Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur
Week 3: Chapter 2 — Sarah: Handmaiden of Faith and Laughter
Read Chapter 2 of Twelve Extraordinary Women. Primary passages: Genesis 11:27–30; 12:1–20; 15–16; 17–18; 21:1–7; Hebrews 11:11; 1 Peter 3:5–6.
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Sarah's life is a long education in the difference between striving in the flesh and waiting on God — a lesson she learned the hard way, and one most of us are still learning.
Discussion Questions
8 questions1.MacArthur notes that Sarah was barren — a condition in the ancient world that carried deep social shame. How does understanding that cultural context change the way you read her story? What would it have felt like to be Sarah, following Abraham into the unknown with no child to show for it?
2.Twice Abraham asked Sarah to pass herself off as his sister (Genesis 12 and 20), placing her in dangerous situations to protect himself. MacArthur does not excuse this, but he does note that Sarah submitted to it. What do you make of that? How do you hold together Sarah's imperfect situation with Peter's later commendation of her in 1 Peter 3:5–6?
3.The decision to give Hagar to Abraham (Genesis 16) is one of the most consequential acts of impatience in Scripture. MacArthur describes it as Sarah trying to help God keep His promise. Have you ever tried to "help God" fulfill a promise He had made to you? What was the result?
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