarah Part 2

Sarai/Sarah Part 2

God’s Plans will not be thwarted

You know we love to read about Abraham, what a great father of the faith he was.  But let’s remember two times where he almost blew it!

Right after Abram and Sarai get to Canaan, there’s a famine.  To avoid dying in the famine, Abram heads down to Egypt.  Now apparently, even in her late 60’s, Sarai was a looker.  She was so beautiful, in fact, that she is taken into Pharoah’s harem!  Abram, being such a strong man of faith and courage, tells Sarai to tell everyone she’s his sister and not his wife, so that he won’t be killed.  What?!

Now forgive me, Lord, but I really want to slap Abram in the face for this one.  He willingly allows her to be taken by Pharoah to save his own skin!  Perhaps I don’t understand the cultural nuances here, but surely Sarai would have hoped that Abram would have protected her better than that!

And are there sometimes in our own relationships when our spouses don’t protect us like they should?  Our husbands are human too… they have fears, insecurities, and doubts that sometimes put us in awkward or difficult situations. 

But I love the next part.  Genesis 12:17 says “But the Lord sent terrible plagues upon Pharaoh and his household because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.”  THE LORD protected Sarai even when Abram didn’t!  Don’t you see?  God knew from the beginning of time that Abram and SARAI would be the parents of Isaac!!  That couldn’t happen if Sarai is hanging out in Egypt with the Pharaoh!

And doggone if Abram (now called Abraham) didn’t do the same stupid thing AGAIN with King Abimelech!!  Now the first time, maybe we can give Abram grace.  He’s in Egypt… he’s a stranger… he’s heard from the Lord, but not specifically, etc.  But THIS TIME, The Lord Himself appearing in a physical body has told Abraham and Sarah that Sarah will have a baby in a year’s time!!  But he gets afraid again, tells Sarah to say she’s his sister again, and Abimilech takes her into his palace.  What the heck is Abraham thinking ?? Once again God has to intervene to protect Sarah… this time telling Abimelech that he’s a dead man if he touches Sarah.  I love it!  GO GOD!!

Again, God protected Sarah when Abraham didn’t.  Ladies, don’t miss this truth.  God will protect you even when your husband can’t or won’t.  This is not a slam against our husbands.  They are human and they are doing the best they can.  But just know, that because they are not perfect, they will make mistakes.  Sometimes those mistakes can be hugely detrimental.  BUT GOD can protect you through them.  God’s plans will not be thwarted. 

God makes the promise to Sarah

As you read the Genesis account of Abram/Sarai and Abraham/Sarah, most of the emphasis is on Abram/Abraham.  He’s the one God cuts covenant with… first through the sacrificed animals, then literally in Abraham’s flesh.  He’s the one God talks to most of the time.  But as I was reading my Bible this morning, I noticed that the heading for Genesis 18 reads “A Son is Promised to Sarah.”  Hmmmm.  Well, I guess that makes sense.  We’ve already seen that Abraham can father children with other women (remember the Hagar/Ishmael incident), and further along in Genesis we read that he had six other children with another wife after Sarah passed away.  So the problem is really with Sarah, isn’t it?

Isn’t it interesting that God chose Sarah… a barren old woman to give the promise to.  She was the one he had chosen to bear the promised child.  Not just any woman.  This woman.  Sarah.  She was Abraham’s wife.  Not a concubine.  Not some random woman.  His wife. 

Could it be that the promise could only come when Sarah got on board with what God was saying?  When God finally spoke to Sarah directly, her first response was to laugh derisively.  Yeah right, God.  All that stuff you’ve been telling Abraham, it’s going to happen through me.  I don’t believe it.  But that’s exactly what God was saying.  The promise was for Sarah AND Abraham.  Not just Abraham. 

Is there a situation in your life right now where you think God has told your husband something, but you’re not on board?  Are you fighting to believe that the vision your husband has also applies to you?  You know, the Bible says that when a husband marries his wife, the two become one.  Sarah was the legitimate wife of Abraham.  He was one with her.  The vision God gave Abraham automatically affected Sarah too.  But maybe she just couldn’t believe.  Maybe she just couldn’t get on Abraham’s team.  For heaven’s sake, look how he’s treated her in the past… look at the mistakes he has made.  If it hadn’t been for God’s intervention, she’d have been lost in a harem of two different kings. 

But my Bible says that a son is promised to Sarah.  When Sarah embraces her role to play, when she receives the promise herself, that’s when the baby is conceived.  No matter what mistakes Abraham has made.  No matter what mistakes she herself has made.  God’s plan comes to pass.  And He keeps His promise.  Genesis 21:1 is a powerful verse which simply says, “The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised.”

Ladies.  God keeps his word.  He doesn’t lie and He doesn’t change His mind.  What He says He will do, He does.  Maybe all he’s waiting for is for you to receive the promise.  For you to believe He will act.  For you to embrace your role in His plan.  Right now, ask the Lord, is there a promise you’re willing to fulfill, but you’re waiting on me to do my part?  Help me, Father, to get out of my own way.  To lay down any hurts, disappointments, discouragement, and unforgiveness.  Father, help me to embrace my place in your plan.  Help me to help my husband fulfill the dream you have given him.  Help me fulfill my role.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.