MembersSarah – An Overlooked Overcomer, Part 1

Sarah was originally known as Sarai, and despite the regality of her name, her story got off to a rough start.

By Anat Schneider | | Topics: WOMEN OF THE BIBLE, Sarah
Sarah was originally known as Sarai, and despite the regality of her name, her story got off to a rough start.
Photo: Public domain

We first meet Sarah in Genesis. At that time she was still called Sarai. “But Sarai was barren; she had no child” (Genesis 11:30).

The name Sarai means princess, president or leader. This was Abraham’s wife – the matriarch of Israel.

So it seems strange that the next thing the Bible tells us about her is that she was barren – an awkward and emotionally painful condition to be in.

I believe that Sarai’s barrenness helps explain why she was willing to leave their home in “Ur” of present day Iraq. In contrast with Abram who was seeking God, Sarai was seeking a new environment and with it a change in her fate. She was seeking to have a son to hold.

However, after she did finally have her son Isaac at the age of 90, he was taken away from her again, when Abraham was tested to see if he was willing to offer Isaac...

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