Sarah

Sarah

from Praying with the Women of the Bible

by Bridget Mary Meehan

Sarah is the first matriarch of Israel. Her story is found in Genesis 12–23. According to the scripture, Sarah is a beautiful woman who marries Abraham . On two occasions Abraham identified Sarah as his sister for his own self- interests. On one of those occasions, when Abraham and Sarah were facing famine, they traveled to Egypt. Abraham came up with a plan for his survival that involved giving Sarah to the Egyptians. He said to Sarah, “I know well that you are a woman beautiful in appearance; and when the Egyptians see you they will say, ‘This is his wife’; then they will kill me.…Say you are my sister, so that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared on your account” (Gn 12:11–13).

The narrative then tells us that the Egyptians take Sarah into Pharaoh’s house, and give Abraham the deal of his life: “sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female slaves, female donkeys, and camels” (12:16). Pharaoh falls for the deception and Abraham becomes rich. God saves Sarah by inflicting several plagues upon the pharaoh and his house. The result: Pharaoh realizes that he has committed adultery. He confronts Abraham: “What is this you have done to me?…Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her, and be gone” (12:18–19). Sarah’s thoughts and





feelings during this ordeal are not reported. Is she the victim of Abraham’s desire to save himself at her expense? Or did she go along willingly with Abraham’s deception? The text provides no clues. Sarah is silent.

In chapter 11 and chapter 16, the narrator tells us that Sarah is barren. In the Hebrew culture, barrenness was one of the greatest afflictions that could befall anyone. Motherhood was extolled by the rabbis as the heart of women’s

identity because it preserved the ancestral line. Sarah was barren, according to the story, until she was ninety years old. Unable to conceive, Sarah gave Hagar, her Egyptian slave- girl, to Abraham as a surrogate mother: “You see that the Lord has prevented me from bearing children; go in to my slave-girl; it may be that I shall obtain children by her” (16:2). When Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham as a secondary wife, Hagar’s status was enhanced. Sarah also thought that her status would increase by the birth of a child to this union. But after Hagar became pregnant, things did not work out as Sarah planned. Author Trevor Dennis notes: “Hagar has turned the tables on her. The utterly powerless foreign slave has shown what female power there is to be found in fertility, and what degradation lies in barrenness.”1 After Hagar slept with Abraham, she became pregnant and gave birth to Ishmael. Problems soon developed between Sarah and Hagar. Sarah complained bitterly to Abraham that Hagar looked at her with contempt after she conceived. Sarah blamed Abraham for her pain: “May the wrong done to me be on you!” (16:5). But Abraham, trying to get out of a tight spot, told Sarah to do what she wished with her maid. Then Sarah abused Hagar.

In Genesis 17, God tells Abraham that Sarah and he will bear a child. Abraham is incredulous and falls on his face laughing and saying: “Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah who is ninety years old bear a child?” But God answers, “…your wife Sarah shall bear you a son, and you shall name him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. As for Ishmael,…I will bless him and…make him a great nation” (17:17–20). When Sarah overhears Abraham’s conversation with the three angels who promise that she will give birth to a son, she laughs: “Sarah laughed to herself saying, ‘After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?’” God, according to the narrative, takes offense and asks Abraham: “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child now that I am old?’” Sarah denied her laughter, but God reproves her: “Oh yes, you did laugh” (18:13,15).

Why did God ignore Abraham’s laughter and chastise Sarah for her chuckles? Some commentators point out that there is a double standard at work in the test. In the mind of the storyteller, Sarah does not take angelic messengers seriously, but Abraham is talking about the promise “man-to-man” with God. Therefore, his behavior is excused.

At a feast to celebrate Isaac’s weaning, Sarah noticed Ishmael playing with her son. Immediately, she became incensed and ordered Abraham: “Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac”(21:10). Finally, Sarah makes the decision to send Hagar and Ishmael away permanently. When Abraham complained to God, God replied to him

“Do not be distressed…whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you…” (21:12). So Abraham prepared supplies, placed the child on Hagar’s shoulders, and sent her into the wilderness.

Sharon Pace Jeansonne, associate professor of Hebrew Bible at Marquette University, thinks that







If there is any doubt as to whether Sarah’s plan is justified, the narrator has God respond in a direct revelation to Abraham. Once again Abraham is reminded that his descendants will be given through Isaac. God confirms Sarah’s plan; perhaps she understands God’s will better than did Abraham all along.2



Commentator Savina J. Teubal does not agree. She does not think Sarah banished Ishmael because of a material

inheritance but because she feared Ishmael would influence Isaac’s religious training. For Sarah it was a cultural issue: She wanted Isaac brought up according to her religious beliefs and practices.3

Elsa Tamez points out that Sarah’s appeal to Abraham to banish Ishmael violated the law of the time, which upheld the rights of an adopted child born of a slave. Therefore, in this case, Ishmael and Isaac shared equal rights to inheritance. Sarah used the law when it suited her and violated the law when it served her interests.4

Author Janice Nunnally-Cox believes the Bible portrays Sarah as an honored matriarch. She comments on the equal partnership that Sarah and Abraham shared:



He does not command her; she commands him, yet there seems to be an affectionate bond between them…The two have grown up together and grown old together, and when Sarah dies, Abraham can do nothing but weep.5



Other scholars disagree that Sarah and Abraham had an egalitarian marriage. Some think that Sarah was as much a victim as Hagar. According to this view, Sarah’s story depicts patriarchy’s focus on controlling women’s sexuality. Sarah’s role is limited by her being wife and mother. Author Miriam Therese Winter notes that “patriarchy condoned Abraham’s passing his wife Sarah off as his sister because the molestation of her body was less an issue than his own physical safety.”6

What can women learn from Sarah? One lesson is to treat other women—especially women from other cultures, races, religions—as sisters, companions, and equals. Women in contemporary society do not need to view other women as better or lesser than themselves. Women do not need be competitive, pitting their skills, knowledge, and accomplishments against other women in a win-lose manner. Women do not need to adopt a male patriarchal model that tries to dominate and subordinate other people for whatever reason. This is the way the world has worked up to now, and it continues to result in violence, destruction, and war in many parts of the globe. Instead, women can show humanity a new way to live in harmony and peace. We can begin this journey by affirming other women’s gifts, recognizing our limitations, and celebrating our female bondedness with its infinite potential for love and empowerment. Second, women can learn from Sarah how to wait patiently for God to act in our lives. Sarah believed that the Faithful One would fufill the divine promises. Some things take a long time, and we need Sarah’s perseverance. Third, Sarah reminds us to laugh at ourselves and at life’s incongruities. It will lift our spirits especially during stressful times. Our laughing God, who created a world full of wonderful surprises for us, sometimes shows up in the funniest of places with a message guaranteed to knock our socks off with glee—as was the case with Sarah.





Reflection



“The angelic visitors said to Abraham, ‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ And Abraham said,

‘There in the tent.’ Then one said, ‘I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.’ And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance…. Now Sarah and Abraham were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I have grown old, and my husband is old shall I have pleasure?’ 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 wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.’ But Sarah denied saying, ‘I did not laugh’; for she was afraid. God said, ‘Oh yes, you did laugh’” (Gn 18:9–15). “Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to his son whom Sarah bore him…. Now Sarah said, ‘God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.… Who would ever have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne

him a son in his old age’” (Gn 21:2–3,6–7).







Discussion Starters



1. Sarah is portrayed in the biblical text as a strong woman of faith. Do you know any strong women of faith in your life? If so, do they inspire you?

2. Sarah had a wonderful sense of humor. If you were Sarah, would you have laughed if you found out that you were about to become pregnant at ninety years old? Why is laughter good medicine for the soul? How can laughter help you deal with stress and grow spiritually?

3. In the Hebrew scriptures, a woman’s value is often measured by her ability to bear children. What is the role of the matriarch? Reflect on the heritage you received from your mother, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, etc. What blessings have your received from the women in your family tradition?

4. How is Sarah a role model for contemporary women? If you could ask Sarah a question, what would it be?







Prayer Experience



1. Use some instrumental or classical music to relax. Or close your eyes and hum, chant, or sing a favorite lullaby. Let the music soothe you like a mother rocking her baby in her arms.

2. Be aware that God, the divine mother, holds you close and nurtures you with tenderness and love beyond all

imagining…. Spend time in silence, simply embraced by love….

3. Listen as God speaks to you of wonderful blessings that are awaiting you…overpowering strength…overflowing grace…immense delight…transforming vision…radiant bliss…new life….

4. Remember your mother, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, the matriarchs of your




ancestral line as far back as you can go…. Name each woman and invite her to join you around an imaginary circle to share your family story…. Invite each matriach to share with you a spiritual experience of faith, courage, prayer, joy, laughter, pain…whatever she chooses to pass on…to you, to your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and so on…. Now invite Sarah, Hagar, Mary, or any spiritual matriach to share her story of woman-wisdom with you…. Before leaving this sacred space, dance together in a circle of love….

5. Reflect on Sarah’s laughter…be aware of the amazing grace that flowed through her being as she felt God’s love fill her emptiness with eager hope…. Listen to her peals of laughter echo through the ages giving women of all ages fresh delight in miracles that will never cease….

6. Smile for several minutes and be aware of any thoughts, feelings, insights, sensations that you experience…. Reflect on funny moments when you let go of inhibitions and burst into giggles or belly laughter. Experience the gift of laughter bubbling up from deep inside you…. Let it be your prayer of praise for the blessings and surprises of the God of Laughter in your life….

7. Create your own concluding prayer or use the following prayer:



Promise us,

O God of Sarah,

that you will be faithful forever especially in the times we experience discouragement and emptiness.

O God of the Unexpected,

teach us to laugh heartily at life’s inconsistencies and at our own silly pretenses.

Surprise us, as you did Sarah, with new life, fresh hope, and energetic love. Then, like Sarah, we will praise you with glad hearts and grateful laughter all the days of our lives.



Amen.