When you think about Sarah, the wife of Abraham, what comes to mind? If we’re honest, it’s probably something about her unbelief. Sarah took matters into her own hands and instructed her husband to conceive a child with her handmaid, Hagar. Scandalous, right! To make matters worse, Sarah laughed when it was prophesied that she would bear a son in her old age. Strike two! In spite of her flaws, I do believe there are lessons we can learn about biblical wifehood from Sarah.
It is interesting, that the Most High chose Sarah to be the mother of the child of promise, Isaac. She was not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. However, Sarah is listed among the faithful in the famous chapter of faith, Hebrews 11. Verse 11 of that chapter states, “Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed…because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” Personally, I believe the idea of conceiving in old age made Sarah laugh. She did not doubt YAH could do it.
Peter, in I Peter 3:5-6, even goes as far to uphold Sarah as an example to other women. Peter describes Sarah as a wife who obeyed Abraham, her husband. That’s quite a different understanding of Sarah than what we may have had previously. In this blog post, we will look at five lessons that women of faith can learn about godly wifehood from Sarah.
5 Lessons of Biblical Wifehood from Sarah
1. Trust in God’s Promises
One of the most significant lessons we can learn from Sarah is her trust in God’s promises. It is possible that, after her first mistake with Hagar, Sarah learned the importance of trusting in the Most High. When God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, Sarah had to wait many years before that promise was fulfilled. She had to trust that God would keep his word, even when it seemed impossible. As wives, we may also face difficult situations where we need to trust in God’s promises. Whether it is waiting for a child, a job, or a healing, we can learn from Sarah’s example of faith in God’s promises.
2. Submission to Her Husband
Although, the instance with Hagar was not a good example of Sarah submitting to God or her husband, it is clear that Sarah did not have a problem with it. Sarah was a wife who submitted to her husband in marriage, and as previously stated, 1 Peter 3:5-6 backs that up. It was in Genesis 18, that Sarah called Abraham “lord,” showing respect and honor to her husband. As godly wives, we are called to submit to our husbands as unto the Most High (Ephesians 5:22). This does not mean that we are to be subservient or inferior to our husbands, but rather that we are to honor and respect them as the head of the household.
Sarah displayed her submission and faithfulness by following her husband as he followed YAH. In Genesis 12, God told Abraham to leave his family and everything that was familiar to go to a new place he did not know. The Bible does not tell us that Sarah put up a fuss about this. She went where her husband was led to go. Additionally, twice Sarah obeyed her husband’s instructions to pretend to be his sister before kings. Clearly, it was not right for Abraham to lie, but Sarah being a faithful wife, still submitted to her husband.
This brings up an important point about submission. The Bible instructs wives to submit to their husbands. What about when he’s wrong? The Bible does not provide any exception to this instruction. I am of the opinion, that wives should not hesitate to submit to a godly husband, even when he’s wrong. However, in the midst of your submitting, keep praying that the will of Abba YAH would be done. The Most High will honor your faithfulness.
3. Hospitality
Sarah was a hospitable wife. In Genesis 18, she welcomed three strangers into her home and provided them with a meal. Her hospitality was rewarded when the strangers turned out to be angels and delivered the message that Sarah would bear a child. As wives, we can learn from Sarah’s example of hospitality. We can open our homes to others, providing them with food, shelter, and a warm welcome.
In Season 3 of The Chosen, we saw the wife of Simon behave in such a manner. Even when she was going through her own personal struggles and stresses, she never hesitated to welcome people into her home and feed them. Her ability to care for others in spite of herself was humbling to me. However, this was something very common among women in that day. I know this is an area I could improve. Selflessness and hospitality are two character traits we should glean about biblical wifehood from Sarah.
4. Patience
As I mentioned earlier, Sarah had to wait many years before God’s promise of a child was fulfilled. Her patience and trust in God during this time is an excellent example for us as wives. We may also face difficult seasons of waiting, but we can trust in YAH’s timing and His perfect plan for our lives. Don’t ever be tempted to think that waiting on God is a waste of time. That’s a word for somebody!
5. Beauty Comes from Within
Finally, Sarah’s beauty came from within. In 1 Peter 3:3-4, we read, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” That verse is not implying that women should not do their hair nicely or wear jewelry. Instead, the point being emphasized is that women should not rely on physical things to feel beautiful. Sarah’s beauty came from her gentle and quiet spirit, her faithfulness to God, and her love for her husband. As wives, we can focus on developing these inner qualities that make us truly beautiful in God’s sight.
In conclusion, Sarah’s example of biblical wifehood can teach us many valuable lessons. We can learn to trust in God’s promises, submit to our husbands, practice hospitality, cultivate patience, and focus on developing inner beauty. By following her example, we can become the godly wives that the Most High has called us to be.
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