“Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.” I Peter 3:6
For the last few months, the Lord had been speaking to me about doing a series on some of the women in the Bible, and what you and I can learn from their experiences. Originally, I chose seven names but as I began to study and meditate on the first one, Sarah, I realized that there was material for more than one article. Over the next seven days, I want to dig deeper into her story, look at her strengths and weaknesses, and see what lessons we can glean from her life.
In this chapter in I Peter, the author is giving some guidelines for women and he tells us that we are daughters of Sarah, if we do well. He is telling us that even though she lived many centuries ago, there are lessons that we can learn from her life and her worship of God. I am sure all of you have read her story many times, and probably know more about it than I do. But this week, let us take some time to re-read the story in Genesis. We will try and put ourselves in her shoes, consider her life and her attitudes, and see how well we measure up.
First, let us look at her name. She is the only woman mentioned in the Bible whose name was changed by God. Her original name, Sarai, meant “my princess” but the Lord changed it to Sarah which signified “princess to all.” In Genesis 17:16 we see the reason for the change. “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.” She was the Founding Matriarch of Judaism.
Sarah was not perfect, and neither are we. When we surrender our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, He gives us a new name. We are no longer a sinner, but a child of God, and as Peter expressed it, we can choose to be a daughter of Sarah.
Prayer. Thank you, Jesus, for the story of Sarah that you have given us in your Word. Help us as we look at her life, to desire more of you, and to become the daughters you would desire us to be.
Devotion by Anne Johnston
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