Daily Bible Reading: John 11:17-31 - Jesus Assures Martha of the Resurrection

There is so much in John 11 that I am breaking it up into 3 posts.  The first was posted earlier, verses 1-16, The Death of Lazarus.  This second post concerns Lazarus' sister Martha who went to meet Jesus on his way to Lazarus.  Verses 17-31 give assurance of the resurrection, not only of Lazarus but of all who believe on Jesus: then, now, and until the Lord comes again.

V17-20 As Jesus was coming, he found that Lazarus had been in the grave for four days.  Many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary to comfort them concerning their  brother. Since they were offering comfort, it seems likely that they had heard of the death of Lazarus and that is when they came to comfort Martha and Mary.  As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him but her sister Mary sat still in the house.

V21-24 Martha speaks to Jesus: "Lord, if thou hadst been  here, my brother had not died".  Martha had faith that Jesus would have been able to heal Lazarus of his illness. She further says "I know that whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee."  To this Jesus answers "Thy brother shall rise again." Martha thinks that Jesus is speaking of the future resurrection at the last day and so she  says "I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 

V25-27 It is at this point that Jesus tells Martha a wondrous truth.  "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.  And whosoever believeth in me shall never die.  Believeth thou this?"  And next we have Martha's confession of faith, "Yea, Lord, I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world."  In these verses Jesus is saying that all those who believe on Jesus, though their earthly bodies will die, yet they shall live.  Paul the apostle said that he would rather be absent from the body and present with the Lord.

V28-31 When Martha had finished her confession of faith, she went home and called Mary secretly, saying "the Master is come, and calleth for thee."  And as soon as Mary heard that, "she arose quickly and came unto him."  Martha went to Jesus as soon as she heard he was coming and she received a glorious truth about the resurrection, but Mary chose to stay home until she was called by Jesus.  Perhaps it was better to do as Mary did, and wait to be called  by Jesus but it was in being alone with Jesus that Martha received her comfort concerning the resurrection of her brother.

Jesus had not yet come to the town of Bethany but was still in the place where Martha had met him.  But something more happened, the Jews that had been with Martha and Mary to comfort them saw that Mary got up hastily and went out, and so they followed her thinking that she was going to the grave to weep.  They did not suspect the great wonder that was about to behold them.

The next post will be the raising of Lazarus.
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Jairus' Daughter: a story of faith and trust

Mark 5:21-43   (25-34 is the woman with the issue of blood)

When the Lord was here on earth and did wonderful miracles, he did things that are beyond the powers of men.  The Lord Jesus did these miracles to point to His divinity.  These were things that only God could do.  Jesus' miracles are not recorded in the bible to make us think that we can do the same because we can't do the same, but Christs' power is revealed to encourage us to see that Jesus is God and he can do anything, his power is unlimited.  

Nothing is too hard for Jesus.  As Christians, when we see what an almighty and wonderful Jesus we have it is going to strengthen our faith to really believe and trust in him even when it is hard, and even when the world scorns and laughs and there is opposition.  If we see that Jesus is God and he can do anything, then all the scorn of the world will not make any difference whatsoever to us because we really believe in the omnipotent Saviour.  Spurgeon said:  "I believe what I believe and I will believe it even if I believe it alone."  Not dependent upon what other people think, not dependent upon current opinions or what the crowd thinks, not religious fashion, Spurgeon says that faith that is not dependent upon anybody else, but on Christ alone because  he is such a marvelous wonderful Saviour.  This faith only comes through a personal study of the bible.  We really believe what the bible says because we have pondered the scriptures and God has convinced us that this is true and logical and makes complete sense.  When we really believe that, it is not somebody else's faith that has convinced us, but it's our faith,  what we have come to believe and it doesn't matter if the whole world is against us, it makes no difference whatsoever because we are not relying on other people's opinions or feelings, or relying on other people for support. You can really say with Spurgeon, "I believe what I believe and I will believe it even if I believe it alone."  My faith is in Christ.  And that is the purpose of the recording of the miracles in the bible, because Jesus is God and he can do anything and there is no room for doubt at all.  If the almighty God humbled himself and became confined to a human body, then what is there that God cannot do?  Nothing.

Bible women: Dorcas, also called Tabitha

There are only seven verses in the book of Acts, chapter 9 that speak of this  woman Dorcas, also called Tabitha.  But she is an example of a Proverbs 31 woman, that whose price is "above rubies".   What a wonderful role model she is:

Acts 9:36 "Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did."

Firstly we know that Dorcas lived in Joppa, which was a port town, and that she is called a "disciple".   A disciple is one who has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and received Him as their Saviour.  One who is abiding in Jesus, one who is trusting  in Him for their day to day life, one who has left the world and the things in the world behind, one who is a light. 

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16. "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." John 16:8

We know that Dorcas was "full of good works and almsdeeds which she did".  And how her life glorified God.   Dorcas is not remembered for beauty, or for riches.   She is remembered for her being "full of good works and almsdeeds."  Proverbs 31:31 "Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."  Dorcas would have had a compassionate heart,  for an "almsdeed" is a "act of charity, a charitable gift" according to Websters 1828 dictionary.  And so Dorcas saw where there was a need, and she gave according to that which the Lord gave to her.

Acts 9:37-38 "And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them."

The Significance of the Insignificant

This is a wonderful sermon of encouragement for the Christian, and hope for the lost.

2 Kings 5:1-19

This chapter starts by saying that Syria had been delivered by God through Naaman. V1 "Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper."  the word delivered means a great victory.  Quite profound..  God the LORD, Yahweh, Jehovah is in control of international politics.  It is God who grants success.  Yahweh or Jehovah is the God of the whole earth, not just Israel.  Yahweh draws near to his people but the whole earth is under God. God controls the nations.  God is involved in national events.  God is also involved in people's lives, even in little circumstances.  In this passage are several things regarding bigness, smallness and cleanness before God.

The great man with a big problem:  V1  "Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper."    The verse tells us of the greatness of Naaman, he was more than a captain, he is the top man in the army of Syria.. a "great man" a man of renown, he is honourable, exalted and lifted up.  He is a powerful warrior, mighty, and by him Syria had been given victories.  A national hero. But he was a leper.  Naaman was a great man but he had a big problem.  The teaching is that fame and bigness does not mean that all is well with you, that all is right and happy in your life.  

The little maid with the big answer:  V2-3  "And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.  And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord (Naaman) were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy."  The verse emphasizes her littleness, she is the complete opposite of the greatness of Naaman.  A little girl  captive from her home, a servant girl but the rest of this chapter hinges upon her.  She is not even named.  

Joseph and the Wife of Potiphar

Genesis 39

The wife of Potiphar was a woman of very poor moral character, yet her part in the story of Joseph, shows forth the power of a godly man to resist temptation, and ultimately find that the hand of God was there all along, working together all things for good.

Joseph was the much-loved son of Jacob.  But he was hated by his brother's because of a dream that Joseph had which involved them.  Eventually the brothers sold Joseph to merchantmen for 20 pieces of silver, and Joseph was brought to Egypt. (Genesis 37:27-28) After Joseph was taken to Egypt, he was bought by a man named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, "and the LORD was with Joseph...."(Gen 39:2)  And Joseph became overseer of the house of Potiphar, and over all that he had.  "And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.  And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had put into his hand." (Gen 39:3-4)

But it was in the ultimate plan of God that Joseph would rise to an even more important position, one that would ultimately reunite him with his brothers and his father, but first Joseph would face temptation, and his faithfulness would be sorely tested.  That temptation came in the form of Potiphar's wife.

As Potiphar was an important man, it is likely that his wife also enjoyed a position of importance, and was no doubt used to having her commands obeyed under threat of imprisonment or worse.  As did Eve before her, and King David after her, she was tempted with that which pleased the eye, in this case Joseph, who was "a goodly person and well favoured" (Gen 39:6)  It is at this point that Potiphar's wife desires to commit adultery with Joseph, "And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said 'Lie with me' (Gen. 39:7)  We do not know if this was a regular habit with her, but this is given for our instruction as it is in James 1:13-15 "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every mam is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."   Surely this was a test allowed by God,  but a temptation of the devil.  Proverbs 6:29, 32 "So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.  ..But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul." 

Bible Women: Jochebed, mother of Moses

(Exodus 1-2)

The story of Jochebed and the birth of Moses was at a time of great trial and tribulation for the people of Israel.  Background is necessary before introducing Moses' mother Jochebed. 

It is amazing to look back on the life of Joseph and remember how God protected him, and put him in a position of power and authority, so that the people of Israel would be preserved  in the time of famine...but in the passage of time, the new king of Egypt did not know of Joseph, and so things are about to change mightily for the children of Israel, and yet, in their misery, God is ever in control bringing things to pass that would lead to the exodus of the children from Egypt back to the promised land.

Exodus 1:7-11 "And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.  Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.  And  he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.  Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens.  And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities..."

But  the more that the children of Israel were afflicted by the Egyptians, the more they increased in numbers, and so the more the Egyptians afflicted them.  It was a vicious circle.  Exodus 1:13-14 "And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: and they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field....."
 
Now the king seeks to stop the increase in a very drastic way, and he spoke to the Hebrew midwives whose names we are given.  Exodus 1:16 "And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: and he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live."     
And here is a wonderful verse - Exodus 1:17 "But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive."  Perhaps we are given the name of the midwives as a memorial to them because their reverential fear of the LORD God caused them to disobey the order of the king, and save the baby boys.  When the king found this out,  he called for the midwives "And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? And the midwives said unto Pharoah, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women, for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them."  It is true that they made the excuse that the babies were born before they got there, but still, they preserved the male children..and God blessed the midwives, Exodus 1:20 "Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty." Proverbs 11:18 "The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward."  And so now Pharaoh orders not the midwives, but the parents to kill their baby boys.  Exodus 1:22 "Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive."

Bible Women: Rachel - Loved by her husband

Wife of Jacob, mother of Joseph and Benjamin,  sister of Leah,  daughter of Laban, Rachel is one of the most prominent women in the book of Genesis.

We first meet Rachel upon Jacob's arrival in Haran, where he has gone to search for his uncle Laban after being sent on this journey by his father Isaac.  (Genesis 28:1 "And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.  Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house of Betheuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.").  Upon arriving in Haran, Jacob saw a  well in the field, and 3 flocks of sheep lying by it, and so Jacob asked the keepers of  the sheep of what land they were and they told him Haran, and that is how Jacob discovers that he has reached the land of his uncle.  Jacob asked if they knew Laban, and they did, and at that moment, "Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.  And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban...that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother." (Genesis 29:9-10) and he kissed Rachel a kiss of greeting and wept..he must have been so glad that his journey was finally over.  And Rachel, hearing that Jacob was her cousin, ran to tell her father, upon which Laban came running, and Jacob was brought to their house.

After a month, Laban asked Jacob what he desired to be his wages for serving for him, and Jacob gives his answer.  "And Laban  had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.  Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and wellfavoured.  And Jacob loved Rachel; and said I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter." (Genesis 29:16-18)  And so Jacob worked seven years for Rachel and that "they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her." (Genesis 29:20)

Bible Women: Leah - Wife by Deception

Sister of Rachel, daughter of Laban, wife of Jacob..this is Leah.  Her story is one of obedience to her father, desire for her husband,  envy by her sister.  She bears the honour of being the mother of half of the twelve tribes of Israel, and one of her sons, Judah, was to be the line through whom came Joseph,  the husband of Mary, of whom was born the Lord Jesus Christ.

Genesis 29:16-17  "..Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.  Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and wellfavoured."   I would like to believe that the expression "tender eyes"  is an expression of a compassionate, gentle soul, but Strongs concordance interprets this expression as one who has weak eyes. This is in contrast to her sister who was beautiful,  "Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.   Still the important thing to remember here is that the Lord does not judge us by our physical appearance, and praise His name for that.  Truly, "...the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

The story of Leah begins when Jacob was called by his father Isaac who "blessed him and charged him, and said unto him, ....go to Padan-aram,to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother." (Genesis 28:2) Jacob was specifically instructed "thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan) (Genesis 28:1)  Leah was not present when Jacob arrived at Padan-aram, and it was Rachel that Jacob met first, and Jacob loved Rachel.  Genesis 29:18 "..Jacob loved Rachel; and said (to Laban her father) I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter."   No doubt Leah came to know Jacob quite well as he worked those seven years for Rachel to be his wife,  but we do not know whether or not Leah knew that it would be her that would be given to Jacob on his wedding night.  The custom of the time was that the younger daughter should not marry before the older daughter, and so perhaps Leah was aware of what was to happen.. in any event on the night when Jacob was to receive Rachel as his wife, Laban took Leah instead, and brought her to Jacob.  Genesis 29:23 "And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her." No doubt Leah was covered, as was the custom of women in those days to be wholly covered when the marriage took place.  Jacob would not have recognized the deception until morning which is exactly what happened "...in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, what is this thou hast done unto me?..." (Gen 29:25) and Laban gives his explanation Genesis 26-27 "..Laban said, it must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.  Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years."  And Jacob did so and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also."  and so Leah had Jacob for herself for a period of seven days, before Rachel was given to him also as his wife for which he then had to serve Laban for seven more years.

Bible Women: Anna who was a Prophetess

Anna the Prophetess

Only three verses are written in the bible that speak of Anna, but they are filled with  examples of this godly woman's devotion to God and her hope for the promised Messiah.  Let us take them one by one.

Luke 2:36 "And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;"

Anna's name means "gracious",  and we can imagine that she was, like her name implies, a kind, and merciful person.  She was a prophetess, a woman who foretold future events, and we know that prophets always foretold true events to come, as opposed to mere predictions.  No doubt Anna foretold the coming of Messiah. Anna was a very old woman, and was married only seven years.  The Lord did not give Anna any children, but led her to that most consecrated life of service to him.

Luke 2:37 "And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day."

There is some discrepancy about this term "a widow of about fourscore and four years"  Either Anna was 84 years old, or else she had been a widow for 84 years.

Nevertheless, in the plan and purpose of God, Anna remained a widow.  But her time was spent in the service of the Lord.  She remained in the temple, fasting and praying without ceasing night and day.  How faithful she was.  Anna was not caught up in the cares of the world, she lived a separated life.  Spending all of her time in the temple, she would have heard the reading of the scrolls by the men, and would have grown very knowledgeable in God's holy word.   And now we have been given the Holy Bible.  How much of the day do we spend reading God's holy word, reading and meditating upon it.  Are we open to the teaching of the Spirit? or are we caught up in the hustle and bustle of the day, too busy to spend time with our Lord.

Bible Women: Martha of Bethany, Cumbered with Much Serving

Martha of Bethany

Luke 10:38-42, John 11:5-28

Martha and Mary, sisters in the Word of God, both have a very important part in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ as he was on this earth as the Son of man, in perfect sinless humanity and deity.  Previously we have studied Mary, so this study will focus on Martha.

Martha is named in the bible before her sister, she is referred to in Luke 10:38 as "a certain woman named Martha" who "received him into her house" one day when Jesus was visiting the town of Bethany.  We learn much from this verse, Martha is a woman who offers the Lord Jesus hospitality,  the house is called "her house"..it is not Lazarus or Mary who first greets the Lord Jesus, but Martha. Perhaps she is the oldest.  It is certain that Martha was well acquainted with the Lord Jesus, because the next verse tells us about her sister Mary who "sat at Jesus' feet and heard his word." Unlike so many who rejected the Lord Jesus, Martha receives him and desires to serve him, as we learn in the next verses.  Luke 10:40-42 "But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

Martha, it seems, took her role of hospitality very seriously.  There must have been quite a few people in the house, probably some disciples of Jesus were there as well.  V40 tells us that Martha was cumbered about much serving,  she was very concerned because this task seemed too much for Martha to handle by herself in a timely manner, and so she asks the Lord Jesus to bid Mary help her.  The Lord Jesus gently rebukes her by repeating Martha, Martha.   Several times in the bible a person is called by their name twice.

Bible Women: Mary of Bethany

Mary of Bethany

Luke 10, John 11, John 12


Mary of Bethany, and her sister Martha  together with their brother Lazarus,  share an important part in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth.

Mary is presented in scripture as a student, a woman with a meek and quiet spirit which is of great price to God, 1 Peter 3:4 "But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price".  She is also presented as a worshipper.  Mary is contrasted with her sister Martha, who will be covered in another study.

We first read of Mary in the book of Luke,  and it is here that Mary is presented as a woman who puts her desire to learn the words of the Lord Jesus as her first priority, as such going against her sister Martha's wishes.   Luke 10:38-42 "Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.  But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

How can we  reach others before we learn his word and apply it to our own lives?   The Lord Jesus places great importance in  sitting at his feet and learning of him, and says that "Mary hath chosen that good part" .  Learning of the Lord Jesus is uppermost in her life, above the will of others to do lesser things than learn from him.  And he says "which shall not be taken away from her."   Nothing shall be more important that learning of him.  And so should we apply this teaching to our own lives. Matthew 10:36-39 "And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Mark 8:34 "......Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."  Nothing should come before our devotion to the Lord Jesus, and following Him.

Bible Women: Ruth - Part 2

The Book of Ruth

Ruth - Part 2

for Ruth Part 1 go here

In the first part of Ruth, we learned how Ruth came back to Bethelem-Judah with her mother-in-law Naomi after the death of her husband. Ruth was a Moabitess, and Naomi told her to go back to her family and to her land, but  Ruth stated "Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:........."(Ruth 1:16) and Naomi and Ruth came to Bethlehem in the beginning of the barley harvest (In God's providential timing.) Ruth went to glean "in whose sight I shall find grace" and she was led (by the Lord) to glean in the field belonging to a man named Boaz, who was kinsman of Naomi's dead husband.  Boaz asked who Ruth was, and he provided care for her, and asked that she stay in his field through barley and wheat harvest, staying near his lady workers the whole time, instructing the men not to touch her, providing more food for her.  Ruth continued to dwell with Naomi, thus preserving her reputation as a virtuous woman.

When Naomi learned from Ruth that she was gleaning in Boaz's field, Naomi  recognizes that Boaz, as her near kinsman, has the right to marry Ruth and so she instructs Ruth what to do to obtain Boaz as her redeemer.

Ruth is instructed to wash herself, anoint herself, put on her garment and go to the threshing floor but not to make herself known to Boaz until he had finished eating and drinking.  Then, when he laid himself down, she was to go and lie down at Boaz' feet, and when he found her there, he would tell her what she should do.(Ruth 3:4) Ruth told Naomi that "all that thou sayest unto me I will do. And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her. (Ruth 3:4-5) Ruth is obedient to Naomi. 

Bible Women: Ruth - Part 1

Ruth - Part 1

In our study of Naomi, we learned that when the Lord brought a famine to the land of Bethlehem-Judah, Naomi went with her husband Elimelech, when he chose to leave his home there  and to travel to the country of Moab,  rather than to stay and trust the Lord to provide for his family.  Elimelech went to "sojourn" which is a temporary journey.  He did not know that he would not return to Bethlehem-Judah. Proverbs 3:5-6 "trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not on thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths." Moab was a  pagan land with pagan gods, and that fact alone should have kept Elimelech in his own land, with his own people, trusting the Lord to provide for them.

But, "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose". (Romans 8:28) and as the story of Ruth progresses we will see how the Lord used this famine to bring a Gentile woman into the line of the Lord Jesus Christ.

V2 says that when they came to the country of Moab they "continued" there, now more than a "sojourn".  After a time Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons Mahlon and Chileon.  Instead of returning to Bethelem-Judah, they made their own decision to stay in Moab and Mahlon and Chilion married wives of the women of Moab, one named Orpah, the other named Ruth.  Ruth means "beauty". V4 "and they dwelled there about ten years."  then Mahlon and Chileon also died.  The timing of their deaths is an example of God's perfect timing, for it is now that Naomi heard that "the LORD has visited his people in giving them bread." (Ruth 1:6)  We can see from this that Naomi recognizes that it is the LORD who has ended the famine.

Bible Women: Naomi, the Book of Ruth

Naomi is one of the central characters in the book of Ruth.  Her history begins in the time of the judges, when "...every man did that which was right in his own eyes." (Judges 21:25).

In the days of Naomi, God brought a  famine to Bethelehem-Judah, and Naomi's husband Elimelech,  instead of staying and trusting God, made the unwise choice to leave his home in Bethlehem, and journey to the land of Moab with his wife and two sons Mahlon and Chilion. (Ruth 1:1-2)  There,  Naomi's husband died, and Naomi, instead of returning home with her two sons, decided to stay in Moab with her sons.  This was a pagan land, with pagan gods.  Naomi's sons made the choice to marry  Moabite women..they "took them wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years" (Ruth 1:4).  While at first glance this is an unequal yoke of Jew and Gentile, we will  soon find out that it was in the providential will of God for Ruth to marry Mahlon, one of the sons.

After ten years, both sons die too, and Naomi is left with her daughters-in-law.  Hearing that the Lord has brought bread to the land of Bethlehem-Judah, Naomi  decides to return to Judah, and tells Orpah and Ruth to return to their mother's homes, as she has no more sons for them to marry -  Ruth 1:11 "And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?"   But the two ladies desire to stay with Naomi.  She knows that if they stay with her, they will still be considered part of her family, and as such, would be required to marry within the family and raise up sons as unto their dead husbands, and Naomi knows that even should she remarry and have sons, it would be a very long time before they were reach the age of marrying.  And so Naomi wants them to go back to their own land.   At this time, Naomi believes that "the hand of the LORD is gone out against me" (Ruth 1:13). She does not know of the wonderful blessing to come.

At first Orpah and Ruth want to stay with Naomi, but after more urging, Orpah turns and goes back to Moab where her heart truly lay..we never hear from her again and she is a reminder like king Agrippa "almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian"  almost, but in choosing the gods of Moab, Orpah has destined herself to be eternally separated from the Lord.   Ruth, however, "cleaves unto her" (V14) and confesses that most wonderful "...for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:" (V 16) 

Bible Women: The Woman Eve

Genesis 2:20 - 4:25

How many times we have heard mention of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and of the apple and the fall of man. Yet the truth is that Eve is not called Eve until Genesis 3:20 "And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living" before that she is called Woman.  The word apple is never mentioned.  It is called "fruit" Genesis 3:2-3 "...We may eat of the fruit of the trees....." "But of the fruit of the tree ....." Changing the Woman to Eve too soon, and changing fruit to apple may seem insignificant, yet they change the word of God, and changing the word of God is the basis for Woman's downfall.  The history of that downfall is deception, altering the word of God, recognition that something has changed, lost fellowship with God, blame, and then that most blessed, reconciliation with God through His grace and mercy, and not Adam and the woman’s works.  Yet there are consequences to pay, which continue to this day. Because of the disobedience of Adam, sin has passed to every man, Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned;" and because sin entered this world, we can only have forgiveness of sin and fellowship with God through the shed blood of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:24 "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." 1 Peter 1:18-19 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

The history of Eve begins in Genesis 2:16.  The Lord has put Adam in the Garden of Eden to care for it, and he is given only one command Genesis 2:16-17 "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" This demands obedience, and Adam will be tested on what God said.  In Gen. 2:20, after naming all the animals and birds, Adam has found that in all creation, only he is without a helpmeet. Then 2:21  the intervention of God, Adam is put into a deep sleep, one of his ribs is removed, and in Gen 2:22 "..the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man". Adam is created from the dust of the ground, but the woman was made from his body, and for what purpose? Genesis 2:23-24 is the answer " ...This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."  The Woman is his counterpart, and they two were made to be together.  This is the definitive answer to homosexuality.  God created the man and woman. Not the man and the man, nor the woman and the woman. Genesis 2:25 shows their purity. "And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed." They lived a beautiful, perfect life in fellowship with their Creator.

Bible Women: Tamar, Sister of Absalom

2 Samuel 13: 1-20

In a previous study of Bathsheba, we learned of King David's sin of adultery and of his plot to have Bathsheba's husband killed.  Because of this, in 2 Samuel 12:9-10 Nathan the prophet, speaking the words of the LORD, tells King David "Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Amnon.  Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife."

And so, we have the tragic story of Tamar, daughter of David, sister of Absalom, half-sister to Amnon.  2 Samuel 13:1 “and it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.”  But this was a not a pure love of a brother for a sister, no, Amnon according to V2 was “so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her." This statement brings out that he lusted after her, but because she was a virgin, he hesitated to carry through with his emotions.  How much better it would have been for Tamar and for Amnon if he would have listened to his conscience.  James 1:14-15 "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."  But also that, as believers, by the Holy Spirit we have the power to resist temptations James 4:7-8 "Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded".

And then we find in V3 that "Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother:". Jonadab was Amnon's cousin, and he possessed that terrible quality "Jonadab was a very subtil man"  As in Genesis 3:1 "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made" Jonadab notices Amnon's troubled countenance and asks Amnon V4 "why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day?  wilt thou not tell me?" to which Amnon admits "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."  Rather than being a true friend and helping Amnon to overcome his obsession for Tamar, Jonadab shows his evil mind by giving Amnon a plan to fulfill his desires - V5 "And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand." Not only deceive an innocent maiden, but bolder than that, involve the King of Israel in the deception!  Truly Jeremiah 17:9 "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"  But we must also pay close heed to the next verse Jeremiah 17:10 "I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."

Bible Women: Mary Magdelene

Mary Magdalene

What is the first thing you think of when you hear the name "Mary Magdalene"?  Some people think that Mary was a prostitute who came to know Jesus as her Lord, yet there is absolutely no biblical evidence for this lie, that she was a prostitute. Neither should she be confused with the woman who was a sinner that came to Simon's house where Jesus was.  That woman was nameless, and scripture tells us that her weeping and repentance had saved her from her sins. This study will attempt to portray the truth about Mary Magdalene, a woman greatly blessed.

Verses pertaining to Mary are scattered throughout the gospels, each a piece of her story.  We will bring them in chronological order, to best learn the truth.

Luke 8:1-3 is the earliest mention of Mary "And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him, and certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,.....and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.".  Reading a few verses before, Luke 7:37-50 is the story of the woman who was a sinner.  Luke 8:1 clearly states "and it came to pass afterward,"  Thus we know that Mary Magdalene was NOT the woman who was a sinner.

Mary, along with others were healed of their infirmities. The name Magdalene signifies where she came from, Mary of Magdala. Imagine what a terrible state this poor woman must have been in.  As the bible often does, it states an incredible occurrence in the simple statement "out of whom went seven devils". This combines with Mark 16:9...he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils."  The devils acknowledge the Lord.  Even today, we are told in Ephesians 6:12,16 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."  In James 4:7 we learn that as believers we have the power thru the indwelling holy spirit to "resist the devil and he will flee from you".

Next in Luke 8:1-3 we learn that Mary and some of the other women who Jesus healed accompanied the Lord and his apostles as he went "throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God:"  Every city and village - the news was spread everywhere, no one had excuse to say that they did not hear the good news. A reminder that today, we ought to be going everywhere telling the good news.  Mark 15:40,41 tell us that Mary was among those women who had followed him from when he was in Galilee, and ministered unto him and came up with him unto Jerusalem.  These women "ministered unto  him of their substance" Luke 8:3. Matthew 27:55-56 confirms that the women followed him from Galilee, with whom one was Mary Magdalene.

Bible Women: The Woman at the Well

John 4: 7-42

The woman at the well was a woman of Sychar, a city in Samaria.  She is presented in the book of John, and this portion of scripture is one of the most well known.

This meeting takes place when John the Baptist was still baptizing people, (John 3:23-24) and probably word of his preachings had spread to Samaria.  Jesus has departed Judea and is on his way to Galilee, but scripture tells us John 4:4 "And he must needs go through Samaria."  He must needs, our Lord knew the events that would transpire there in the city of Sychar, at Jacob's well.   V5-6 "Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there.  Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour."  V8 tells us that the disciples of Jesus "were gone away unto the city to buy meat." The plan of the Lord to be alone and to have quiet time for the meeting which he knew was to take place.

Verse 6 "..Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour." What a statement.  The Lord of the Universe, but weary as a man.  V7 "There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink."  The woman is surprised that he, whom she recognizes as a Jew, would even speak to her, and  addresses him thus, V9 "How is it that thou being a Jew, askest drink of me, a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans" She as yet has no clue that the man seated before her is God incarnate.

And now the Lord Jesus begins to speak to her of deeper things than a mere glass of water.  Water could satisfy the physical thirst of a man, but the Lord was about to show this woman that secret thirst that all sinners possess, whether they know it or not, that unquenched thirst for something more in this life. V10 "Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water."  the gift of God, John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.".  This is the first suggestion to the woman that this was no ordinary request for a simple drink of water.  He speaks to her of "living water" and thisis a reminder of John 7:38-39 "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)"

Bible Women: Rahab - The Woman Who Hid the Spies

Joshua Chapters 2 and 6

This study of Rahab is taken from the book of Joshua, Chapters 2 and 6.  Rahab was a woman who demonstrated great faith, to the salvation of herself and her family.  In Joshua 2:1-2, we have Joshua sending two spies into the walled city of Jericho, "to spy secretly..to view the land, even Jericho" and they "came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there".

Someone must have seen the men come into the city and enter Rahab's house, and they knew they were of the "children of Israel"  and that they had come to search out all the country. V2 "and it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold there came men in  hither tonight out of the children of Israel to search out the country." We are not told whether or not the spies knew Rahab was a harlot, but it was surely the divine intervention of God that they came upon the house of a harlot, where it would not be unusual for men to go.  Nevertheless, the king of Jericho sends word to Rahab  V3 "bring forth the men that are come to thee which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country"  But V4 "Rahab took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were" and she further told them V5 "when it was dark that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them."  But V6 Rahab "had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof."  And the king's men V7 "pursued after them the way to Jordan...."

 Before the spies had laid down V8 "she came  up unto them upon the roof" and in Vs 9-11 Rahab gives the reasons for her actions. "I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.  For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon an Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.  And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath". Rahab knew and believed that the LORD had given them the land, that the inhabitants were terribly afraid, and that they had heard about the parting of the Red Sea, and what had befallen the Amorites.  Then she makes the great confession of faith;  "for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath".  Rahab, who is a Gentile, believes in God and exhibits saving faith.  As Galatians 3:28 says "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus".

Bible Women: Jael - Judges 4

Jael - Judges Chapter 4

Judges Chapter 4 is a very  unusual chapter in the Bible, in that God used women to bring victory to Israel. It is violent, but it is important in that it shows that the LORD's commands must be obeyed or consequences will follow.  In this chapter it is a woman, Deborah who has the position of authority in that she judged Israel,  V4 "and Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.  And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment." which is truly in opposition to God's natural order in Genesis 3:16 where ".......thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee".  Chapter 4 is the chapter in which Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite appears briefly, but importantly.

Chapter 4 begins "And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD...".  So we know that at this time, Israel was not walking with the LORD God.  We are told in V2-3 that "the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera.......and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel".  This is very important, because the oppression by Sisera caused Israel to cry unto the LORD.

And isn't this the way with us?  When we grow cold of heart and try to do things by our own strength, instead of following the Lord and desiring to be led by His will in our lives, do  not trials and temptations come upon us which are designed to bring us back to Him?  James 4:6-10 "But he giveth more grace.  Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.  Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  Be afflicted, and mourn and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

In Verse 6 Deborah calls upon Barak, the son of Abinoam to follow the LORD's commands in going to battle against Sisera,"and she sent and called Barak...and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor.".. and in V7 Deborah says "I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand."  But in V8 Barak dishonours himself by refusing to go alone, "And Barak said unto her, if thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go", this even knowing that the LORD had commanded him to go and promised him the victory.  And so in V9 Deborah tells him "I will surely go with thee, notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman....". This then is the reason for what is to come, a man of Israel has disobeyed the command of the LORD, but the LORD will have His victory,  and this by the hand of a woman.