We can learn alot from the women in the Bible. Join us each week in 2008 as we deepen our understanding of our place in God’s kingdom.
Join us:
At the church,At the Google Groups link found on the Bible Study page
By replying to the “52 Women of the Bible” article
Name and scripture reference for each week.
2/12/08: Rebekah (Genesis 24; 25:19-34; 26:1 – 28:1-9)
2/19/08: Rachel (Genesis 29-35; Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:18 )
2/26/08: Leah (Genesis 29-35; Ruth 4:11)
3/04/08: Tamar (Genesis 38; Matthew 1:3)
3/11/08: Potiphar’s Wife (Genesis 39)
3/18/08: Jochebed & Pharaoh’s Daughter-Moses’ two mothers (Exodus 2:1-10; Hebrews 11:23
3/25/08: Miriam (Exodus 2:1-10; 15:20-21; Numbers 12:1-15)
4/22/08: Delilah (Judges 16:4-22)
4/29/08: Naomi (Ruth 1; 4:13-17)
5/06/08: Ruth (Ruth 2-4; Matthew 1:5)
5/13/08: Hannah (1 Samuel 1:1 – 2:11; 2:19-21)
5/20/08: Michal (1 Samuel 18:20 – 29; 19:11-17; 2 Samuel 6:16-23)
5/27/08: Abigail (1 Samuel 25:2-42)
6/03/08: The Woman of Endor (1 Samuel 28:3-25)
6/10/08: Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-12:25)
6/17/08: Tamar[David's Daughter] (2 Samuel 13:1-22)
6/24/08: The Wise Woman of Abel (2 Samuel 20:14-22)
4/29/08: Naomi (Ruth 1; 4:13-17)
5/06/08: Ruth (Ruth 2-4; Matthew 1:5)
5/13/08: Hannah (1 Samuel 1:1 – 2:11; 2:19-21)
5/20/08: Michal (1 Samuel 18:20 – 29; 19:11-17; 2 Samuel 6:16-23)
5/27/08: Abigail (1 Samuel 25:2-42)
6/03/08: The Woman of Endor (1 Samuel 28:3-25)
6/10/08: Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-12:25)
6/17/08: Tamar[David's Daughter] (2 Samuel 13:1-22)
6/24/08: The Wise Woman of Abel (2 Samuel 20:14-22)
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Hagar
Hagar does not strike me as a very smart woman. We all may see her as
used and abused but her situation was actually quite common in the
time she lived. However, I believe that if she had been smarter, she
would have stayed on Sarah’s good side and reaped the benefits of
bearing a son for Sarah and Abraham. Regardless of her situation, her
trust in the Lord was great. When He found her in the desert and told
her to go back to Sarah, she did so without question. And she gave God
a personal name that reflected a growing relationship with Him.
What is your name for God?
How does that name reflect your relationship with Him?
Lot’s Wife
On first glance it seems there is little to be said of Lot’s wife.
Certainly the Bible has little to say about her, not even a name . And
yet Jesus felt there was something to be learned from her example. He
tells us in Luke “remember Lot’s wife.” I don’t think it is a lesson
just about obedience. Lot’s wife couldn’t stop herself from looking
back at that sinful city. It seems she was indecisive about leaving
that sin behind. She had become comfortable in that sin. It was what
she familiar with. What was in front of her was new and unknown. When
we decide to live for Christ, we cannot be like Lot’s wife. We must
leave our sin behind without so much as a look back. We must keep our
eyes forward on Him. In that one look back, He may return – leaving us
forever frozen in our sin.
Rebekah
The story of Rebekah, Isaac, and their boys is particularly sad to me.
Here we are given an example of a healthy loving marriage that somehow
becomes filled with distrust and deception. We learn from these two
parents that playing favorites with our children is not a good idea. I
imagine the disagreements that must have taken place while Esau and
Jacob were growing up. Because Esau was Abraham’s favorite and Jacob
was Rebekah’s favorite, any problem between the two children is a
potential problem for the parents who may want to take sides. This
will be true in any family. Sometimes both parents favor the same
child. This too is a problem. Your children will know, even if you
think you’re hiding it well. This will lead to hurt feelings and
resentment. It will effect the relationship between the siblings
negatively. If you think you may have a favorite child then please
work to change your feelings. Rebekah’s lost all contact with Jacob
because she acted upon her favoritism of him.
What we learn most from Rebekah is that relationships have to be
nurtured or they will fall apart.
Rachel
I have been ill this week so I decided to wait and post something after we have studied Leah. I believe that a comparison of the two sisters may make a better post. Please post anything you like about either sister or both and check back next week.
Enjoy and God bless.
Rachel and Leah
Now that we’ve had a chance to discuss both sisters, I will give you my take on them. I find very little to admire in Rachel. Jacob fell in love with her for her beauty and loved her the most during their marriage, yet she was not satisfied. Take note of the names each woman gives to her children. Each name Leah gives to her children reflects a thankfulness to God and a heart that longs for love. Rachels’ children are named from a vidictive and unsatisfied spirit. I believe that Leah has a closer relationship with God than her sister does. Because of that, she is able to accept her lot in life without bitterness. That is the lesson that I take from this story. With God, I don’t have to feel sad or lonely. I can be at peace with any situation because I know He uses everything for good.
What did you learn from these two sisters?
Tamar (Judah’s Daughter-in-Law)
Her marriage to Er must have been very unhappy and possibly terrifying for her as Er was stated to have been wicked enough that God put him todeath. In a time when women needed a man to “take care of them” she needed a husband or a son. For Onan to refuse to impregnate her must have felt like another form of abuse. When Judah did not send Shelah to her, she became desperate. She couldn’t marry someone elseas long as there were male siblings of her husband, Er. She felt justified in tricking Judah into getting her pregnant, as he had broken his promise to give her Shelah. Again we have an example of how while man has been disobedient to follow God’s will, God’s plans always come to fruition. In this case, Jesus was to come from the lineage of Judah.
Cindy
Tamar (Daughter-in-Law to Judah)
This week’s lady of the Bible was about Tamar, the daughter-in-law of Judah and an ancestor of Jesus. Although Tamar was obviously blessed by God she did deceive Judah by portraying a harlot which helped her
in getting pregnant and giving birth to the children she had so desired. If we look at Judah one might say Tamar had to deceive him because he didn’t keep his promise to her, sending his son, Shelah, when he came of marrying age, but if we look at Judah’s fear that this woman seem to be a curse (because her first two husbands were killed by God) he would want to protect his son Also Tamar must have been much older than Shelah because she had to wait for him to come of marrying age and she had already married his two older brothers. We have to also say Tamar was intelligent because she insured her life would be secured by collecting something of collateral. It is awesome
to see Judah refer to her as being more righteous than he and God would agree with him and we know this must be true because her children Perez is a direct bloodline to Jesus. It is awesome how God has used all types of people (clean and unclean) to complete HIS great plan.
Potiphar’s Wife
What can I say about her? She was a spoiled Egyptian noble who couldn’t stand not getting her way. When Joseph turned her down, she was insulted. To be rejected by a slave. She made sure her husband would be forced to take action against Joseph by telling the household that it was Potiphar’s fault for bringing Joseph to the household.
April 8, 2008
WOW! Deborah a warrior and leader. She was strong in her faith and didn’t mind telling mien about it. She show great glory to the Lord through her praise to Him in all things she and the Isrealites did, and even when the Isrealites were making idols.
I question what type of man was her husband and how he felt about her being a warrior and a leader to an army of men.