Thank God for His living Word that allows us to read a Biblical account we’ve read hundreds of times and hear something new. This happened to me recently with the story of Sarah. I had been reading Genesis chapters 12-18 when I passed a parking lot with a large truck with the word “ISAAC” printed in huge lettering next to the phrases “around the corner, around the world”. This a corporate Word (around the world) that your “Isaac” is around the corner.
What does that mean for us? We find that out by looking more closely at what surrounded the coming of Isaac for Sarah. We hear in Genesis 17 that “God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” (15-16). God also reveals in verses 19 and 21 of Genesis 17 that the son is to be expected in a year, that he will be named Isaac, and that God’s covenant will be with him.
The promise of Isaac comes with a change from Sarai to Sarah. Names, Biblically, spoke into what that person was to do or be characterized for. For Sarai, going to Sarah was to keep the same root word but to have one Hebrew letter inserted into her name. The root, “sara”, according to Abarim publications, meant “ruling body” but also was “from the verb שרר (sharar), to retain liquidity”. This phrase carried the image of pools of stagnant wealth that had the potential to be re-released. Also, when used as a verb, שרה (sara) describes what Jacob did with the Angel. It’s a wrestling.
When God changed Sarai to Sarah, He kept this root but added the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet- “heh”. It’s the same letter that God added to Abram’s name to make him Abraham. This letter, in Hebrew, is also used at the number five, representing grace and YHVH Elohim. Also, much like the letter “a” in English, it can both be used as a letter or a stand alone word. When by itself, as a word it means “behold”.
With this simple name change, God was giving her a promise. He confirmed that, yes, she was His chosen leader. He confirmed that there was much more “untapped” blessing both for her (from God) and from her (to the world and future generations) that He had plans to pour out. He also recognized her place of persistent wrestling. And he inserted His grace in the middle. By adding the “heh” it was like saying that with the addition of His grace she would be more than able to tap into all He made for her and all He had planned for her, and it would make her place of persistent wrestling victorious.
What places of leadership or stewardship has the Lord spoken over you? What have you been persistently wrestling with? What stagnant pools of blessing are still to be released both for you and from you? God is giving you His grace- His “heh” - and telling you “behold!”
Behold is a beautiful promise because it means to see- either with our sight or our apprehension. God is inviting us into seeing the fulfillment of some promises but- even in the areas we won’t fully see yet- He’s inviting us into a deeper apprehending what He is doing in a way we hadn’t before.
Here’s the part that originally caught my heart while reading the Scriptures: Abram gets this promise for the both of them in chapter 17, but in 18 we see Sarah still going about normal life somewhat discouraged. When the angels appear to Abraham, Sarah remains back in the tent preparing the food. Sometimes we’re in that hidden season. We’re aware of the promises, but we're feeling forgotten, discouraged, and like nothing has changed.
Even in the hiddenness of the tent, they ask in Genesis 18:9: “Where is your wife Sarah?”. The angels use the new name the Lord spoke over her. When God calls, he calls you by reminding you of your identity or the words that he’s given you. They repeat the promise within her earshot, but it says (verses 10-12): “Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
“Worn out”… This phrase in the original language meant “used to the full”, worthlessness, nothingness, or “trouble of a courage-draining and strength-depleting nature." Sometimes we too know the promises, but we feel like our chance has come and gone. We feel we don’t “have it in us”. We’re aware of our unworthiness or inability. Or we’ve just been hit with so much wrestling over the years that we’ve been courage-drained or strength-depleted. God’s answer to her (verse 14) is “Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son”.
He says the same to us about our own “Isaac” situations. Is anything too hard for the Lord? He also- despite Sarah’s worn out heart and sarcastic laugh- still called her Sarah (reminding her of His grace and His promise to "behold" still within her) AND He didn’t downgrade the promise or alter the timeline. God is just that loving. He will still do what He said He would do at “the appointed time”.
Isaac, as we know, means “laughter” because Sarah laughed at the absurdity of the promise. God wants to birth through you things that are too wonderful to be reasonable. By His grace and on His timing. Hold on to the promise because Isaac is around the corner.
Encounters Questions to take to the Lord in your quiet time:
- God, what grace are you wanting to insert into my life?
- Holy Spirit, highlight ways I have become worn out? Lord, what promises would you revive me with?
- Pray: Father, like Sarah I release the how and when to you in humility…thank you for your grace and your promises that seek me out even in hiddenness or when I am worn out!
AMEN 😭😭😭😭😭…..too wonderful to be reasonable