God’s Word and Sarai

Week 32, Tuesday

Iva May

Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.” . . . Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered . . . and they departed to go to the land of Canaan.

Genesis 12:1,5 (nkjv)

God spoke to Abram about relocation, a baby for his barren wife, and the future. And Abram informed Sarai. Sarai packed their bags and followed Abram. God did not speak to Sarai. Women today may find that strange. Unless God speaks to them individually they simply dig in their heels. God’s word to Sarai, however, came through Abram.

God’s instructions to Abram presented both Abram and Sarai with opportunities for faith development. Over the next one hundred years Abram learned by trial and error to appropriate the promises of God in order to see God fulfill His promises; Sarai had to accompany Abram on each excursion of faith. On two occasions Abram’s lack of faith placed her in dangerous circumstances. On one occasion God inflicted plagues upon Egypt until Pharaoh released her; on another occasion God terrified Abimelech in a dream. Sarai discovered that, though her husband had his own trust issues, she could trust God to protect her in the process.

After waiting for ten years for the promised baby, Sarai took matters into her own hands and brought her servant Hagar to Abram’s tent. Sarai then got a baby, but not the one that God had planned for her. Sarai learned that a promise made by God is a promise fulfilled by God.

Like Sarai, women often struggle with taking matters into their own hands. Women can learn from Sarai’s example that God keeps His promises and He works on behalf of the woman who waits for Him. Isaiah captured the heart of God for those who wait on Him: “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him” (Isaiah 64:4, nkjv).

Thank You, Father, for protecting Sarai as her husband learned to walk with God. I thank You that You protect me in the same way. Help me to wait on You. Amen.