First, it should be noted that Sarah was listed in Hebrews, Chapter 11 as one of our Heroes of Faith. At Hebrews 11:11, we read:
By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.
At the time of Isaac’s conception, Sarah was irretrievably past menopause. Isaac was a miracle baby. God performed the miracle because of Sarah’s trust in God. Yes, earlier in her life, Sarah made a significant mistake when she suggested that Abraham should take Hagar as a second wife for the purpose of providing an heir for Abraham and Sarah, and Abraham consented to her failed plan. Sarah’s desperate failure occurred when she was around 75 years old, but unlike most humans, Sarah made a dramatic spiritual recovery over the next 15 years of her life. She continued to grow and advance in her walk of faith, and Scripture declares that God rewards those who seek Him (Heb. 11:6). At Genesis 17:15, we read,
Then God said to Abraham, “As for your wife Sarai, you shall not call her by the name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations, kings of peoples will come from her.
Sarah’s new name (meaning princess or noblewoman[1]) from God marked and acknowledged her as being spiritual royalty. She became a hero of faith. Additionally, she was going to become the mother of a great nation, but more importantly, she was going to be the spiritual mother of a great multitude, which includes us Christians. We, too, can walk in her steps of faith.
A short while later, Sarah overheard the incredible news that she was going to give birth to a son within a year. She heard the news directly from the Lord. After Sarah overheard the news, “Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I have become old, am I to have pleasure, my lord being old also” (Gen. 18:12). When she softly laughed to herself, she did not believe that anyone could hear her. But of course, the Lord overheard her laugh. In my opinion, Sarah laughed because she saw herself as being clearly past childbearing and child-raising years. She was not bitter. She had just moved on in her life’s focus and priorities. But now, the Lord announced that both Sarah and Abraham were going to be supernaturally rejuvenated and revitalized.
It is extremely important to acknowledge the significance of the LORD (accompanied by two angels) visiting Abraham and Sarah. A personal visit by the Lord with two angels is a momentous occasion. When Abraham saw the supernatural beings approaching, “he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed down toward the ground” (Gen. 18:2). Abraham focused his attention on the one identified as LORD (Yahweh) (Gen. 18:1, 17), and Abraham immediately extended hospitality to the supernatural beings. He washed their feet and prepared for them a bountiful meal.
It is interesting to note that Sarah was in the tent. Professor John Walton wrote that “there is no evidence of women eating separately in the ancient world.”[2] Sarah’s location in the tent had special significance. Professor Walton wrote,
Menstruation rendered a women unclean in the ancient world and would have prohibited her from social contact and from food preparation and serving. The text specifically indicates that she has already gone through menopause (18:11), but if she is to bear a child, her period would need to restart.[3]
It is my opinion that the miracle of rejuvenation had already started. Our Lord’s question to Abraham, “Where is your wife, Sarah” (Gen. 18:9) gives us insight into our Lord’s sense of humor. He knew why she was in the tent.
Further, we should note that Sarah’s one time reference to Abraham as “my lord” (Gen. 18:12) was given great significance by the Apostle Peter. Sarah’s casual comment was quietly made to herself. Clearly, she accepted her husband’s leadership as a part of God’s order and design. The writer (probably Moses) was signaling the way Sarah thought, not necessarily the way she routinely spoke. At 1 Peter 3:5-6, the Apostle Peter wrote,
For in this way the holy women of former times, who hoped in God, also used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands, just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord; and you have proved to be her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.
Sarah wore (“put on”) a way of thinking. In her daily life, she accepted a system of values in a way similar to how a woman might choose her clothing, jewelry, or hairstyle for the day. As we have previously discussed, the husband’s authority in marriage is not for the purpose of getting his way. The husband’s authority in marriage and the family is for the purpose of guarding and encouraging “shalom,” meaning wholeness, harmony, completeness, well-being, and peace within the marriage and family. The Lord explained, “For I have chosen [Abraham], so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice…” (Gen. 18:19). The way of justice and righteousness brings shalom.
As the Lord had promised, Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, “at the appointed time of which God had spoken to [Abraham]” (Gen. 21:2). Abraham named his son Isaac, which means “laughter.”[4] Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me” (Gen. 21:6). Then Sarah said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have given birth to a son in [Abraham’s] old age” (Gen. 21:7). Isaac was a source of great joy for Abraham and Sarah. Sarah’s special relationship with Isaac lasted for 37 years.
After Isaac was weaned, Sarah noticed that Ishmael was mocking Isaac (Gen. 21:9). Sarah rightly discerned that Ishmael’s antagonism toward Isaac was not going to end. Sarah told Abraham, “Drive out this slave woman and her son, for the son of this slave woman shall not be an heir with my son Isaac!” (Gen. 21:10). Of course, Sarah’s exhortation caused tremendous distress to Abraham because he loved Ishmael very much. However, Sarah’s observations were not irrational or an example of being an overprotective mother. The Lord told Abraham to listen to Sarah, and the Lord promised Abraham that He was going to watch over and bless Ishmael.
At Galatians 4:28-31, the Apostle Paul wrote about Sarah’s spiritual discernment. Paul wrote, “But as at that time the son who was born according to the flesh persecuted the one who was born according to the Spirit, so is it even now” (Gal. 4:29). This is a true spiritual principle. Those who walk according to the flesh will persecute those who walk according to the Spirit. The narrative of Genesis did not mention Paul’s insight, but Sarah discerned a spiritual reality beneath the observable events and circumstances. As Sarah grew spiritually, she found peace living under God’s authority, and thereafter, she made important observations and recommendations consistent with the will of God. She was, indeed, special.
For more insight regarding this subject matter, please see this YouTube Bible Class:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koxQrMTBzCc
[1] “H8283 – śārâ – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (nasb20).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 27 Mar, 2025. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h8283/nasb20/wlc/0-1/>.
[2] “Genesis.” Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Volume 1, Gen. Editor, David E Garland, et al., Zondervan Academic, 2002, p. 91.
[3] Ibid
[4] “H3327 – yiṣḥāq – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (nasb20).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 27 Mar, 2025. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3327/nasb20/wlc/0-1/>.
