Guest author Jesse Flowers continues his “Godly Women of the Bible” series:

It seems to me that a godly woman that is often forgotten because of the enormity of the shadow cast by her husband is Sarah. Abraham is mentioned in the Bible 280 times while Sarah is mentioned just shy of 50 times. When we think of faith we don’t think of Sarah (though she had faith), we think of Abraham. He was not only the father of the Jewish nation, but is the spiritual father of all who walk in his steps of faith (Rom. 4:12).

When we mention the patriarchs of old we typically list off the big three: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But what about the wives of these mighty men: Sarah, Rebekah, Leah and Rachel? Whenever we think of Isaac’s great story we generally think of him in connection with his father Abraham, but seldom with his mother Sarah. Why is that? Most assuredly, there would be no son of promise if it wasn’t for the very key role of this godly wife and mother in the plan of God!

Indeed there is much that we can all learn from this remarkable woman of God named Sarah.

 1. She endured various hardships in life. Although she was righteous and married to a very righteous and wealthy man, this did not mean that her life was problem free. In fact, the first time we are introduced to her in Scripture we read: “But Sarai was barren; she had no child” (Gen. 11:30). While we do read of other godly women in the Bible who were barren (Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah, Elizabeth, etc.), none of them remained barren as long as Sarah. She was 90 years old when Isaac was born.

On two separate occasions her husband placed her in very awkward and dangerous situations, by presenting her to Pharaoh and to Abimelech as his sister instead as his wife (Gen. 12:10-20; 20:1-18). Also there were difficult hardships that arose regarding her handmaid Hagar and her son Ishmael (Gen. 16:1-6; 21:8-12). Like Sarah, godly women today will encounter various hardships in life (Jam. 1:2; 2 Tim. 3:12) that they too must endure holding fast to the Lord their God (Josh. 23:8).

2. Her faith was lacking and needed to grow. There were certainly occasions when Sarah’s faith was not as strong and trusting in God as it should have been. For example, when ten years had passed since God’s promise to Abraham of not only a son but a great nation, and she was still barren, she grew impatient with God’s timetable. So she suggested to her husband an alternate plan. “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her” (Gen. 16:2). But we must also point out that instead of reassuring her of God’s promise he “heeded the voice of Sarai.”

Another example is found in Gen. 18:9-15. God sent divine messengers to Abraham to tell him that “Sarah your wife shall have a son” (v. 10). Sarah overheard the conversation and she laughed within herself and said, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” The LORD was not pleased with her response and asked Abraham, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” But would it not also seem a bit far-fetched to you at age 89? Even the text says, “Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing” (v. 11; cf. Rom. 4:19). In fact, we read of a very similar example of Abraham reacting the same way earlier (cf. Gen. 17:15-18).

But let’s be completely fair and honest. Have there not been times in our lives when our faith and trust in God was lacking and needed to grow more? At times like Jesus’ own disciples we need to be lovingly rebuked, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matt. 14:31)

3. She obeyed her husband. By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the apostle Peter holds up Sarah as an example to be emulated by all Christian wives. “For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror” (1 Peter 3:5-6). Out of all the godly wives that Peter could have chosen, he chose Sarah. She stands as a shining example for all time of a wife that had “chaste conduct accompanied by fear” (v. 2), “the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” (v. 4), a “holy” woman “who trusted in God” and was “submissive” to her husband (v. 5).

These qualities and characteristics in a woman are ridiculed and looked down upon by many in the world today, but they are “very precious in the sight of God” (v. 4). To obey your husband is to obey your Lord (Eph. 5:22-24). The Lord calls upon Christian wives to be “daughters” of Sarah. Will you arise and answer that noble and high calling? And is it any wonder then that when Abraham lost such a godly wife and mother that he “came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her” (Gen. 23:2)? The void in his life for the next 38 years until his own death must have been tremendous without his best friend and companion in life by his side. No doubt she was greatly loved and would be greatly missed by Abraham.

4. She had a faith that pleased God. The Bible tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). Sarah possessed such a faith. Five verses later we read: “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised” (v. 11). “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed…” And where does faith come from? Faith comes from hearing the words of God (Rom. 10:17). The inspired text tells us that she bore a child when she was past the age, “because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” Do we have a faith like Sarah? Do we also judge God faithful who has made “exceedingly great and precious promises” to us (2 Peter 1:4)? She wasn’t perfect in her walk with God. Neither are we. Her faith faltered at times. So does ours. But let us be determined that over the course of our lives that we too will possess a faith that pleases God.

Can you not relate on some level to Sarah? Surely each of us can not only relate to her, but also learn some invaluable spiritual lessons. In fact, she is so significant to the story of the Bible that the apostle Paul says that Christians are children of Sarah, children of promise (Gal. 4:21-31). I must admit that I’m really looking forward to meeting Abraham in Heaven, but I am also really looking forward to meeting and getting to know this great woman of God. Aren’t you?

Jesse Flowers has been preaching for the church of Christ at Pruett and Lobit Street in Baytown, Texas for the past 8 years. He is married to his beautiful wife, April (Melton), and they have four sweet children, Jesse, Josiah, Anna and Clara. If interested, you can read more of his articles or listen to his sermons at www.biblework.com.