Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“The Lord dealt with Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as he had promised. Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him.”
NL Daily Devotion for Friday, January 6, 2023
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Let’s not forget Sarah. Or all the other women in Jesus’ line who are brushed aside or not even mentioned in the Bible. Jews traced their genealogy to Abraham through the patriarchal line, and it’s unfortunate, because it only tells half the story. And, yes, I get the practical reality of trying to recount every line in every direction back to its source is crazy-making (though thousands of people engage in just that hobby today). But imagine just how much richer our picture of Biblical folks would be if we focused more on the women.
It says that Abraham named their son Isaac, but it was Sarah who had laughed when the messengers said she would have a baby. Isaac means “laughter.” I have to believe that it was she who chose the name, even though custom required the father to officially bestow it. Remember, too, how Leah bore so many sons to Jacob (Israel) and their names reflected her experience, not his, which implies she chose those names. And isn’t that story rich? (Or maybe I’m just remembering a wonderful musical performance I did about Rachel and Leah…)
Anyway, when we think about Jesus during this Christmas season, we would do well to remember all the amazing and wonderful (and largely unnamed) women who played a role in making him who he was—and is—for all of us.
Who chose my name? Does it have any significance?
