By: Obed Pineda
If indeed Abraham is recognized as the father of faith, then Sarah is without a doubt the mother of faith. Too often this faithful and godly woman is overlooked by several students of the Bible. Although it is undeniable that at times Sarah was impulsive and impatient, it is just as true that she was an encouragement and supporter to her husband during turbulent times. It is unrighteous to conclude that Abraham’s spiritual growth was achieved without any assistance from his devout wife. On the contrary, it is marvelous to comprehend that even though Abraham is the central figure of this tale, in reality we are being provided by heaven a pattern of Scripture’s proclamation, “a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24, emphasis added). Verily, this is irrefutably confirmed in Abraham’s and Sarah’s journey together toward the promised land. When the Lord called Abram from Haran, it was commanded to him “get out of your country, from your family, and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1, emphasis added). Observe how both passages coincide with one another, serving as instruction (Genesis 2:24) and practice (Genesis 12:1). Yet, it is vital to pay close attention to Sarai’s response to Abram’s decision to leave Haran. The inspired Moses declares that “Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan” (Genesis 12:4-5, emphasis added). There is no question that Sarai supported her husband’s decision to leave Haran. However, we must not make the mistake of viewing Sarai as simply a member of the “supporting cast.” Sarai’s agreement to trust her husband and follow him was an essential part of the Lord’s plan for Abraham. Remember that toward the end of the promises made to Abram, Jehovah God reveals to him “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3, emphasis added). Although it was still unknown to Abram what the Father meant by this, the truth that God was referring to blessing him with a child proves that Sarai was indeed essential to His divine plan. The prophet Isaiah echoes this as he speaks to Israel on behalf of the Lord, “Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you; for I called him alone, and blessed him and increased him” (Isaiah 51:1-2, emphasis added). Let us recall that Abraham had several children (Genesis 16:15-16, 25:1-6), and yet the Lord acknowledged only the child of Sarah as His child of promise. This indisputable truth once again solidifies that Sarah was a part of God’s plans with Abraham from the beginning. Incredibly, understanding that Sarah was of the utmost importance to Abraham’s success sheds light on Peter’s wisdom as an elder. As he counseled his brethren of how to be faithful Christians, the apostle shifts his sage gaze to the Christian wives. Like Paul, he too exhorts them to be submissive to their husbands, but continues to instruct “do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel – rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted 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” (1st Peter 3:3-6, emphasis added). Through the quill of the inspired apostle, much can be learned about the person of Sarah. Peter sets her example as the mirror for those holy women who strive to be “very precious in the sight of God.” The Holy Spirit reveals to the diligent reader that Sarah was a modest woman, whose focus was more on the inward person than the outward person. Although beautiful, for Abram declares this himself (Genesis 12:11), she did not boast about her beauty nor did she use it in an ungodly manner. She was a virtuous wife who “opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness” (Proverbs 31:26-27, emphasis added). It is true that one can point to the moment when Sarah laughed after hearing that she would bear a child at an old age (Genesis 18:12) to dismiss her as a wise woman, but to do so is to miss the central lesson of their tale. It is imperative to remember that the faith of both Abraham and Sarah, progressively increased with experience. If it be true that Sarah’s laughter is reason enough to disqualify her as wise, then the same must be so for Abraham for “Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, ‘Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child” (Genesis 17:17, emphasis added)? Thus, this proves that both husband and wife were growing together and developing their faith in the Lord as one. Peter’s proclamation that Sarah was a holy woman because she trusted in God, is concurred by the Hebrew penmen as he scribes, “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” (Hebrews 11:11, emphasis added). Thus, the old adage that says “behind every great man, there is a great woman” proves itself true in the case of Abraham. To ignore Sarah’s contribution to Abraham’s triumphant faith is to be “mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). Thus as their journey begins on the pages of Sacred Scripture, it is the sage Peter who will once more illuminate how Jehovah God began to forge the father of faith. To be continued…