Drought. Dry. Hot.
The Story of Sarah begins in Canaan at the time of a famine. If a famine is a food shortage, we can infer that the deficit stemmed from a weather condition. Whether it be a drought, a surplus of rain, or a crop failure due to extreme weather. Since there are references in the story about heat, we will infer a drought.
A Great Nation.
God had promised Abraham a great nation. Yet, Abraham had no descendants. Sarah, his wife, was barren.
Hot Temper.
Not waiting in God’s time, Sarah took matters into her own hands and insisted her maidservant Hagar sleep with her husband, Abraham. Hagar conceived a son, Ismael. Sarah’s plan backfired, creating more problems for herself and her family. Instead of trusting God’s timing and wisdom, she acted out of a hot temper. She did not wait for God’s promise to be fulfilled in his way but tried to force it in her way. After Ismael was born, Sarah became more disillusioned and began to despise Hagar. Eventually, Abraham sent Hagar and Ismael away.
Dry. Desert. Miraculous Water.
Abraham gave Hagar some food and water and sent them on their way. They wandered in the desert of Beersheba until they ran out of water. Hagar left Ishmael under a bush and sat down nearby, expecting him to die. But God heard their cries! Hagar’s eyes opened to a well of water nearby. God saved them!
Heat. Laughter. A Baby!
The Lord appeared to Abraham in the heat of the day at the great trees of Mamre. God told Abraham that Sarah would conceive a son. Even though God had promised Abraham a great nation many years prior, Sarah was skeptical. And now, she was long past her child-bearing years. In fact, she laughed.
One year later.
Sure enough, Isaac was born at the exact time that God had said. Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”
Lessons Learned
As we endure the Dog Days of Summer, let us learn lessons from Sarah’s story and apply it to our own lives.
#1. Embrace Faith and Timing.
#2. Exercise Patience and Let Go.
#3. Find Laughter in Unlikely Moments.
Maybe the next time you doubt God. Think again! And let us laugh with God and with each other.
Be faithful. Be patient.
Take a Deep Breath.
Let’s breathe in patience and surrender and exhale impatience and control.
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I and Thou Reflections 