SARAH'S DAUGHTERS

Part 2

"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" (1 Peter 3:6).

There is another reason why the Bible encourages us to be "Sarah's daughters." Even though Sarah faced many fearful situations in her life, she faced them with courage and without giving into fear. God says that we are "Sarah's daughters" when we don't give into fear! This is a biggy, isn't it? We as women are prone to so many fears, but God is looking for women who have learned to fully trust Him in every situation. If we put our trust in the Lord, we will not be overcome with debilitating fears. We are either going to fear, or trust

            The Greek word that is used for "fear" in this passage is phobeo and means "to run away, be terrified, or frightened." The literal translation is "not fearing any fear." I am always challenged by Moffat's translation of this verse, "You are Sarah's daughters if you do what is right and yield to no panic." Many years ago when I read this Scripture I coined the phrase, "Sarah's daughters don't panic!" It's great to remember when you face a crisis, or a fear, or even when you fear to trust your husband! Repeat it out loud. Say it over and over. Put your trust in the Lord instead of having a panic attack!

            Sarah had many opportunities to fear as she lived amongst enemies in strange lands. And how did she feel when one day her husband, his servant, and her precious son of her old age disappeared for a week, when Abraham went to Mt. Moriah to offer up Isaac? She must have kept her heart in peace even at this time. What king of virtue is this?

            C.H. Spurgeon says, “It is a calm, quiet trusting in God. It is composure of mind, freedom from anxiety, the absence of fretfulness, and clean deliverance from alarm; so that, whatever happens, trepidation does not seize upon the spirit, but the heart keeps on at its own quiet pace, delighting itself in a faithful God. This is the virtue which is worth a king’s ransom and Sarah had it.” She knew the secret or calmly trusting in her God, no matter what the situation.

            If we are not Sarah’s daughters and following in her footsteps, whose daughters are we? There is another woman in the Bible who is portrayed as the opposite to Sarah. Her name is Jezebel. She had a seducing spirit and enticed her husband and whole nation of Israel away from serving the living God to worship Baal. She was a domineering woman who demanded her own way at any price. Jezebel was independent and a law unto herself (1 Kings 16:1-33; 1 Kings chapters 17-21; cf. Revelation 2:20-26).

            The disturbing fact is that in our current humanistic society this kind of spirit is propagated. It is more prevalent than the Sarah spirit. May God save us from this deception. May we come back to the premise of “Let God be true, but every man a liar”( Romans 3:4).      

            Jezebel’s beauty didn’t come from within. She had to paint it on her face. She even took time to paint her face when she knew that death was imminent. There is inference to the different beauties of Jezebel and Sarah in 1 Peter:1-6 NIV, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewellery and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way that holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters, if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.”

            Jezebel had everything her own way while she lived, but her end was devastating. Although she was a queen, she didn’t even have the decency of a burial. When they came to bury her, the dogs had eaten her and all that was left was her skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands. Her lifestyle not only brought her own destruction, but the downfall of her husband, her sons, and a whole nation! Her influence carried on into the future generations. Her daughter, Athaliah, continued in the same vein and even killed her grandsons so she could be queen (2 Kings 9:30-37; 10:1-11).

CONCLUSION

As women of today, let’s not be deceived by the Jezebel spirit, but let’s look to the pattern woman that God has given us. Jezebel reaped calamity upon herself and her family. Sarah on the other hand reaped the blessing of God (Genesis 17:15). God gives promises of fruitfulness and blessing for Sarah’s daughters.

            Sarah wasn’t perfect. She made mistakes. But, God saw her submissive and gentle spirit which is very precious in His eyes. He also acknowledged her courageous spirit in the face of fear and trauma. Therefore, He honoured her and lifted her up as an example for all women of all ages to follow.

NANCY CAMPBELL

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

"Oh God, please save me from giving into fears. I know it is sin because it shows that I do not trust in You. OH God, please strengthen my trust in you that I will become a woman that trust in your in every situation. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:

Sarah's daughters don't panic!