Lesson 8 - "Sarah"

(Please read Genesis 11:29-31; 12:5-17; 16:1-8; 17:15-21; 18: 20:2-18; 23:1-19)
If at all possible, read it in at least two different translations for a better understanding.



TRUE OR FALSE: (Questions 1-4 are from Genesis 11:29-31 & 12:5-17) 

1. Sarai was Abram's half sister.

 2. Sarai was very beautiful. 

3. Sarai was taken into Pharaoh's palace. 

4. Sarai shared Pharaoh's bed. 

5. Sarai and Abram were punished because of their falseness before Pharaoh. (Genesis 20:2-18)

6. Sarai rebelled against Abram's request to hide the fact that she was his wife a second time.

7. Explain what Genesis 17:15 & 16 means to you. 

8. Describe Sarai's plan for a son and the life long consequences. 

9. What was Sarah's reaction to overhearing that she would bear a child? (Genesis 18:9-15)      

     - excerpt from The Full Life Study Bible (Gen 16:2, page 30) " it was customary among the people of Mesopotamia for a barren wife to have her handmaid bear children. Such children were considered as belonging to the wife. (1) Regardless of this custom, Abram and Sarai's attempt to provide a way for God to bring a child into the family through Abram's union with Hagar was not God's way. (2) The NT likens Hagar's son to the product of human effort - "in the ordinary way" and not "by the power of the Spirit" (Gal 4:29). In other words, it is never right to attempt to accomplish God's purpose in ways not according to the Spirit, patient hope and fervent prayers."

HONEST REFLECTION: 


Do I cling to the Lord's promises and seek His will diligently? Or do I tend to try and "push the promise" along?


10. (Genesis 17:17) How old was Sarah when she gave birth to Isaac?


11. (Genesis 23:1) How old was Sarah when she died?


The Scriptures never tell us about Sara's reaction to Abraham & Isaac's trip up to Mt. Moriah, and the sacrifice that was required (although God intervened); yet we know that she lived 27-28 years after Isaac was born, so she must have been at least aware of the trip and all that transpired. We do not know what her part was, if any, nor how she felt about this promise child (except for the overwhelming joy when he was born).

12. Please share your questions / comments / thoughts that you would like to discuss further with us here in the 'comments' and we can have a discussion about them.


AFTERTHOUGHT: 


Peter 3:1-6 tells us about the kind of woman/wife Sarah was, and how she is an example for us to follow. Please read this and fully ponder how learning about Sarah will help you in your own role as a wife.

What about when the road traveled is too hard? (What did Sarah do?)


What about when he asks me to lie on his behalf? (What did Sarah do?)


What about when I can not meet his needs? (What did Sarah do, and what can I learn by her mistakes)


What has the Lord shown me, specifically, through this study as a guide to my own life?