3 Biblical Women Who Waited on God: Sarah Hannah Elizabeth

Waiting! Not one of my best traits, but with God’s grace I am better. I’m probably not alone.

When I was 21 and waiting to see if I was pregnant, it seemed like an eternity. It was only a month or two, but I did experience some distress. When it was a reality, I was left with empathy for those waiting for a long time to become mothers, realizing it must be very painful.

The only real remedy for waiting is trust in Jesus Christ. When we go to Him, we are covered in His patience and love.

There are 3 Biblical women who are known for their waiting and dependency on God for their strength. They are our focus this post:

• Sarah
• Hannah
• Elizabeth

Sarah

Background

Who is Sarah?

Genesis 11:27-32 NIV “This is the account of Terah’s family line. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. Abram and Nahor both married.

The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milkah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milkah and Iskah. Now Sarai was childless because she was not able to conceive.

Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Harran.”

Circumstances

After Terah died, the Lord sent Abram, Sarai and Lot to Canaan. Before He sent them, He blessed Abram.

God’s Blessing

Genesis 12:2-3 NIV “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

They left Harran and went to Canaan. When they arrived, the Lord gave the land to Abram and his descendants.

Through the years, Abram and Sarai were faithful to the Lord and His promise. Sarai suffered greatly for her lack of children because at this time women found their identity in motherhood.

Sarah’s Mistake

Her suffering caused her to become impatient and she decided to help the Lord give her a child. She talked Abram into marrying her maid so she could have a family through her. Didn’t work very well. Hagar, her maid became pregnant and resented it, giving Sarai a hard time.

The Lord did bless Hagar’s child, Ishmael, but He was not Abram’s heir. That position was held for the unborn child of Abram and Sarai.

God’s Covenant with Abraham

When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him to restate the covenant and promise of an heir. To confirm the covenant, Abram and all of the males would be circumcised. Abram’s name was changed to Abraham and Sarai’s to Sarah.

At this time, the Lord told Abraham that the next year they would have a son named Isaac. The next year, Issac was born to a 100 year old father and a 90 year old mother.

No one could doubt this birth was supernatural and God’s design.

What can we learn from Sarah’s waiting on the Lord?

• Sarah was always faithful to God and His promise. Yes, she faltered and tried to help God. But her faith in His promise was always sound.
• Sarah learned God’s timing is best. She chose to follow her own timing, but learned how a rash decision doesn’t correct the problem.
• If Sarah had gone to the Lord in prayer, the outcome could have been better. She suffered more because of it.
• Sarah did receive the promise of Isaac because of her faithfulness to God.

Hebrews 11:11 NIV “And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.”

Hannah

Background

Who is Hannah?

Hannah was one of two wives of Elkahah, an Ephrathite. The other wife is Peninnah.

Circumstances

Peninnah had several children and Hannah had none. This was a source of ridicule from Peninnah. When they would go to worship the Lord in Shiloh each year, Elkanah would give portions of the meat to Peninnah and her children but gave double portions to Hannah because He loved her. Peninnah would cause Hannah a lot of pain.

This time, Hannah stood up to pray to the Lord because her heart was so heavy. She asked for a child and promised to give the child back to God for His service.

Eli’s Attention

Eli, the priest was watching her and thought she was drunk. Her mouth was moving but no sound was coming out. He asked if she was drinking? She told him she was not but opening her heart to the Lord in her sorrow. He told her the Lord had granted her request.

Hannah face changed from being downcast to joy. Her attitude changed and she was able to eat.

Hannah’s Son

Hannah did become pregnant and had a son named Samuel. When He was weaned, she gave Him to the Lord to serve Him in the temple. Eli trained him and later Samuel took Eli’s place as priest.

What can we learn from Hannah’s waiting on the Lord?

• Hannah trusted the Lord and took her problem to Him in prayer. She was honest and told Him how she felt. She knew He would help her.
• She believed the goodness of God. Her response of dedicating her child to God showed she trusted He would do what was best.
• Hannah allowed God to strengthen her through her waiting.
• Her waiting was rewarded by the Lord’s gift of a child.

Hannah was later blessed with 3 sons and 2 daughters.

Elizabeth

Background

Who is Elizabeth?

Luke 1:5-7 NIV “In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.”

Circumstances

 Zechariah’s was serving as priest in the temple and had been chosen by lot (casting of lot similar to flipping a coin. This was an acceptable by the Lord for them to determine His will) to burn incense. Everyone was outside at the time and an angel appeared to Zechariah.

If course, Zechariah was afraid but the angel comforted him and told him the Lord had answered His prayer. Elizabeth was going to have a son and he was to name him John.

The Angel’s Message

Luke 1:14-17 NIV “He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Elizabeth Becomes Pregnant

Elizabeth became pregnant and was isolated for 5 months. In her sixth month, the angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her she was to have the baby Jesus. He told of Elizabeth’s pregnancy and that she was in her 6th month. She went to visit Elizabeth.

Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth

Luke 1:39-45 NIV “At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

John the Baptist is Born

Elizabeth’s baby was born and everyone was rejoicing with them. They circumcised him the 8th day and called him “John”.

What can we learn from Elizabeth’s waiting on the Lord?

• Elizabeth lived for the Lord even through her disappointment of being childless.
• Elizabeth let her closeness with the Lord shape her waiting and give her purpose.
• She allowed her age to be an asset instead of a problem. Her maturity taught many lessons.
• She trusted God by naming her son “John”. She knew God had his best.

Conclusion

We remark how these women reacted to waiting. They came through, receiving God’s blessings, which they had waited a long time for.

Their strength was not from themselves. It came from their faith and submission to Jesus Christ.

Reflection Questions

Have you realized that waiting can be easier by trusting Jesus Christ with your situation? This time can be used to strengthen you spiritually?

What does our waiting say about our attitude about God’s goodness?

Remember, God loves you and is there to help make your life better.