Women of the Word: January, Sarah #5

 

Here we are, in the last week of January already! I can't believe we are at the end of Sarah's story - yet in a way - it is only the beginning!  

In the last post, Sarah had laughed at God when He said she would have a child by the next year.  But here she was, PREGNANT shortly after that!  

Alright ladies, I don't know about you, but I am 52 and the thought of this old body trying to grow an entirely new person inside of my belly - the thought is, well honestly, I can't even imagine it!  As I am sure that Sarah couldn't either.  This woman who had worked her fingers to the bone for 90 years.  Her joints and muscles after all those miles walked while traveling. The hard work of everyday life. Yet here she was, harboring a new life. It's the epitome of miraculous! 

There is not much about the pregnancy written in the Bible.  But it does say that it was "at the very time God had promised".  I'm pretty sure that it is safe to assume that God walked with her through the pregnancy and deliver to assure that mother and son were healthy. 

God had previously mentioned that they were to name their son, Isaac.  And do you want to hear something pretty funny?  Do you know what Isaac means? Isaac comes from the Hebrew root meaning "to laugh" - which BOTH of his parents did!  But who got the LAST LAUGH?  Most certainly, it was God.  And I just love that He has a sense of humor! 

Sarah's body produced milk and she nursed this child.  This elderly couple ran after a toddler!  They taught him all they knew.  They raised him to be a good man. Sarah lived to see her only son turn 37.  Not much is said about how they were as parents, but at her death, both husband and son grieved her. Abraham went to great lengths to find the perfect place to bury his beloved. 

"So Ephron’s field in Machpelah near Mamre—both the field and the cave in it, and all the trees within the borders of the field—was deeded 18 to Abraham as his property in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of the city. 19 Afterward Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre (which is at Hebron) in the land of Canaan. 20 So the field and the cave in it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site." Genesis 23: 17-20

There is so much more about Sarah's story that I wanted to delve into. I'll come back through and flesh out the study throughout the year.  

Sarah was so much more than just a woman of faith.  A woman of strength and patience.  More than just a woman who became pregnant as an elderly woman.  Sarah is the Mother of the Jewish Nation! 

Sarah is mentioned again in the New Testament.  

Hebrews 11:11

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised

1 Peter 3:6

just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.

Isaiah 51:2

“Look to Abraham your father

And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain;

When he was but one I called him,

Then I blessed him and multiplied him.”

Watch tomorrow for a post full of printables and resources for further study. I also plan to do a re-cap with some verse mapping. 

Be blessed! 

Sherry