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Because of Sarai, because of Sarah
Because of Sarai, because of Sarah by Apostle Dr. Genesis A. Dawuda
Text: Gen. 12:17; 20:16
“and the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.” Gen. 12:17
“For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.” Gen. 20:18
This texts teach us many sound truths about the depths of the mystery of Christ and His Church(the Bride). Apart from that, lots of other lessons can be learned from these portions of scripture.
The story of Abraham and his wife Sarah is a classic that cannot be exhausted at one go.
These days women are so disillusioned about marriage. So many of them are taking to single parenthood; as the mother and breadwinner of her children. While men procrastinate so much about settling down with a partner; giving such excuses like- the times are hard and the standard of living or the cost of living is rising daily; as such they must work harder to acquire means of livelihood in order to keep a wife, and a home subsequently.
What you don’t know is that Abram and Abraham, Sarai and Sarah, stepped out in faith going down to Egypt and Gerar. During harsh famine to Egypt and seeking for better business prospects in Gerar.
What makes you think that what you’ve acquired will last you… Famine moved Abram to the land of Egypt(Before his name was changed) and relevance moved Abraham to Gerar (After his name was changed).
Someone’s prosperity is in a foreign land, according to the word of the Lord.
When Abram obeyed God’s voice to leave his country, kindred, his father’s house unto a land God will show him; things didn’t go rosy as he expected. He journeyed from Haran to Canaan,, from Canaan to Bethel and finally to Egypt and from Egypt to Gerar.
So also with our dreams, sometimes or most times God reveals to us what He wants us to become and we get so excited about it that the problems we encounter overwhelms us easily because we were not expecting the crises. Abraham thought moving into Canaan everything will start responding to the call of God in his life. So we move from Canaan and find ourselves in Egypt.
Upon reaching Egypt, for fear of death he sought the favor of his wife Sarai to deny she’s his wife whenever she’s confronted about such a matter. Abram believed he must make it, he must survive, he just has to accomplish it.
But God’s covenant is bigger than their crisis moment. While in Egypt God plagued Pharaoh and his household with great plagues Because of Sarai Abram’s wife.
While in Gerar also, “ the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.
According to king Abimelech to Sarah; Abraham is to Sarah a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with her and with all other.
Without reservation all single parents according to this scripture have no covering. Their husband is supposed to be their covering from every king of evil eyes that would have sighted her.
Because of Abraham, Sarah had a covering from Abimelech and the citizens of the commonwealth of Gerar.
No matter how powerful a woman is, without the covering of a man over her, she is vulnerable to all that can best be imagined than seen to happen to her.
To every woman I say, you need ‘the man’ not a man, not all males are men, some are gay, wimps and others are mijin hajiya (A man that is a parasite in the home of a wealthy woman that is already made) or an appendage to a sugar mummy. She controls him and dictates whatsoever takes place in their home.
Abraham as a type of Christ and Sarah a type of the Church tells us that Christ is the covering of the Church. While Abraham was afraid for his wife’s beauty in a foreign land, Jesus laid down His life for His bride “The Church”. But Jesus didn’t just die but He resurrected and ascended to heaven. Still mediating for his bride at the right hand of the father.
Sarah as a type of the Church received many privileges and favors.
1. Then Abimelech took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants, and gave them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him. Gen 20:14
2. Then Abimemlch said, “ See ,my land is before you; dwell where it pleases you.” Gen 20:15
3. Then to Sarah he Said, “ Behold, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; indeed this vindicates you before all who are you and before everybody.” This Abimelech said to rebuke her but all we know is that it worked for the good of the Lord’s prophet Abraham. Gen. 20:16. We are co-heirs with Jesus. He is our brother and our groom. Just like Abraham was a brother and groom to Sarah.
4. God is the source of them blessing or cursing the nations around them. Gen 12:1-3
5. Because of Sarah, Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him(Abraham) The act of Pharaoh sending them away, brings about a restoration for Abram back to where he came from with plenty of wealth.
Someone needs a Sarah in his life, someone needs to identify with Sarah as the Church. No matter how tough your life is getting you need a Sarah.
Sarah needs Abraham as much as Abram needs Sarai.
Jesus needs the Church as much as the Church needs Jesus. You need a husband as much as the man needs a wife.
Many people lost privileges because they want to build their lives on false hopes and fantacy. We need to be real, living real lives.
All the toils of Abraham climaxed with God blessing him with abundance because of his wife.
Just like every new home starts by the word of god telling us in scripture that, “ Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.” Gen. 2:24 NKJV
So also we see Abraham leaving his country and Family to an unknown land. Our lives is predicated by the promises in the word of God.
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south. And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee. And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels. And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife. And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had. And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.” Gen 12:1-ff KJV
Genesis 12 (The Message Translation)
Abram and Sarai
GOD told Abram: "Leave your country, your family, and your
father's home for a land that I will show you.
I'll make you a great nation
and bless you.
I'll make you famous;
you'll be a blessing.
I'll bless those who bless you;
those who curse you I'll curse.
All the families of the Earth
will be blessed through you."
So Abram left just as GOD said, and Lot left with him. Abram was
seventy-five years old when he left Haran. Abram took his wife
Sarai and his nephew Lot with him, along with all the possessions
and people they had gotten in Haran, and set out for the land of
Canaan and arrived safe and sound.
Abram passed through the country as far as Shechem and the Oak of
Moreh. At that time the Canaanites occupied the land.
GOD appeared to Abram and said, "I will give this land to your
children." Abram built an altar at the place GOD had appeared to
him.
He moved on from there to the hill country east of Bethel and
pitched his tent between Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. He
built an altar there and prayed to GOD.
Abram kept moving, steadily making his way south, to the Negev.
Then a famine came to the land. Abram went down to Egypt to
live; it was a hard famine. As he drew near to Egypt, he said to
his wife, Sarai, "Look. We both know that you're a beautiful
woman. When the Egyptians see you they're going to say, "Aha!
That's his wife!' and kill me. But they'll let you live. Do me a
favor: tell them you're my sister. Because of you, they'll welcome
me and let me live."
When Abram arrived in Egypt, the Egyptians took one look and saw
that his wife was stunningly beautiful. Pharaoh's princes raved
over her to Pharaoh. She was taken to live with Pharaoh.
Because of her, Abram got along very well: he accumulated sheep
and cattle, male and female donkeys, men and women servants, and
camels. But GOD hit Pharaoh hard because of Abram's wife Sarai;
everybody in the palace got seriously sick.
Pharaoh called for Abram, "What's this that you've done to me?
Why didn't you tell me that she's your wife? Why did you say,
"She's my sister' so that I'd take her as my wife? Here's your
wife back--take her and get out!"
Pharaoh ordered his men to get Abram out of the country. They
sent him and his wife and everything he owned on their way. (The Message Bible)
According to Paul the Apostle sent to the gentiles wrote to the Christians in Ephesus,
“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” Eph 5:22-32 KJV
The Message Translation
Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one
another.
Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show
your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his
wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by
cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he
exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their
husbands.
Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as
Christ did for the church--a love marked by giving, not getting.
Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her
beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best
out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with
holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives.
They're really doing themselves a favor--since they're already
"one" in marriage.
No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers
it. That's how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part
of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and
cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become "one flesh." This
is a huge mystery, and I don't pretend to understand it all. What
is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this
provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife,
loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her
husband. Eph 5:22-32 (The Message Bible)
Jesus said to Peter that flesh and blood had not revealed unto him who Christ was and He further stated that “the gate of hell shall not prevail against the Church” so also we saw in the lives of Abraham and Sarah that the gates of hell did not prevail against them. Rather, God told Abimelech that he is a dead man. Any man that touches your Sarah is a dead man!
Genesis 20:1-ff
Abraham traveled from there south to the Negev and settled down
between Kadesh and Shur. While he was camping in Gerar, Abraham
said of his wife Sarah, "She's my sister."
So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her. But God
came to Abimelech in a dream that night and told him, "You're as
good as dead--that woman you took, she's a married woman."
Now Abimelech had not yet slept with her, hadn't so much as
touched her. He said, "Master, would you kill an innocent man?
Didn't he tell me, "She's my sister'? And didn't she herself say,
"He's my brother'? I had no idea I was doing anything wrong when I
did this."
God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know your intentions were
pure, that's why I kept you from sinning against me; I was the one
who kept you from going to bed with her. So now give the man's
wife back to him. He's a prophet and will pray for you--pray for
your life. If you don't give her back, know that it's certain
death both for you and everyone in your family."
Abimelech was up first thing in the morning. He called all his
house servants together and told them the whole story. They were
shocked. Then Abimelech called in Abraham and said, "What have
you done to us? What have I ever done to you that you would bring
on me and my kingdom this huge offense? What you've done to me
ought never to have been done."
Abimelech went on to Abraham, "Whatever were you thinking of
when you did this thing?"
Abraham said, "I just assumed that there was no fear of God in
this place and that they'd kill me to get my wife. Besides, the
truth is that she is my half sister; she's my father's daughter
but not my mother's. When God sent me out as a wanderer from my
father's home, I told her, "Do me a favor; wherever we go, tell
people that I'm your brother.'"
Then Abimelech gave Sarah back to Abraham, and along with her
sent sheep and cattle and servants, both male and female. He
said, "My land is open to you; live wherever you wish."
And to Sarah he said, "I've given your brother a thousand pieces
of silver--that clears you of even a shadow of suspicion before
the eyes of the world. You're vindicated."
Then Abraham prayed to God and God healed Abimelech, his wife
and his maidservants, and they started having babies again. For
GOD had shut down every womb in Abimelech's household on account
of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
Always remember that you are the Apple of God’s eye. And He has sent a warning long time ago, saying to his prophetic people “ Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm.
God be with you Child of the Most High God.
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