Sarah

 

The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him, whom Sarah bore him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.” And she said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” (Genesis 21:1-7 ESV).

 

Let’s pause today to consider someone who is not named in the genealogies of Jesus: Sarah. I have found it quite amusing how artists through the centuries have portrayed Sarah. Typically she is painted as a very young woman at the prime of her life. We should remember that she was 90 years old when she had Isaac. Mary and I are 73, seventeen years short of Abraham and Sarah. However, if God were to come to us and say, “y’all are going to have a baby” I’d laugh as they did. Even for those who might say that age wasn’t as much a factor for Biblical times such as when they lived, we cannot deny the truth that they had a very difficult time imagining how this promise of God could be true. She was well past the time of bearing children. But, all things are possible with God.

 

When we first meet her, she is called “Sarai,” which means “princess.” But God made a subtle change to call her Sarah, indicating that she would be the mother of nations and kings. When God told Abraham these things, he laughed to himself. So did Sarah (cf. Genesis 18:12). But a year later, their laughter was filled with joy. God kept his promise, and Sarah gave birth to a son, Isaac, which means “he laughs.”

 

This wonderful story points back to God’s promise to Eve about the importance of the woman’s offspring. It also points ahead, for God said he would establish an everlasting covenant through Isaac. Much later an angel of the Lord appeared to a man named Joseph and said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife… She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (cf. Matthew 1:20-21). Some people might laugh at this and say, “Impossible!” But the Bible says it’s true and whoever believes in Jesus will be saved from sin and have eternal life (John 3:16). Put your trust in Jesus today so that your life may be filled with the joy that he alone can give.