| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| erowease |
Posted - Jul 09 2012 : 8:23:52 PM
There has been some interest in starting a new Bible Study. I thought it would be nice to do one on the Women of the Bible. We will walk through the Bible looking at some of the Women's lives and their stories, reflecting on how their lives intersect with ours today. Hopefully through each of our reflections to the questions that are posted, we will be able to help each other grow in our faith. I hope to give you a brief summary about the woman we are studying, a scripture reading and some questions to start some dialogue only as a guideline. We can take the discussion wherever God leads us as we reflect on the topic.
Our first woman, has to be Eve. The meaning of her name is "life giving" or "Mother of All Who Have Life". She came into the world perfectly at peace with God and with her husband, the only other person on the planet. She lived in Paradise, possessing every pleasure imaginable. She never knew the meaning of embarrassment, misunderstanding, hurt, estrangement, envy, bitterness, grief, or guilt until she listened to her enemy and began to doubt God.
Please read and reflect on Genesis 1:26-31;Genesis 2-4
1.How easily do you think the serpent deceived Eve? Do you think she ate of the fruit the first time the serpent approached her, or did he wear her down over a period of time?
2.Why did Eve eat the fruit?
3.Eve rationalized her sin, what sort of reasons do you come up with to rationalize your sin?
4.What does God do for Adam and Eve after he declares their punishment? What does it tell you about God? What do you think he is willing to do for you when you have sinned and repented?
Lesley
#2950
"I see God in the eyes of every child...every life is precious to God, whatever the circumstances." Mother Teresa |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| prayin granny |
Posted - Oct 25 2012 : 06:00:43 AM
Lesley,
I'm going to try and take a look at these and post later.
Thank you for your time that you put into these studies!
Farmgirl hugs,
Linda
Country at Heart |
| erowease |
Posted - Sep 26 2012 : 7:52:58 PM
Hi ladies, sorry for the delay in posting the next study. Life has been a little crazy lately.
Miriam- Her name may mean "Bitterness"
Even as a young girl, she showed fortitude and wisdom. A leader of God's people at a crucial moment in history, she led the celebration after crossing the Red Sea and spoke God's word to his people, sharing their forty-year journey through the wilderness.
Scripture: Exodus 2:1-10;15:20-21;Numbers 12:1-15
In biblical times, people danced to celbrate happy events and to praise God. Dancing in scriptures is always linked to joy and happiness. The presence of mourning means the absence of dancing (lam 5:15) and there is a time for both. (Ecclesiastes 3:4). The very first mention of dancing in the Scripture is when Miriam led the Israelite women in a dance to celebrate God's miraculous defeat of the Egyptians. Imagine what it was like to run between the walls of water with the Egyptian chariots close behind, fearing for their lives. Fear gave away to a thrill of excitement.
Just as Miriam and the women couldn't help but dance with joy, so when God does a wonderful work in our lives we sometimes respond in much the same manner- our faces break into smiles, our hands are lifted up, and our feet can't remain still.
Thoughts for discussion:
1) How do you think you would have felt and responded in the situation Miriam and the women found themselves in? Would you have danced? Or would you have celebrated in another form of praise? If so, what?
2)Referring to Numbers 12:1-15 what do you think that Aaron and Miriam had against Moses' "cush**e" wife? Do you think the wife was the real problem? What do you think was the real problem and real reason for the attack?
3)Why did God punish? Why do you think Miriam was singled out and not Aaron? How do you think Miriam's punishment affected Aaron?
4)If you were in Miriam's position, what would go through your mind during the seven days outside of the camp? What do you think Miriam was feeling and thinking?
Lesley
#2950
"I see God in the eyes of every child...every life is precious to God, whatever the circumstances." Mother Teresa |
| smiley |
Posted - Sep 20 2012 : 04:58:20 AM
While she was going thru all of that would she ever have imagined her name written in the lineage of the Messiah Matt 1:3? Sometimes life makes no sense and we just need to trust God has a plan. |
| littlegirl54 |
Posted - Sep 11 2012 : 10:37:59 PM
Brenda, I too am grieved by this type of story in the Bible, and I think it's because there are other stories that show God is in favor of equality. The one that comes to mind is the one where the man only had girls, and the community at large was dividing up the land. The short of it is that, God left a sign to tell them to let the daughters inherit the land just like the sons. Why didn't that lesson get learned instead of the other???? I don't know. I just know it is up to us women to LOVINGLY help the male population see the correct ways of God in regards to the equality of women. :}
Life's too short to sit in a box all day. Get out and do something creative.
Connie H.
Farmgirl Sister 4152 |
| brightmeadow |
Posted - Sep 11 2012 : 8:00:30 PM
I also struggle with this passage. I am the firstborn child of my parents, my father made a great deal of this, but also since I am a "girl" he made a big deal of my brother who was the firstborn son. In fact when he passed away my father made sure that the land was left to his firstborn "SON" not me, his firstborn daughter, or my two other sisters.
In old testament times there were a lot of rules arouund sons and inheritance, including how the wives should be impregnated to keep the family lineage going. Tamar essentially had to prostitute herself in order to gain her child's rightful inheritance. I have a very hard time understanding this.
I don't understand this as I love my two daughters equally, and also in different ways. They have different personalities and different needs. I do not have sons, but I have three grandsons and no granddaughters. This grieves me.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blogs at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com (farming) http://brightmeadowknits.blogspot.com (knitting) or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
| erowease |
Posted - Sep 11 2012 : 3:51:01 PM
I always struggle with bible stories that in essence are against how one should live, or conduct oneself but in each one there is a lesson to be learned. I can see an example of how sometimes as women we cannot be passive. I sometimes wonder why there is not more background to the story. What was her relationship with the Lord at this time? Is this a case where God influenced the situation because Judah was not providing for Tamar. I know in these times the only way a woman could secure a future was to provide sons and she was not given the opportunity with the previous 2 husbands and Judah prevented the 3rd son from providing an heir. I think this verse reflects poorly on the men in her life and I feel God did have a plan because it his He who decides if a child is to come.
Lesley
#2950
"I see God in the eyes of every child...every life is precious to God, whatever the circumstances." Mother Teresa |
| littlegirl54 |
Posted - Sep 10 2012 : 8:47:30 PM
It's been a while since I have been on, but I do have an opinion on this topic. In answer to the second question. I do think there is a huge double standard. Men have always gotten away with treating women this way for a majority of cultures. But in this day and age, we are coming around, except where people resist the truth about how a man should treat a woman.
In response to the third point. I think not only was God bringing good out of bad, He was saying women have a right to be treated fairly. Too bad the culture was deaf to his response.
I don't agree with the policy of passing a woman from man to man in order to bring about an heir, but I do agree with Tamar standing up for what was right. And I believe God's response was in accord with it too.
Life's too short to sit in a box all day. Get out and do something creative.
Connie H.
Farmgirl Sister 4152 |
| buffypuff |
Posted - Sep 07 2012 : 4:16:31 PM
I will be gone for several weeks, so unfortunately I can't contribute or read what is said. I hope that many will read and write their thoughts about those who lived before us. Blessings on you all.
Buffypuff/ Claudia ~ Farmgirl Sister #870 @}~~
"God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves." DL Moody
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| erowease |
Posted - Sep 05 2012 : 9:03:02 PM
Tamar-Daughter In Law of Judah, her name means "Date Tree" or "Palm Tree"
Driven by one overwhelming need, she sacrificed her reputation and nearly her life to achieve her goals.
Scripture Genesis 38; Matthew 1:3
As abhorrent as it seems to us, prostitution was actually an expression of worship in the ancient Near East. Pagan peoples often believed that fertility gods granted blessings to those who practiced cultic prostitution.
Prostitution was the imagery used often by the biblical prophets to describe Israel's waywardness, their proneness to follow false gods. They saw God as the husband of Israel, her keeper and her true love. Whenever the Israelites turned from the true God to false gods, they "prostituted" themselves. It is a strong picture, but an accurate one of turning away from the God who truly loved them and was willing to care for them and watch over them, if only they would remain true to him. Tamar's story shock's us and takes us by surprise. We recoil from the sordid details of prostitution and find little to inspire us. Yet stories like Tamar's are what makes the Bible so believable. Who would ever invent such a thing, then record it not only in the historical narrative but also in the lineage of the Messiah? Only the God of eternal surprises- the God who takes the unfit, the desperate, and the profane, and uses them to his eternal and holy purposes.
Questions for discussion:
1. None of the men in Tamar's life fulfilled their responsibilities to her, including her father-in-law, Judah (38:11). Describe how you think Tamar must have been feeling throughout the course of these events. Why do you think she was so desperate to have a child.
2. What do you think of Judah's response to the news that Tamar was pregnant (38:24)? Was it a double standard for him to condemn her actions but not his own? Do such double standards exist today?
3. Tamar's inclusion in the lineage of Christ tells you about God's power to bring good out of tragic events. How has God worked good out of the bad things that have happened to you or to someone you know?
Lesley
#2950
"I see God in the eyes of every child...every life is precious to God, whatever the circumstances." Mother Teresa |
| erowease |
Posted - Aug 30 2012 : 9:18:39 PM
Ladies since it is the holiday weekend and I am dealing with family issues I will post the next installment September 5th.
Lesley
#2950
"I see God in the eyes of every child...every life is precious to God, whatever the circumstances." Mother Teresa |
| smiley |
Posted - Aug 25 2012 : 07:49:54 AM
I fought with mine over sharing a sweater much less a husband!!! |
| erowease |
Posted - Aug 24 2012 : 8:09:42 PM
I work in a technical field where I deal with acronym's everyday. It can get interesting trying to define some of them, also very good for laugh's when you ask people to be creative with the definitions.
With this passage I have always struggled with the relationship between Leah and Rachel. Maybe never having sisters and only brothers makes it a little harder to understand. Would two sisters really let that much animosity get between them? It makes me wonder if they were at odds all through their childhood too. Maybe part of my struggle is also the idea behind multiple wives which is so different from what we are used to. But in their time it was a familiar way of life so wouldn't having your sister as another wife be a good thing?
Lesley
#2950
"I see God in the eyes of every child...every life is precious to God, whatever the circumstances." Mother Teresa |
| brightmeadow |
Posted - Aug 24 2012 : 4:33:20 PM
Thanks for posting Lesley, that is exactly right...
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blogs at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com (farming) http://brightmeadowknits.blogspot.com (knitting) or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
| smiley |
Posted - Aug 23 2012 : 6:37:34 PM
Thank you. Learn something everyday |
| erowease |
Posted - Aug 22 2012 : 8:44:16 PM
I think serial monogamy would be when you get married and divorced a couple of times. I think IMHO means in my humble opinion.
Lesley
#2950
"I see God in the eyes of every child...every life is precious to God, whatever the circumstances." Mother Teresa |
| smiley |
Posted - Aug 22 2012 : 8:12:40 PM
What does IMHO stand for? What is serial monogamy? |
| brightmeadow |
Posted - Aug 22 2012 : 7:13:26 PM
I find the cultural practice of polygamy very hard to understand. It seems to be a culture which is set up to provoke jealousy and spiritual discontent. How could a woman in this environment fail to respond in the way in which both Leah and Rachel did? Why did God allow this? I find that in the New Testament, Jesus treated women much differently than the prevailing culture.
As a woman, I feel that I am just as much of a "person" or "human being" as my husband is, our genders are a happy accident.
Serial monogamy, which is practice today in the US, is not much better than polygamy, IMHO.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blogs at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com (farming) http://brightmeadowknits.blogspot.com (knitting) or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
| erowease |
Posted - Aug 22 2012 : 6:59:08 PM
Rachel- Her name means "Ewe".
Manipulated by her father, she had little say over her own life circumstances and relationships. But rather than dealing creatively with a difficult situation, she behaved like a perpetual victim, responding to sin with yet more sin, making things worse by competing with her sister and deceiving her father in return.
Scripture: Genesis 29-35, Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:18
Some questions to start discussion:
1) How do you think most women would respond to the situation in which Rachel found herself (29:30)? With love and concern for her unloved sister? or with a spirit of superiority and pride?
2)These two sisters each had something the other wanted. What did Rachel have that Leah wanted? What did Leah have that Rachel wanted? Is there any way their relationship could have been different considering the circumstances?
3)Discontentment is an insidious thing, trapping us into thinking that which was enough is no longer enough, and that which is satisfying is no longer satisfying. Do you ever feel discontent because you don't "have it all"? What can you do to resist such sentiments?
Lesley
#2950
"I see God in the eyes of every child...every life is precious to God, whatever the circumstances." Mother Teresa |
| erowease |
Posted - Aug 21 2012 : 7:07:03 PM
Sorry for the delayed response, I have been busy just trying to balance my life lately. I think in some ways the story of Isaac and Rebekah exemplify how we have to allow things to happen in God's time and not our own. Both Sarah and Rebekah tried to manipulate the situation instead of trusting in God. I think as wives and mothers we have to be careful to not cross the lines into being manipulative, rather than just being influential. I think its a question of what's at the heart of it. If you are doing something for your own individual benefit it is on the manipulative side of things. Whereas being influential is more based on what is the common good. I think being called to live a God lead life calls us to make sure we keep on the influential side of things. I think we have to learn to really let go and let God guide us.
Lesley
#2950
"I see God in the eyes of every child...every life is precious to God, whatever the circumstances." Mother Teresa |
| smiley |
Posted - Aug 21 2012 : 04:52:07 AM
Lesley we can make ourselves crazy with "what ifs" Trust is not an easy thing but God has proven many times we can trust Him.Perhaps Rebekah had that kind of trust? Not just a cultural obedience? He can take care of you in Edmonds or Fort Worth. I dont know the details fo your circumstances but fear can be a crippler that never lets us see the great things God has waiting for us. "Be still and know that I am God" verse came to me when reading your comment. I dont think Rebekah's time had it easier. We are all placed in the time God wants us for the work He has for us to do that only we can do. With the greater problems of our time come greater opportunities. |
| buffypuff |
Posted - Aug 16 2012 : 12:37:40 PM
Well, Lesley, I see that it is taking others as it has myself to read, assimilate and produce some thoughts that may be worth putting down. Sarah had died, Isaac was living apart from Abraham, and Abraham wanted to assure that Isaac married the "right" kind of woman. I found it interesting that when speaking of Rebekah, she was always referred to as the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. It was important that Milkah's name was given to show Rebekah came from the wife of Nahor, not his concubines. She was trained as a servant which most women were, as it was the man who held the control. However, as with Sarah, women have their ways of asserting their wishes, even if it was deceitful. Back up...she was kind and helpful and the servant knew that God had answered his prayer for the correct woman. I believe it was the custom to go where she was told and marry whom she was to marry. She may have had other ideas, and was not really happy about the deal, but it doesn't say. Isaac was 40 when they married, and it took 20 years for the twins to be born, as Isaac was 60. I wonder if there was tension in that I'm sure Abraham's promise from God to populate the earth was well known by Isaac. Esau was born very hairy. Most babes have lanugo (fine hair)that can be shed shortly after birth. As the first born, Esau had a double portion of property etc as his birthright. For whatever reason, Isaac favored him. Maybe Rebekeh favored Jacob, the conniver, because Isaac made no bones about Esau being the chosen. I suspect that some parents have favorites for many reasons...maybe they are more obedient or the mother prefers one sex over another. Who knows. But those feelings being so strong that she helped take away the blessing of her other son, makes me feel that it was not a happy family....no share and share alike.Rebekeh took things into her own hands as did Sarah. Not a wise thing to do to our husbands and definitely wrong to do with God. Again, I think it was a lack of faith that God loved them all & work take care of both. Who knows what would have happened, if Esau had not sold her birthright. Always fun to speculate.
Buffypuff/ Claudia ~ Farmgirl Sister #870 @}~~
"God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves." DL Moody
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| erowease |
Posted - Aug 13 2012 : 7:33:32 PM
With what's going on in my life right now its hard to imagine Rebekah's resolve to leave everything familiar to meet and marry a man she has never met. I feel so overwhelmed with indecision on whether following my husband's need to return to Fort Worth is right for me. There are so many what if's. I wonder if any what if's went through Rebekah's mind. I also wonder how she knew God was leading her. I sometimes question myself on how I know whether God is leading me or if it is my own justification or other influences that lead me in a direction. In today's mass communication world it is so important to sit and be quiet so that you can hear God's voice. Was it easier back in Rebekah's time?
Lesley
#2950
"I see God in the eyes of every child...every life is precious to God, whatever the circumstances." Mother Teresa |
| erowease |
Posted - Aug 08 2012 : 8:49:45 PM
Rebekah- Her name probably means "loop" or "tie"
Hard-working and generous, her faith was so great that she left her home forever to marry a man she had never seen or met. Yet, she played favorites with her sons and failed to trust God fully for the promise he had made.
Scripture: Genesis 24;25:19-34;26:1-28
Questions to inspire discussion:
1. What does the first information about young Rebekah tell you about her looks and character (24:12-27)? How are you like Rebekah? How are you different?
2. Three simple words (24:58) changed Rebekah's life forever. Who was she like in her willingness to go where she had never been before? How would you react if God called you away from home and family? What would have to happen to make you obey?
3. What do you think Isaac's and Rebekah's married life was like in the early days? How do you think their favoritism affected Jacob and Esau? How do/would you avoid this with your own children?
4. How are Rebekah's actions like her mother in law Sarah? Why do you think she resorted to trickery to gain the promise given to her when she was pregnant? Do you think Rebekah regretted her actions?
Lesley
#2950
"I see God in the eyes of every child...every life is precious to God, whatever the circumstances." Mother Teresa |
| erowease |
Posted - Aug 07 2012 : 5:04:45 PM
Around here it has been hard because they are everywhere. I cannot go to the grocery store without someone asking for a "favor" and the stories are getting a little more creative. But I have noticed that its the ones not asking that seem to need it more so I try to keep my eyes and ears open for those situations.
Lesley
#2950
"I see God in the eyes of every child...every life is precious to God, whatever the circumstances." Mother Teresa |
| buffypuff |
Posted - Aug 07 2012 : 3:50:44 PM
Lesley, I've been scammed before by a family supposedly in need, but found out that they went from church to church, state to state, getting big boxes of food, clothes and bills paid. I too sometimes do not know who is working the system and those who really need help. One of the lessons I learned with the previous episode, was that I really didn't pray about the matter. If someone was coming to the church, speaking the right words, it must be ok. I have to believe that if I had really taken it to the Lord, I would have felt an uneasyness in my gut if it was not the right thing to help. I don't know. It was the kids I really felt sorry for. Buying the kids an outfit or 2 probably wouldn't have been too bad, and I just asked the Lord to bless these people and set them on the right path.
Buffypuff/ Claudia ~ Farmgirl Sister #870 @}~~
"God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves." DL Moody
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