Sarah

Sarai (later Sarah) leaves Ur of the Chaldeans with her husband Abram and father-in-law Terah. As Abram's wife, she shares in God's call to leave everything familiar and journey to an unknown land promised by God.

During a severe famine, Abram takes Sarai to Egypt. Fearing for his life because of her beauty, Abram asks her to say she is his sister. Pharaoh takes her into his palace, but God afflicts his household with plagues, revealing the deception.

After ten years in Canaan without a child, Sarai gives her Egyptian servant Hagar to Abram as a wife, hoping to build a family through her. This culturally acceptable practice leads to painful family conflict when Hagar conceives.

When Hagar becomes pregnant, she looks down on Sarai, who responds harshly. Hagar flees but is told by an angel to return. The tension between the two women would persist and affect their sons' relationship.

God changes Sarai's name to Sarah, meaning 'princess.' He promises that she will bear a son and become the mother of nations, with kings descending from her. At age 89, she is promised a miracle child.

Three divine visitors appear at Abraham's tent. Sarah, listening from inside the tent, laughs when she hears the promise that she will have a son within a year. The Lord asks, 'Is anything too hard for the Lord?'

At age 90, Sarah miraculously gives birth to Isaac. She names him 'laughter,' saying 'God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.' Her long years of waiting are rewarded.

At Isaac's weaning feast, Sarah sees Ishmael mocking. She demands that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away, refusing to let Ishmael share Isaac's inheritance. Though distressing to Abraham, God confirms Sarah's request.

Sarah dies at age 127 in Hebron, the only woman whose age at death is recorded in Scripture. Abraham mourns and weeps for her, then purchases the cave of Machpelah as a burial site for her and future generations.