As Abram Becomes Abraham: Hope for Sarah's Daughters (Part 2)

[Readywriter]

Have you read Part I?

Afterward, Abram journeyed south and came to Gerar, where he encountered a familiar situation that awakened an old fear. He again lied about Sarah to protect himself. King Abimelech took her into his harem, but God quickly troubled the king in a dream. (Gen. 20:1, 2)

Woman, take heart! Once again, the woman who was faithful to her husband was spared. Not only that, but God told the king that her husband was a prophet, and if the king would ask God's man to pray for him, the curse against the royal household (barrenness) would be broken.

Oh, my! You perceive your husband to be one way, but God sees the man in a totally different light. He sees the finished work. Therefore, in the midst of a disappointing set back, God didn't push him down into his falling, but pulled him upward into his calling!

At the same time, He demanded  that the man who caused the problem walk up to the plate and resolve it truthfully. Abraham was finally delivered from his fear and never fell back into this type of sin again.

If a man is spiritually weak (not deliberately, consistently sinful) and cooperates with God, although progress will be marked slowly with even stagnant and down times, the Lord will protect his reputation. So should his wife.

"The STEPS of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholds (supports) him with His hand."  Psalms 37:23, 24 NKJV

"For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again." Proverbs 24:16 Amp.

It's only when an unrepentant man continuously "kicks against the pricks" that the Lord may allow harsher correction. But back to the story!

Finally, Isaac is born amidst great rejoicing.

What has God promised to you and your husband that will take a miracle to bring it about?

As God asked Abraham and Sarah, "Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed, I will return unto thee, according to the time of life…" (Gen. 18:14).

There is a time appointed for you, too--a distinct time for a visitation from a promise-keeping God!

Once the promise manifests, there won't be room for two wills! As Isaac grew, so did the jealousy of Ishmael, who struggled with the realization that he was no longer THE chosen child and sole controller of the family fortune. He began to "mock" (make fun) of Isaac. (Gen. 21:9)

Be careful. Anything we birth into the earth out of our own fleshly devices and desires will be expensive to maintain and hard to get rid of!

Along the way, Sarah also matured and was no longer the enabler. She recognized serious problems erupting in the household and took action, rather than remaining quiet. She wanted Hagar and her child to leave. At first, Abraham reacted out of his natural love for Ishmael and Hagar, but God told him to "listen to his wife". He did, and mother and son were cast out. (Gen. 21:10-14)

It may appear cruel, but Ishmaels have to go when the real deal from God arrives. Anything we produce in our hasty, presumptuous flesh as a substitute will hang around and breed contempt. The womb that produced a work of flesh and not of grace must also go, or it could easily produce another counterfeit.

Does your hubby have an "Ishmael" still around somewhere?
Is it competing for your time and attention?
Does the devil use it to make fun of God's will for your life and ministry?
Is it draining your time and energy?
Is it a constant distraction?
How attached is he to it?

An "Ishmael" can be ANYTHING that stands in the way of you having healthy, growing, genuine walk with God.

Both of you are guilty, so both of you need to take responsibility and send it packing! Repent for opening that door, renounce your attachments to it, and then rebuke it from your lives, in Jesus' name. Finally, remove yourselves from the familiarities that encouraged and aided in its springing to life!

Of course, we all know the ending: Abraham passed his ultimate test. So can your husband. But like Abe, he'll not get to Moriah easily. Just remember that God can follow a straight line with a very wobbly stick!

The book of Hebrews gives us insight into Sarah's quiet, but remarkable faith. I believed it helped her hang onto God during those years when He was forming her Abram into an Abraham!

"Through faith Sarah herself received STRENGTH to conceive seed (bring forth what God promised—in spite of the difficulties, in spite of the apparent barrenness), and was delivered of a child WHEN SHE WAS PAST AGE.

How did she do this?

"…because she judged HIM faithful who had promised." (Hebrews 11:11)

Was this her secret to sanity and success?

Steadily gazing upon God, instead of Abe…(Hebrews 12:2)

Judging (examining thoroughly) His claims of faithfulness and finding them to be absolutely true, rather than pointing out the imperfections of the man journeying from the "what is" to the "not yet".

She avoided being trapped into bitter judgment against Abraham, which would have closed her womb for good.

"Sarah obeyed (followed the guidance) of Abraham, acknowledging him as the leader. You are her true daughters if you do well and permit nothing to make you afraid, and yield to no panic." 1 Peter 3:6*

There were no feminists in Sarah's culture or day; her very existence depended upon her staying with her husband. You may say that she had no choice BUT to keep her mouth shut and obey.

However, after a careful study of their story in Genesis, I do not believe Sarah moved in blind obedience to Abraham's every wishes. She loved him. She knew they came as a package deal and were not to be separated before God.

In her limited and difficult circumstances, Sarah honored Abe. In her quiet heart, she trusted the flawless faithfulness of God. And today, she has become an example to all women who believe.

*Moffatt, Centenary and Amplified translations combined

Read our first profile:

Leah, Treasure in an Earthen Vessel  (Part 1)

Leah, Treasure in an Earthen Vessel  (Part 2)