Other Women of the Bible- part 5

 

Jeroboam's Wife: (1 Kings 14:1-18) Probably worshiped other gods like her husband did. She tried to deceive a Prophet by disguising herself. She received the news that the kingdom would be taken away from her family and that when she went back home her son would die for the evil she and her husband had committed. I believe she was heartbroken about her son and she realized that God was in control. Unfortunately, she had to be completely broken.

The Prophet's Widow: (2 Kings 4:1-7) I don't think she doubted God. I think she knew God sent Elisha right when she needed Him to and her sons were saved!

Naaman's maidservant: (2 Kings 5:2-3) This unnamed girl was a great example of being a light in everyday life! She knew of Elisha and she helped Naaman to head in the right direction to be healed! Everyone can take away the lesson that God can and will use you in everyday life!

Huldah: (2 Kings 22:14-20) There are three important aspects to her character here. She was bold. She didn't sugarcoat God's Word. She offered hope and a sign of renewal. We can learn to be bold when speaking about God from her! (Source: Extraordinary Women of the Bible Lessons to guide Your Life.)

Vashti: (Esther 1:9-22) Vashti was having her own party as her husband had a  party too. She disobeyed the king and got replaced as Queen. I think what a person can lean from her is to think before you speak and seek wise conceal.

Job's Wife: (Job 2:9-10) She didn't build Job up. She actually told Job to curse God so that Job would die! I think she is a great example of what hopelessness looks like.

Job's Daughters: (Job 42:13-15) It was unusual for them to get an inheritance and their names were meant to mean the most beautiful things.

The Daughters of Jerusalem:(Song of Solomon) They symbolized people who work hard. They also symbolize someone who listens to godly advice and know that they are loved by God.

My Proverbs 3 Women of the Bible series and my Other Women of the Bible series will continue into the New Testament and I am really looking forward to studying these women and writing about their legacies! ~Brandi

Proverbs 31 Women of the Bible- part 5

Wow! This is the last installment of the Proverbs 31 Women in the Bible where the Old Testament is concerned! I've really grown in my faith while doing this series and the "Other Women of the Bible" series! So, let's look at some great role models of strong, Christan woman virtue.

Jehosheba: In 2 Kings 11 we meet this loving aunt. She risked her life to save her nephew from her mother. Then, she acted as his mother and raised him to know and worship God. He became a righteous and God-fearing king because of this!

Esther: Well, the whole book of Esther is about this young woman who was an orphan who became a Queen. With her trust in God, she saved her people from being completely wiped out! Her courage is outstanding and so inspirational!

The Psalms Girl: Okay, so I know most of the book of Psalms was written by David. But the book of Psalms has comforted me on a daily bases. Therefore, I like to believe there is a Psalms Girl in all of us. A girl who runs to God about everything and loves to praise Him!

Song of Songs Woman: The book of Song of Songs is a love story. We do not know the name of Solomon's bride in this book. I think she gives the best advice any girl can follow and that is to not be quick to wake up love. Take your time and let God pick the guy and fall in love with each other with Him as the center of the relationship!

I am in love with this series and I'm looking forward to getting into the New Testament soon. I hope y'all have enjoyed this too!

Other Women of the Bible - part 4

The Medium of Endor: She was sinning by practicing witchcraft. She knew she was sinning because she wouldn't do what Saul asked until she knew she would not die. Her shock at seeing Samuel proves that, even though she was suppose to be someone who summoned the dead, she had never had something like that happen to her. We can learn two things from this unnamed woman. First, what sin and disobedience looks like and second, human kindness looks like. When Saul fell to the floor, she prepared the best food she had for him and got him to eat to regain his strength. (1 Samuel 28:3-25)
The Wise Woman of Tekoa: This woman used her acting skills to be very sneaky and dishonest. Joab had asked for her help in playing David's emotions over his son in the way Joab wanted them to go. See, David's son had in exile for three years because he killed his half-brother who raped Tamar (Other Women of the heBible-part 3). David was torn in two. He had a duty as king and a duty as a father that put him in a hard place. This woman went to David with a fake story about her two sons. According to her one son killed the other and was on the run so he wouldn't be killed. David caught on to her and realized that Joab was behind this, but her speech had worked and David's father side won out and his son got to return home. Joab did this because he wanted David's son to take the throne after David. The woman's part in this can teach us what it is like to have disrespect for our leaders and ourselves by telling lies. (2 Samuel 14:1-21)
Solomon's Pagan Wives: Okay, these women aren't talked about a lot in the Bible, but the actions they took had a lasting impact through the rest of the Bible. Solomon couldn't settle for one wife, so he had many. He took wives that believed in other gods. I think these wives were still exposed to the One True God but chose not to follow Him. What's the life lesson here? Even a small decision can have a lasting consequence.
Maakah: Not much is known about her besides that she is the mother of Abijah and grandmother of Asa. However, she did not follow God and her grandson removed her from the position of queen mother and burned her "repulsive images for the worship of Asherah" she had made. (1 Kings 15:13)
Jezebel: A Princess by birth. She married Ahab and became Queen of Israel (1 Kings 16:31). She demanded that her gods be considered as important as God, implying she knew the God of Israel is the True God, and she got her way. She was fortunate enough to have many miracles preformed in front of her by God (1 Kings 18:23-38). But, she chose to still not believe in Him. When her prophets were killed she promised to kill Elijah, God's prophet (1 Kings 19:1-2). She arranged a man named Nabath's death so her husband could have his vineyard (1 Kings 21:7-16)! She also used her power as Queen Mother, when her sons were Kings, for evil. Her own people ended up throwing her to a gruesome death (2 Kings 9:30-37)! I feel sorry for Jezebel, because she had so many opportunities to have a relationship with God. I think her love for power was to strong for her to give in to that kind of love though. It is possible that Jezebel is mentioned in the New Testament though. Revelation 2:20 says: "Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols." Jezebel did make a legacy for herself, but it wasn't a good one. So, think about this, what kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?
Athaliah: All that is said about her is that she was wicked and just wanted power. (2 Kings 11:1-3; 13-16)
The Adulteress Woman in Proverbs: She is unnamed, but she is the opposite of what the Proverbs 31 woman is. She tries to trick people and tempt them into sinning. (Proverbs)
Gomer: She is Hosea's wife. She was a known prostitute and she had no plans of changing. She was married to a man of God and she probably heard of God all the time. She missed out on more than one great relationship! (Hosea)