What is the Scriptural Basis for the Statement
that Sarah
Was "bluntly assertive"?

Many of us have assumed, based upon the apostle Peter's exhortations found in 1 Peter 3, that Sarah (Sarai), wife of the patriarch Abraham, was a rather docile female. Peter records her submission to her husband as an exemplary model for Christian women:

Can one be "bluntly assertive" at times, and yet be submissive? Are these qualities mutually exclusive? Not according to the Word of Almighty God, as we will see.

The observation that Sarah was, when the occasion demanded, "bluntly assertive" is based upon an interesting discovery. When we research the topic of womanhood in Scripture, naturally we encounter Peter's injunction regarding Sarah. Setting out to learn all we can from Scripture, specific to Sarah's interaction with Abraham, what more do we find?

As would be expected from Peter's exhortation, we see Sarah expeditiously carrying out her husband's instructions to bake food for their unexpected guests. (Genesis 18:6-8)

We also note that Sarah was submissive, apparently for many years, in one area where God would have wanted her to confront Abraham. Sarah was definitely complicitous with Abraham in his "great sin" of deceit, obscuring the truth of their marital relationship. (Genesis 20:9,5)

Additionally, we find one recorded example where Sarah approached Abraham with entreaty:

By Peter's statements, along with the fact that Abraham was, overall, a Godly man, surely we can safely presume that the norm between Sarah and Abraham was for her to cheerfully and expeditiously carry out his instructions without "backtalk," and to fully support his decisions. However, to the best of my knowledge, there are no other Scripturally documented instances of interaction between Abraham and Sarah which would have reflected that norm.

Conversely, what else we do encounter is perhaps quite surprising:

(When Abram had allowed Hagar to be despiteful of Sarai):

(When Sarah saw Ishmael mocking at the weaning feast for Isaac):

What strong words from a woman to a man -- and not to just any man, but to the particular man to whom she has covenanted her submission. We do not see a hint of entreaty recorded in either of these of Sarah's assertions. Moreover, in both of these instances, God upholds Sarah:

Of course, it is surely to be understood that as a woman of God, Sarah would not have taken over, to act on her own in defiance of Abraham in either of these circumstances. Unquestionably, she was submissive, as any loyal Christian would be to one who is in authority over him/her.

Further, Sarah manifests the "meek"ness and the tranquility ("quiet spirit") alluded to by Peter -- in that if Abraham refuses to act on her behalf, she has placed her trust in the righteous judgment of God for deliverance. (The Greek word for "meek" used in 1 Peter 3:4 [KJV] is also used elsewhere in Scripture to describe Jesus Christ, who drove the money changers from the temple.)

However, in the context of submission, it is important for us to remember that given a conflict, a Christian must always place obedience to God above obedience to any man. (Acts 5:29) Hence, there may be times when Christian duty requires a woman to act against and contrary to her husband's ungodly wishes or dictates. The account of Abigail, found in 1 Samuel 25, provides an excellent illustration of this principle.

Indeed, may each of us be daughters of Sarah, committed and steadfast in loving obedience to our respective spouses -- whether to a human husband, or to our betrothed eternal Husband, Jesus Christ.