Sarah

I Peter 3:5-6... " For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear."

In our 3rd Book Club get together this last week, some ladies and myself read through John MaCarthur's book Twelve Extraordinary Women. We read and discussed some of the most amazing women in Christian History. Eve: the Mother of all living, Sarah: a woman who hoped, Rahab: a loyal and love filled woman, Hannah: a portrait of Feminine Grace, Mary: Blessed among women, Anna: the faithful witness, The Samaritan Woman: found the water of life, Martha and Mary: Working and Worshiping, Mary Magdalene:Delivered from darkness, Lydia: a hospitable heart opened. 

These long- deceased, biblical women led us into a long discussion in which each of us were able to identify with in the variety of seasons we are facing today. We found a common thread throughout each biblical character though, it was that each woman was a sinful being who was transformed because of her faith into a virtuous and esteemed woman. 

For myself, I was most moved by Sarah's account. Mr. MaCarthur, in the opening chapter described Sarah this way:

"Let's be honest: there are times in the biblical account when Sarah comes off as a bit of a shrew. She was the wife of the great patriarch Abraham, so we tend to think of her with a degree of dignity and honor. But reading the biblical account of her life, it is impossible not to notice that she sometimes behaved badly. She could throw fits and tantrums. She knew how to be manipulative. And she was even known to get mean. At one time or another, she exemplified almost every trait associated with the typical caricature of a churlish woman. She could be impatient, temperamental, conniving, cantankerous, cruel, flighty, pouty, jealous, erratic, unreasonable, a whiner, a complainer, or a nag. By no means was she always the perfect model of godly grace and meekness."

Now, to be honest, I can certainly identify with this picture much more than the meek and grace-filled woman we are encouraged in scripture to be! There have been times in my life where like Sarah, when she handed her maidservant, Hagar, to Abraham and took matters into her own hands I too found ways of taking matters into my own hands. Now, I would NEVER hand any woman to my husband for any reason whatsoever, (that would bring out the mean side of me to be sure!) I can identify with her manipulation when I  want something we really can't afford, or spend the money and then back track when I'm found out, or how about when my husband asks me to do something to help him and I give him a nasty attitude, or how about when he points out an area I am overlooking in training my children (like not eating food on the sofa or in the car) and I snap back at him? These attitudes are certainly areas which cannot be considered grace- filled and meek and I have certainly been tempted to get discouraged at myself because what comes out of my mouth, alone. Yet, Looking at Sarah's journey does present a considerable amount of hope for my sinful heart; She set her hope on the promise God had made to her and never gave up that hope. She trusted for many, many years before she saw her promise fulfilled and those years of faithful waiting, trusting, hoping, were used by the Lord to transform this "prima donna" into a woman we are encouraged to become (1 Peter 3:6)! Mr. MaCarthur points out:

Far from isolating those memorable instances where Sarah behaved badly, it (scripture) commemorates her as the very epitome of a woman adorned with 'the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit'" I Pet 3:4

So, what is your story? Are you a single woman who desires to get married and have begun to lose hope? Are you, like myself, wanting for a home and don't know if you can ever afford one? Are you desiring children, and haven't been able to conceive? What about your character? Do you have problems with relationships? Do you guard your tongue? Do you get angry often and have problems submitting to those the Lord has placed you under as a subordinate? There are so many stories of hope and of struggle, but the one promise to hold on to is that Christ, in his ultimate plan for you desires that you become a meek and grace-filled woman through your hope and struggle! Look to the cross and do not loose your faith in your Savior or in his plan for you and remember that those times of humbly submitting to the Lord is transforming you into the beautiful creation He is so pleased with.