Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

Genesis 20 ESV

Sarah is very seldom presented favorably in the Genesis account of her and her husband. She does receive a much more favorable reference in Galatians chapter four.

Chapter 20 presents Abraham and Sarah in a situation much the same as they had in their trip into Egypt. Twenty five years have passed and it apparently is still true of Sarah as the Egyptians saw and lusted in Genesis 12:14 “The Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful”.

Abraham is called the father of believers. As this is so, Sarah is the mother. As much is stated by Paul in Galatians four. But we are faced with a riveting question. How did Sarah remain “very beautiful,” at such an advanced age? The only answer Biblical discipline allows is the answer lies in the providence of God. God intended this for His glory and the Church’s instruction. What are the lessons to be learned? There are at least three.

A. As Sarah never lost her beauty, neither does the Church. The Church is that beautiful pearl of great price and the treasure hidden for which Jesus gave His all. The failure of the world is to see and appreciate the beauty. As the bride in Song of Solomon is called “the lily of the valley” and “the fairest of ten thousand”, so the church is and ever shall be.

B. As Sarah never lost the love of Abraham, the Church never loses the love of her husband. Paul describes this affection in Ephesians 5:25-27. She will be presented in the final day with beauty intact, beloved by the Savior.

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

C. As Sarah had the ability to produce, the Church never loses its ability to produce. Sarah was productive by one means alone. It was God’s purpose and power that caused Sarah to bear a son. Genesis 18:14; 21:1-2. It is no different for the church. The ability to be productive is wholly of the purpose and power of God.

14 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.

1 The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised.

2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.

Is it not to be questioned if the Church wanted offspring as badly as Sarah wanted a child, would she not be productive? As long as the church is satisfied never realizing her beauty, satisfied with a carnal relationship with the world rather than reveling in the love of Christ, and satisfied with the status quo in Spiritual reproduction it appears as if that is what she will have.