A Great Marriage
Genesis 23:1-4, 25:1-6
Today is Easter. The day after Sabbath is the most important date in the New Testament. It is from Easter that we hold service on Sunday. Upon resurrection, Jesus appeared before the lowly Mary Magdalene first it is a story that resonates strongly with us. Contrast this to the Old Testaments Sarah: as wife of Abraham and mother of nations, it is easy to assume she commanded much wealth and respect. Yet, Sarah led a life not dissimilar to Mary Magdalene. Today, let us investigate what cross Sarah carried to become a star of resurrection and the protagonist of a great marriage.
First, Sarah met the trials of her husband with obedience.
In chapter 3, verse 18 of Colossians, it is written 'Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.' Men are the head of women, and Christ the head of men. It is to Christ that we submit to: we are submitting to role, not character. This is a cross. The bibles commands are crosses we bear in obedience, and in so doing we become invaluable, blessing our children both materially and spiritually. Such a feat was Sarahs obedience, that even we, as her spiritual descendents, enjoy its blessings. Man was born of dust, woman of the superior bone, and so it is that those of better ingredient must submit. It is a spiritual rule that salvation comes quicker when the victim apologizes.
Let us think about who Abraham liked most out of his wife Sarah and concubines Hagar and Keturah. Abraham, in a plea to save himself, sold Sarah once to Pharaoh and another time to Abimelek. Only with Gods direct intervention in protecting Sarah was the Salvation History kept intact. Sarah gave her servant Hagar to Abraham as concubine after facing infertility. From the text that Hagar despised her, we may glean that Abraham liked Hagar. Even after Sarah birthed Issac, Abraham took in Keturah, and seeing as he had fully six sons with her, he must have visited her very frequently. So it would seem Abraham preferred Hagar over Sarah and Keturah over Hagar. The icing on the cake is Abraham had even risked his life to rescue his nephew Lot from the northern alliance. Sarah did not even have a child then, and when Abraham returned victorious, he gave away all the spoils to Lot. Sarah still obeyed to the trials of her husband, who was yet ignorant of the Salvation History.
Second, Sarah submitted to the trials of her child.
Which of his eight sons did Abraham like the most? It is tempting to answer Isaac. In fact, Abraham did not seek the Lord for thirteen years following the birth of Ishmael. When God confirms that Sarah will give birth to the promised child, he replies, 'If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!' Abraham was also severely distressed when faced with the idea of sending Ishmael away. It seems Ishamel was the favorite. Abraham expelled Ishmael in much holy inner turmoil. More of the bible is allocated to Ishmael than to the promised child, because the pain of a prospering child not taking to faith is extreme. Every son other than Isaac was mighty. Sarah would not have lived to witness every child born to Keturah grow up, but their presence would have brought her much sorrow.
Third, in the face of the totality of these trials comes great love.
Sarah went through all manner of suffering. However, she acknowledged her critical mistake with Hagar, and remained silent after expelling Ishmael, a decision based on the perspective of salvation. Abraham went to Gerar and on to Beersheba, but Sarah died at a hundred and twenty-seven years old in Hebron. Hebron is distinguished even among the promised land from Abraham to David and hosts the site of Jesuss crucifixion at Golgotha. Abraham remembers the promised land upon Sarahs death and pays the full price for the burial site as confirmation, becoming father of the faithful. It is those who, like Sarah, remind us of the promise even after death that show the greatest love. The victims apologize, because they believe in Gods protection. Isaac lived in Beer Lahai Roi, meaning 'God looks after' Sarah would have passed on without fear, believing God would take care of Isaac. Isaac brings Rebekah into the tent of his mother Sarah. Isaac recognized Sarah as a mother of faith, and God visited Isaac after Sarahs death. In this way, viewing family objectively is great love. By fully embodying Jesuss love, Sarah shapes the father of nations and a promised child, becoming the heroine of a great marriage. Through her love, Abraham was able to recognize Isaac as the promised child, and distinguished him by leaving everything he owned. Abraham left Isaac the estate of faith whilst giving only property to the sons of his concubine. With a backdrop of resurrection faith from purchasing the burial site, Abraham has his servant swear on his thigh to find Isaac a partner of faith. In the course of fully sixty-seven verses, the sequence of Salvation History is detailed in preparation for marriage, encounter, guidance, determination, and true marriage. The bible refers to Rebekah as Isaacs wife, not as Abrahams daughter-in-law. We should also put our lives on the line to find our childrens partners, not to find someone to please us.
We conclude. A great marriage shows what it means to give service, meditate on the Word, and forgive. It is the pain of the cross and belief in resurrection. I wish that each of us will become the heroes of great marriages by knowing the Lord personally when the Lord becomes the destination of our voyages, as He was for Sarah.
