Women Of Faith: Rebekah

Abraham has sent one of his servants back to his native land in search of a wife for Isaac. The servant prays to God, and God answers his prayer with Rebekah. As Sarah had done before, Rebekah leaves all that she knows behind and moves to a foreign land to start a new life. Rebekah never set eyes on her husband before agreeing to marry him, a foreign concept to much of today's modern world.

Rebekah is barren for the first 20 years of her marriage, but then God blesses her with twins. Even in the womb Jacob and Esau were feuding for place:

     The babies jostled each other within her, and she said,  "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to
     inquire of the Lord.
       The Lord said to her,
               Two nations are in your womb,
               and two peoples from within you will be separated
               one people will be stronger than the other
               and the older will serve the younger
                        (Genesis 25:22-23)


Esau is born first, with Jacob grabbing onto his heel. Jacob tricks Esau into selling his birthright. But this is not about Esau and Jacob, though their feuding is a part of it. Rebekah loved Jacob more, she favored him over Esau. When it came time for Isaac to bless his older son, Rebekah helped Jacob to deceive his father and receive the blessing of the firstborn.

Why does Rebekah deceive Isaac? Did God not tell her that the older brother would serve the younger brother? Isaac's blessing made sure of it. I don't know why Rebekah did it, I'm not sure if she forgot the promise God had made to her while she was still pregnant. One thing that does come to mind is that God foresaw Rebekah's deception and gave his statement knowing what would come later on down the road.

Rebekah's intentions were to have her favored son receive the better blessing. In those days the firstborn male of the family received the inheritance and all others would be under him. However, when Esau learned of the deception he vowed revenge. He consoled himself by saying he would kill Jacob after their father had passed. When Rebekah heard this she urged Jacob to flee, to save his life. Jacob would not return before Rebekah passed. Her actions caused her to send her beloved son away, never to see him again.

If Rebekah had trusted in God she might have seen her son before her death, she might never have had to send him away in the first place. But as we humans so often do, Rebekah took charge and did not trust in the promise of the Lord. I am often like Rebekah, relying to much on myself and my own way of doing things rather than following and trusting God. While I have not received a direct promise from God, His promises are given to me throughout the Scriptures. If we trust in Him, give our lives to Him, we will have eternal and life and peace. Yet so often in this life I am torn up on the inside, wrestling with my decisions and not seeking his counsel.  This is one thing that rereading Rebekah's story has shown me, even though we falter and may not always seek Him, He will always be with us should we ask for Him.

Women of Faith: Lot's Wife

If you are familiar with the story of Lot's Wife you may be asking why I am including this in a series on Women of Faith...I think the lessons we can learn from her story are strong and worthwhile looking into. The book that I am working through is called "Women of the Bible" and they include Lot's Wife. I probably would not have thought twice about her story if I were not working through this book.

So let's dig into her story:

Lot's Wife is only mentioned as such, she is never given a name. Her story is short, only a few paragraphs. And even then it is told in the context of Lot's story. Lot and his wife lived in Sodom, known for its wickedness and corruption. They lived prosperously in this town despite it's wickedness. God learned of Sodom and Gomorrah's wicked ways and sent angel's to verify and report. Lot happened to come upon the angel's upon entering the town gates and invited them into his home. What happens next is hard to imagine unless you understand just how important hospitality was to the ancient Israelites and people of this time period. However, even knowing that I cannot imagine offering my young daughters to a mob of angry men instead of visitors that I knew nothing about and had just met. This is just what Lot did. But the mob would not be swayed and rushed the house. The angel's knowing that nothing could be done for Sodom and Gomorrah pulled Lot back into the house, informed him to gather his family and flee the city. Hesitation mounted, they were being told to leave the city the had lived in for years and leaving all their belongings behind, "Flee for your lives! Don't look back, and don't stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!" (Gen 19:17).

Now is where we enter the part of the story where Lot's Wife becomes the center. The family flees, Lot, his wife, and his two daughters run to a small town nearby that would be spared from the destruction. Lot and his daughters do not look back. Lot's Wife turns around and is turned into a pillar of salt...

What makes her turn around? We will never know, we can only guess? Was she overcome by curiosity? Destruction draws attention, whenever their is an accident or a fire everyone becomes engrossed with the destruction, curious about what is going on. Was Lot's Wife looking back longing for everything the family had left behind? They were told to flee without packing anything, only the clothes on their back and maybe a few small things they could carry in their hands. All other things were destroyed with the city. We are, perhaps a little too much, attached to our material items. Had Lot's Wife held on to her husband's hand and kept to running she would have had her family, instead she lost everything.

Jesus urges us remember Lot's Wife when speaking of the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven, "It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On the day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot's Wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it" (Luke 17:30-33). When we follow Christ we must be ready to leave everything to follow Him.

On the side of a mountain just up from a huge open expanse of land where many experts believe Sodom and Gomorrah once stood, this rock formation stands apart from the rest. 

The people view this as symbol of Lot's Wife. 

Remember Lot's Wife when you can't seem to let go off material things in this life. While you probably will not turn into a pile of salt on the spot, you will start to poke holes in your faith and relationship with God.

Women of Faith: Hagar

Hagar was an Egyptian slave who became the maid servant for Sarah. As we read about in Sarah's story, Hagar became the mother to Abraham's first son, Ishmael. Sarah wanted to use Hagar as a surrogate, but when she was able to conceive Sarah became jealous and started to treat Hagar horribly.

It is interesting to think that the idea of a surrogate occurred in biblical times. In that time period, however, it was more a necessity than just a couple wanting a child (though I'm sure that was a part at times). In ancient times your livelihood and fortune were passed on through your offspring. And it was male children that received the inheritance, not the female.

But back to Hagar and her story...Once Hagar conceived her life with Sarah became very difficult. So difficult that Hagar fled into the desert while she was still pregnant. An angel of the Lord intervened and told her to return to Sarah. Hagar returned, gave birth and stayed for many years. But things would change for Hagar and Ishmael one more time, when Sarah gave birth to the son that she was promised. Not too long after Isaac was born Sarah wanted Hagar and Ishmael cast out from their homestead. Abraham did not want to throw his son out into the desert, but again an angel of the Lord intervened and told him not to worry about Ishmael. And so Abraham and Sarah sent Hagar and Ishmael away.

After only a short time in the desert the rations that they had been sent out with were expired. Hagar put Ishmael in one spot and she started to walk away because she could not watch her son die. She began to cry, her son was crying. Although Ishmael was not the chosen son of Abraham, he was still a son of Abraham and God provided for him. An angel of the Lord showed Hagar an oasis in the desert, both her and her son survived. 

Hagar was thrown into a situation she did not ask for. She was given to Sarah as a slave from Egypt. Once she gained Sarah's trust and became her maidservant she was told to sleep with her mistresses husband and become a surrogate. Once she did conceive, as Sarah had asked of her, she was greatly mistreated. The Lord heard her cries and told her to return to Sarah after she had runaway. When she was eventually turned away for good, the Lord again provided for her. 

How difficult is it to be thrust into a situation you didn't want or expect? Hagar did the best with what she was given, at one point it became to much and she ran. I often feel like running from situations when I get overwhelmed and am not sure how to proceed. As was custom, God actually spoke to Hagar through an angel. Once she knew that God was behind her she was able to face Sarah and Abraham, and to raise her son in their presence. We don't have the luxury of hearing the voice of an angel or the voice of God, though that would sure make things easy. Instead we have to rely on urges and feelings that God wants us to do one thing or another. 

"Lord, sometimes I feel abandoned, as though no one understands or cares about me. Please show me that you really are near and that you see and hear everything that happens. Refresh me with your presence even when I am walking through a desert experience. And help me, in turn, to comfort others when they feel hopeless and alone. In Jesus' name, Amen."

*prayer taken from "Women of the Bible" by Spangler & Syswerda

Women of Faith: Sarah

While Eve was the mother of all, Sarah was the mother of the promised nation. Her husband, Abraham, is often remembered as the father of the faith, but Sarah is sometimes forgotten. But Sarah was necessary in God's plan for Abraham to become the father of nations.

Sarah's story can be found throughout Genesis 12-21. There are certain portions of her story that are very interesting, not least of which is the fact that she had her first child at 90.

Sarah was quite the adventurer, and I look to her a source of biblical inspiration in my life. Mostly for her willingness to pack up her entire life and follow her husband to a land she knew nothing about. Being a military wife I have to do this often. I married my husband and within 2 weeks of marriage had to move from AZ and leave my family and moved to the other side of the country, to Florida. I knew no one but my husband when I went there, just as Sarah knew no one but her husband. Yet she trusted in him and trusted in God that all would work out. And that is exactly what I did, and what I have had to do every time we move somewhere new.

Sarah and Abraham's travels brought them to Egypt during a time of famine. Knowing Sarah's beauty would attract the attention of the leaders she encouraged her to say that she was his sister, not his wife. (She was in fact Abraham's half-sister) Trusting in her husband's judgement she did so and was immediately taken into Pharaoh's harem. When it came to light that she was in fact Abraham's wife they were immediately sent from Egypt with wealth beyond their imagining. It's hard for me to imagine my husband saying that I wasn't his wife, I understand that times were different then but it is still difficult to put myself in her position.

Sarah is most known as the mother of Isaac. The son she was told she would have but did not believe that she would have because of her age. I mean, at 65 she was told to pack her belonging and leave her homeland, years later she was informed that she would bear a son. She of course did not believe that at her age it would happen. After years of trying and no luck she offered Abraham her maidservant, Hagar. Hagar conceived and bore a son, Ishmael. Again, I cannot honestly put myself in Sarah's position. I cannot imagine offering my husband another woman to bear a child for him. Again, I know this was commonplace back then but I cannot fully wrap my brain around it.

We all know that Hagar conceiving was not the way God planned for Abraham's descendant's to inherit that land, it was through Sarah's descendant's that God's plan was for. "It is heartening to realize that God accomplishes his purposes despite our frailties, our little faith, out entrenched self-reliance." This quote hit me like a ton of bricks. I am not always trusting of God's plan, I always want to try and do things my own way. I need to learn to be more trusting. Sarah tried to take things into her own hand and that did not work out. She eventually trusted in God's plan and at the age of 90 was blessed with a child. As I look forward to starting my own family I am putting my trust in God that when the timing is right for Him, He will bless my husband and myself with a child. "Remember that God has his own timetable, and rest in the assurance that he loves you and will fulfill his promises to you."

"God hints at his purpose for you by planting dreams within your heart. Ask yourself what dreams you've been too busy, too afraid, or too disappointed to pursue."

*All quotes are from Spangler & Syswerda's Women of the Bible

Women of Faith: Eve

Eve, the first woman created in the image of God. Her story is found in Genesis 2-4.

Her name means "mother of all who have life" or "life-giving" and how appropriate. She knew God intimately, was on a first name basis and saw him face to face. Her story is well known; it involves a snake, an apple, and deception.

The blame is often placed on her, but is she fully to blame? God curses and blesses both Adam and Eve. They are both cast out of Paradise. True, Eve took the fruit first but Adam willingly accepted the fruit from his wife. In the eyes of God it makes sense that are both implicated and both responsible. For Adam and Eve, being husband and wife, are one flesh in the eyes of God. 

Eve was the first woman on Earth, and the first woman in this study. 

My favorite quote from her story: "Pressed hard by desire, she took the fruit and then shared it with her husband. Suddenly darkness spread across Eden. It came, not from the outside but from within, filling the man and the woman with shadows, cravings, and misery. Order gave way to disorder, harmony to discord, trust to fear."

Sin begins inside us. True outside circumstances can be crummy and hard pressed but it is our individual response that breeds sin. Two people in the same circumstance can respond in two different manners, one faithfully and one filled with sin. Eve began life in Paradise and decided that she wanted more, introducing sin into the world. How often do we want more, knowing that we have plenty already? This is part of being human. 

And while Eve was punished with pains in childbearing, there is a blessing at the end of that process and pain as well. I am not yet a mother but cannot wait for the day that I am. Eve was the first mother, is the mother to all. She led the way for the rest of us women. She gave birth to children with no modern technologies or conveniences and she did so knowing that God was the giver of life. It was through Him that she was able to experience the joys and pangs of childbearing. We are united with Eve in this same manner, after the pain is gone we are filled with joy of the life we have brought into this world.

We can clearly see God's love and grace through Eve's story as well. Even though they have betrayed Him by doing the one thing He asked them not to do, he still forgives them. Through His judgement His grace is also shown. Death has now become inevitable; but someday mankind will crush the head of the serpent who began mans downfall. So while there is negative there is also positive. We will die; but we will live in Him always and forever. 

Things I wil try to take from Eve's story:

I was made in God's image. I do not always remember this. I often do not feel the worth that I know God has bestowed on me. Like Eve I often try to take things into my own hands. I do not always want to wait and seek for what it is God wants for me in my life. While I know that I need to take an active role in my life and not just sit back and wait and wait for God to work in my life, I also know that I need to be more open to seeing God working in my life. It is hard to listen and see with all that goes on. 

Right now it is difficult for me to see God in my life when I have been looking for a job for over a year and found nothing. I am starting to doubt myself and who I am. I am starting to feel inadequate as a person in society and as a wife being a productive part of the household. It is really starting to get me down. I know that God has a plan for me and I need to wait for the job He has set aside from me but it is getting frustrating looking and having nothing come back in return. 

Eve is the mother of all mankind. She betrayed herself and let God down. Yet, even through His judgement of her God assured her that one day her offspring would reverse what she had done. Through her pain in child bearing she was still able to praise God and bestow upon Him the glory that her child was. This week as I reflect on Eve I hope to be more joyous in what I have been given, I pray to try and see myself the way that God does. It will not be easy, and it will take time.