Sarah – One Single Request
Sarah’s story is one of faith, fear, failure, and fulfillment. From barrenness to blessing, she reminds us that God’s promises never fail—even when our patience does. Her life illustrates the tension between human doubt and divine faithfulness, and how one single request, offered in faith, can change everything.
God’s Assurance
Isaiah 41:10 – Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.
Even before the miracle came, God’s promise to strengthen and sustain His people was sure.
Hebrews 11:11 – By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the One who had promised was faithful.
Sarah’s faith grew through waiting; she learned that God’s timing is perfect.
Her Journey to the Land
Genesis 11:30 – Sarai was unable to conceive; she did not have a child.
Sarah’s story begins with emptiness, yet God was writing a greater promise.
Genesis 12:1 – The Lord said to Abram: Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
Genesis 12:5 – He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the people he had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan.
Faith required leaving the familiar for the unknown.
Genesis 12:19–20 – “Why did you say, ‘She’s my sister,’ so that I took her as my wife? Now, here is your wife. Take her and go!” Then Pharaoh gave his men orders about him, and they sent him away with his wife and all he had.
Through trials and missteps, God still protected Sarah.
Hebrews 11:9–10 – By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Their journey was sustained by the hope of something eternal.
Her Foolishness with Hagar
Genesis 12:2–3 – I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
God’s covenant was clear—but waiting on His promise tested Sarah’s heart.
Genesis 16:2–3 – Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family.” And Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So Abram’s wife Sarai took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan 10 years.
Matthew 19:5 – And He also said: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
Genesis 16:4 – He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she realized that she was pregnant, she treated her mistress with contempt.
Genesis 16:5 – Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for my suffering! I put my slave in your arms, and ever since she saw that she was pregnant, she has treated me with contempt. May the Lord judge between me and you.”
Human plans born from impatience bring pain and conflict. Yet even in this, God’s mercy prevailed.
Genesis 16:10 – The Angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will greatly multiply your offspring, and they will be too many to count.”
Hebrews 11:11 – She considered that the One who had promised was faithful.
Despite her mistakes, Sarah’s faith was restored because she trusted God’s promise.
Her Joy in the Promise
Genesis 17:4 – As for Me, My covenant is with you: you will become the father of many nations.
Genesis 17:15–16 – God said to Abraham, “As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai, for Sarah will be her name. I will bless her; indeed, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will produce nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”
God reaffirmed His covenant—not only with Abraham, but also with Sarah.
Genesis 21:6 – Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me.”
Her laughter, once born of doubt, became joy.
1 Peter 3:6 – Just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and are not frightened by anything alarming.
Her obedience became an example for all who trust God’s promises.
Final Reflection
Sarah’s life teaches us that faith often wavers, but God’s Word never fails. From barrenness to blessing, from doubt to delight, her story reveals a faithful God who fulfills every promise in His perfect time.