7 Lessons From the Life of Sarah in the Bible
We’ve been studying the Old Testament on Fridays for several weeks. Last week, we reflected on the story of Abram and Lot. Today, we’ll take some time to consider some applicable lessons from the life of Sarah in the Bible.
Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you apply the Old Testament to your life.
Lessons From the Life of Sarah in the Bible
Sarah is known as the wife of Abraham, and these two were originally known as Sarai and Abram before God made a covenant with them and changed their names.
In Genesis 15:5, God made a covenant with Abram. He led Abram outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them. So shall your descendants be” (NASB).
Time passed, and Sarai was unable to bear children. Taking matters into their own hands, Abram and Sarai came up with a plan. Abram would sleep with Sarai’s servant, Hagar, and in this way, Abram would become a father.
The plan worked.
Hagar bore a son named Ishmael.
After Ishmael was born, God appeared to Abram, changing his name to Abraham (meaning “father of many”). God changed Sarai’s name to Sarah, both names meaning “princess.”
God also instituted the mark of his covenant with Abraham, the circumcision of all males. This was a sign of obedience, a symbol of purification, and a sign of the covenant.
God also declared that Sarah would have a son named Isaac, and Isaac (not Ishamel) would be the son through whom God fulfilled his covenant with Abraham.
Three Visitors Foretell the Birth of a Son
After these events took place, three visitors approached Abraham. Many scholars suggest that two of the visitors were angels, and the other was God in human form (an event referred to as a theophany). The Lord declared that in about one year, Sarah would give birth to a son.
Listening from the tent, Sarah laughed.
The promise felt impossible. It collided with everything she knew about her body and her life. Her laughter was guarded and bitter. Years of infertility had led to shame and repeated disappointment.
Sarah’s laughter was inward, known only by Sarah. Yet God noticed.
We might expect God to respond to Sarah with anger, but he did not. Gently, he asked, “Is anything too difficult for the Lord” (Genesis 18:14).
The question reframed Sarah’s perspective.
A year later, her laughter was redeemed with joyful laughter when God brought her a son. She declared, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.”
Now that we’ve summarized Sarah’s story, let’s reflect on some lessons from her life.
7 Lessons From the Life of Sarah in the Bible
1. God’s timeline is different than ours.
Anyone who walks with God long enough learns this lesson.
Sarah was in her eighties, well beyond childbearing years, and she had no children. From a human standpoint, it was too late for her to give birth to a child.
Sarah wanted to see Abraham become a father. Most likely frustrated and heartbroken by her inability to conceive, she suggested he sleep with her servant to fulfill the plan.
How often do we rush ahead of God because his plans don’t make sense to us?
2. Trying to “help” God creates problems.
The decision for Abraham to conceive a child with Hagar was not a wise decision.
As the child grew, Sarah felt deep bitterness toward Hagar and Ishmael.
Had Abraham and Sarah waited on God, they would have spared themselves, and Hagar, much distress.
3. God is faithful when we stumble.
Abraham and Sarah were not obedient.
They tried to take matters into their own hands, leading them to sin and act apart from God’s divine guidance.
Nevertheless, God fulfilled his promise to this couple. When Sarah was 90 years old, she conceived a son with Abraham, and Isaac was born.
They had been disobedient, but God did not break his promise.
We can trust that even in our missteps, God will care for us and direct us.
4. Nothing is too hard for God.
Getting pregnant after menopause is biologically impossible. But nothing is impossible with God.
We can cling to the promise that nothing is too hard for God. God delivers on his promises.
5. God can replace bitterness with joy.
When Sarah first laughed in the tent, her laughter was filled with bitterness and despair.
A year later, God changed her bitter laughter to joyful laughter. He wants to do this for all his children.
Do you need God to heal a wound in your life? What would it look like to turn to him today?
6. Faith is a journey.
Abraham and Sarah grew in faith as time went by. God demonstrated his trustworthiness.
Ultimately, their trust in God was so great that when God called Abraham to take Isaac on the mountain and offer him as a sacrifice, they obeyed.
God did not call Abraham to follow through with sacrificing his son, but Abraham proved his trust in God through his willing heart.
7. God doesn’t miss a moment of our lives.
Just as God knew what was in Sarah’s heart when she laughed in bitterness, he knows what is in our hearts.
Furthermore, he doesn’t condemn us for the sin and doubt in our hearts. He wants to restore us.
What do you need God to restore today?
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If these lessons from the life of Sarah in the Bible blessed you, I invite you to explore our family devotionals and library of free devotional eBooks below. Be blessed as you turn toward the Lord!
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
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Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
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