Is anything too hard for the Lord?

 Scriptures to look up:

• Genesis 11:27- 13:1; 16-23; 24:36; 25:10-16; 49:31
• Isaiah 51;2
• Romans 4:19; 9:9
• Galations 4:21-31
• Hebrews 11:11
• 1 Peter 3:6-7
• 2 Nephi 8:2
• Doctrine and Covenants 132:34-35, 65
• Abraham 2
• Bible Dictionary pg 769

I found this poem from the March 1977 Ensign and thought I'd share because it pretty much sums up Sarah's life.

Sarah’s Trial

By Carol Rollins

I’m 26, almost 27 …

all of my friends are married,

sisters have children

and the few I’m

compatible with

become fewer …

Now Sarai,

Abram’s wife, bare him no children.

maybe

if I

reordered my priorities …

And she had a handmaid,

an Egyptian,

whose name was Hagar.

And Sarai said

unto Abram,

Behold, now, the Lord

hath restrained me from bearing;

I pray thee go in

unto my maid;

it may be

that I may obtain children by her. …

and Sarah

saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian,

which Hagar had borne unto Abraham,

mocking;

and she was troubled.

yes,

I know what the

Patriarch

blessed me with …

And God said unto Abraham,

as for Sarai thy wife,

thou shalt not call her name Sarai,

but Sarah thou shalt call her name.

And I will bless her,

And I will give thee a son of her;

yea, I will bless her,

and she shall be blessed,

The mother of nations;

kings and peoples shall be of her.

… with

and for

mate,

children,

posterity, and the Temple …

And God said, Sarah thy wife

shall bear thee a son,

and thou shalt call his name Isaac;

and I will establish

my covenant with him also. …

and I want my children

raised, blessed, healed

by their father, a

covenanted patriarch … but

I want children! …

and I’m afraid

to wait

until I’m ninety … I don’t

believe … they

know what it’s like … asking

me to wait … and remain

single …

Sarah thy wife shall have a son.

And Sarah heard him,

in the tent door.

And now

Abraham and Sarah being old,

and stricken in age;

therefore it had ceased to be with Sarah

after the manner of women;

Therefore

Sarah laughed within herself,

saying,

After I have waxed old shall I have pleasure,

my lord being old also?

but Bishop …

“I bless

you if you will trust

in the Lord, waiting

His due time …”

And the angel of the Lord

said unto Abraham,

Wherefore did Sarah laugh,

saying,

Shall I of a surety bear a child,

which am old?

perhaps he’s not

right with the Church, but …

I love him!

and Sarah laughed within herself

and her faith waned …

“but …”

but

Is anything too hard for the Lord

And Abraham was an hundred years old,

when his son Isaac was born

unto him.

And Sarah said,

God has made me to rejoice;

and also all that know me will rejoice with me.

And she said unto Abraham,

Who would have said that Sarah

should have given children suck?

For I was barren,

but the Lord promised,

and I have borne unto Abraham

a son in his old age.

(Scripture references from Inspired Version of the Bible, Genesis 16–21.) [JST, Gen. 16–21]

 A quote by Nibley, Old Testament, pg 99:

"It was... a pharaoh who sought the hand of Sarah, the true princess, in order to raise up a royal progeny by her. Upon a royal bed identical in form with the altar of Abraham, she too prayed for deliverance and was rescued by an angel while the king was constrained to recognize Sarah's true marriage and heritage, bestowing upon her regal insignia and a royal escort. At God's command, Abraham humbled himself to ask Sarah as a favor to declare herself to be his sister, eligible to marry another and thus save his life. This is only a part of the deference that Abraham had to make to his wife, and it left no place for his male pride. Sarah, on the other hand, with equal humility, went to Abraham confessing God's hand in her childlessness and actually begging him to have children by another woman. Can one imagine a greater test of her pride? When both sides of the equation are reduced, the remainder on both sides is only a great love."

I just loved this Nibley quote because it shows how much they both trusted, respected and loved one another.

Time Line

Abram is born to Terah (2000 BC)

Sarai is born (Abram is 10)

Death of Abram's brother due to famine in Ur - Abram and Sarai marry

Terah's clan moves to Haran

Abram (75) and Sarai (65) move to Canaan

Abram and Sarai go to Egypt

Abram and Sarai return to Canaan with Hagar

Hagar becomes second wife to Abram (85)

Hagar gives birth to Ishmael (Abram 86)

Abram pays tithes to Melchizadek

Names change to Abraham and Sarah

God makes covenant to Abraham (99) and Sarah (89)

Abraham and Ishmael (13) are circumcised

Sarah (90) gives birth to Isaac (Ishmael 14)

Hagar and Ismael (17) are sent away; God blesses them

Hagar finds Ismael a wife from Egypt

God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac

Sara dies (127) when Isaac is 37.

Isaac (40) marries Rebekah

Esau and Jacob are born to Isaac (60) and Rebekah

Abraham dies (175); Ishmael (89) and Isaac (75) bury him.

My Thoughts:

What is unique about Sarah's story?

How does she fit in her time period?

What Christ-like qualities does she exemplify?

What would I ask her if I met her?

How can I relate to her?

What can I learn from her experiences?

What is unique about Sarah's story? Sarah was pretty much a nomad most of her life. She and her husband were sent to dangerous places (ie Egypt) to share their knowledge of the Gospel (Abraham 1:11) Basically, they were missionaries during the early years of their marriage.

How does she fit in her time period? She is about to be the Mother of Israel.

What Christ-like qualities does she exemplify? FAITH! She has faith she and her husband will be safe in Egypt, that the covenants the Lord made will come true, and that she will have a baby at the age of 90.

What would I ask her if I met her? Were all those trials worth it?

How can I relate to her? Oh! There's a lot and some of it too personal for a public blog but I think Sarah is pretty much awesome! :)

What can I learn from her experience? The famous quote, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14) She learned first hand that with the help of the Lord and faith that He can truly do anything!