IMITATE THEIR FAITH/ SARAH -"YOU DID LAUGH

 

It was not long afterward that Hagar became pregnant by Abraham.  Perhaps convinced that her pregnancy made her more important than Sarah, Hagar began to despise her mistress.  What a blow for barren Sarah! with Abraham's  permission and God's backing.  Sarah in some undisclosed way chastised Hagar.  A son, Ishmael, was born to Hagar, and then years passed.  (Genesis 16:4-9, 16) The next time the record reveals a message from Jehovah, Sarah was  89 years old and her husband 99. And what an amazing message they received!

Again, Jehovah promised his friend Abraham that He would multiply his offspring.  God also changed the man's name. Up to this point, he had been known as Abram.  But Jehovah renamed him Abraham, which means multitude." And now for the first time, Jehovah showed where Sarah fit into the picture. He changed her name to Sarah, the name familiar to us all. What does Sarah mean?  "Princess"!  Jehovah explained why he chose that name for this beloved woman: "I will bless her and also give you a son by her; I will bless her and she will become many nations; kings of peoples will come from her." -  GENESIS 17:5, 15, 16. 

Jehovah's covenant to bring forth an offspring who would bless them all nations would be fulfilled through Sarah's son!  The name that God chose for the boy Isaac means "Laughter." When Abraham first learned of Jehovah's purpose to bless Sarah with a child of her ow, he "fell facedown and began to laugh." (Genesis 17:17)  He was amazed and overjoyed. (Romans 4:19, 20)   And what of Sarah?

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH/SARAH - Conclusion of "YOU DID LAUGH"

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