Page 35 - Sarah's Children

cannot say that women are to emulate every action of Sarah. Wives are not justified
in lying when they are afraid.

There were two occasions when Abraham journeyed into a foreign land when he
asked Sarah to join him in deception. Sarah was very beautiful and Abraham was
afraid that the rulers of the country would kill him in order that they might take his
wife. He therefore requested that Sarah declare that she was his sister, since indeed
she was his half sister. We find these accounts recorded in Genesis chapters 12 and
20. In both instances the deception of Abraham resulted in shame being brought
upon him.

Genesis 12:13-20
"Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because
of you, and that I may live on account of you." It came about when
Abram came into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very
beautiful. Pharaoh's officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh; and
the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. Therefore he treated Abram
well for her sake; and gave him sheep and oxen and donkeys and male
and female servants and female donkeys and camels. But Yahweh
struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai,
Abram's wife. Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this you
have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? "Why
did you say, "She is my sister,' so that I took her for my wife? Now then,
here is your wife, take her and go." Pharaoh commanded his men
concerning him; and they escorted him away, with his wife and all that
belonged to him.

Can you picture this prophet and friend of God being escorted out of Egypt in shame
due to his deception? Abraham had a greater fear of man than he had confidence in
God’s ability to take care of him on these occasions, and his lack of faith rightly
ended in humiliation. Did Sarah also act in fear, agreeing to participate in deception
to save her husband, or did she act in obedience to her husband’s authority while
manifesting faith in God to protect her?

It is often difficult to understand the motives of a person when the Scriptures remain
silent on a topic. However, my own thoughts concerning Sarah’s actions in this
matter are that she acted honorably while looking to God to protect her when her
husband was experiencing a lack of faith in God. I cannot declare this to be the case
definitely, but this understanding is attended by a peace in my spirit.

Consider again Peter’s words concerning wives, and his usage of Sarah as an example
of a godly role model for women. Peter declared that Christian wives should manifest