Why Did God Change Sarai To Sarah?

The story of Abraham and Sarah is one of the most well-known in the Bible. Their names are mentioned several times throughout the Old and New Testaments. But have you ever wondered why God changed Sarai’s name to Sarah? This seeming small detail has profound theological significance.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: God changed Sarai’s name to Sarah as a symbol of the covenant he made with Abraham and Sarah to make them the ancestors of a great nation.

In this article, we’ll explore the context behind God’s name change and what it represents about his promises and plans for Sarai and Abraham’s descendants.

Sarai’s Original Name and Identity

Meaning of the name Sarai

In Hebrew, the name Sarai (שָׂרַי) means “my princess.” As Abram’s wife, Sarai held a position of honor and authority. Her identity stemmed from her status as the spouse of an important patriarch. Yet despite Abraham’s power, Sarai remained unable to conceive a child – a status considered shameful in their culture.

Still, the meaning behind her name highlighted Sarai’s noble lineage and character.

Sarai’s identity as Abram’s wife

As Abram’s wife, Sarai was an essential part of God’s covenant to bless the patriarch with land and descendants (Genesis 12:1-3). Though childless during her prime years, Sarai maintained faith that God would fulfill His pledge.

During their sojourns to Canaan and Egypt, Abram introduced himself as her “husband” – demonstrating her key role even without children (Genesis 12:10-20). Sarai remained constant as his partner despite outside threats like Pharaoh taking her for his harem (Genesis 12:14-20).

Her steadfast loyalty and wisdom helped preserve Abram’s household.

Still, after years without an heir, Sarai began questioning her role and value. Taking matters into her own hands, she offered her maidservant Hagar to Abram so that he could have a son by her (Genesis 16:1-6).

Though culturally accepted, this act demonstrated Sarai’s shaken identity after decades of barrenness. Even so, God’s covenant remained linked to Abram’s aging wife Sarai.

God’s Covenant and Promises to Abram and Sarai

God’s promise to make Abram a great nation

In Genesis 12, God called Abram to leave his country and family and go to the land that God would show him. God made an unconditional covenant with Abram, promising to make him a great nation, bless him, make his name great, and that through him all families of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3).

This was an amazing promise, as Abram and his wife Sarai had no children due to her barrenness (Genesis 11:30). Yet Abram believed God and obeyed His call.

Sarai’s initial barrenness and doubts

Years went by after God’s promise, yet Sarai remained unable to have children (Genesis 16:1-2). Like many of us, Sarai began to doubt God’s promise and took matters into her own hands by giving her servant Hagar to Abram in order to “build a family through her” (Genesis 16:2).

This led to much sorrow and discord. Yet God’s promises prevailed despite human doubt and error.

God affirms his promise to give them descendants

When Abram was 99 years old, God appeared to him again and promised that He would give him countless descendants and make him the father of many nations (Genesis 17:1-8). As a sign of the covenant, God changed Abram’s name to Abraham (“father of many nations”) and Sarai’s name to Sarah (“mother of nations”).

Though Sarah laughed in disbelief that she could bear a child at 90 years old, God affirmed “Is anything too difficult for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14). One year later, Sarah gave birth to Isaac in fulfillment of God’s promise (Genesis 21:1-3).

Despite human weakness and doubt, God demonstrated His faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant to make Abraham and Sarah a great nation. His purposes prevail even when we waver in faith. As Hebrews 10:23 affirms, “He who promised is faithful.” We can fully trust His plans and promises for our lives.

The Significance of the Name Change to Sarah

Sarah meaning princess or noblewoman

When God first called Abram, He promised that he would become the father of a great nation and that kings would come from him (Genesis 17:6). Changing Sarai’s name to Sarah, which means “princess” or “noblewoman”, was a sign of the fulfillment of this promise.

Even though Sarah was unable to have children at that point, God gave her a new name denoting royalty and honor as an act of faith that she would indeed become a mother of nations.

A new identity for a new future and destiny

The name change from Sarai to Sarah marked a new identity and destiny for her. As Sarai, she was unable to have children up to that point. But as Sarah, God promised she would become a mother and progenitor of nations and kings (Genesis 17:16).

This represented a completely new future and purpose in life for her after years of barrenness. The new name Sarah reflected this shift in identity and destiny.

Abraham also received the name change at the same time from Abram (“exalted father”) to Abraham (“father of many nations”) (Genesis 17:5). This represented a transition for both of them into the covenant blessings God intended – a great nation coming from their own child.

God establishing his covenant with Abraham and Sarah

An important event happened in Genesis 17 – God made an everlasting covenant with Abraham to be his God and the God of his descendants (Genesis 17:7). The name changes to Abraham and Sarah represented their new status as matriarch and patriarch of this covenant.

Though elderly and childless currently, their identity now was as founding ancestors of multitudes of nations in God’s covenant family.

To symbolize this covenant, God instituted circumcision as the sign of belonging to Abraham’s offspring (Genesis 17:10-14). So the name change accompanied their initiation rite into God’s covenant with them.

We see the significance in Romans 4:17 when calling God “the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not”. By faith, God called Abraham and Sarah to a new identity for a purpose not yet seen – life from death, something from nothing.

Sarah as Mother of Nations

Sarah gave birth to Isaac in old age

Against all odds, Sarah gave birth to Isaac at the remarkable old age of 90. This was nothing short of a miracle and showed God’s divine favor towards Sarah and Abraham (Gen 17:15-22). Though initially doubtful, Sarah’s great faith was ultimately rewarded with the promised son through whom God’s covenant would be established (Hebrews 11:11).

Sarah carried and nursed baby Isaac into toddlerhood, cherishing those special moments before passing away at 127 years old (Genesis 23:1-2).

Sarah as matriarch of the Jewish people

As the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac, Sarah holds an esteemed position as matriarch of the Jewish people. Though Abraham had other sons, Sarah’s son Isaac was specially chosen to inherit God’s promise. It is through Sarah and Isaac’s descendant Jacob that the 12 tribes of Israel arose.

To this day, Sarah’s unlikely motherhood in old age still brings hope and serves as an inspiration. Many Jewish baby girls are named Sarah in her honor.

Sarah’s motherhood foreshadowed in Rebekah and Rachel

Interestingly, other matriarchs Rebekah and Rachel also struggled with barrenness for many years before giving birth to Jacob and Joseph. According to biblical historian Dr. Avraham Faust (https://www.bar-ilan.ac.il/en/faculty/avraham-faust), this foreshadows and connects back to Sarah’s miraculous conception story, showing God’s divine hand in building the nation of Israel through these mothers despite unfavorable natural circumstances.

Their stories give hope and encouragement for Generations.

Sarah as Example of Faith

Sarah praised for obeying and trusting God

Sarah is held up as an example of faith in the Bible because she trusted and obeyed God even when His promises seemed unlikely. God told Abraham and Sarah they would have a child, even though Sarah was barren and past childbearing age.

Despite this, Sarah believed God would fulfill His word (Genesis 18:10-15, 21:1-3). The author of Hebrews writes, “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised” (Hebrews 11:11).

Her faith was not perfect, yet God still used her mightily.

Sarah waited patiently for God’s promise

Though Sarah laughed initially at the promise of having a child in old age, the Scriptures say she waited patiently for God’s timing (Genesis 18:12-15). God fulfilled His promise to give her a son, Isaac, at the appointed time.

Sarah is therefore an example of persevering faith that waits on the Lord even when circumstances seem impossible. As Isaiah 40:31 says, “they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.”

Lessons from Sarah’s life for readers today

Sarah’s life encourages readers today to step out in faith, believing God can do the impossible. Though we may doubt or waver at times, God honors a heart submitted to Him. Sarah teaches us to wait hopefully for God’s promises, whether for a child, a spouse, or some other blessing.

Though it tarries, it will come (Habakkuk 2:3). As Hebrews 6:12 says, we can inherit the promises by following Sarah’s example of faith and patience. Most importantly, Sarah points us to Christ, the ultimate fulfillment of God’s covenant promise (Galatians 3:16).

Conclusion

In the biblical account, the name change from Sarai to Sarah marks a pivotal moment. God transformed Sarai’s identity from an aging, barren woman to the matriarch of a great nation through whom all the families of the earth would be blessed.

Her story is an incredible testament to God’s sovereignty and grace.

While we may never receive a divine name change like Sarah did, her life encourages us to wait faithfully on God even when his promises seem impossible. The same God who fulfilled his covenant with Abraham and Sarah continues to work in the lives of those who hope in him today.