Daughters of Sarah--Not afraid with any amazement

"Daughters of Sarah"

The woman's voice on the other end of the phone was frantic. She just didn't know what they were going to do!

She was married, her husband was a skilled tradesman during a building boon in our area, and they had only two children. Someone had referred her to me, I think, as a bit of a joke, although, to this day, I am not quite sure which one of us was supposed to be the brunt of it.

After all, I was the mother of 14 children at that time, and my husband made less than her husband did. Did she realize just who she was talking to? If there was anyone in the world who could be full of fear, it was a mother in my circumstances.

But her unrealized fears had clouded out all of her faith--no matter how I tried to comfort her and point out the blessings in her life, she ranted on and on about how very dire things could turn out. She wanted to have every detail of her life nailed down; she wanted a security and assurance that none of us will ever have if we are relying on the things of this earth.

She did not call me once, but numerous times, and each time it was the same--there was absolutely no growth. It was while I was attending a retreat that we finally met in person. I was watching all of our children play at the hotel pool when she walked up to me--it was only then that it dawned on her that all of the counsel I had given to her just might have genuine merit--when she saw with her own eyes just how much God is able and willing to do in the life of someone who trusts (even if that trust is sometimes faltering).

If there was one single element that could define the sinful nature, it would be fear.

Eve didn't realize it, but that lie that the fruit was "desirable to make one wise" was actually an invitation to a life without any security.

As Eve's spirit lost its focus and control, it was her soul that took over--her mind, will and emotions began to take full reign. She was immediately forced into a life of bondage to her senses--only what she could perceive in her mind and feel in her emotions--in essence, the creation, rather than the Creator, began to rule over her.

Eve's disobedience and lack of trust had cost her the fellowship she benefited from with her loving Creator and eventually plunged her into darkness and death. Before, she had enjoyed an intimate communion with her Maker, but after the fall she became critically aware of her terrible loss and emptiness--now, with no assurance for her future, she was compelled to position herself for protection with a constant expectation of the worst, making every minute of her life torment.

Sarah was different. She was the "other half" of Abraham--the father of our faith. It was Abraham that received God's call, after hearing God's voice to leave his country and home, but it was Sarah who willingly obeyed her husband, even without hearing God's voice, and believed that God had a wonderful purpose and a plan for them.

Do we actually realize just what a step of faith it must have been for this woman? When they set out for Canaan, it may as well have been for the moon! There were no travel guides or maps that described the places they were passing through, much less revealing the location of their ultimate destination. Most of us would have had a huge fit of temper and flat out refused to take one step with our husbands without being handed a detailed plan, including a run down of the itinerary, with a description of all of the stores, libraries, churches and schools at the end of the road.

But to add to all of the "unknowns", her own husband allowed her to be carried off, not once, but twice to foreign rulers! Talk about insecurity! I don't know what I would have done, sitting in the Pharaoh's palace, knowing it was his intention to make me one of his many wives. But the Lord God took incredible care of her. Because of her great faith, He actually moved mightily on her behalf.

"And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife. And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? Why saidst thou, She is my sister? So I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had." (Genesis 12: 17-20)

A very comparable situation happened not too long after this. Sarah did what her husband had asked of her, and agreed to be called his "sister" rather than his "wife". Why would anyone be so foolish? Most of us would have stamped our feet and refused to comply. But she did as she was told--and God did not fail her!

"Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid. Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing? And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake. And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother. And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife. And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee. And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved. So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children. For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife." (Genesis 20:8-18)

I have heard quite a lot about how we woman are supposed to be adorned with a "gentle and quiet spirit". What a lovely concept, to be sweet and demure, able to weather each and every storm with a calm smile and quiet spirit! But, no matter how hard I tried, I just never could "pull it off". There was always something deep within me that sabotaged my outward efforts.

Many years ago, I discovered a truth that literally transformed my thinking, and when I keep this truth in mind, it always leads me to great faith, and, consequently, greater peace.

It's the latter portion of a group of verses in 1 Peter chapter 3:

"But let it [adornment] be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 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." (1 Peter 3:4-6)

What keeps us from having that "meek and quiet spirit? Fear, manifesting itself as insecurity.

But we don't have to live there. We can exercise our faith--the measure of faith God has given to each of us. (Romans 12:3)

This is what makes us "daughters of Sarah!"

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

"For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."  (Romans 4:3)

It is clearly not just a "religious" faith that is only applicable to "spiritual" things. It's just not enough to simply believe that Christ's sacrifice on the cross bought us heaven after death, yet will not transform our lives here on earth. No, this faith has to be a living faith. It has to be active as we walk out each and every day.

It needs to shape the way we view our role as women. This living faith must become a part of us when we sit down and look at our finances, or gaze into our refrigerators, or open our clothes closets.

Our faith must be active when our husbands inform us we will be moving, or that they are changing their jobs, or that they have lost their jobs.

Our faith in God must be "alive" when our husbands are absent, or aloof, or even "disobedient to the Word". Even if we honestly believe they don't spend their money "right", or if they make the wrong decisions, Jesus must remain the Lord of our hearts, and we need to respond with a love that trusts, instead of reacting with fear and anger.

We need to trust in God's vision for our children, especially on the most difficult of days, when they are in obvious rebellion, and even when illness and death threaten. Agree with the Lord through prayer releasing Him to minister to your children's needs. Don't pray out your anxieties over them--rather express faith that God's Spirit will turn things out for their good. Speak faith!

We must believe that God will take care of us, and love us, and never leave us lonely, no matter what may happen--if our families desert us, or the economy crashes, or even if the world itself should come to an end.

Rather than looking to all of the "stabilizers" we have erected in our lives; our bank accounts, our insurance policies, etc., instead, we should to look to Jesus Christ--the Cornerstone, the One who is "the same, yesterday, today and forever."

We ought to clothe ourselves with a "child-like" trust in God.

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." (Proverbs 18:10)

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation." (Psalm 91)

There is no other way to have faith than by keeping our focus upon Jesus Christ,

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)

If we really want to become "daugthers of Sarah", and learn to adorn ourselves with a "meek and quiet spirit", we must first learn to abide in Christ, because it is the direction of our inward gaze that will determine our outward appearance.

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:1-3)

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free! 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, 

In the light of His glory and grace.  

--Helen H. Lemmel