The Faith of Sarah

Genesis 21:9–11 (NASB95) 

9Now Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking. 10Therefore she said to Abraham, “Drive out this maid and her son, for the son of this maid shall not be an heir with my son Isaac.” 11The matter distressed Abraham greatly because of his son. 

Sarah’s story warns us how quickly fear can replace faith, even after God’s greatest blessings. Her actions remind us that forgetting God’s faithfulness leads to injustice and broken relationships. But God’s justice and mercy remain, even when we fail. 

Sarah had waited a lifetime for Isaac. God had promised, and God delivered. Yet, almost immediately after receiving this miracle, Sarah’s heart shifted. She saw Ishmael, Hagar’s son, “mocking” or perhaps just playing with Isaac. Instead of remembering God’s faithfulness, Sarah let fear and insecurity take over. She demanded that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away. Her words were harsh. She called Hagar “that slave woman” and refused to acknowledge Ishmael as Abraham’s son. Sarah’s focus narrowed to protecting Isaac’s inheritance, forgetting that God had already promised to secure Isaac’s future. 

Sarah’s demand was not just. The text suggests Ishmael’s actions may not have been malicious. Even if there was some rivalry, Sarah’s response was extreme. She did not seek understanding or reconciliation. She wanted Hagar and Ishmael gone. Abraham was deeply troubled by her demand. He loved Ishmael. The situation grieved him, showing that Sarah’s solution was not only unjust but also deeply painful for her family. 

Thankfully, our Lord is always just, and we will see how He deals with the situation in the next set of verses. 

We must remember how easy it is to forget God’s faithfulness when new challenges come up. We must not let fear or hate cause us to treat others unfairly or act out of self-interest. God calls us to trust Him, to act justly, and to remember that His promises are reliable.