Day 319 Chayeh Sarah

 

11/15/2025 

"For in this manner, in former times, the holy

women who trusted in God also adorned themselves,

being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, 

calling  him lor, whose daughters you are if you do good

and are not afraid with any terror."

1 Peter 3:5-6

 

The Torah portion today is taken from Genesis 23:1 - 25:18, and it is about the life of Sarah, Abraham's wife. Both Sarah and Abraham are listed in God's faithful servants found in Hebrews 11, beginning in verse one with the following:

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  

After the flood God commanded Noah and his sons to scatter and re-populate the earth, as they were the only survivors of the flood, everyone else had died. They moved east and decided to dwell in the land of Shinar. They decided to build a city of their own with a tower that reached to the heavens. They all spoke the same language at that time. God looked down from heaven and saw what they were doing, and He confused their language making it necessary for them to scatter and form different nations, as was God's plan in the first place. 

Through Noah's son, Shem, the population grew, and Abraham, whose father was Terah lived in the land of Haran. God spoke with Abraham saying:

"Now the LORD had said to Abram, 'Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curse you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran."

Abraham took Sarah, his wife, and set off on an adventure to a land they did not know, leaving their family and everything they knew behind. They stepped out in faith in obedience to God, and in Hebrews 11:8 Abraham's action was attributed to him as faith. The Torah portion picked up in Chapter 23 of Genesis with the story of Sarah, who at the age of 90 was given the son God had promised she would have by Abraham. 

"By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude - innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore." (Hebrews 11:11 - 12)

In considering the life of Abraham and Sarah it is important to note that Sarah made the journey of faith with her husband, leaving the familiar life she knew to travel across unknown lands to arrive in another. She was obedient to her husband, and she even lied for him to Pharaoh and Abimelech, both pagan kings, about him being her brother, in order to protect his life. Abraham believed that they would see how beautiful Sarah was, and they would have him killed him so they could have her. So without hesitation, Sarah obeyed. Over and over in scripture Sarah was faithful to her husband.

This is the first time that I have studied this portion of scripture with this understanding. I just hadn't considered Sarah's sacrifice, as a product of the Southern culture, I was taught to be obedient to my husband without question, unless it involved wrong doing. It was expected of wives as the respectful response. When Sarah lied about Abraham being her brother, he really was her half-brother, but still, it was deception. Nonetheless her life was one of obedience and great faith. She trusted Abraham to take care of her regardless of God's plans.

In Israel the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu's wife, Sarah has stood with her husband through this war displaying support and discipline over the years. I found it noteworthy to see that there was a statement written regarding his wife, detailing her support of him over this year and other years as well, when political intrigue was at an all time high. She has proven to be a wonderful support to him while having to endure backlash from others over the years in obedience to God's command, which man and woman often deny rather then embrace. The statement mentioned that she visited with the family members of the hostages, and she even spoke with President Trump regarding the release of these precious people. She took to heart the deep pain felt by the family members. It reminds me of Melania Trump who has continued her work with foster children that she began in his first Presidency. There are many examples of strong women, women of faith, who have stood courageously beside their husbands. Not all are named Sarah, but they definitely carry the spirit of this woman of faith. Examples we all need to follow, because they are examples of Christ's lifestyle and his honest regard for the welfare of others.