The Christian Woman: Lessons of Women in the Bible(c)

June 1, 2013 at 12:53 am · Filed under Christian Beliefs and Teachings and tagged: abraham, Adam, and Abednego, Bible, Christianity, daniel, daughters of zion, david, deborah, esther.Jesus, god, gomer, Hagar, hannah, huldah women of jerusalem, Israel, jesus, jezebel, John the Baptist, Joseoh, Jospehet, leah, lot's wife, mahlah, martha, Mary, Mary Magdalene, Mary Mother of jesus, Meshach, michal, miriam, Moses, mother and child, Mother of david, naaman's wife, naomi, Nehemiah, Noah, Paul, Peter, queen of sheba, rahab, rebekah, sarah, Shadrach, Solomon, the harlot, women of bethel

THE CHRISTIAN WOMAN: Lessons of Women in the Bible (c)

Scripture Verse to read: 2 Timothy 1:5: 

A mother is our first gift from God. She is our first teacher, our first counselor, our first best friend. She goes without so that we can have and she never complains about it. Some mothers may not have even ever had their own biological children…but they stepped up. If our biological mothers are not what God created them to be… then Jesus can be our mother.

God says, “I specialize in things which seem impossible. I AM going to turn things around for you. You will not be depressed any longer about that. Be still and know that I AM God…says the Lord.”

You have to take the first step to see miracles.

God says, “everything take a miracle. I set it up that way so you would know it was Me who did it and your faith would be strengthened to a new level. The miracle is unfolding right in front of you. Keep your focus on Me…says the Lord.”

Lord hide me…behind the Rock. I desire to be found, but He that finds me must go through the rock.  Protect me from Counterfeits and Impostors…I have no more time for that. Lies, deceit, and games can’t make it past the Rock…so hide me there so that I may be found by he whom You have ordained for me, and adorned me for…my God- ordained spouse. Here behind the Rock of my salvation…in the place of peace, preparation, power, and praise…I wait on You, and I will not settle.

WOMEN IN THE BIBLE

2 Timothy 1:5  Paul talking to Timothy……..

“For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.”

In the Time of the Bible Patriarchs.. There were lots of Matriachs….Bible may talked about them but today we going to try to bring them to life, so that you can see the lessons of life that each have taught us in how to live our lives as Christians.

Officially women count for little at this time, but, like Sarah the wife of Abraham, they are decision makers. Sarah, who is barren, offers Hagar, a slave girl, to Abraham. Hagar bears Ishmael and feels superior to her mistress. Eventually Hagar and her chiliiid Ishmael are driven out of the family, but God protects them. Isaac, Sarah’s son, marries Rebecca, another beautiful but initially barren woman. When she has twins Esau and Jacob Rebecca plots with Jacob to steal the birthright from the first born Esau. These are not compliant wives, but mothers plotting for their children. This behavior is later repeated by Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, who convinces the ailing David to name her son king.

The Formation and Settling of the Ten Tribes

The women of the Bible were active and often controversial. Miriam, the sister of Moses, plays an important role in the Exodus of Israel from Egypt and is a prophetess in her own right. Rahab, a prostitute in Jericho, protects the spies sent by Joshua to spy out the land and when Jericho falls, she and her family are saved and become part of the 10 tribes. Deborah is one of the Judges of Israel, rallying the men for a conquest over the Canaanites who had oppressed them for 20 years. The defeated and escaping Canaanite general is killed by another woman, Jael, who drives a tent nail through his temple. These are powerful women whose stories are too often forgotten.

The Bad Women of the Bible were not always good woman.

Delilah and Jezebel are the most famous bad women. Delilah was a Philistine woman of immense beauty and charm. Samson, the Israelite judge of the time, simply could not leave her alone.In Judges 16 Samson finally tells her that his hair is the secret of his strength. When it is cut, he is bound and blinded but gets his revenge by bringing down the entire temple. The Bible acknowledges just how powerfully attractive women can be, even to destruction.

Jezebel is a Philistine who marries Ahab the king Israel. She brought the worship of Baal into the kingdom including the sacred prostitutes and child sacrifice to Baal. Her prophets are defeated by Elijah in 1 Kings 18 however Jezebel continues to fight Elijah until she herself is killed. The influence of a woman over a man is portrayed as shaping the fortunes of the kingdom.

The New Testament Women

Mary is worshiped as an intercessor with God. Mary Magdalene was the first to know that Christ was raised from the dead. Elisabeth, mother of John the Baptist, receives her own revelation from an angel about her son and his mission. The unnamed Samaritan woman of John 4:1-42 who gives Jesus water to drink and then converts her whole town to Christianity is an important story of faith. Priscilla and her husband, Aquila,and Timothy mother and grandmother Lois and Eunice are important in Paul’s many are  mentioned as driving forces in organizing many branches of the early church. Aquila is the first to be mentioned as a faithful companion in Paul’s last letter.

There were eight mother in the Bible who played key role in the coming of Jesus Christ. Eve, Sarah, Rebekah, Jochebet, Hannah, Bathsheba, Elizabeth, Mary, the Virgin Mother.

None of them were perfect, some were pure and others were not pure, but each showed strong faith in God. God, in turn, rewarded them for their confidence in him.

These mothers lived in an age when women were often treated as second class citizens, yet God appreciated their true worth, just as he does today. Motherhood is one of life’s highest callings. Learn how these eight mothers in the Bible put their hope in the God of the Impossible, and how he proved that such hope is always well-placed.

They had accomplishments and weaknesses, but they also had God’s love and sometimes His wrath. Just like your mother, granny, aunt, big sis or your caretaker, there was always lessons to learn from being disobedient. Reason being that we serve a Second Chance God.

Eve – Mother of All the Living and First Lady of Paradise Expelled

Eve was the first woman and the first mother. Without a single role model or mentor, she paved the maternal way to become “Mother of All the Living.” She and her mate Adam lived in Paradise, but they spoiled it by listening to Satan instead of God. Eve suffered terrible grief when her son Cain murdered his brother Abel, yet despite these tragedies, Eve went on to fulfill her part in God’s plan of populating the Earth.

Eve’s Accomplishments:

Eve is the mother of humankind. She was the first woman and first wife. Although her accomplishments are quite remarkable, very little is known about Eve. She was the only woman without a mother and a father. She was made by God as a reflection of his image to be a helper to Adam. Together they would fulfill God’s purpose of populating the Earth.

Eve’s Strengths:

Eve was made in the image of God, and to be a helper to Adam. Together she and Adam would fulfill God’s purpose in multiplying God’s creation of humankind on the Earth.

Eve’s Weaknesses:

Eve was tempted by Satan when he got her to doubt God’s goodness, by focusing on the one thing she couldn’t have. She forgot all of the good things God had blessed her with in the garden. She became discontented, feeling sorry for herself, because she could not share in God’s knowledge of good and evil. Eve allowed Satan to subvert her trust in God.

Although she shared a close relationship with God and her husband, Eve failed to consult either one of them when confronted with Satan’s suggestions. She acted impulsively, independent of her authority. Once entangled in sin, she invited her husband to join her. Like Adam, when confronted with her sin, Eve blamed someone else (Satan), instead of taking personal responsibility for what she had done.

Eve’s Life Lessons:

We learn from Eve that women share in God’s image. There are feminine qualities to the character of God. God’s purpose for creation could not be fulfilled without the equal participation of “womankind.” Just like we learned from Adam’s life, Eve also teaches us that God wants us to freely choose to follow and obey him out of love. Nothing we do is hidden from God. Likewise, it does not benefit us to blame others for our own failings. We must accept personal responsibility for what we do.

Hometown: Eve began her life in the Garden of Eden but was later expelled.

Genesis 2:18-4:26; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 2:13.

Occupation: Wife, mother, companion, helper, and co-manager of God’s creation.

Family Tree:

Husband – Adam

Children – Cain, Abel, Seth and many more children.

Key Verses:

Genesis 2:18

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” (NLT)

Genesis 2:23

“At last!” the man exclaimed.

“This one is bone from my bone,

and flesh from my flesh!

She will be called ‘woman,’

because she was taken from ‘man.’” (NLT)

Sarah – Wife of Abraham – Co-Founder of all Nations

Sarah was one of the most important women in the Bible. She was the wife of Abraham, which made her the mother of the nation of Israel. Yet Sarah was barren. She conceived through a miracle in spite of her old age. Sarah was a good wife, a loyal helper and builder with Abraham. Her faith serves as a shining example for every person who has to wait on God to act.

Sarah’s Weaknesses:

At times, Sarah doubted God. She had trouble believing God would fulfill his promises, so she plunged ahead with her own solution.

Life Lessons:

Waiting for God to act in our lives may be the hardest task we ever face. It’s also true that we can become dissatisfied when God’s solution does not match our expectations. Sarah’s life teaches us that when we feel doubtful or afraid, we should remember what God said to Abraham, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14, NIV)

Sarah waited 90 years to have a baby. Certainly she had given up hope of ever seeing her dream of motherhood fulfilled. Sarah was looking at God’s promise from her limited, human perspective. But the Lord used her life to unfold an extraordinary plan, proving that he is never limited by what usually happens. Sometimes we feel like God has placed our lives in a permanent holding pattern. Rather than taking matters into our own hands, we can let Sarah’s story remind us that a time of waiting may be God’s precise plan for us.

Hometown:

Unknown. Her story begins with Abram in Ur of the Chaldeans.

Referenced in the Bible:

Genesis chapters 11 through 25; Isaiah 51:2; Romans 4:19, 9:9; Hebrews 11:11; and 1 Peter 3:6.

Occupation:

Homemaker, wife, mother.

Family Tree:

Father – Terah

Husband – Abraham

Son – Isaac

Half Brothers – Nahor, Haran

Nephew – Lot

Key Verses:

Genesis 21:1

Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. (NIV)

Genesis 21:7

And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” (NIV)

Hebrews 11:11

And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. (NIV)

Rebekah – Wife of Isaac

Rebekah, like her mother-in-law Sarah, was barren. When her husband Isaac prayed for her, God opened Rebekah’s womb and she conceived and gave birth to twin sons, Esau and Jacob. During an age when women were typically submissive, Rebekah was quite assertive. At times Rebekah took matters into her own hands. Sometimes that worked out, but it also resulted in disastrous consequences.

Rebekah’s Weaknesses:

Rebekah sometimes thought God needed her help. She favored Jacob over Esau and helped Jacob deceive Isaac. Her trickery led to a split between the brothers that has caused turmoil to this day.

Life Lessons:

Impatience and lack of trust made Rebekah interfere with God’s plan. She did not consider the consequences of her action. When we step out of God’s timing, we can sometimes cause a disaster we have to live with.

Hometown:

Haran

Referenced in the Bible:

Genesis 22:23: Chapter 24; 25:20-28; 26:7-8, 35; 27:5-15, 42-46; 28:5; 29:12; 35:8; 49:31; Romans 9:10.

Occupation:

Wife, mother, homemaker.

Family Tree:

Grandparents – Nahor, Milcah

Father – Bethuel

Husband – Isaac

Sons – Esau and Jacob

Brother – Leban

Key Verses:

Genesis 24:42-44

“When I came to the spring today, I said, ‘LORD, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come. See, I am standing beside this spring. If a young woman comes out to draw water and I say to her, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar,” and if she says to me, “Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too,” let her be the one the LORD has chosen for my master’s son.'” (NIV)

Genesis 24:67

Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. (NIV)

Genesis 27:14-17

So he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and she prepared some tasty food, just the way his father liked it. Then Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau her older son, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins.

Jochebed – Mother of Moses

Jochebed, the mother of Moses, is one of the underappreciated mothers in the Bible, yet she also showed tremendous faith in God. To avoid the mass slaughter of Hebrew boys, she set her baby adrift in the Nile River, hoping someone would find him and raise him. God so worked that her baby was found by Pharaoh’s daughter. Jochebed even became her own son’s nurse. God used Moses mightily, to free the Hebrew people from their 400 year bondage of slavery and take them to the promised land. Although little is written about Jochebed in the Bible, her story speaks powerfully to mothers of today.

Jochebed was the mother of Moses, one of the major characters in the Old Testament. Her appearance is short and we are not told much about her, but one trait stands out: trust in God.

The Jews had been in Egypt 400 years. Joseph had saved the country from a famine, but eventually he was forgotten by the Egyptian rulers, the Pharaohs. The Pharaoh in the opening of the book of Exodus was afraid of the Jews because there were so many of them. He feared they would join a foreign army against the Egyptians or start a rebellion. He ordered all male Hebrew babies to be killed.

When Jochebed gave birth to a son, she saw that he was a healthy baby. Instead of letting him be murdered, she took a basket and coated the bottom with tar, to make it waterproof. Then she put the baby in it and set it among the reeds on the bank of the Nile River. At that same time, Pharaoh’s daughter was bathing in the river. One of her maidservants saw the basket and brought it to her.

Miriam, the baby’s sister, watched to see what would happen. Bravely, she asked Pharaoh’s daughter if she should get a Hebrew woman to nurse the child. She was told to do that. Miriam fetched her mother, Jochebed—who was also the baby’s mother—and brought her back.

Jochebed was paid to nurse and care for the boy, her own son, until he grew. Then she brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who raised him as her own. She named him Moses. After many hardships, Moses was used by God as his servant to free the Hebrew people from slavery and lead them to the edge of the promised land.

Jochebed’s Accomplishments:

Jochebed gave birth to Moses, future Giver of the Law, and cleverly spared him from death as an infant.

She also gave birth to Aaron, a high priest of Israel.

Jochebed’s Strengths:

Jochebed had faith in God’s protection of her baby. Only because she trusted the Lord could she abandon her son rather than see him killed. She knew that God would take care of the child.

Life Lessons:

Jochebed showed great trust in God’s faithfulness. Two lessons emerge from her story. First, many unwed mothers refuse to have an abortion, yet have no choice but to place their baby for adoption. Like Jochebed, they trust God to find a loving home for their child. Their heartbreak at giving up their baby is balanced by God’s favor when they obey his command not to kill the unborn.

The second lesson is for heartbroken people who have to turn their dreams over to God. They may have desired a happy marriage, a successful career, developing their talent, or some other worthwhile goal, yet circumstances prevented it. We can only get through that kind of disappointment by turning it over to God, like Jochebed put her child in his care. In his gracious way, God gives us himself, the most desirable dream we could ever imagine.

When she placed little Moses in the Nile River that day, Jochebed could not have known that he would grow up to be one of God’s greatest leaders, chosen to rescue the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt. By letting go and trusting God, an even greater dream was fulfilled. Like Jochebed, we won’t always foresee God’s purpose in letting go, but we can trust that his plan is even better.

Hometown:

Probably Goshen, in the land of Egypt.

Referenced in the Bible:

Jochebed’s story is found in chapter two of Exodus, Exodus 6:20, and Numbers 26:59.

Occupation:

Wife, mother, homemaker.

Family Tree:

Father – Levi

Husband – Amram

Sons – Aaron, Moses

Daughter – Miriam

Key Verses:

Exodus 2:1-4

Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. (NIV)

Exodus 2:8-10

So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.” (NIV)

Hannah – Mother of Samuel the Prophet

Hannah’s story is one of the most touching in the entire Bible. Like several other mothers in the Bible, she knew what it meant to suffer long years of barrenness. In Hannah’s case she was cruelly taunted by her husband’s other wife. But Hannah never gave up on God. Finally her heartfelt prayers were answered. She gave birth to a son, Samuel, then did something entirely selfless to honor her promise to God. God favored Hannah with five more children, bringing great blessing to her life.

Hannah is one of the most poignant characters in the Old Testament. Like several other women in the Bible, she was barren. People in ancient Israel believed that a large family was a blessing from God. Infertility, therefore, was a source of humiliation and shame. To make matters worse, her husband’s other wife not only bore children but taunted Hannah mercilessly.

Once, at the house of the Lord in Shiloh, Hannah was praying so intently that her lips moved silently with the words she spoke to God in her heart. Eli the priest saw her and accused her of being drunk. She answered that she was praying, pouring out her soul to the Lord. Touched by her pain,

Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” (1 Samuel 1:17, NIV)

After Hannah and her husband Elkanah returned from Shiloh to their home at Ramah, they slept together. Scripture says, “…and the Lord remembered her.” (1 Samuel 1:19, NIV). She became pregnant, had a son, and named him Samuel, which means “God hears.”

But Hannah had made a promise to God that if she bore a son, she would give him back for God’s service. Hannah followed through on that promise. She handed her young child Samuel over to Eli for training as a priest.

God blessed Hannah further for honoring her pledge to him. She bore three more sons and two daughters. Samuel grew up to become the last of Israel’s judges, its first prophet, and counselor to its first two kings, Saul and David.

Accomplishments of Hannah:

Hannah gave birth to Samuel and gave him to the Lord, just as she promised she would.

Her son Samuel is listed in the Book of Hebrews 11:32, in the “Faith Hall of Fame.”

Hannah’s Strengths:

Hannah was perseverent. Even though God was silent toward her request for a child for many years, she never stopped praying.

She had faith that God had the power to help her. She never doubted God’s abilities.

Hannah’s Weaknesses:

Like most of us, Hannah was strongly influenced by her culture. She drew her self-esteem from what others thought she should be like.

Life Lessons:

After years of praying for the same thing, most of us would give up. Hannah did not. She was a devout, humble woman, and God finally answered her prayers. Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, ESV). That’s exactly what Hannah did. Hannah teaches us to never give up, to honor our promises to God, and to praise God for his wisdom and kindness.

Hometown:

Ramah

Referenced in the Bible:

Hannah’s story is found in the first and second chapters of 1 Samuel.

Occupation:

Wife, mother, homemaker.

Family Tree:

Husband – Elkanah

Children – Samuel, three other sons and two daughters.

Key Verses:

1 Samuel 1:6-7

Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. (NIV)

1 Samuel 1:19-20

Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.” (NIV)

1 Samuel 1:26-28

And she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there. (NIV)

Bathsheba – Wife of David

Bathsheba was the object of King David’s lust. David even arranged to have her husband Uriah the Hittite killed to get him out of the way. God was so displeased with David’s actions that he struck dead the baby from that union. In spite of heartbreaking circumstances, Bathsheba remained loyal to David. Their next son, Solomon, was loved by God and grew up to become Israel’s greatest king. From David’s line would come Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. And Bathsheba would have the distinguished honor of being one of only five women listed in Messiah’s ancestry.

Rebekah was assertive in a time when women were expected to be submissive. This quality helped her become Isaac’s wife but caused trouble when she pushed one of her sons ahead of the other.

Abraham, father of the Jewish nation, did not want his son Isaac to marry one of the pagan Canaanite women in the area, so he sent his servant Eliezer to his homeland to find a wife for Isaac. When the servant arrived, he prayed that the right girl would not only offer him a drink of water from the well, but offer to water his ten camels too.

Rebekah came out with her water jar and did exactly that! She agreed to go back with the servant and became Isaac’s wife.

In time, Abraham died. Like her mother-in-law Sarah, Rebekah was also barren. Isaac prayed to God for her and Rebekah conceived twins. The Lord told Rebekah what would happen to her sons:

“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 25:24, NIV)

They named the twins Esau and Jacob. Esau was born first, but Jacob became Rebekah’s favorite. When the boys grew up, Jacob tricked his older brother into selling his birthright for a bowl of stew. Later, as Isaac was dying and his eyesight had failed, Rebekah helped Jacob deceive Isaac into blessing him instead of Esau. She put goatskins on Jacob’s hands and neck to imitate Esau’s hairy skin. When Isaac touched it, he blessed Jacob, thinking it was really Esau.

Rebekah’s deception caused strife between Esau and Jacob. Many years later, however, Esau forgave Jacob. When Rebekah died, she was buried in the family tomb, a cave near Mamre in Canaan, the resting place of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and her daughter-in-law Leah.

Rebekah’s Accomplishments:

Rebekah married Isaac, one of the patriarchs of the Jewish nation.

She bore two sons who became leaders of great nations.

Rebekah’s Strengths:

Rebekah was assertive and fought for what she believed was right.

Rebekah’s Weaknesses:

Rebekah sometimes thought God needed her help. She favored Jacob over Esau and helped Jacob deceive Isaac. Her trickery led to a split between the brothers that has caused turmoil to this day.

Life Lessons:Impatience and lack of trust made Rebekah interfere with God’s plan. She did not consider the consequences of her action. When we step out of God’s timing, we can sometimes cause a disaster we have to live with.

Hometown:

Haran

Referenced in the Bible:

Genesis 22:23: Chapter 24; 25:20-28; 26:7-8, 35; 27:5-15, 42-46; 28:5; 29:12; 35:8; 49:31; Romans 9:10.

Occupation:

Wife, mother, homemaker.

Family Tree:

Grandparents – Nahor, Milcah

Father – Bethuel

Husband – Isaac

Sons – Esau and Jacob

Brother – Leban

Key Verses:

Genesis 24:42-44

“When I came to the spring today, I said, ‘LORD, God of my master Abraham, if you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come. See, I am standing beside this spring. If a young woman comes out to draw water and I say to her, “Please let me drink a little water from your jar,” and if she says to me, “Drink, and I’ll draw water for your camels too,” let her be the one the LORD has chosen for my master’s son.'” (NIV)

Genesis 24:67

Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. (NIV)

Genesis 27:14-17

So he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and she prepared some tasty food, just the way his father liked it. Then Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau her older son, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins. Then she handed to her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made. (NIV)

Elizabeth – Mother of John the Baptist

Barren in her old age, Elizabeth was another of the miracle mothers in the Bible. She conceived and gave birth to a son. She and her husband named him John, as an angel had instructed. Like Hannah before her, she dedicated her son to God, and like Hannah’s son, he also became a great prophet, John the Baptist. Elizabeth’s joy was complete when her relative Mary visited her, pregnant with the future Savior of the World.

The inability to bear a child is a common theme in the Bible. In ancient times, barrenness was considered a disgrace. But time and again, we see these women having great faith in God, and God rewards them with a child.

Elizabeth was such a woman. Both she and her husband Zechariah were old, she past child-bearing years, yet she conceived through the grace of God. The angel Gabriel told Zechariah the news in the temple, then made him mute because he did not believe.

Just as the angel foretold, Elizabeth conceived. While she was pregnant, Mary, the expectant mother of Jesus, visited her. The baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy on hearing Mary’s voice. Elizabeth gave birth to a son. They named him John, as the angel had commanded, and at that moment Zechariah’s power of speech returned. He praised God for his mercy and goodness.

Their son became John the Baptist, the prophet who foretold the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Elizabeth’s Accomplishments:

Both Elizabeth and Zechariah were holy people: “Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.” (Luke 1:6, NIV)

Elizabeth bore a son in her old age and raised him as God had commanded.

Elizabeth’s Strengths:

Elizabeth was sad but never became bitter because of her barrenness. She had enormous faith in God her entire life.

She appreciated God’s mercy and kindness. She praised God for giving her a son.

Elizabeth was humble, even though she played a key role in God’s plan of salvation. Her focus was always on the Lord, never herself.

Life Lessons:

We should never underestimate God’s tremendous love for us. Even though Elizabeth had been barren and her time for having a baby was over, God caused her to conceive. Our God is a God of surprises. Sometimes, when we least expect it, he touches us with a miracle and our life is changed forever.

Hometown:

Unnamed town in the hill country of Judea.

Referenced in the Bible:

Luke Chapter 1.

Occupation:

Homemaker.

Family Tree:

Ancestor – Aaron

Husband – Zechariah

Son – John the Baptist

Kinswoman – Mary, the mother of Jesus

Key Verses:

Luke 1:13-16

But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.” (NIV)

Luke 1:41-45

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (NIV)

All these women were in direct lineage to birth of Jesus Christ.

MARY: THE ULTIMATE MOTHER

  MARY, MOTHER OF JESUS ; Mary’s divine motherhood;Mary’s Virginity;May’s virginal motherhood in God’s plan;

Little is known of the life of Mary, the Mother of Jesus.  According to Gospels of Matthew and Luke, she the betrothed of Joseph of Bethlehem.  The Gospel of Mark mentions her by name just once, most scriptures describe her only as the mother of Jesus.  She appears once in the Acts of the Apostles. Parents are mentioned as Anne and Joachim of Nazarath.  Yet she is the most famous of all woman if the Bible.

1. Mary’s Spirituality  Luke 1:28-38

2. Mother of God  Luke 1:41-45

3. Mother of Sorrow Luke 2:34-35

4. Mother of Prophets John 2:1-5

5. The Essence of Mary: Mother of the Church Acts 1:13-14

Mary – Mother of Jesus

Mary was the most honored mother in the Bible, the human mother of Jesus, who saved the world from its sins. Although she was only a young, humble peasant, Mary accepted God’s will for her life. She suffered enormous shame and pain, yet never doubted her Son for a moment. Mary stands as highly favored by God, a shining example of obedience and submission to the Father’s will.

Mary was a young girl, probably only about 12 or 13 years old when the angel Gabriel came to her. She had recently become engaged to a carpenter named Joseph. Mary was an ordinary Jewish girl, looking forward to marriage. Suddenly her life would forever be changed.

Mary was fearful and troubled in the presence of the angel. She could never have expected to hear the most incredible news — that she would have a child, and her son would be the Messiah. Although she could not comprehend how she would conceive the Savior, she responded to God with belief and obedience.

Although Mary’s life held great honor, her calling would demand great suffering as well. Just as there is pain in childbirth and motherhood, there would be much pain in the privilege of being the mother of the Messiah.

Mary’s Accomplishments:

Mary was the mother of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. She was a willing servant. She trusted God and she obeyed his call.

Mary’s Strengths:

The angel told Mary in Luke 1:28 that she was highly favored by God. This phrase simply meant that Mary had been given much grace or “unmerited favor” from God. Even with God’s favor, Mary would still suffer much. Though she would one day be highly honored as the mother of the Savior, she would first know disgrace as an unwed mother. She would nearly lose her fiance. Her beloved son would be rejected and cruelly murdered. Mary’s submission to God’s plan would cost her dearly, yet she was willing to be God’s servant.

God knew that Mary was a woman of rare strength and obedience. She was the only human being to be with Jesus throughout his entire life — from his birth until his death. She gave birth to him as her baby and watched him die as her Savior. Mary also knew the Scriptures. When the angel appeared and told her the baby would be God’s Son, Mary replied, “I am the Lord’s servant … may it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38). She knew of the Old Testament prophesies about the coming Messiah.

Mary’s Weaknesses: (To man but not to God)

Mary was young, poor, female and virgin. These qualities made her unsuitable in the eyes of her people to be used mightily of God. However, God looked upon the quality of her trust and obedience. He knew she would willingly serve God in one of the most important callings ever given to a human being. Just like Mary, God looks at our obedience and trust–usually not the qualifications that man might look upon. God will often choose and use the most unlikely of choices.

Life Lessons:

Mary must have known that her submission to God’s plan would cost her. If nothing else, she knew she would be disgraced as an unwed mother. She must have thought that Joseph would divorce her, or worse yet, he might even have her put to death by stoning. Mary may not have considered the full extent of her future suffering. She may not have imagined the pain of watching her beloved child bear the weight of sin and die a terrible death on the cross. Still, she willingly submitted to God’s plan. Can we willing accept God’s plan? Can we even rejoice in God’s plan, like Mary did, when we know that it will cost us dearly?

Hometown:

Nazareth in Galilee.

Referenced in the Bible:

Mary is mentioned throughout the Gospels and in Acts 1:14.

Occupation:

Wife, mother, homemaker, Companion, Disciple of Jesus.

Family Tree:

Husband – Joseph

Relatives – Zechariah, Elizabeth

Children – Jesus, James, Joses, Judas, Simon and daughters

Key Verses:

Luke 1:38

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. (NIV)

Luke 1:46-55 (Mary’s Song)

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and his descendants forever,

even as he said to our fathers.” (NIV)

Mary gives us eternal rescue of your soul!!!!!!!!!

© The Christian Woman: Lessons of Women in the Bible and Christianbibleandverses.wordpress.com, (2013). Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Ida R. Muorie  and Christianbibleandverses.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Ida R. Muorie JD, Street Evangelist

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