WOMEN OF CHRISTMAS - SARAH - INTRODUCTION

SARAH – INTRODUCTION

If you grew up in church, you are probably familiar with the basics of the story of Abram/Abraham and Sarai/Sarah. Let us refresh your memory. Abram lived in Ur of the Chaldeans but believed in the one true God. The first mention of Sarai is found in Genesis chapter 11.

Genesis 11:29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. 

30 But Sarai was barren; she had no child. 

31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

Right off the bat, we are told that Sarai was barren which is a crucial factor in their lives. In their culture, a barren woman was thought to be cursed by God, but God had made Sarai barren in order to show His power and glory later on in their story.

God told Abram to leave his country and travel to a place He would show him. Abram obeyed even though God gave him no map and no information other than the fact that He would make a great nation of Abram. Abram’s wife, Sarai, was beautiful, and more than once he had her pretend to be his sister so people would not kill him to get her. (See Genesis 12 & Genesis 20). Abraham waivered in his faith in God’s ability to protect him and Sarai, but God was still faithful. God always rescued Sarai from becoming a part of some harem!

God led them on a long journey to the land of Canaan, later known as the Promised Land, then Israel, the Holy Land. God had promised to make Abram the father of a great nation and changed his name from Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude). At first Abraham thought he might have to designate a servant as his heir because Sarah was barren. Then Sarah suggested that Abraham have a child with her handmaiden, Hagar, as was the custom in that day. As we study Sarah it will become quite clear that God called Sarah specifically to be the mother of the great nation promised to Abraham.

Question: If God spoke to you, even in an audible voice, and told you to pack up your entire household and go on a road trip until He said to stop, would you obey Him, not knowing where you would land?