“As our society has changed, so have the challenges facing women raising families. Many American women are raising children at home while caring for an elderly parent, holding down two jobs, serving as the sole parent in a family, or defending our country overseas as a service member. Our Nation’s mothers not only look after our needs and teach us to be compassionate and responsible, but also manage households, build careers, and improve our neighborhoods and communities. While the roles and responsibilities of mothers have evolved, their guidance and care remains as strong and constant as ever.” This was spoken by President Barak Obama in his 2011 Mother’s Day Proclamation.
Indeed, our society has changed! Confusion reigns, as they have rejected God’s definitions of marriage and the role of man and woman, and have tried to write their own definitions. We have yet to see the end of the bitter harvest of broken homes and national decay. Currently, the rebellion against traditional gender roles, with the resulting scarcity of good role models, is fueling a growing confusion regarding gender identity itself. The clay is striving with its Maker, saying, “Why hast thou made me thus?”
Paradoxically, this self-destructive rebellion is hailed as enlightenment, and its proponents proudly call themselves “progressive.”
In contrast, God’s Word stands unchanged. Still speaking through words written 2,000 years ago, He presents as role models not the modern “enlightened” women, but holy women of an even older time: “For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves [with a meek and quiet spirit], being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement” (1Pe 3:5,6).
It is interesting and encouraging that despite Sarah’s human struggles and failures, God extols her as a role model. We notice two areas for which He commends her in the New Testament, which correspond to the two characteristics of Sarah’s daughters today, as stated by Peter.
Daughters of Sarah fill their God-given role in the home.
According to Peter, Sarah was subject to her husband and obeyed him. We don’t know all that was in her heart, but it is clear that wherever God called Abraham to go, Sarah went with him.
What if Sarah had said, “Abram, it’s so nice here in Ur. Why must we move to go who-knows-where? The neighbors think it’s a strange idea.”
Or suppose she had said, “Abram, I thought we were settled here in Haran. Why must we pack up everything and move again? We don’t even know where we’re going. I just couldn’t handle being a nomad. And you know we’re not young anymore.”
Would the story have been different? Sarah evidently had an influence on her husband, as seen later in her persuading him to take Hagar (Gen 16:2). We may infer that Sarah supported Abraham in following God’s call to Canaan.
Peter’s mention of Sarah calling Abraham “lord” probably refers to Genesis 18:12. Daughters of Sarah today, even if they do not call their husbands “lord,” express the same degree of respect as they follow Ephesians 5:33, “… and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”
Peter says you are a daughter of Sarah, first of all, if you “do well,” which simply means doing good. Sarah exemplified this not only in her obedience and respect, but also in her hospitality to strangers. When they arrived she was in the tent, being a keeper at home. At Abraham’s request (Gen 18:6), she quickly made bread for their three guests, while Abraham supplied the veal, butter, and milk.
Serving in a tent, making bread for strangers—what a mundane, un glamorous role! yet what a privileged place, for she was entertaining angels and serving the Lord Himself!
How many mothers today are out in the field, missing the blessing of serving Christ in the tent? Dear daughters of Sarah, as you do well, you are keeping house not just for the husband and children you love, but for the Lord Jesus Christ!
Daughters of Sarah trust in God and His promises.
Peter describes the holy women of old as those “who trusted in God.” And though Sarah faltered at times, the Scriptures say she was a woman of faith. When Sarah heard the promise (Gen 18:12), her incredulous laughter was only natural because the promise was impossible. But the Lord answered her unbelief with a question, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
Sarah knew the answer and came to embrace it, as we know from Hebrews 11:11. “Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”
This is the second characteristic Peter mentions. Daughters of Sarah “are not afraid with any amazement [terror].” In other words, they are women of faith. When Sarah’s faith faltered, she was afraid (Gen. 18:15). But after replacing fear with faith, she knew the joy of receiving the promise.
Motherhood abounds with faith stretching experiences. Whether it is hostility from the world (1Pet 3:14) or just the daily cares of life, these are opportunities to grasp the promises. He will be with you and never leave you. He will give sufficient grace. He will not allow you to be tempted without a way to escape. He will work all things together for good to those who love Him. and there are many more.
When facing the impossible, Sarah’s daughters overcome fear and worry by trusting in the Lord of the impossible.
Daughters of Sarah are daughters of the King.
The role of Sarah and her daughters is further defined by the very meaning of her name. In Genesis 17 God changed her and her husband’s names, adding the same Hebrew letter to each. Abram, “high father,” became Abraham, “father of a multitude.” Sarai, “my princess,” became Sarah, “a princess,” not to just one family, but to a multitude.
Sarah became the mother of the Israelite nation, and the mother of kings (Gen 17:16). She became the mother of the Messiah, in whom all the nations of the earth are blessed. She is mother of all who are children of Abraham by faith (Gal 3:7-9).
A daughter of Sarah is also a princess. She is an adopted daughter of the King, and a member of His Son’s bride. And if she is a mother, her role as a princess is to bring up her sons and daughters to become the King’s sons and daughters. She has a vital part in enabling it to be said of her husband, “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD” (Gen 18:19).
Daughter of Sarah, you are not just a servant, but a princess, a daughter of the King! What role of man’s inventing could begin to compare? What compensation could come close to the commendation of your Lord? May He say of you that you are the daughter of Sarah, His princess, humbly filling your royal role, and leaving a legacy of unfeigned faith to your household.
Amelia VA
May 2013