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Sarah
The Unbelieving Wife
Thinking that she would be judge and punished by the Lord, Sarah quickly spoke out, saying: "But I didn't laugh." But the Lord would have none of what Sarah was trying to convince Him of and quickly replied: "Yes Sarah, you did laugh."
(Bible Study Online Article Covers : Genesis 18:1-15)
Short Recap
In the last article, we learned a little about the "Covenant of Circumcision" and what this particular covenant now required of Abraham. We'd also discovered that God had changed Abraham's wife's name from Sarai to Sarah. Nevertheless, we now move forward.
We now find that it's during this time, from within our journey, that the Sacred Record reveals that God begins to tell Abraham about the child he will bear with his wife, Sarah. Keep in mind that Abraham and Sarah are found to be in their later stages of life, which is well beyond the childbearing years. However, it was at this moment that we also learned that Abraham had doubted what he had just heard from the Most High:
"Abraham fell face down; he laughed and said to himself, 'Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?'" -- Genesis 17:17
But despite Abraham's doubts, God would, once again, reassure him that this would happen as He departed:
"Then God said, 'Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.'" -- Genesis 17:19
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The Three Angelic Visitors
However, as we move forward, we now find Abraham sitting at the entrance to his tent, which is located near the great trees of Mamre. And it was at this time, during the midst of a heated day when Abraham had noticed three men standing nearby. So Abraham would immediately get up and hurry out to meet with these strangers. Know that once he was in their presence, Abraham would bow low before them as he spoke these words:
"If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way -- now that you have come to your servant." -- Genesis 18:3-5
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The Perfect Host
Now, after hearing what Abraham had to say, the three angelic strangers replied: "Very well, do as you say." So Abraham hurried out and made his way to his tent. As he went inside, he saw his wife, Sarah, sitting there. And this is when he said: "Quick! Get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread." Now, after doing this, Abraham would then head out to his livestock and select a nice, tender calf. Abraham would take this calf and have his servant prepare it for the three angelic strangers to eat.
Next, we find that Abraham would go and pick up some curds and milk and, after doing so, return to his servant to pick up the prepared calf. Now, it was at this time that Abraham would take the food items out to the angelic strangers and place the meal before them. Know that Abraham would stand nearby under a tree while the three angelic strangers ate.
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Abraham Where's your Wife?
Now, as the three angelic strangers were eating their food, one of them called out to Abraham, who was still standing nearby: "Where is your wife?" And after hearing this question, Abraham responded: "There, in the tent." After hearing this, one of the angels said: "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah, your wife, will have a son."
Now, it's at this moment that the Sacred Record reveals that Sarah was eavesdropping when she heard the foretelling of this prophecy by one of the angels. Keep in mind that she was standing just inside the tent, near the entrance. And with Abraham being at an advanced age and Sarah being well past her childbearing years, she would laugh to herself, thinking, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?"
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Sarah Why did you Laugh?
And even though Sarah had not laughed and spoken out loud, the Lord would still hear her skepticism: "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son." -- Genesis 18:13,14
Now thinking that she would be judged and punished by the Lord when it came to her skepticism, Sarah quickly spoke out, saying: "But I didn't laugh." But the Lord would have none of what Sarah was trying to convince Him of and quickly replied: "Yes, Sarah, you did laugh."
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Can We Really Blame Her?
Now, as I just stated, Sarah wasn't punished for her disbelief in what the Lord had said to her. For in her own right, it was reasonable and had made perfect sense that she thought the way that she did. I mean, after all, she had been through quite a bit up to this point in her life, for we must not forget that she, too, was faithful, right along with Abraham. She'd also left everything she knew to follow her husband as he went out to follow God's calling on his life.
Know that she endured a lot, and one example of what she had to put up with came when they ran into a severe famine from within the land of Canaan. It was at this time that Abraham and his wife went to Egypt to wait out the famine. But Sarah ended up being taken by Pharaoh to be his wife, and honestly, judging by her husband's reaction, Abraham was going to allow Pharaoh's actions to stand.
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Abraham Was Wrong - Just Plain Wrong
After all, the reason Abraham had told his wife to lie about their marriage in the first place, by telling the Egyptians that she was his sister, was that he hoped to remain alive, for he didn't want to be killed just for being Sarah's husband. And know that Abraham's plan had seemed to be working (for him), being that Pharaoh would shower him with expensive gifts. In addition, Pharaoh would provide Abraham with lavish accommodations, and the Egyptian ruler did all of these things in exchange for Sarah.
And although I can understand Abraham's reasoning for allowing it, I still won't find myself coming to his defense, as most would do. Now, I see Abraham's actions as somewhat trifling, selfish, and cowardly. He should have trusted God more in his current ordeal, and by doing so, he would have stayed in the land of Canaan despite the famine. Abraham never should have gone to Egypt in the first place.
However that may have been, know that Abraham would find himself exceptionally fortunate since God would eventually step in and quickly disrupt Abraham's and Pharaoh's selfish and wicked plans regarding Sarah.
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Sarah Did all She Could and Yet?
However, as we begin to move forward, we now see that Sarah became impatient when it came to her childbearing, for she'd come up with a plan to have Hagar, her Egyptian maidservant, marry Abraham in the hopes of her being able to bear him an heir through Hagar. And with this childbearing plan now in full effect, some time would go by, and Hagar would indeed bear Abraham a son, and they named him Ishmael.
It seems that Sarah's plan was working just as she had envisioned it. But something would happen that she wasn't quite planning on. We now find that Hagar began to look down on and ridicule Sarah regarding her childbearing dilemma. And since Hagar was able to provide Abraham with an heir, she'd deemed herself to be a better woman than Sarah.
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Sarah Had Heard Enough?
Finally, Sarah had reached a high point of frustration, and she'd become furious towards Hagar. And it was this anger that had finally prompted her to act? So much so that she would begin to seek revenge against Hagar. Also, know that Sarah had done this, by what we like to call, over here in the west, "pulling rank." Know that this involved Sarah becoming very ill-tempered towards Hagar. Because of this, Sarah began to treat Hagar with such disrespect that Hagar would eventually flee from Abraham's household.
As a result, this ordeal would lead to Hagar receiving a visit from an angel of the Lord. And it would be this angel that had convinced Hagar to humble herself and go back to Abraham's household. And, needless to say, Hagar would eventually soften her heart, and she obeyed the Lord and returned to Abraham's household.
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Is Sarah Being Doubtful - Justified?
Be that as it may, I can't blame Sarah for having the thoughts that she did. I can't blame her for giving up on the notion that she would one day have a family of her own. I mean, after all, Sarah was well into her advanced years, and perhaps that's why God did not punish her for doubting Him.
And, come to think about it, Sarah probably had thought that the Lord was already punishing her. And it's this notice that becomes clear as we reflect on all that she had been through up to this point in her young life. But God would remind her never to doubt His Word, and He was going to prove to her that nothing is too hard for Him to do.
Now, personally, this is one of the many reasons why I love God so much, for He has done so much for us already, and yet He continues to prove Himself to us. Now, I would call that type of action on God's part, providing love to the highest degree. Because in actuality, God doesn't have to do it, but He does it anyway because He loves us so much. Thank you, God, for all that You have done and continue to do in our lives. Thank you so much. Amen.
In the next Bible Study Online Article:
So we just learned that the Lord had called Sarah out, when it came to her skepticism and doubts. And after Sarah had been caught, she then tried, to lie about it. But know that the Lord wasn't having any of it, when it came to Sarah trying to coverup what she had done. However, in the next article, we begin to move forward -- and it's at this time, that we find Abraham having to intercede on the behalf of two wicked cities? Sodom and Gomorrah, coming up next.
May God blessings be upon you, and thank you for your support
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