{pt. 1 of this series: Christ's example for my marriage}
{pt. 2 of this series: Competing or completing?}
{pt. 3 of this series: From the inside, out}
{pt. 2 of this series: Competing or completing?}
{pt. 3 of this series: From the inside, out}
Let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable
beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.
For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to
adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed
Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children , if you do good
and do not fear anything that is frightening. 1 Peter 3:4-6
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
For by it the people of old received their commendation. Hebrews 11:1-2
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would
draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those
who seek him. Hebrews 11:6
By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past
the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants
as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand
by the seashore. Hebrews 11:11-12
Do you ever have a hard time receiving a compliment? You know, when someone points out something good in you and in your mind you're thinking of all the times you've failed that they don't even know about. It is such a gracious thing, that though God knows about every single one of our failures to honor him, he still sees our triumphs in faith. The people of the Bible were no different than we are. Even though they are commended for some things, many of their poor choices and the outcome of those decisions are recorded for our instruction. We should count it a privilege to learn from the mistakes of others so that we can avoid going down the same path. God allows us to see through these examples that he is sovereignly working in the lives of imperfect people. Though we fail there is always hope with God, and there is always forgiveness as we draw near to him.
In 1 Peter 3, Sarah is commended for her submissiveness to her husband Abraham. It says that "she obeyed Abraham by calling him lord." The only record we have of this is in the book of Genesis, chapter 18. It was the day that she and her husband received a very special visit from the LORD himself and two angels who appeared to them as men. Abraham saw them coming and hurried to tell Sarah so that a meal could be prepared for their guests. As the men sat under the tree and ate, Abraham stood by them. Sarah, who was inside the tent, could not help but overhear their conversation...
The LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year,
and Sarah your wife shall have a son." (Gen. 18:10)
Abraham and Sarah were both old at this point. The Bible says that the "way of women" had ceased to be with Sarah. How did she respond to this news?
So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I am worn out,
and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?" (18:12)
Well there it is. Did you catch it? Sarah referred to her husband as "lord." Remember, this is within the tent, she said it to herself, not expecting anyone else to hear. It may have been barely muttered under her breath. I think this is significant and shows us her true colors. She's not trying to impress anyone here. Her immediate reaction is showing the reality of the way she thinks. She thinks of her husband in this way. What thoughts do you have toward your husband? Sarah sees her husband as someone she follows. She respects him. She listens to what he says and she does it. Isn't that what "obey" means? I understand this wording can be a little difficult to take. But if you really think about it, what is it that we wives want our husbands to do? Would you agree that you often want him to do what you say? Really, that's the rub. We don't want to submit because we think that our husbands should do what we say, we want them to jump on board with our program and not the other way around.
"For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:34
Sarah is commended as someone who "hoped in God" as she was submissive to her husband. Like Sarah, our first response to something unexpected is often lacking in faith. She laughed at what the LORD said. It seemed impossible to her that she would actually bear a child, she was not exactly a pillar of faith in that moment. Often times, we struggle just like she did. We need time to allow things to "sink in." We need God to remind us of his promises and we need to remember who he is. God is so very patient with us.
The LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Shall I
indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the LORD?
At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and
Sarah shall have a son." But Sarah denied it, saying, "I did not laugh,"
for she was afraid. He said, "No, but you did laugh."
Sarah struggled here, but even so she is still considered a woman who "hoped in God." The word hope here, is not used in the sense that we often think of. It doesn't mean "maybe so." To hope in God, is to look forward with confidence to that which is good and beneficial. It is "confident expectation." It is the belief that God is ultimately in control and that he is sovereignly working. It is the remembrance of his promises and the clear understanding of who God is. He is good, he loves you, and he will never forsake you. It is a focus on him, because he is everything to you.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that
he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing
where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise,
as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him
of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has
foundations, whose designer and builder is God. Hebrews 11:8-10
Imagine what this must have been like for Sarah. I mean, not knowing where they were going! I know that must have been hard to do. Abraham obeyed God's call, and Sarah followed her husband. I don't think this was the easiest thing for her to do. But it all goes back to our faith in God. Do you trust that he is working out his will in every circumstance? Are you willing to do what is right by God and follow your husband even if it means hardship for you? Are you willing to entrust yourself to the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul (1 Peter 2:25) as you follow your husbands leading?
Sarah certainly had her share of trials as she hoped in God and followed her husband's lead. 1 Peter 3 says that we "are her children if we do what is good and do not fear anything that is frightening." More on that in the next and probably last post of this series.
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