Through Faith Also Sarah

 •  6 min. read  •  grade level: 13
 
As to the dispensation in which he lived, Abraham’s proper outlook was similar to that of the believer today, although, of course, without the knowledge or possession of any of the blessings which are ours in Christianity. In Abraham’s day, as in our day of grace, God was not laying claim to this world in an outward way; rather, He was calling out of it those who would walk before Him in a pilgrim character, giving up present advantage for future gain. As such, his faith was exemplary and his conduct typical of those who were “strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Heb. 11:1313These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13)). He followed the call of God in leaving Ur of the Chaldees, and as it is recorded, “he went out, not knowing whither he went” (Heb. 11:88By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. (Hebrews 11:8)). In putting ourselves into his circumstances, we realize that it must have been a real test of his faith at the beginning, to leave a relatively well-developed city of that day and to go out to live a pastoral life in a land populated by a people whom he did not know and who were also wicked in their beliefs and behavior. Yet he was obedient to the call of God, and his faith has served as an example to all who followed him in their belief in God and His Word. “They which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham” (Gal. 3:99So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. (Galatians 3:9)).
Not of This World
The world of today, in its character and behavior, is much the same as that in which Abraham lived. Those of us who live in areas where the gospel has been preached for many years and where Christianity is well-known can be thankful for this heritage. Yet it remains that, for the believer, “in the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:3333These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)). Also, in praying to His Father for His own, our Lord could say, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:1414I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (John 17:14)). Many dear believers, all down through the ages, have had to face the opposition of their families, neighbors and the world around them, enduring persecution and even martyrdom for their faith. This is going on today in many places in this world, and even in Western countries, opposition to Christianity and Christian principles is growing. The world that rejected the Lord Jesus nearly 2,000 years ago has not changed in its outlook.
United Together
In the midst of all that Abraham was called upon to go through in his life before the Lord, it is beautiful and encouraging to see that God provided a help-meet for him—one who shared His faith and who was happy to follow him in his life as a pilgrim and a stranger. It is true that there was failure in her life, as there was with Abraham, for when she was not able to have a child in the natural way, it was Sarah who proposed giving her maid Hagar to Abraham as his wife, that they might have a child by her. When the Lord Himself, with two angels, visited Abraham’s home (Gen. 18), it is true that initially Sarah laughed in unbelief, when she heard the prophecy of the Lord concerning the son that she would bear. However, she acted with her husband in showing hospitality to the strangers who had come to visit their home, and as we read in Hebrews 13:22Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (Hebrews 13:2), she “thereby  ... entertained angels unawares.” We learn from Hebrews 11:1111Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. (Hebrews 11:11) that she then “through faith  ... received strength to conceive seed  ... when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” Later, when it was the mind of the Lord to send Hagar and Ishmael away from the household, it was Sarah who was more in the current of God’s thoughts than her husband, Abraham, and the Lord told him to “hearken unto her voice” (Gen. 21:1212And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called. (Genesis 21:12)). In all these things we find a woman who lived in the current of God’s thoughts, as did her husband Abraham.
Submission
More than this, Peter comments on her submission to her husband, recording that “Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord” (1 Peter 3:66Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. (1 Peter 3:6)). Since Sara was actually Abraham’s half-sister, it would have been easy, in a natural way, for her to consider Abraham more of a brother than a husband, but she recognized the behavior that was proper to the relationship into which she had entered, and she acted accordingly. Also, it is interesting that in connection with Sarah, Peter goes on to say, “Whose children ye have become, doing good, and not fearing with any kind of consternation” (1 Peter 3:66Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. (1 Peter 3:6) JND). As we have already commented, the world around Abraham and Sarah was wicked, and God would eventually use the nation of Israel to drive them out of the land because of their extreme iniquity. It might have been tempting for Sarah to fall in with their evil ways, as it is a temptation for Christian women of today to adopt the thinking and lifestyle of the world around them. But Sarah evidently was of the same mind as Abraham, in that she looked beyond this present world and sought “a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:1010For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10)). Peter, in his turn, warns us not to be afraid to obey the Lord and to walk before Him, doing what is right and not fearing the consequences.
A Companion
The history of Abraham and Sarah ought to be an encouragement for us today, in that when God called him to leave his home country and to walk before Him as a pilgrim and a stranger, He provided a companion to share his life and to walk with him. Surely the Lord is able to do the same thing today and to provide a life-partner with whom we can walk with the Lord and serve Him. We too are surrounded by a hostile world, and one that is quickly becoming worse. Yet God’s Word remains the same, and He is able, not only to make a clean path for us, but to provide a spouse who also wants to please Him.
In saying this, we are not suggesting that the Lord will always provide a wife or a husband simply because that is what we want. No, God has His own ways with each one of His children, and He does not always give us that which we think we need. But we do have the assurance that “no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psa. 84:1111For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11)). In trusting the Lord, as Abraham and Sarah did, we too can have the assurance that He will provide for us in the best possible way, for His glory and also for our blessing.
W. J. Prost