The Lasting Charm of Christian Character

March 4, 2012

Second Sunday in Lent

Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

"God also said to Abraham, 'As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah'" (Gen. 17:15, NIV).

"You are always talking about our forefathers," complained a little fellow to the pastor. "What about our foremothers?" Good question.

When Isaiah calls us to "Look to the rock from which (we) were cut," he names Abraham and "Sarah, who gave you birth" (Isa. 51:1-2) In the New Testament, Peter also named Sarah as an example of right living (1 Pet. 3:5-6), and he used her as an example of unfading beauty. "Be beautiful inside, in your hearts, with the lasting charm of a gentle and quiet spirit which is so precious to God" (1 Pet. 3:4, Living Bible).

The Bible, however, is not timid about painting Sarah warts and all. We might learn to avoid her mistakes and emulate her virtues. Among those flaws are deception, jealousy, impatience and fear. Yet the New Testament tells us: "You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear" (1 Pet. 3:6b).

In spite of these personal flaws, the Bible praises her for two great character qualities we all should celebrate and emulate.

I. Submissiveness is a Christian character quality.

She was, after all, famous for submissiveness. Sometimes in the record, Sarah comes off as the thoroughly liberated lassie. She may cook the big meal for their guests then listen behind the tent flap to the men talking. In other chapters, she does not hesitate to give her husband a piece of her mind. "You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering…Get rid of that slave woman (Hagar) and her son (Ishmael), for that slave woman's son never will share in the inheritance with my son Isaac" (Gen. 21:10).

Submissiveness in a marriage does not mean a wife is always the doormat and her husband is always the muddy boot. Marriage is a give-and-take proposition with husband and wife doing some giving and taking.

There was a story in the newspapers some time ago about a divorce hearing in England. The husband was suing to end the marriage. His petition specified that his wife had slapped him in the presence of his mother-in-law. She left him in the middle of the dance floor. She smacked him on the head with a potted plant, and she hid the family supply of tea. I suppose that last was particularly distressing to a proper Englishman.