SHE MARRIED WITH GRACE: THE BIBLE STANDARD WIFE, SARAH

Pastor Seth Asare Ofei Badu

The most desirable wife in the Bible is doubtlessly Sarah. She was the only woman named as a standard mother and wife, in both the Old and New Testaments:

Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; for I called him alone, and blessed him and increased him. Isaiah 51:2

Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel--rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. 1 Peter, 3:1-6

Sarah was the only woman whose name God had cause to change from Sarai (controversial) to Sarah (princess). Although she started out with the disadvantage of being barren, she retained the total devotion of her husband for all of her 127 years of life, and was a recipient of Divine mercy, protection and promise. She came by these as a result of her outstanding wifely qualities that the Bible describes.

Sarah’s Wifely Qualities

1.      She was his constant covering companion: Sarah was at the side of Abraham when the God asked him to leave his father’s house, his people and his land to where he would be shown; and was never known to have left Abraham, even when he had to go to Egypt because of famine. She stuck religiously to Abraham’s dubious request that she passes him off as brother instead of husband when they were among strangers (Gen. 20:13).

2.      She was submissive to the decisions of her husband: Even when Hagar, her maid, and Ishmael, her foster-son, became incorrigible she left the decision on how to deal with them in the hands of Abraham, after she had appealed to him. In the case of Hagar, for instance, Sarah never maltreated her until Abraham had given her the permission (Gen. 16:5, 6).

3.      She was a thoughtful friend: Sarah displayed a lot of thoughtfulness in her speech, and her husband placed value on what she said. When Abraham appeared not to be doing anything about the unbearable mockery from Hagar and Ishmael, she chose her words very carefully, in urging Abraham to act. Sarah’s advice to expel Hagar and her son was endorsed by the Lord (Gen. 21:12). Her unforced decision to call Abraham her lord stands her out among the women of the Bible (Gen. 18:12; 1 Pet. 3:6).

4.      She was a hospitable home-maker: That Sarah was the first person in Abraham’s household that he instructed to prepare food for his visitors at Mamre speaks volumes about her hospitality and industry (Gen: 18:6). She loved her house hold and cared for their needs. Of the possibly numerous servants of Abraham’s household, we hear of her conflict with none, except Hagar her maid, and that only when Hagar became unbearable. It appears Isaac chose to live in her tent, even after her death (Gen. 24:67)

5.      She was a woman of patient faith: Along with Abraham Sarah believed the promises of God, and her reaction in matters of faith was not different. For example, like Abraham, she also did not think that the promised offspring necessarily had to be her seed, until God had specifically said so. Also her quiet laughter after learning that she will be the direct mother of Isaac was more of wonder than of unbelief. Abraham had earlier laughed louder. (Gen. 15:3; 17:17,18; 18:12, Rom. 4:19; 9:9)

6.      She was a presentable lady: Her grooming was very pleasing to her husband, possibly a combination of “arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel” and “the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit”.  (Gen. 12:11, 1 Pet. 3: 3,4)