The Story of Sarah in the Bible and Her Life Lessons

The story of Sarah in the Bible shows that despite her fears and doubts, Sarah was patient and loyal.

Most of us know Sarah as the wife of Abraham, but she is so much more than that. Dubbed the mother of all nations, Sarah went through a lot before she achieved that title. The story of Sarah in the Bible is worth reading because it teaches us to be patient and to trust in God’s timing and promises. Learn more about Sarah and the lessons we can take from her story.

What is the Story of Sarah in the Bible?

Who was Sarah in the Bible?

Sarah is the wife of Abraham. God promised Abraham that Sarah would be the mother of all nations in Genesis 17:16, yet she remained childless until she was ninety. Sarah was childless for so long that she doubted God’s promise, so much so that she took matters into her own hands and asked Abraham to have a child with her maidservant, Hagar, instead. Yet when God blessed them with Isaac, she was overjoyed despite her fear and doubt. God fulfills His promise through Isaac, making Abraham and Sarah the father and mother of all nations.

From Sarai to Sarah

Out of all the female characters in the Bible, Sarah was the only woman whose name was changed. From Sarai, which means “my princess,” to Sarah, who now means “princess to all.” According to Genesis 17:16, God changed her name to Sarah as it is fitting for she will be a mother of nations. Many lineages from the Bible came from her and Abraham, even royal bloodlines. The royal line of King David, which we find continues to Jesus Christ, comes from Sarah and Abraham.

Where is the Story of Sarah in the Bible

Sarah as the wife of Abram

Sarah is first mentioned in Genesis 11:29-30 where she was introduced as Abraham’s wife. In Genesis 12, the Lord commands Abraham to leave His land and go to Canaan with a promise to make a great nation of him. But they don’t make it to Canaan when they learn about famine and instead go to Egypt. Before they make it to Egpyt, Abraham tells Sarah to introduce herself as his sister instead to prevent anyone from harming Sarah. 

The next time Sarah is mentioned is in Genesis 16, where she asks Abraham to sleep with her maidservant Hagar so they can build a family through her. However, when they found out that Hagar was pregnant, Sarah mistreated her so much that Hagar fled from Sarah.

In Genesis 17:15-19, God promises to make Abraham and Sarah the mother and father of all nations. God also promises that Sarah will give birth to a son, whom they will call Isaac. It is through Isaac that God will establish His everlasting covenant.

Story of Sarah and Abraham

Sarah and Abraham did not become the mother and father of all nations in a snap of a finger. Before God blessed them with a child, He told Abraham and Sarah to leave and move to Canaan with a promise to make him a great nation. Ten years later, Abraham and Sarah were still without a child. Sarah suggested that her husband have a child with her handmaid Hagar. This caused significant friction between Sarah and Hagar, so Hagar fled to return after the angels came to her. Hagar then gave birth to Ishmael.

Abraham was ninety-nine when God assured him that his wife would be with the child. Sarah gave birth to Isaac when Abraham was a hundred years old. Just a year ago, Sarah was laughing at the possibility of her being pregnant with a son. Little did they know that God had fulfilled His promise through Isaac, thus making Sarah and Abraham the mother and father of all nations.

Bible Verses about the Story of Sarah in the Bible

Hebrews 11:11

“And by faith, even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.”

1 Peter 3:5-6

“For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.”

Romans 9:9

“For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time, I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”

Genesis 21:1-3

“Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham at the very time God had promised him in his old age. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him.”

Genesis 17:15-19

“God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai, your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”

Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!”

Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.”

What is the Importance of the Story of Sarah in the Bible?

The story of Sarah is an excellent example of a woman of faith. Abraham and Sarah were at an advanced age, yet God promised them a child of their own. Anyone would have laughed hearing that; Sarah sure did, but she remained faithful to God’s promise and supportive of her husband, Abraham. Despite their advanced ages, Sarah remained faithful and trusted that God would fulfill His promises. Even after Sarah went ahead and asked Abraham to have a child with Hagar, God fulfilled His promise. He didn’t hold Sarah’s impatience against her and gave Sarah and Abraham a son named Isaac.

Lessons from the Story of Sarah in the Bible

God will consistently deliver on His promises.

God promised Abraham to make a great nation of him. He promised Abraham and Sarah that He would give them a son and that they would name him Isaac. Even when it seemed impossible with their advanced ages, God delivered on His promises. Even when Sarah was impatient and doubted God’s promise, even when she took matters into her own hands, God gave His promise without fail.

Trust in God’s perfect timing.

God knew what He was doing when He made a covenant with Abraham and promised Sarah a child. It seemed impossible since Sarah was barren and the couple was in their advanced ages. Yet through it all, God’s timing is always perfect; He had a purpose for making them wait for that long. Maybe God made them stay because they weren’t permanently settled in Canaan. Or perhaps God was preparing them to be ready for the covenant He promised Abraham. We cannot truly fathom God’s ways but don’t let that keep you from trusting in His plans and promises. 

Patience is a virtue.

When God told Abraham that He would make him the father of all nations, Sarah doubted God’s promise and instead took matters into her own hands. When God again reminds them of His promise, Sarah laughs at the possibility of being pregnant when she knows she is barren and already at an advanced age. Yet despite the doubts she felt, Sarah remained patient and faithful to God’s promise. She stood firm, stayed with her husband until the end, waited patiently for God’s promise, and was rewarded with Isaac. 

In Summary

Sarah is an excellent example of a woman of faith. Though she knew that she was barren, Sarah remained to be a faithful wife to Abraham and waited patiently on God’s promise. Though she doubted God’s promise and thus asked Abraham to have a child with Hagar, God fulfilled His promise nonetheless. 

Sarah’s faith in God’s promise waivered a little, but she remained a faithful wife to Abraham and trusted in God’s timing and it was all worth it in the end. God fulfilled His promise to Abraham and Sarah through Isaac. Their bloodline stretches far throughout the Bible; even Jesus Christ comes from their lineage. 

The story of Sarah is something worth reading when you’re feeling low and discouraged. Her story reminds us that God’s timing is always perfect and that He will always fulfill His promises. We must be patient, remain faithful, and trust His ways and plans.