Could Sarai ever in her wildest imagination have believed that she would become the matriarch of a people whose number rivaled the stars in the heavens? Half-sister and wife, she traveled with Abram to a foreign land where she would be a pawn in her husband’s attempt to save his own life and increase his wealth by allowing Sarai to be included, not once, but twice in the harem of a local ruler. She would bear a child in her old age and be a party to the covenant with God - marked, as was Abram, with a change of name. Sarah.
It is difficult to understand the life of Sarah without viewing it in the context of that of her husband. While she was not a major participant in the conversations between God and Abraham, she would be a part of the plan. The lineage to the Jewish race and ultimately to the Messiah would be matrilineal. Not understanding this, Sarah attempts to help Abraham realize the blessing God has promised. Being past childbearing age, she presents her Egyptian maid, Hagar, to be the surrogate so that Abraham might father a mighty nation, an action she would later regret. But while God does bless the lineage of Ishmael, he was not to be in the plan of God. In an angelic visit to the tent of Abraham, God explains that Sarah would bear the child of the promise.
Sarah, who is eavesdropping behind the curtain, responds in the very human manner. She laughs. Considering her age, she knew it was impossible for her to bear a child to Abraham. But she did not know that this was the God of the impossible who was not hampered by the limits of those He had created. He responds to Sarah – “Why do you laugh?” to which Sarah denies, ”I did not laugh.” And God replied, “Yes, you did.” What a lovely exchange between God and woman. Perhaps not a reprimand but a reminder to Sarah that she was not only in the presence of One who is all-seeing but also all-knowing. This conversation between Sarah and God is revisited when Isaac is born. She exclaimed “God has brought me laughter and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me. Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”
With the birth of Isaac, Sarah steps into her role of Mother of a mighty nation. She protects her son, not only because of her love for him but also for his role in the promise. She rids her home of Ishmael whom she sees as a threat to Isaac. One wonders if she was unaware of Abraham’s intent when he took Isaac to Moriah to sacrifice him or if her faith had matured, helping her to accept that God’s promise of a blessed nation was to be realized through Isaac.
Our journey of faith follows the path of Sarah, not by human lineage of birth but rebirth. The covenant, established by God’s Son through sacrifice and resurrection, allows us to sign our names in the book of God’s family. And we, too, are given a new name – Christians – those belonging to the family of Christ Jesus. Sarah’s laughter rings through the joy we experience when we realize that God has done the impossible – He has created life – everlasting life - where there was no chance of salvation. We are women who, like Sarah, can laugh with joy.
Read Sarah’s story – Genesis chapters 12-22.
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