Leah

                 Women of the Bible

 Leah

Scripture References: Genesis 29:16-35; 30:9-21; 35:23-26; 49:31; Ruth 4:11

About Leah

Leah means “weary” “dull” “yearning”

Leah was Rachel’s older sister.

Leah was Laban’s eldest daughter, also Rebekah’s niece.

Leah had six sons and one daughter. She was the mother of Judah through whom the Savior, Jesus Christ, would come (Revelation 5:5).

Leah was the one that was buried with her husband Jacob.

Her Situation

Read Genesis 29:16-25

It is noted that Leah was not as “beautiful” as Rachel was. “Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

It must have been difficult for Leah, being the eldest, to be passed by. When Laban came to her with the plan to deceive Jacob, she willingly entered into the scheme.

“For the first time, sly Jacob, who had deceived his own father and cheated his brother, felt poignantly the pain of being deceived himself. And so it is with us. We do not see the harm in a bit of cheating, lying or gossiping until we are cheated against, lied to and gossiped about ourselves. Until we ourselves are injured, we do not see how mean and evil it is to injure someone else.” -Frances Vander Velde

A woman’s greatest attractiveness will always be found in 1 Peter 3:3-4

1 Peter 3:3-4

And let not your adornment be merely external -braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality or a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

We are never going to be able to compete with the standards of the world, but the beauty that we can possess the world will never have. (share about the makeup products for Avon)

These scriptures teach us that every woman has an opportunity to be attractive.

●     The beauty of your heart -CHARACTER: the person that you are when no one else is looking, the person that you are in your private thought life. (Look over Thinking Biblically handout)

●     Gentle and quiet spirit -this is what GOD treasures. Care about what He cares about.

●     WORK ON inner beauty -take thought, time and preparation to be beautiful on the inside every day. This will spill over and literally you will be more beautiful!

Her Heartache

Read Genesis 29:30-31

Genesis 29:31 “Now the Lord saw that Leah was unloved...”

Jacob loved Rachel more than he loved Leah.

Women deeply desire to have an intimate and loving relationship. Every day Leah had to live with a man who didn’t love her. His attention and affections were for Rachel.

Psalm 34:18-19

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Leah was used. She was a pawn in the hand of Laban’s deception...only to be rejected. Nothing that happens to you goes unnoticed by God.

2 Chronicles 16:9

For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His....

God’s desire is that our hearts are completely for Him, then He will move powerfully! We stay stunted spiritually when we are only partially trusting God.

Psalm 33:18

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness.

Ask God to give you a true fear of Him! Fear of God will show GREATLY in your actions!

2 Chronicles 20:12

O our God, wilt Thou not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.

It’s like saying “God, whatever, you’re in control. What can I do? Do YOUR thing.” :-)

Her Sons

Read Genesis 29:32-35; 30:9-21

In verse 16 Leah wasn’t exactly showing Jacob reasons for desiring her. Both Leah and Rachel were consumed with what they thought was going to satisfy them in life. When you manipulate people with emotions or corner them, it will be extremely difficult for them to have genuine love and concern for you.

The names Leah gives her sons reveal what God was doing in her heart.

                                                Leah’s SONS:

Reuben means “Behold a son!” -this reveals her gratitude to God.

Simeon means “Hearing” -her she gives credit to God for answering her prayers.

Levi means “joined, attached”-she assumes that because of her sons Jacob would now be drawn to her.

Judah means “Praise” -here Leah decides to submit to God’s control and just praise Him!

Jacob had sons through Leah’s maid Zilpah and Leah was happy naming them Gad which means “how fortunate” and Asher which means “happy”. When Leah saw God was not doing what she wanted Him to, she stepped in herself and this was when she became proud and foolish.

Issachar means “he will bring reward” -Leah is looking for the blessing of God and not God Himself.

Zebulun mean “to reside” “dwell with” -Leah decides to remain where she is spiritually and seek God for what He can give her.

Leah had bought into the doctrine that God was there to serve her and didn’t want to live like she was there to serve God.

“I feel that we must repudiate this great, modern wave of seeking God for His benefits. The sovereign God wants to be loved for Himself and honored for Himself, but that is only part of what He wants. The other part is that He wants us to know that when we have Him, we have everything -we have all the rest. Jesus made that plain when He said, ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you’ (Matthew 6:33). It seems that Christian believers have been going through a process of indoctrination and brainwashing, so that it has become easy for us to adopt a kind of creed that makes God to be our servant instead of our being God’s servant.” -A.W. Tozer

What are the things hindering you from having a pure pursuit of God? A.W. Tozer goes on to share “Actually, anything or anyone that keeps me from knowing God in this vital and personal way is my enemy. If it is a friend that stands in my way, the friend is an enemy. If it is a gift that stands between us, that gift is an enemy. It may be an ambition, it may be a victory in the past, it may even be a defeat that still overwhelms me -any of these allowed to stand between the Lord and myself becomes an enemy and may keep me from further knowledge of God.”

**Take a moment to think of things in your life that are your “enemies” when it comes to your furtherance of intimacy in your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Do not only be interested in what God can give and in what God can do for you! Ask God for a heart to seek Him for Himself and recognize the “enemies” that will hinder that in your life. We cannot combine the mindset of the world with our relationship with God it will only keep us from the truth.

Life Lesson

Seek the Lord to know Him for Himself. He IS what you need.

Colossians 3:3-4

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Rachel

Women of the Bible 
Rachel

Scripture References:

Genesis 29-31; 33:1-7; 35:16-26; 46:19-25; 48:7; Ruth 4:11; 1 Samuel 10:2; Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:18

Her History:

Rachel was a shepherdess

The name Rachel means “ewe” a female lamb. It was implied as a term of endearment. As she was a shepherdess, the Lord was her Shepherd!

Rachel was the daughter of Laban, Rebekah’s brother. So Rachel was Rebekah’s niece.

Rachel had two sons: Joseph and Benjamin

Her Romance:

Read Genesis 29:1-20

Rachel was loved greatly and pursued by Jacob.

Just like we saw with Rebekah we see here with Rachel that God brought about an extra ordinary circumstance while Rachel was faithfully doing her daily chores. It is when we are faithful with our every day responsibilities, working at them with all our heart unto the Lord, that God brings about and accomplishes His will in our life naturally.

Rachel wasn’t off on some journey or quest, she was doing what she was supposed to be doing, tending the sheep.

What responsibilities has God called you to be faithful with, in this season in your life? Take a moment to write them down.

God’s desire is that we be faithful with what He has called us to do and work hard at our responsibilities and He will move us forward and onward! God works and moves in the ordinary circumstances of our every day. He is interested more in our CHARACTER than in what we can do and accomplish for Him.

“We are apt to forget that often the most seemingly ordinary incidents in life are as much of the divine plan as the smallest parts of a watch, and upon these smallest parts of the plan all the others depend. Our steps, when ordered by the Lord, lead to great issue.” -Herbert Lockyer

All the little things DO matter to God!

“As I look back over my life, a major testing of my faith came with our three children, and a few years later, a fourth. (Then there was a period later on when we had four teenagers all at once.) I think God had looked down at me and said, “How are We going to get any fruit of the Spirit into this woman? How can We educate her? I know. We’ll send her to the School of Instant and Constant Motherhood. This is a good curriculum for teaching total dependence, patience, kindness, self-control, love -all the fruit of My Spirit.” -Cynthia Heald, A Woman’s Journey to the Heart of God

In verse 3 we see Jacob went to a well. It is interesting to note that Eliezar, Isaac’s servant, found Rebekah at a well and Jacob encountered Rachel at a well. In Exodus 2:15-21 we read Moses sat down by a well and met Jethro’s seven daughters and married one of them, Zipporah. In the Old Testament you see women finding their future husbands by a well! How much more wonderful the story of Jesus meeting the woman at the well now becomes!

Take a preview of this woman! Read John 4:6-26.

Jesus came and PURSUED this woman. He pursued her heart. In front of everyone He talked with her, He valued her and cared for her. JESUS pursues us! Ask Him to give you eyes to see the ways He is pursuing you!

Jesus wants to intimately pursue you. He knows everything about you but He wants you to know and discover more about Him and how He loves you. He wants to spend time with you so that you will begin to see and discover the ways He loves you!

Jacob waited seven years to marry Rachel.

Waiting is ROMANTIC.

God is waiting for you. Patiently and lovingly God is WAITING for you to discover His love.

Read Romans 8:35-39

What emotions do these scriptures invoke in you?

Read Ephesians 3:14-21.

Are you ready to begin a journey in love with Jesus? He wants to pursue you that you may discover the abundant love He has for you. He wants to give you stories.

Her Marriage:

Read Genesis 29:21-30; 30:1-2

Unfortunately, Rachel’s marriage had a whole lot of drama. What is unveiled through these verses is that Jacobs amazing love for Rachel wasn’t enough. A man’s love and pursuit is not enough to satisfy us!

Colossians 2:10 NKJV

and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Psalm 145:16 NKJV

You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

Psalm 81:10 NASB

I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt; open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

Isaiah 55:2 NKJV

Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.

Isaiah 58:11 NKJV

The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Rachel said “Give me children, or else I die!” Her being was bound up in having children and she was hurting Jacob because he felt his love wasn’t enough for her...because it wasn’t!

When the Lord did provide her with children, she died in giving birth to Benjamin, her second baby boy. In labor she named him “Benoni” which means “son of sorrow”. Children do not satisfy the longings of our heart. Children can bring pain and sorrow to our hearts. Only Jesus satisfies.

Her temptations:

Genesis 30:1 “Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she became jealous of her sister;”

Rachel had given into jealousy. A very ugly and ungodly characteristic! Leah was jealous of Jacob’s love for Rachel and Rachel was jealous of Leah’s fertile womb.

As sisters in Christ we are to love each other. We are to rejoice with our sister who is rejoicing and weep with our sister who is weeping (Romans 12:15)

The woman who is secure in the Lord’s love and her identity in Christ can point out the wonderful qualities and talents her sisters in Christ have and encourage and love them. NOT pointing out her flaws or making a slight jab or a joke to her, especially in front of others.

Here are examples of what not to say compared to the right heart attitude:

Wrong -“She is a little consumed with her appearance.” Right- “Wow, she is so beautiful and takes good care of herself.”

Wrong - “She puts her children before her husband.” Right-“She has such a great ability to love children.”

Wrong - “She’s always at home and never gets together with us.” Right- “She is a great homemaker and has such peace in her home.”

Wrong - “She has her priorities out of whack” Right-“God has opened opportunities for her in her workplace. How exciting!”

Her motherhood:

Children are God’s gift to give!

Rachel turned her cry for children into prayer. Genesis 30:22 “Then God remembered Rachel, and God gave heed to her and opened her womb.”

Rachel’s was the first recorded instance in the Bible of death through childbirth.

Read Jeremiah 31:15 and Matthew 2:18

“Rachel’s cry for children was prophetic of the slaughter of the innocents when Christ was born (Matthew 2:16-18). Jeremiah pictures Rachel as rising from the grave to weep over the children being carried away to Babylon, never to return (Jeremiah 31:15). Thus the ‘Benoni’ of Rachel’s heart as she died has been re-echoed throughout the entire history of Israel.” –Herbert Lockyer

Life Lesson:

Only Jesus satisfies!

Psalm 62:5 NKJV

My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.

Psalm 86:10 NKJV

For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God.

Rebekah

Women of the Bible

Rebekah

Scripture References:

Genesis 22:23; 24; 25:19-28; 26:6-35; 27; 28:1-9; 29:12; 35:8; 49:31; Romans 9:6-16

Her God Story:

Read Genesis 24:1-14

Abraham knows the influence of a wife and wants to make a wise decision concerning his promised son! Who you marry is the SECOND most important decision in your entire life. Remember Jesus’ first miracle was at a wedding!

Proverbs 18:22 NKJV

He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD.

Rebekah means “ensnarer” .

Rebekah was a captivating woman and had a lot of influence.

Rebekah is first mentioned in Genesis 22:20-24 in the genealogy of the descendants of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. Nahor had a son named Bethuel who was Rebekah’s father and Laban was Rebekah’s brother.

Rebekah was the wife of Isaac.

She was the first woman in the Bible mentioned to have twins named Esau and Jacob.

In Genesis 24:5 the servant asks Abraham “what if.” Most people take relationship matters into their own hands because they think “well what if…” and they choose not to be wise. Always seek to be WISE when it comes to relationship matters because relationships can be detrimental to us.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NASB

Trust in the Lord will all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

In Genesis 24:6 –Abraham says “BEWARE”. We need to beware when it comes to major decisions in our lives and not make them carelessly. We need to take a lot of thought and prayer and consideration. We need to seek the book of Proverbs for wisdom and insight.

In Genesis 24:7 –Abraham is saying the Lord who did all of this…He will do this too! Don’t forget all that God’s done in your life. He never wants to stop working that way in yours.

In Genesis 24:8  we see that Abraham thought through the situation and considered “Okay, if she’s not willing, STILL don’t take Isaac back there.” He still chose to be wise about this and remain in the place God called him.

Proverbs 16:9 NASB

The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

Like Abraham, as a parent, be praying for your children’s future spouses now. Be powerfully involved in the spiritual realm for this HUGE decision. It will also prepare your heart for when the time comes and then there will be joy. You will be involved.

24:11  - Rebekah walked right into God’s plan for her life when she was doing what she was supposed to be doing when she was supposed to be doing it.

Luke 16:10 NKJV

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

God is in the details! Ask Him for the ability to see Him working in the details.

God was preparing Rebekah to be the wife of Isaac. She didn’t know this. A lot of times God is preparing us for something we are unaware of. 

Esther 4:14 NKJV

"For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

When it comes to a marriage partner we need to let God do the choosing! Our job and responsibility is to be faithful to Him and listen to His direction and walk in prayer and in the Spirit. He will bring about circumstances that are His will that we will find ourselves simply walking in.

Read Genesis 24:15-28

Rebekah had a servant’s heart. We need to take each day and let it be of utmost importance in our minds and hearts because each day turns into a week, which turns into a month, which turns into a year, which turns into our life.

Day by Day (Secrets to Success)

-Spending time with God in prayer… do what He asks you to.

“Success is when preparation meets opportunity.”

Principles taken from Charles Stanley’s book How to Reach Your Full Potential for God:

Have a balanced schedule including these things:

1.                        Prayer and the Word

2.                        Church (Worship with fellow believers)

3.                        Family and Friends

4.                        Work

5.                        Relaxation and Rest

6.                        Sleep

7.                        Fitness and Health

Things I must do:

Things I should delegate:

Things I should ignore:

Ask these questions about your schedule: What stresses me? What makes me feel hurried, anxious, or rushed? What am I doing as a result of others insisting that I act or behave in a certain way? Is their insistence justified against what God has called and purposed for me to do?

Reevaluate your schedule periodically.

THIS IS HOW GOD STORIES HAPPEN!  It is when we are doing everyday life. It takes time.

God WANTS to give us stories to tell and testimonies to share.

Read Genesis 24:45-60

24:48 –God WANTS to guide you in the right way and He will be FAITHFUL to do it!

1 Thessalonians 5:24 NKJV

He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

Rebekah had COURAGE. She was courageous to follow the adventure God had prepared for her and step out in faith.

Her marriage and motherhood:

Read Genesis 24:61-67

24: 67 –God can use marriage as a tool of comfort and healing.

Read Genesis 25:19-23

A pattern of barrenness appears in the lives of the people God calls and chooses. What was their response? PRAYER. God closes the “womb” or closes doors in our lives and allows for barrenness in our life so that we will pray.

Read Genesis 25:27-28

A huge mistake as a parent is showing favoritism. There is no partiality with God. We need to be sensitive to this with our children because it’s very painful to the core of their being.

Romans 2:11 NKJV

For there is no partiality with God.

Read Genesis 26:6-11

Learn from the scriptures and don’t repeat the same mistakes! Here Rebekah makes the same mistake that Sarah does. They both receive a PROMISE from God but do not WAIT ON THE LORD to let it unfold. They start manipulating the situation and use their own devises, scheming and deceiving to try to make the promise of God happen. It ALWAYS leads to pain.

God did not ask Rebekah to do any of this. You never see her seeking God concerning what He told her was going to happen. She never inquired of the Lord. She schemed and planned to fulfill her purposes and brought strife into the home. The ends never justify the means.

Review Genesis 27

The result? Jacob had to leave! Now she couldn’t be with the son that she loved.

Life Lesson:

Let God take the initiative and follow His lead.

Summary:

   “Some people are initiators. They help get the ball rolling. Rebekah would easily stand out in this group. Her life was characterized by initiative. When she saw a need she took action, even though the action was not always right.

    It was Rebekah’s initiative that first caught the attention of Eliezer, the servant Abraham sent to find a wife for Isaac. It was common courtesy to give a drink to a stranger, but it took added character to also fetch water for ten thirsty camels. Later, after hearing the details of Eliezer’s mission, Rebekah was immediately willing to be Isaac’s bride.

    Several later events help us see how initiative can be misdirected. Rebekah was aware that God’s plan would be channeled through Jacob, not Esau (Gen 25:23).  So not only did Jacob become her favorite; she actually planned ways to ensure that he would overshadow his older twin.  Meanwhile, Isaac preferred Esau. This created a conflict between the couple. She felt justified in deceiving her husband when the time came to bless the sons, and her ingenious plan was carried out to perfection.

   Most of the time we try to justify the things we choose to do. Often we attempt to add God’s approval to our actions. While it is true that our actions will not spoil God’s plan, it is also true that we are responsible for what we do and must always be cautious about our motives. When thinking about a course of action, are you simply seeking God’s stamp of approval on something you’ve already decided to do? Or are you willing to set the plan aside if the principles and commands of God’s Word are against the action? Initiative and action are admirable and right when they are controlled by God’s wisdom.”  -taken from Life Application Study Bible, Personality Profiles

Hagar

Women of the Bible

Hagar

Scripture References:

Genesis 16; 21:1-21; 25:12; Galatians 4:24-25

Her Role:

Read Genesis 16:1

Hagar was an Egyptian.

Her name means “flight”.

Hagar was a servant that most likely joined Abraham and Sarah when they were in Egypt.

Her Situation:

Read Genesis 16:2-3

Sarah asked Hagar to bear a child for Abraham. This was a custom socially accepted at that time, but not acceptable to God.

Genesis 2:24 NASB

For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

This was God’s design, remember he saw Adam and Eve as “Adam”…one person.

Genesis 15:4 NASB

Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who shall come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.”

God’s promise was that Abraham and SARAH would have the child because they were one flesh and it was to come forth from his body. God didn’t recognize Abraham’s union with Hagar.

1 Corinthians 6:15-20 NKJV

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh." But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

The focus of this situation isn’t on the immorality of it, though it was sin and wrong in God’s eyes. The motive was to have an heir, not commit immorality for pleasure. The angle for the problem and the offense is unbelief. Abraham and Sarah were not believing God.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

It is very important to God that we believe Him. When we don’t believe God, it will affect those around us. Believing God and trusting in Him is part of our testimony to the world. It was part of Abraham and Sarah’s testimony to the Egyptian Hagar. Hagar grew up with the worship of idols and false gods and it was Abraham and Sarah’s responsibility to display faith in their God before her. They blew it big time. It hurt Hagar greatly. A lot of times when God’s people don’t trust him, they use other people to accomplish what’s in their heart and mind. It may not be their intention to hurt them, but that is the result.

“But Sarah ran ahead of God in giving a Gentile idolater from a pagan country to Abraham to bear the promised seed. Poor Hagar –she became the helpless victim of Sarah’s scheming! The whole affair was a sin before God – a sin all three were guilty of.” –Herbert Lockyer

Her Response:

Read Genesis 16:4-5

Sarah realizes that what she did was wrong when she was wronged through it. How often this is what happens with us! We sometimes only come to realize we were wrong when what we did ends up hurting us!

Hagar went from having a humble servant position to being a mother of Abraham’s child. Now her ties and relations with the couple were completely different. She now was a wife of Abraham and scorned to serve as a maidservant as she once was. Was she upset she was put in this situation? Or was she elated she was elevated to this position? Either way she now disrespected Sarah, and Sarah was not okay with it. She obviously wasn’t expecting Hagar to respond this way or she would not have done it. But when sin comes in the picture, it causes us to act foolishly and loose our virtue and character. Sarah, however, was reaping what she had sown.

Her Flight:

Read Genesis 16:6-16

Hagar fled into the wilderness toward Egypt. We all go through painful life situations in which there is suffering. God will bless us if we choose to suffer for righteousness. We need to resist the temptation to go to the things of the world to pacify us. They will never heal or help, just make the suffering ultimately worse.

Read Matthew 5:38-48

Life is not easy but heaven is real.

A lot of our suffering will do with relationship problems. God gives us much instruction in His Word for ALL TYPES of relationships. Seek out the scriptures for your relational struggles!

You will suffer things in life, but let it be for doing what is right…not reaping for bad choices. We also all go through being wronged and ill-treated and we need to trust God and in His Sovereignty and allow the suffering to purify and sanctify us.

Read 1 Peter 4:12-19.

The angel of the Lord met Hagar in her pain. Most scholars believe this was Jesus Himself. This is the character of God. God wants to MEET us in our times of pain.

In verse 12 we see God being very gracious to Hagar. When you are hurt it is not the character of God to hurt you more. He will deal with you tenderly.

Read Psalm 86:15-17.

Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 Misery to Ministry “Misery is a means to ministry.”

God gave Hagar a promise in her suffering. When you go through suffering, seek the Lord to receive the promises from His Word that He desires to give you. Journal them down and meditate on them. Allow the season to mature you in His Word and bring you into deeper intimacy in your relationship with Jesus.

Her Child:

Genesis 21:9-21

Ishmael means “God will hear”

We don’t ever need to doubt in times of brokenness and difficulty that God doesn’t hear us.

Psalm 51:17 NKJV

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.

Psalm 4:1 NKJV

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

It is because God is merciful, that He hears us when we are in a mess.

Now Hagar and her son were sent away and became outcasts in society. You can relate with Hagar if you feel you don’t fit in socially in some way or another. God would have you to allow this “desert area” in your life to be a place that He fills and satisfies. If you will let Him, God will allow you to see streams in your desert situations if you will let Him. God will also use it to open doors of service for the kingdom. You can however, choose to live every day with a victim mentality and miss out on obtaining victory and a testimony. A lot of times our testimonies are only in the past when they should be in the present.

Ishmael grew and became an archer in the wilderness.

Ishmael became the founder of the Arab nations.

Life Lesson:

In your pain and suffering resist the temptation to “run away” and instead “run to Jesus” and persevere through the trial and He will bring you into deeper intimacy with Himself by giving you precious promises. 

(Magnify Him Women's Bible Study at Calvary Grace Fellowship)

Lot's Wife

Women of the Bible

Lot’s Wife

Scripture References:

Genesis 13; 19; Luke 17:29-33

Her Spiritual Inheritance:

Read Genesis 12:4-5

Lot’s wife was the niece of Abraham and Sarah. She had available to her rich spiritual resources.

Imagine how different her life would have been had she stayed close to Sarah and learned from her all that she could about following after God.

Psalm 1:1-6 (NKJV)

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

This Psalm shows us that there are two ways for people to live: The way of the righteous and the way of the wicked.

The blessed man does not:

1.      Walk in the counsel of the ungodly

2.      Stand in the path of sinners

3.      Sit in the seat of the scornful

Blessed  is the word “esher” meaning  a person’s state of bliss. It is the word HAPPY!

It means “a joyful mental state of contentment, a joy, a condition of comfort and security for which a person is to be admired.” –notes from Key Word Study Bible commentary.

The blessed, or happy, woman delights in God’s Word. She has developed a hunger and a dependency on His Word for daily living.

There is power in the Christian life when we are meditating on God’s Word day and night because we ultimately do what we are thinking and meditating about. If we apply this principal with our heart (our emotions are involved) we will see our actions change and reflect the heart of God.

“Brings forth fruit in its season”… we need to wait and allow things to take time. God is a Gardener. He does things in your life in seasons and we need to wait for Him to work.

We each need to choose to receive the spiritual inheritance God has given to us. We all have it but we need to appropriate it into our lives.

Ephesians 1:3 (NASB) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ”

We need to be wise women who learn from the lives of others, good and bad, and the examples in the scriptures.

1 Corinthians 10:7-14 (NKJV)

“And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to drink, and rose up to play." Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

Lot’s wife struggled with idolatry and worshiping the things others were worshiping around her.

Her marriage:

Read Genesis 13:1-13

Mr. and Mrs. Lot had a marriage based on the riches of this world. Lot had an eye for material wealth and sought to accumulate it. Lot is known for quarreling with Abraham’s servants over the best places and preferred the chance to get ahead. Lot put himself and his own opportunities first.

“Our problem in this materialistic age is the same as Lot’s –a distorted sense of values. We all too often count success by the things we own.” –Frances Vander Velde

There is no account of Lot’s wife influencing him toward godliness or righteousness. She was a woman with apparently little conviction and much weakness.

What an opportunity we have as wives to influence our husbands toward the things of God and things that are important. Our words can instill courage and bravery into our husbands to live for truth in a perverse and crooked world. These are the kind of women men want to hold onto. These are the kind of women that men respect, admire and remember.

Lot “lifted up his eyes” we read in verse 10, but he didn’t lift his eyes high enough to the Lord.  His eyes were set on this world.

Read 1 John 2:15-17.

Her Poverty:

Read Genesis 19:12-29.

What Sodom and Gomorrah really offered:

Genesis 19:4-9 – sexual perversion and sickness. Depravity and bondage.

2 Peter 2:6-10 –lawlessness, corruption, no fear of God

Jude 7 –indulged in gross immorality

This is what Lot’s wife fell in love with.

*When it comes to temptation we need to think on things that are true. To help you overcome temptation, take the thought captive and meditate what is true and real about the temptation. (Philippians 4:8 –sift all of your thoughts through this verse).

We cannot set our heart on both riches and God.

Matthew 6:24 (NLT)

"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

“Lot’s wife became a monumental warning to all who love the world and the things of the world.” –Francis Vander Velde

Her motherhood:

Read Genesis 19:30-36.

Was it worth it? Was Lot’s wife a woman of God who feared the Lord and instilled the fear of the Lord in her children? Pray for daily wisdom in teaching your children to fear God and be a tool in His hands to train them up in righteousness.

Let us pray that our influence in the home may always be for good and for God!

Life Lesson:

Read Luke 17:29-33.

Lose your life in this world and gain it in the next world, the real one!!!!!!

Write out Matthew 6:21. 

(Magnify Him Women's Bible Study at Calvary Grace Fellowship!)

Sarah

Women of the Bible

Sarah

Scripture References:

Genesis 11:29-31; 12:5-17; 16:1-8; 20:2-18; 21:1-12; 23:1-19; 24:36-37; 25:10-12; 49:31; Isaiah 51:2; Romans 4:19; 9:9; Hebrews 11:11; 1 Peter 3:6

About Sarah:

·         Sarah means “Princess”

·         Was the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac

·         Became the mother of a nation

·         Was an ancestor of Jesus

·         Was the first woman listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11

Read Genesis 12:1-6

Her Journey:

Destination: UNKNOWN

God calls each of us as believers to leave our old self and our old lives in the world to live in a new kingdom and put on a new self. Just like Sarah, we all don’t know what lies ahead…but that is the exact reason the journey becomes an adventure and a way to draw close to the Lord and know Him better.

God has a journey for each of us and all of our destinations are unknown.

It is on this journey that God tests our faith, shows Himself strong, and sanctifies us.

Psalm 16:11 (NKJV) “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

On this Journey…

1.      God wants to show us the path. He doesn’t want us to make our own and add Him to ours.

2.      God wants us to discover His presence. Through this discovering of His presence we will receive a blessing of the fullness of joy. A discovery we all want to make!

3.      God wants us to obtain our inheritance. We have pleasures forevermore we know nothing of. On this path God has for us we discover God’s presence and it is IN God’s presence we will discover these pleasures. Our inheritance is intimacy with God.

Path  ---> Presence---> Pleasures

Psalm 119:105 (NKJV) “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

We have a map for the journey! It is God’s Word. Every day we need to spend time in God’s presence and read His Word. This is how we get to know Him. God wants to speak to you daily through your time in His Word.

Get a DAILY BIBLE READING PLAN!

Her marriage:

Read Genesis 12:7-20

Sarah was the wife of Abraham. She is known as the mother of many nations.

Sarah was under the authority and leadership of her husband and even though Abraham made a foolish and unwise decision, God protected her and blessed them.

“The most comforting thing to a child of God is the sovereignty of God.” –Charles H. Spurgeon

Read 1 Peter 3:1-6

There is order in marriage.

As a Christian wife our actions always speak louder than our words. We need to understand and grasp this. A lot of times we speak in fear. It is an act of faith to be submissive to our husbands and to trust the Lord.

When we learn to not act out of fear and insecurity, and allow the Lord to create a gentle and quiet spirit within us, we will be very attractive to our husbands. They will be drawn toward us, not pushed away.

Fear --->Worry ---> Speak (Nag) ---> Controlling ---> Irritable and Unpleasant

1 Peter 3:6 (NASB)

Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.

Proverbs 21:9 (ESV)

It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

2 Peter 1:5-8 (NKJV)

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, [you] will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We are often tempted to overlook the importance of our character growth and we resort to examining our lives by what we are doing.

Her Beauty

Genesis 12:11b NASB “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman”

Beautiful Woman literally means “woman of beautiful appearance.”

We have all these ideas that come with all that comes with beauty…but there are negative things that come with it as well!

Review 1 Peter 3:3-4 (NASB)

Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

Proverbs 31:30 (NKJV)

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 9:13 (NASB)

The woman of folly is boisterous, She is naive and knows nothing.

Proverbs 11:16 (NASB)

A gracious woman attains honor.

Proverbs 11:22 (NASB)

As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

Her Faith:

Read Genesis 15:1-5; 16:1-6

“To a Hebrew woman, barrenness was looked upon as a gnawing grief, and sometimes regarded as a sign of divine disfavor.” –Herbert Lockyer

God promised Abraham and Sarah a son.

v. 2 –Sarah took the “fact” and presumed upon it herself. This is a dangerous attitude to have. “Well, God hasn’t provided for this…” “I need to do this because…” We justify our actions with “factual thoughts”. But our actions can be very far from pleasing God. It is the duty of a Christian to wait on God. Satan will tempt us to “help God along” or to start to act when it isn’t God’s timing. This is very important lesson in your walk. You will miss God working situations out EVERY TIME to make your own presumption and then act upon it.

On all of our journeys we will have doubts and failure. Continue to seek the Lord and let him redeem those times and work them out for your good and for His glory.

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Life Lesson:

Hebrews 11:11 (NASB)

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

**When you trust in the Lord, you will have a submissive heart because your faith is that God will take care of you.

(Magnify Him Women's Bible Study at Calvary Grace Fellowship!)