Sarah: The Mother of Many Nations

Through submission, a queen can thrive. God understands that when wives submit to their husbands, it helps them fulfill their purpose peacefully and in accordance with His plan. As stated in Ephesians 5:22 (KJV), “Wives, submit to your husbands as you would to the Lord.” A virtuous woman instinctively knows how to submit because her husband creates a safe environment that makes it easier for her. A godly marriage reflects God’s presence and purpose, with Him at the center — where the man leads with love and the woman follows willingly because both love and trust are present.

Abraham and Sarah exemplify what a godly marriage looks like. When God is at the center of a marriage, and a woman feels protected and secure, she can flourish within His perfect will. We can learn from how Sarah excelled in her faith, family, function, and formation.

Faith

The faith of Sarah examines her relationship with God and how she receives and relates to His word. It explores how her worship of God leads to an understanding of His specific will for her life. God always watches over His children and desires to bring them peace and a sense of purpose in life.

In Genesis 21:12 (KJV), it is stated, “And 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.” This verse shows that Sarah had a close relationship with God because He chose to use her child, Isaac, to establish His covenant instead of Hagar’s child.

Sarah is blessed through her husband, and this blessing multiplies with the birth of her son. Proverbs 31:28 (KJV) affirms this: “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” A virtuous woman receives God’s blessings and favour, and this means her children will also be a blessing to her. Having a relationship with God brings these blessings, as stated in Proverbs 20:7 (KJV): “The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.”

The choice of Isaac as the covenant child over Ishmael demonstrates God’s deep connection with Sarah. As a woman who fears God and follows her husband according to God’s direction, she shows her faith in wanting to be part of God’s plan from the beginning, and Hagar was never intended to be part of that plan.

Sarah had a reverential fear of God. God’s perfect will was for Sarah to bear the covenant child with Abraham, rather than Hagar. This shows that since Sarah’s marriage to Abraham was guided by God, He listens to His daughters and will always advocate for them. When God blesses a marriage, He is able to intervene on behalf of both parties.

When God gave Sarah her own child through Abraham, she recognized and gave glory, praise, and power to Him for her miraculous conception, despite being barren and old. God made her laugh, fulfilling the promise He made to her husband about the child who would come straight from Sarah. Anyone who hears what God has done for Sarah will rejoice with her and no longer mock her past barrenness.

Sarah’s relationship with God is evident through the change in her name, the blessings she received, and the gift of her son. God transformed her shame of barrenness into the blessing of motherhood, promising that she would be the mother of nations and that kings would come from her lineage. Sarah demonstrated great faith by conceiving a son despite being past the age of childbearing. Her view of God reflects her trust in His faithfulness to keep His promises, as she wholeheartedly believes that He is faithful to fulfill His word.

Family

Sarah, originally named Sarai, came from Ur with her husband Abraham, who was initially called Abram. She faithfully followed her husband wherever God led them. Sarah was very domesticated and dedicated to her home. Her deep love for Abraham was evident, as she was willing to compromise her integrity to protect him by supporting his plans.

In Genesis 20:13 (KJV), it states, “And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, ‘This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.’” This verse highlights how significant Abraham was to Sarah.

Let’s examine Sarah’s relationship with her husband, Abraham. In a family, both husband and wife should be in agreement, as stated in Amos 3:3 (KJV): “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” When parents are united, the household runs more smoothly. Sarah’s willingness to go along with Abraham’s plans demonstrates her selflessness, loyalty, and desire to protect her husband, even at her own expense.

Proverbs 31:26 (KJV) says, “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” A virtuous woman employs wisdom and kindness, and Sarah’s decision to help save her husband’s life by agreeing to his plans exemplifies her selflessness and sacrifice. Many women in her position might have chosen to tell the truth and disregard their partner to gain social status. Instead, Sarah’s wisdom helped save Abraham and demonstrated her loyalty and faithfulness to him. This highlights her kindness; she preferred to suffer alongside her husband rather than alone. Another aspect of exploring Sarah’s family life is her role as a mother, especially her relationship with her child.

A typical family usually includes a husband, wife, and children. The birth of Isaac fulfilled God’s promise for the family that both Abraham and Sarah longed for. Isaac was born to them in their old age, marking a miraculous event given Sarah’s earlier barrenness. Sarah took pride in giving Abraham a child of his own, and Isaac’s birth signified the fulfillment of God’s promise. Sarah’s faith in God was evident as she trusted in His faithfulness to grant her the blessing of having her own son.

Function

The fundamental role of a woman is childbearing and child-rearing, covering both the creation of life and the nurturing of life. This essential function enables women to bring new life into the world. Sarah wholeheartedly embraced her role as a mother, fulfilling the promise God made to her about becoming a mother of nations.

As virtuous women, one of our purposes in life is to be fruitful. Whenever God ordains a marriage, His presence and blessings will be evident, regardless of the age of those involved. God’s plans for your life will ultimately come to fruition; it’s simply a matter of timing. In Genesis 17:16 (KJV), God reassured Abraham, saying, “And I will bless her and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.”

True to His word, God opened Sarah’s womb, enabling her to conceive, which allowed her to fulfill her destined role. According to Proverbs 31:12 (KJV), “She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” A virtuous woman seeks what is good for her husband, and giving birth to his child is part of that goodness, especially when it comes to carrying on his legacy through a male son.

God blessed Sarah because He understood that her desire was to do good for Abraham. The promise child signifies a vital aspect of Sarah’s divine purpose. It is only through faith that someone can give birth to God’s purpose for their life.

Formation

The Bible describes Sarah as a woman of remarkable beauty, but what truly sets her apart is not just her outer appearance. Instead of using her striking looks to attract influential men, Sarah showed extraordinary inner beauty through her profound selflessness and sacrifice for her husband, Abraham. In fact, her wisdom and loyalty led her to protect him, even when it meant agreeing with his request to claim her as his sister rather than his wife, to safeguard his life from danger.

While it’s natural for us to plan our lives, we often find that trying to take control can lead us down difficult paths — just as it did with Sarah. When God promised Abraham that they would have a child, Sarah experienced doubt and impatience. Genesis 18:12 tells us that she laughed to herself, questioning the possibility of having a child at her age. Instead of waiting for God’s perfect timing, Sarah chose a different route and encouraged Abraham to have a child with her maid, Hagar. It’s a powerful reminder of how our insecurities can sometimes lead us to make impulsive decisions.

However, this choice led to tension and conflict within the household, illustrating that our actions, especially when driven by fear or doubt, can have unexpected consequences. The rivalry between Sarah and Hagar, who first bore Abraham’s child, Ishmael, was irreconcilable. When Sarah acted out of fear and doubt, it caused a conflict that even escalated to her husband. This is what happens: we stray away from faith in God and trust in our own judgment and wisdom. Yet, amidst these relationship conflicts, God’s grace extends to ensure His perfect will is intact and protected despite the permissive will. He lovingly intervened, addressing Sarah’s fears and doubts, ultimately transforming her doubts into joy. When Isaac was born, Sarah declared, “God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me” (Genesis 21:6 KJV).

Proverbs 31:30 reminds us, “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” This highlights how God values our spiritual growth over our physical appearance. The more we align our hearts and lives with God’s, the more He celebrates our journey, cheering us on to shed negative traits and embrace the fruit of the Spirit.

Sarah’s respect for her husband is also a beautiful example of character. The New Testament, particularly 1 Peter 3:5–6, honors her as a holy woman who trusted in God, showcasing the value of inward adornment — her character and submission to Abraham. As we draw inspiration from Sarah, we recognize that the legacy of virtuous women lives on today. For us, daughters of Sarah — those who believe in Christ — we can follow and walk in the same path of faith in God, family-centred values, fulfilling our purpose, and constantly allowing God to shape and mould us into His image and likeness, so we can reflect and represent Him in our daily lives.

So, let us commit to being like Sarah, embracing both her strengths and her willingness to grow.

In Summary

Before she died, Sarah was 127 years old. God’s promise of a child was fulfilled in her life, along with His promise of the land of Canaan. She lived to enjoy the blessings of motherhood that came from having her son. Her husband, Abraham, mourned and wept for her, whom he greatly missed. Throughout her life, she showed strong faith despite occasional doubts and fears. Beside every great man, there is a great woman, and Sarah was one of those remarkable women.

The unity between Sarah and Abraham was evident, and despite their imperfect relationship journey, you cannot mention Abraham without acknowledging Sarah. God’s calling and covenant were made for both Abraham and Sarah. When God called Abraham, Sarah followed because they were one flesh, husband and wife.

Isaiah 51:2 (NKJV) says, “Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you; for I called him alone, and blessed him and increased him.” God’s covenant and blessings were extended to both Abraham and Sarah, showing that they were partners in God’s plan.

We can identify Sarah’s faith, family, function, and formation in the Word of promise from God. The promise to Abraham was fulfilled when Sarah gave birth to a son at God’s appointed time. This promise marked the beginning of their family, with their son representing God’s assurance that Abraham would be the father of many nations and that kings and princes would come from Sarah. The birth of the promised child fulfilled Sarah’s divine purpose in carrying on the covenant made to Abraham.

The New Testament, particularly in Paul’s writings to the Hebrews, highlights the heroes of faith, and Sarah is mentioned among them. Through her faith, she received the strength to conceive, despite being barren and past childbearing age, demonstrating her belief in God’s faithfulness to keep His promises.

Hebrews 11:11 (NKJV) states, “By faith, Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.”

Sarah’s story demonstrates how a God-fearing wife can express her faith, fulfill her family role, and carry out her functions in life, all while continually growing as a better woman and wife. The transition to becoming a Christ-centred wife is eased through submission, which is supported by a husband creating a loving environment that fosters this dynamic.

Contributor: Min. Adama George