'Bad' Moms of the Bible: How God Works Through Our Worst MomentsSample

Sarah: Taking Matters into Her Own Hands

By Laura Dye

I love to watch the stars on a clear night. It’s a view that almost always sends me to Psalm 8, marveling that with all of the universe, God takes notice of me.

The stars had even greater meaning to Abraham. God instructed him to look up and count the stars if he could. He promised Abraham that his offspring would be as numerous as those stars. Abraham believed God, even though he and his wife Sarah were childless.

Sarah was aware of the promise of God for a child, but that child didn’t come. Years passed, and she and Abraham did not conceive.

Sarah seemed to assume that the promise of God was only for Abraham. It made sense. Women had few rights. Regard for women back then was certainly not what it is in the 21st century. Like a good wife, Sarah wanted to make sure it happened for Abraham. So Sarah gave her maid, Hagar, to Abraham so an heir could be conceived through Hagar. Ishmael was born, but the sounds of a baby in the house only salted the wound of a promise unfulfilled for Sarah.

Poor Hagar. Poor Ishmael. God was merciful in this little detour that Sarah orchestrated. He protected and blessed Hagar and Ishmael (more on this tomorrow!).

Sarah underestimated her own value to the Lord. God not only wanted Abraham as His chosen people, He also wanted Sarah. The promise was for both of them. There could be no substitutes.

Sarah just thought it was about Abraham. She didn’t realize how big God’s plan was for her life, for her family. She didn’t realize how important she was to God. God was testing her and growing her just like He was testing Abraham.

God refused to accept Sarah’s provision for what He had promised. He had a better idea.

Doesn’t He always?

The impossibility of an heir for Abraham and Sarah only deepened as time went on. The gray hair and wrinkles must have come at an alarming rate. The prospect of a child became a laughing matter (Genesis 18:12).

But he did come. Isaac was born to two old people who had laughed in disbelief before he came. And with little Isaac firmly in Sarah’s arms, they laughed together in joy and amazement (Genesis 21:6).

God’s providence is always so much better than all of our efforts. And those stars? I am sure they looked up at them in a whole new way!

Let’s Reflect:

1. How do you know you are valuable to God (See Psalm 8)?
2. Are you taking shortcuts to God’s promises?