Daughters of Eve or Daughters of Sarah

Daughters of Eve or Daughters of Sarah

Would you consider yourself more of a daughter of Eve or a daughter of Sarah? Eve knew God’s will. She walked with Him in the cool of the Garden of Eden. When Satan came as a serpent to tempt her, she quoted what God had said to her and added a few words to His commands. (He never told her not to touch the fruit.) “But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die” (Genesis 3:3).

She was willingly deceived by the serpent, ate the forbidden fruit, and then gave it to her husband to eat which plunged the world into sin and darkness. There isn’t much more said about Eve except that she and Adam hid from God and God gave them the consequences of their sin. Now to be fair to Eve, I am sure if any of us were in her situation, we would probably choose to do the same thing. But we don’t have to continue to live like Eve – in rebellion to God and His will for our lives as many do today. She knew God’s Word yet chose to disobey Him. Do you know God’s Word yet continue to disobey it?

Then we come to Sarah. Sarah wasn’t perfect either. She knew God had promised them a baby but instead of waiting on God for the promise, she took matters into her own hands and gave her handmaid to Abraham as his wife so they could have this promised child but this child wasn’t the one God had promised (Genesis 16:1 – 3). Sarah didn’t have her promised child until she was 90 years old! Both Eve and Sarah cause horrible long-term consequences for their disobedience but let’s look at other aspects of Sarah’s life.

She wandered around the desert living in tents with her husband Abraham. “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and makerย is God.” (Hebrews 11:9, 10). She followed where her husband went. Many women today want their husbands to follow them and their careers. Sarah didn’t do this. She was willing to sacrifice much to follow her husband, even living in tents!

She was a servant. When three men appeared at their tent, “Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth” (Genesis 18:6). It doesn’t say anything about her telling him to do it himself or being upset at him for commanding her to do this. No, I’m sure she willingly obeyed him for she was known for obeying her husband. “For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement” (1 Peter 3:5, 6).

Did you notice what Sarah adorned herself with? It doesn’t say she adorned herself with gold, jewelry, fancy clothes or shoes. No, we are told that she adorned herself with subjection unto her own husband. This is the adorning that we all should have since this pleases God and if we aren’t adoring ourselves with submission to our husbands, we are blaspheming the word of God (Titus 2:5).

Many will bring up the fact that she lied twice when her husband told her to lie and tell others that she was his sister and not his wife. They will use this as a way to say that wives should obey their husbands even when their husband tell them to sin against God. If you look at the stories where this is told, she lied because she thought she was protecting her husband’s life. Most of us would willingly lie to protect our husbands’ lives. God values life over a lie. Many lied to protect Jews during the Holocaust. This is not wrong.

Sarah willingly obeyed her husband in both instances because she valued her husband’s life. God protected Sarah even during these times when Abraham lacked faith in God. From the Word of God, she loved her husband and wanted the best for him. She was a true help meet to him and lived in subjection to him. She sought to do him good and not evil all of the days of her life (Proverbs 31:12). Does Sarah describe the wife that you are to your husband?

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:28-30

11 thoughts on “Daughters of Eve or Daughters of Sarah

  1. Excellent post for self evaluation. I can look back at my life and see definite times of rebellion against my husband (and ultimately God) but also see times of submission and faithfulness. There were times of comparing myself to other married women which is never a good thing, which can lead to being judgmental. I’ve learned that to be the best possible helpmeet, I need to look to Christ in His servant hood and the holy women of old in the Bible. I’m also learning that as I’m aging, I’m never too old to keep on learning, growing and stretching ๐Ÿ™‚ Sometimes, during the periods of greatest struggle in my life, these are the times of greatest growth and leaning on Jesus. Thankyou for this post, Lori! I love it.

  2. Not only should we be continually learning and growing, but also wanting and needing to be reminded of these truths by renewing our minds in the WORD. Revival always comes through the teaching and applying of His Word. Thanks for the encouragement again today. It was a blessing!

  3. Many thanks for your post. As always, I am grateful that you continue to shed light on biblical womanhood.
    There is something in your post today, however, that concerns me: “Many lied to protect Jews during the Holocaust. This is not wrong.”
    Do you mean that if we find ourselves in a bind, where life and death is at issue, then it is ok to lie? I am wondering if, when we tell the truth, and it puts our lives or the lives of others in dangers, is God unable to save then?
    Thank you.

  4. Charlina, I have wondered about this- I will wait for Lori to give the correct response as Lori knows the Bible better than me, but I will put in my 2 cents here- When God talks about lying as a sin in the 10 commandments he says “You shall not bear false witness” which to me suggests that what is sinful about lying is the malice behind it, trying to slander someone. I do not think lying to protect human life is done with a wicked heart, therefore lying to protect the jews in the Holocause is not the same as a lie told without malice. That is just my opinion though- am sure Lori wil be able to provide an answer soon. God bless

  5. Dear Charlina,
    As a married mother of seven, I too have admired Mrs. Alexander’s efforts to defend and contend for the truths of biblical womanhood. However, I can honestly say that I’m also VERY concerned about ANY teaching that says it’s “not wrong” to lie…REGARDLESS of the circumstances. What if Christ chooses to NOT save someone from a situation and eventually calls him or her to LITERALLY die for His truths…do we LIE to save them OR even ourselves???According to several teachings of HIS Word…absolutely NOT (Matthew 10:38, 16:25; Luke 14:26; John 12:25; Revelation 21:8). As disciples of Christ, we’re supposed to LEARN to live GODLY lives from the failures, sins, AND punishments of biblical characters. We’re NOT supposed to use them as a license FOR sin…EVEN lying to save others OR ourselves.

    Since reading the questions in your comment, I’ve returned several times to see a response from Mrs. Alexander that might help to shed some light and/or clarify this teaching; but as I’m typing this reply to you…I haven’t seen one from her OR anyone else.

    Well, for whatever it’s worth (the GLORY of God I hope! :))…I want you to know that you’re NOT the only one concerned and anticipating a response from Mrs. Alexander.

    Yours in Christ,
    TCS

    P.S. Maybe she has reached out to you privately to clarify this teaching. If so, will you be SO kind to share it with me? ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. I believe to lie in order to save the life of another human being from evil and death is acceptable to God as many did in the holocaust. It’s not okay to deny Christ and lie about this at any time. We may disagree with this but it’s what I believe.

  7. Dear Mrs. Alexander,
    Thank you for clarifying your teaching about why you believe it’s acceptable to lie when someone’s life is in danger. I 100% respect your right to believe differently than I believe, and I also want to thank you for allowing an opposing belief to be heard.

    I realize that many professing Christians share your belief on this point, and some have used Rahab’s example of lying to save the Israelite spies (Joshua 2) to defend it. I totally agree with your belief that, “It’s not okay to deny Christ and lie about this at any time.” However, for me, lying (and teaching others to do so) IS a denial of Christ that not only teaches disobedience to His Word, but also demonstrates a LACK of faith in His power to save under ALL circumstances..IF He chooses to do so.

    As Christ’s disciples, He teaches us not only to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him; but He has also left the GREATEST of examples for us to follow, the example of submitting Himself FULLY to the humiliation and death of the Cross to save His people FROM their sins (not IN their sins)! Christ even rebuked Peter when he tried to sinfully use a sword to save His precious Lord and Savior’s life (John 18:10-11). How much more will He rebuke us for trying to save another person’s OR our own life through SINFUL means (and lying is sinful) for what we might perceive as performing a “necessary” evil for a “good” cause.

    As a married mother of seven and grandmother of one, I realize that it’s a VERY natural response to want to protect others from harm…ESPECIALLY the threat of death! However, as Christians, we are called to rely on the supernatural power that God gives us through His Holy Spirit…NOT our natural instincts or inclinations.

    As for me, I would rather OBEY the Lord and pray “lead us NOT into temptation but DELIVER us from evil” (Matthew 6:13)…and TRUST Him to perform what He promises. Besides, even if doing things His RIGHTEOUS way leads to physical death for me or someone else…ALL His ways are PERFECT (Psalm 18:30)! Wouldn’t you agree? ๐Ÿ™‚

    Respectfully Yours in Christ,
    TCS

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