Abraham and Sarah
God’s Introduction
We are introduced to Abram in Genesis 11, where we find that Abram is the 10th generation after Noah. The genealogies in Genesis 5 and 11 tell us that Abram was born 1,948 years after Creation, meaning approximately one-third of all human history occurred prior to his birth. Abram married Sarai, but other than the knowledge that they came from Ur of the Chaldeans (Genesis 11:31), scripture records nothing of their early life.
Character’s Identification
God had a very special relationship with Abram and specifically called him to go to a land that He would give to Abram and his descendants. At 75 years old, without knowing where he was going, Abram set out with his wife, his nephew Lot, and all his possessions. Due to a lack of resources, Abram parted ways with Lot. Years later, he was able to rescue Lot as a prisoner of war. In Genesis 15, God made a covenant with Abram in which He promises to make his descendants like the stars of Heaven and to give him the land in which he was dwelling.
Abram’s wife Sarai was barren, so both were surprised when God promised him a great lineage. Sarai offered her servant Hagar to Abram as a wife in hopes that she would provide them with children; he bore Ishmael to Hagar when he was 86 years old. Thirteen years later, at the age of 99, God reaffirmed the promises of descendants and land; He established the covenant of circumcision with Abram and his household; He changed Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai’s name to Sarah; and He promised Sarah would bear him a child. The following year, Sarah gave birth to Isaac. As a test of Abraham’s faith, God commands him to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham obeys, yet God stops him just before Isaac was put to death, confirming Abraham’s faith in God.
Sarah passed away at the age of 127 years old. Prior to his own death at 175 years old, we are told in Genesis 25 that Abraham took another wife named Keturah and had several other children. However, all of Abraham’s possessions were left to Isaac, the one through whom God’s promise would be fulfilled.
Our Impression
#1. The greatest couple in history was not perfect. Besides Jesus Himself, Abraham is regarded as one of greatest, if not the greatest, man in the long history of God’s chosen people. He and Sarah encompass more of The Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11 than any other individual mentioned. Abraham was the antitype to God Himself when he took his son of promise, made him carry his own wood on his back, and willingly prepared him for sacrifice (Genesis 22). However, Abraham and Sarah’s faith in God did falter at times. They felt they needed to “help” God with His promise of a great lineage by using Hagar as a surrogate. They then lied twice about their relationship to protect their own lives (Genesis 12:11-13 and 20:2-7). God does not expect perfect people. God expects us to be obedient and “all-in” when it comes to our relationship with Him.
#2. We don’t always have to understand why. When God commanded Abraham to set out with his wife in Genesis 12, he didn’t know where he was going (Hebrews 11:8). When God told Abraham to offer Isaac, he didn’t question God’s plan in relation to the promise. Abraham was simply obedient. He didn’t have to know the outcome, and he didn’t try to find the logic in God’s commands. We all need this reminder from time to time. We need to obey, and God will take care of the rest.
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