Sarah: When Grace Follows You Through the Wilderness | Genesis 11-21
This message was preached at Sherwood Community Friends Church on Sunday, May 11, 2025. You can watch the video in full by clicking below.
OpenAI, 2025
Abraham’s story is told time and again in sermons and illustrations. When God told him to go, he did so immediately. In fact, Genesis 15:6 says this:
“Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
But often overlooked is the life of Sarah.
Sarah’s life mimics that of our own. When we peel back the layers of her story, we see a woman who endured hardships, struggled with her flesh, and was extended grace in her humanity. Ultimately, she was used in a powerful and miraculous way by God to birth a nation.
Today we will be primarily in the book of Genesis, starting in chapter 11. Genesis is that very first book of the Bible. You can feel free to turn there now if you like to follow along.
Also, I’d like to point out that today I’ll be using the names Sarai and Sarah interchangeably and Abram and Abraham interchangebly. They start off as Sarai and Abram but in Genesis 17, God gives them new names. I know that used to really confuse me and I do what I can to minimize confusion for you.
One other point I’d like to make before we begin. We are entering this story, which is a very different culture than what we currently live in. Some of what we will talk about will appear to be downright appalling. And some of it is, but that doesn’t mean that everything that was done during “Bible times” was right. Just as we have parts of our culture that influence us that isn’t godly, the same is true when we read scripture. So it’s important that we use some critical thinking and come to the story of Sarah with a looking glass to see what God is speaking to us today and what we can glean from this humble, cynical, faithful, harsh, redeemed woman.
Out of Sarah’s Control
In everyone’s story, there are events that are really not within our control or we are simply faced with choices that are life choices, not overtly pivotal or weighty, but a part of being a human. Many things happen to us or there are decisions we make that are just a part of the life cycle we all go through. And this is where we will start with Sarah.
When we meet Sarah, then known as Sarai, we get a little bit of backstory in Genesis 11, starting in verse 27.
“'These are the family records of Terah. Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran, and Haran fathered Lot. Haran died in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans, during his father Terah’s lifetime. 'Abram and Nahor took wives: Abram’s wife was named Sarai, and Nahor’s wife was named Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. Sarai was unable to conceive; she did not have a child. Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they set out together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there.” Genesis 11:29-32
What do we see here?
Sarai was married to Abram. In fact, something we will learn later in the story is that Abram and Sarai are actually half-siblings as well as husband and wife. (Genesis 20:12) This may be strange to us, but again remember that we are entering not just into someone else’s story, but someone else’s worldview and culture.
Sarai was unable to conceive a child of her own. This one line is full of weight and heartache. Sarai’s infertility was full of shame. A woman of this time did not have much standing culturally and a source of accomplishment and future was provided through her husband and through her children. But for reasons we do not know, Sarai was unable to have a child to carry, to raise, and to love.
Sarai was also now married into Abram’s family. This wasn’t just that Sarai and Abram go off to live in their own home the next town over. No! Again culturally, she becomes a part of Abram’s core family unit, in-laws and all. So when the head of the household Terah said it was time to move, Sarai picked up her home, her belongings, and left the land she was familiar with to move somewhere new. And when they moved, they not only left behind Haran that was buried, but they also left behind Nahor and Milcah.
ABRAM’S CALL
Let’s pick it up in Genesis 12:1-3. This is the beginning of God’s call to Abram. This would later become known as the Abrahamic Covenant, a promise between the Lord and Abraham.
“…Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse anyone who treats you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
I think it’s noteworthy to point out that this was not Abram and Sarai standing together talking with God, at least that’s not what is communicated in this story. This was God speaking with Abram.
In our culture, we get wrapped up in MY. My profession. My home. My calling and what God says to ME. We tend to think first of MY personal relationship with God. That’s, of course, if someone even wants a relationship with God.
This call to Abram though was as much of a call to Sarai too. So when God told Abram to go, he did! And Sarai was faithful to go too.
“So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated, and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan.” Genesis 12:4-5
Now, when they make their way to Canaan, God shows Abram, and remember that Sarai saw this too, the Promised Land - the land they would give to their offspring (of which they didn’t have at that time).
It would have been so easy to plant their flag there and refuse to move. God this is the promise you are giving to us! So I’m going to fight with everything inside of me to stay here.
But they didn’t do that. Abram and Sarai had to move to Egypt because of a famine and there were other moves along the way.
LOT
And Sarai wasn’t the only one to go with Abram. Their nephew Lot is left without a father, so this couple who cannot have children of their own become his parents. They take him in. Now we don’t know how old Lot is when they left following God’s instruction, but no matter the age, I think we can all agree this dynamic is rife with its own challenges.
As time went on, Lot became his own man and had his own flocks and possessions. But the land was too much for all of Abram’s and Lot’s flocks. There was arguing between their workers so Abram and Lot came together to work it out. Genesis 13, verse 8.
“So Abram said to Lot, “Please, let’s not have quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives. Isn’t the whole land before you? Separate from me: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.” Lot looked out and saw that the entire plain of the Jordan as far as Zoar was well watered everywhere like the Lord’s garden and the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose the entire plain of the Jordan for himself. Then Lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other.” Genesis 13:8-11
Abram and Sarai watched Lot, someone I imagine was like a son, leave home and go their own way.
After this, it really didn’t go well for Lot. In chapter 14, Abram had to go and rescue Lot from 4 kings who had captured him and later the city he lived in, Sodom, was destroyed and his wife was also taken from him. He and his daughters retreated to live in a cave up in the mountains. There were no men for them, so they got their father intoxicated so they could get pregnant by them.
Sheesh! Talk about family drama…Abraham and Sarah are often referred to as righteous and faithful (still human so still had failings). But it is important to note that even though he had brought Lot along with him to follow the Lord, and emphasized the importance of their relationship, Lot still had his own choices to make. I imagine this must have been hard for both of them to watch, a struggle that some of you might be able to relate to.
EGYPT & ABIMILECH
The other noteworthy part of Sarah’s story is when she was passed off as Abraham’s sister, not once but twice. We see the first one in chapter 12, starting in verse 10.
“There was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to stay there for a while because the famine in the land was severe. When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me but let you live. Please say you’re my sister so it will go well for me because of you, and my life will be spared on your account.” Genesis 12:10-13
Here we see Abram’s fear and insecurities come into play. He relies on his wife’s beauty and hiding the truth of their relationship to gain favor in Egypt for protection for himself. This is one of his moral failings that deeply affected Sarai.
Sarai agrees, as it is actually only a half lie as she is (remember) actually his half-sister. While she could have been seen as a victim of this patriarchal culture, we see that God protects her dignity.
“But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his household with severe plagues because of Abram’s wife, Sarai. So Pharaoh sent for Abram and said, “What have you done to me? Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife?” Genesis 12:17-18
This story is nearly repeated in Genesis 20, and in the interest of time we will not read from there, but again we see Abraham’s fear and insecurity take over again and again we see God’s intervention to protect Sarah.
One of the questions often brought up by people who are not Christians is this belief that Christianity oppresses women. And, unfortunately there are some that use scripture against women to keep them from flourishing in their gifts and as their own person.
But, friends, when we seek to understand scripture, when we take the time to understand what is actually happening in these stories, we see that God’s heart has always been to protect and lift up those who are oppressed. And in both instances with Sarah, God spared her from being taken advantage of and she was quickly released.
Within Sarah’s Control
These events - her infertility, moving many times, being subjected and used to protect Abram, and a troubled nephew - were either out of Sarai’s control entirely or were simply life that happened and her influence was simply to navigate these challenges.
We now come across the dark stain on Sarai’s life. When God meets with Abram a second time in Genesis 15, he reminds Abram of his promise for offspring.
“Now the word of the Lord came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.” Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” Genesis 15:3-6
But Sarai didn’t see a way for God to deliver on his promise with the way life was. So she took matters into her own hands…
“Abram’s wife, Sarai, had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family.” And Abram agreed to what Sarai said. So Abram’s wife, Sarai, took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband, Abram, as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan ten years. He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she saw that she was pregnant, her mistress became contemptible to her. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for my suffering! I put my slave in your arms, and when she saw that she was pregnant, I became contemptible to her. May the Lord judge between me and you.” Abram replied to Sarai, “Here, your slave is in your power; do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai mistreated her so much that she ran away from her.” Genesis 16:1-6
It didn’t go so well for Sarai, did it? When we try to fix what is only God’s to fix, when we try to force the promise of God, we often make a mess of everything, don’t we?
What happens to Hagar, the victim of Sarah’s abuse? An angel comes and visits her. He tells her to go back to Abram and Sarai, and that she has conceived a son. These may seem like terrifying circumstances to you, but we know that Hagar was comforted in her distress.
“So she named the Lord who spoke to her: “You are El-roi,” for she said, “In this place, have I actually seen the one who sees me?” Genesis 16:13
Hagar gave birth to Ishmael when Abram was 86 years old. You would think that we are done with this stain on Sarai, but unfortunately this is not the case. Spoiler: this is after Sarah eventually does give birth to her own son. Genesis 21, v 9:
“But Sarah saw the son mocking—the one Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham. So she said to Abraham, “Drive out this slave with her son, for the son of this slave will not be a coheir with my son Isaac!”
This was very distressing to Abraham because of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and about your slave. Whatever Sarah says to you, listen to her, because your offspring will be traced through Isaac, and I will also make a nation of the slave’s son because he is your offspring.”
Early in the morning Abraham got up, took bread and a waterskin, put them on Hagar’s shoulders, and sent her and the boy away. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beer-sheba.” Genesis 21:9-14
I admit, I don’t understand either Sarah or Abraham’s actions. What I can say is that I am so grateful that God does not hold our sins, our failings, our shortcomings, against us.
In fact, when we look at so many of our *quote* Bible Heroes *unquote* we see a plethora of shortcomings and downright terrible behaviors.
David, known as the man after God’s own heart, used his power to sleep with another man’s wife and then ordered that man killed in battle.
Samson, a judge who fought against the enemy Philistines, was an arrogant narcissist and a womanizer.
Moses, who led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, was a murderer and disobeyed God’s direct orders.
Miriam, Moses’ sister who helped lead the way out of Egypt, later let pride overtake her to speak out against Moses publically.
Jonah, who brought a message of repentance to Ninevah, was rebellious enough to run away from God’s direction and then was mad at God when Ninevah actually repented.
Martha, although a follower and friend of Jesus, let anxiety and tasks take priority over presence with Jesus and relationships with others.
Peter, the apostle of Jesus who effectively led the way of the new church in Acts, allowed fear to take over and denied his relationship with Jesus 3 times in one night.
Paul, the chief of all sinners, a murderer turned apostle, reminds us in Romans 3 that our right-standing with God is not dependent on us:
“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:22-26 NIV
This is the very grace of God - That he knows us in our full humanity. All the good he made us to be but also all of our shortcomings. We don’t have to hide from him and the Bible proves this over and over and over again.
GOD’S BLESSING DESPITE HUMANITY
In between Sarah’s two interactions re: Hagar, we see God’s grace intervene. In a third interaction with the Lord, we see this covenant with Abraham solidify. Genesis 17, v 15:
“God said to Abraham, “As for your wife Sarai, do not call her Sarai, for Sarah will be her name. I will bless her; indeed, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will produce nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”
Abraham fell facedown. Then he laughed and said to himself, “Can a child be born to a hundred-year-old man? Can Sarah, a ninety-year-old woman, give birth?” So Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael were acceptable to you!”
But God said, “No. Your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm my covenant with him as a permanent covenant for his future offspring. As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will certainly bless him; I will make him fruitful and will multiply him greatly. He will father twelve tribal leaders, and I will make him into a great nation. But I will confirm my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.” Genesis 17:15-21
Sarai receives a new name = Sarah. And her new name means “Princess.” She is the only woman in the Old Testament to receive a blessing, and this blessing will come out of the greatest painpoint, shame, and struggle of their life = her infertility.
This is confirmed when the Lord appears as 3 men at their home. After some gracious hospitality, we read the interaction in Genesis 18, v9:
“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.
“There, in the tent,” he answered.
The Lord said, “I will certainly come back to you in about a year’s time, and your wife Sarah will have a son!” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent behind him.
Abraham and Sarah were old and getting on in years. Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. So she laughed to herself: “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I have delight?”
But the Lord asked Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Can I really have a baby when I’m old?’ Is anything impossible for the Lord? At the appointed time I will come back to you, and in about a year she will have a son.”
Sarah denied it. “I did not laugh,” she said, because she was afraid.
But he replied, “No, you did laugh.” Genesis 18:9-15
Called out!
Now, I hear you Sarah. It’s hard to believe that, at 90 years old, nearly 25 years after God first dropped the idea of having your own child out there, it would be hard to believe that it might actually happen.
Yet, God is always faithful to deliver on HIS promises:
“The Lord came 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 in his old age, at the appointed time God had told him. Abraham named his son who was born to him—the one Sarah bore to him—Isaac. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God had commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, “God has made me laugh, and everyone who hears will laugh with me.” She also said, “Who would have told Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne a son for him in his old age.” Genesis 21:1-7
Sarah’s faith seems questionable throughout this time, doesn’t it? The hardships of moving, a troubled nephew, and the shame of infertility left Sarah feeling cynical and in her own sort wilderness.
New Testament
But God doesn’t expect perfect, doubtless faith from us to deliver on HIS promises.
Sarah is one of those counted in the Faith Hall-of-Fame. Hebrews 11:11 says
“By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the one who had promised was faithful.” Hebrews 11:11
God defines her not by her mistakes, but by her trust and obedience, even though that trust and obedience was shaky and she laughed and she tried to take matters into her own hands. Sarah, among all of the other imperfect Bible Heroes, is included in the great cloud of witnesses in the next chapter:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3
When we are feeling discouraged, overwhelmed, shameful, cynical, far from God, jaded, resentful and bitter, remember that Sarah is right there with all the others who have gone before, cheering you on. She’s shouting your name and encouraging you to persist with perseverance! Out of her, we received Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith! So keep going friends! We don’t see the finish line yet, so we must keep going.
Redemption doesn’t erase the past. We often think that a relationship with God is really about one moment in time when we say “I believe in Jesus.” That reduces redemption to a transaction.
God I give you my belief and in return you give me love and eternal life.
What redemption says is this:
God you know my past but you love me more than my past, my humanity, my shortcomings. All the gross parts that I try to hide even from myself, you see all of it. Despite myself, my cynicism, my shame, I trust all of that to you. It’s a broken offering that I have to give but it’s all I have. Transform it to be what you would have me be.
You see, when we come from a place of honesty to God, we encounter redemption that transforms our past into our testimony. Your wilderness isn’t wasted.
QUIET WAITING
How do I handle long seasons of silence or unfulfilled longing?
Where am I tempted to believe that God is too late or that my flaws disqualify me?
What joy has God brought out of my waiting, waywardness, or wandering?
What part of my story is God redeeming for His glory?
