Sarah: Hoping Against Hope
1. How would you describe Sara to a friend who had heard of her or read the story in the Bible?
Flexible-she moved with her husband not knowing where she was going
Loyal-she did what her husband asked of her even when he had her lie
Human-she was jealous and spiteful towards Hagar after Hagar haunted her
Faithful-one of two women mentioned in Hebrews 11
Strong-she was nomadic and traveling even at the age of 90
Calculating-she came up with the plan to help God keep His promise
What were some of Sarah's weaknesses
Temperamental-jealous, anger, retaliation
Controlling
Not standing up for the truth
Calculating
Lack of compassion
2. What was Sarah's reaction to having to leave UR for this unknown land of promise?
We don't know, she just went
3. What made the nomadic life bearable for Sarah?
She was rich and had all she needed including servants
She had the promise of God that he was going to make a great nation
She was with her family
4. Abraham, Sarah and Hagar were all three guilty of sin in their own way and each resulted in consequences. Name them.
Abraham-didn't trust God to take care of him and could have been killed. He failed to step up as
an arbitrator with his wives and had to live in turmoil and cast a son out
Sarah-didn't trust in God to keep his promise and thought she had to help him by coming up with a
plan. She didn't like the consequences and it led to turmoil and hate
Hagar-treated her mistress poorly instead of being gracious. The law stated a concubine could have children for a mistress but the child would then be hers. She didn't let Sarah have Ishmael as her own. She was then cast out into the desert.
5. In what ways were Abraham and Sarah's name change significant to their future?
Sarai=my princess (her past of being from royal blood)
Sarah=princess (mother of many nations)
Abram=exalted father
Abraham=father of many nations
Extra Notes
Waiting=to remain inactive in readiness or expectation
For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37
Waiting=to remain inactive in readiness or expectation
Blessing of waiting for God’s appointed time
-Increased value-waiting makes the desired object (husband, wayward child, job, house, etc) a greater treasure once it is received.
-Increased time-time to embrace circumstances, time to draw closer to God, time to feel the pain of other’s more deeply
-Increased faith-in Hebrews 11 the saints had their faith increased by waiting
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14
Waiting for God’s promises
Genesis 21:1-and the Lord did for Sarah exactly what He had promised
Bible has 8,000 promises. What is your favorite?
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23
Sarah reaped these rewards for waiting
-witnessed a miracle (Abraham 100, Sarah 90)
-the working of faith – Hebrews 6;11-12
We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
-The Fulfillment of God’s promise- Matthew 1:17-Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the
exile to the Christ
-a child to love-
Prayer Request
Suzanne Nelson-pray for Lige's safe return from Indianapolis on 2/5
Sharon Chrisman-Kayla seeing a new doctor on 2/4, pray that he is able to provide the answers and treatment that she needs to have diminished pain. Pray for Kayla as she has had to drop of ACU. Pray for Sharon to have wisdom in seeking solutions.