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Scripture Central

Genesis 18-23 I Come Follow Me I Handmaidens, Harems and Heroines I Lynne Hilton Wilson

Scripture Central

Scripture Central

Religion & Spirituality

4.7 • 914 Ratings

🗓️ 16 February 2026

⏱️ 22 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Genesis 18–23 highlights several remarkable women whose stories, read through an LDS lens, reveal faith, covenant, and the quiet influence of righteous women in God’s plan. Sarah stands at the center: in Genesis 18 she hears the promise that she will bear a son in her old age and initially laughs, a deeply human reaction that the Lord gently turns into a lesson about divine power and timing. Latter-day Saints often see in Sarah a model of covenant partnership with Abraham—someone who grows into faith and ultimately receives the miracle promised. Genesis 19 introduces Lot’s wife and daughters, whose experiences near the destruction of Sodom show both the dangers of looking back spiritually and the complexity of preserving family in a fallen world. An LDS perspective emphasizes agency and accountability, while also recognizing the difficult circumstances these women faced. Genesis 20–23 continues to show how women are woven into the covenant story. Sarah’s protection in foreign courts underscores the Lord’s watchful care over covenant mothers through whom promises flow. Her eventual joy in Isaac’s birth (Genesis 21) fulfills God’s word and highlights the doctrine that nothing is impossible for the Lord. Hagar and her son Ishmael are also remembered compassionately in Latter-day Saint thought: though separated from Abraham’s household, they are seen as recipients of God’s mercy and promises. Finally, Sarah’s death in Genesis 23 is treated with great honor, showing her importance as a matriarch in Israel. Altogether, these chapters present women not as side characters but as vital participants in the Abrahamic covenant, whose faith, struggles, and divine encounters still teach modern disciples about trust in God’s promises.

Transcript

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0:00.0

in Genesis chapter 19 verse 8, it sounds as if Lott is suggesting his daughters go out.

0:07.4

He's saying, here, I'll just give these to you.

0:09.6

Well, we learn in the Joseph Smith translation that that is wrong.

0:13.4

The Joseph Smith translation comes in,

0:15.8

Let me, I pray that you plead with my brethren that I may not.

0:22.2

And then it goes back to the text, bring them out unto you.

0:25.1

Sarah's ire is raised so high that she demands that they leave the family.

0:30.3

And it describes Abraham's love for Ishmael.

0:33.4

He does not want to disown him.

0:35.8

He loves his son.

0:36.8

But Abraham prays about this. and the Lord directed Abraham to follow his wife's request.

0:47.3

Shalom! I'm Lynn Hilton Wilson, part of the Scripture Central team, where we try to build enduring faith in Jesus Christ

0:56.0

by illuminating and defending the scriptures. And I'm thrilled to be part of the team to look at the

1:01.9

Old Testament this year. I'm focusing in on the women, helping them find their Messiah in the Old

1:07.8

Testament. I've titled it Handmaidens, Harams, and heroines. And today we get our

1:13.3

third lesson on Sarai or Sarah, second lesson on Hagar, and we introduce Lott's daughters and

1:21.7

lots wife. These are very difficult sections. I hope we have time to go through some of the

1:26.8

maid servants of Abimelech

1:28.3

and some of the other women that we look at. But just as a review, I want to remind you of Sarah's

1:33.7

maturing years here. You know, she was 52 years old when they left Hebron. So she has not been home

1:41.1

for decades and decades. They first go down to Egypt, then back up to Canaan,

1:46.4

and they're there for a decade or so before she offers Hagar to Abraham, and that is when

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