Lessons From Bible Women.
Bible Reading: Ruth 1; Acts 5:1-11.
Aim: To understand and apply lessons that Bible women were famous for.
Introduction: What does God teach us through the lives of women in the Bible?
1. Abigail means “father rejoices” (I Samuel 25). She was the wise wife of a foolish farmer named Nabal living 1000 BC. When Nabal insulted David, David determined to kill him, but Abigail made peace with David, showing herself to be a tactful, wise, kind, problem solver and relationship repairer. Shortly afterwards, Nabal died of a stroke and David married Abigail.
2. Anna means “grace” (Luke 2:36-38) is a NT prophetess who served God in the temple. She looked for the Messiah. God led her to Mary and Joseph when they brought baby Jesus to the temple to dedicate Him to God. Lesson: Dedicate ourselves to God and church, love Jesus Christ, and tell others about Jesus.
3. Bathsheba means “daughter of an oath” (2 Samuel 11,12) was the wife of Uriah. She was taking a bath in her yard next to David’s palace. This led to adultery and the death of her son. David later married her and bore Solomon who became a famous, wise king of Israel. Lesson: Her thoughtlessness and immodesty led to David’s adultery, the death of four of David’s sons and many problems for years to come.
4. Deborah means “honey bee” (Judges 4,5). She was a judge, which was a political, military and spiritual leader between Joshua and Saul. She led Israel to victory over an oppressor when men did not have the courage to lead Israel. Lesson: She did a job that men would not do. Men should have courage to lead.
5. Dorcas means “gazelle” (Acts 9:36-43). She was respected in Joppa for helping widows and needy people. When she died, God answered Peter’s prayer to restore her to life. Lesson: By showing kindness, you will be loved, respected and remembered.
6. Elizabeth means “God is my oath” (Luke 1:39-45). She was the wife of Zacharias the priest, mother of John the Baptist and cousin of Mary (Luke 1:36). She was childless for many years, but gave birth in her old age (1:18). Lesson: God answers our prayers for children. God can do great things for us in old age.
7. Esther means “star”. She became queen of Persia in 475BC. God used her to save the Jewish nation.
Lesson: Great blessings come to godly, wise, cooperative women who are in the right place at the right time. “Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14.
8. Eunice means “good victory” (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15). She was a Jewish lady married to a Greek man, with a son named Timothy, who became a church leader. She and her mother Lois led Timothy to Christ when he was a child and trained him in the Bible. Lesson: Lead your children to Christ. Love your mum.
9. Euodia means “prosperous journey” (Philippians 4:2). She was a Christian lady in the Philippian church who had a conflict with another lady named Syntyche. Euodia was unforgiving and unwilling to reconcile with Syntyche. Lesson: Are you in a conflict with someone? Are you unwilling to forgive them?
10. Eve means “life giver”. She was deceived by Satan to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge. She led Adam to sin and to the fall of mankind. Lesson: Don’t be deceived. Don’t believe Satan. Consult God.
11. Gomer was the wife of Hosea the prophet in 750 BC. She left her husband and children to become a prostitute. Hosea’s commitment to Gomer became a metaphor for God’s faithfulness to Israel who had abandoned Jehovah to serve idols.Lesson: Appreciate your spouse. Try to maintain your marriage.
12. Hannah means “grace” (I Samuel 2). In 1125 BC, Hannah prayed for a son, whom she promised to dedicate to God. God gave her Samuel who served as Israel’s last judge. He anointed Saul and David as kings. Lesson: Dedicate our children to God. Train them in God’s ways to know, love and serve God.
13. Jehoshabeath means “Jehovah is abundance” (II Chronicles 22:11), was daughter of king Jehoram and wife of Jehoida the priest. She hid Joash the son of Ahaziah, for 6 years in the temple, to protect him being killed by wicked Queen Athaliah. She saved the Messianic, kingly line from extinction by seeing a need and acting quickly. Lesson: We must identify needs and dangerous situations, then act quickly to avert trouble. She protected the child Joash from evil. He later became a good king who reigned 40 years.
Do you protect your children from evil?
14. Lydia in Philippi (Acts 16:14,15,40). She was Paul’s first gentile convert in Europe. She worshipped God. The Lord opened her heart because she was open to God’s word. She attended to what Paul said. She was baptized. She invited Paul and his team to her house. Lesson: She was open, loving and dedicated to God, His word and His workers. Are you? 1532
15. Martha (Luke 10:38-42) preferred kitchen duties than hearing Jesus preaching. She represents women who are satisfied with their work or social role, so they neglect learning from Jesus and neglect serving Jesus. Lesson: Do you neglect learning from Jesus, in favour of worldly duties? 16. Mary means “loved by Jehovah”. Mary is the Greek form of Miriam. There are 5 Marys in the NT: i) Mary, mother of Jesus said to Gabriel, “be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38). Mary immediately submitted to God’s will. Do you? ii) Mary, sister of Martha (Luke 10:39-42), violated custom by sitting at Jesus’ feet as a learner, rather than staying in the kitchen. Jesus defended her action by saying she had chosen the better part.
iii) Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2), was the first witness of Jesus’ resurrection. She was noted for her love for Jesus, who had cast seven devils out of her (Mark 16:9).
iv) Mary wife of Cleophas (John 19:25) and mother of James the less and Joses (Matthew 27:61; 28:1; Mark 15:40,47) brought spices to anoint Jesus on the resurrection morning (Mark 16:1). v) Mary, mother of John Mark, where Peter “came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.” (Acts 12:12). After Jesus Christ resurrection, Jesus’ followers met in her home. 17. Miriam (sister of Moses and Aaron) means “loved by Jehovah” (Exodus 15:20). She later joined Aaron in rebelling against Moses and was briefly struck with leprosy. Lesson: God punishes rebellion. 18. Naomi (mother in law of Ruth) means “pleasant” (Ruth 1-4). She returned from Moab to Judah with Ruth. Lesson: She returned to fellowship with God and Israel. God blessed her, taking away her bitterness.
19. Penninah (co-wife of Hannah) means “coral”. She ridiculed Hannah for being unable to conceive children (I Samuel 1:2-7). Lesson: Don’t ridicule people that you don’t like. 20. Persis means “a Persian woman” (Romans 16:12).She was a member of the church at Rome in 55 AD, as a dear friend who “laboured much in the Lord”. Lesson: Do you labour much in the Lord? Women can do a great work for God in church. Do you? 21. Phoebe means “radiant” (Romans 16:1,2). She was a servant of the church at Cenchrea, and a succourer (comforter) of many and of Paul. Lesson: Do you comfort and serve many in church? 22. Priscilla (Romans 16:3-5; Acts 18). She and Aquilla led a house church in Corinth. They helped Paul in tent making and church planting. (Answers 1106).
Lesson: Do you help Christian workers? 23. Rachel means “ewe” (Genesis 29-35).She was the daughter of Laban, the true love and wife of Jacob, and sister of Leah. Rachel bore Joseph and Benjamin in 1925 BC. She did not get involved in a dispute between her father Laban and her husband Jacob. Lesson. Avoid getting involved in fights. 24. Rahab means “broad” (Joshua 2; Hebrews 11:31). She was a harlot in Jericho. She sheltered 3 Israelite spies, one of whom she later married. She and her family were saved from Jericho’s destruction. Lesson: Be loyal and committed to God’s people, God’s work and to God’s word.
25. Rebekah (Genesis 22:23; 24-27). She married Isaac and was the mother of Jacob and Esau. She tricked Isaac to give the birthright and blessing to her favourite son Jacob instead of the older twin Esau. She never saw Jacob after he left home. Lesson: Don’t scheme, trick or plot against others. Trust god to work out His plans. 26. Ruth means “friendship, beauty”. She separated from pagan Moabites to join God’s people (Ruth 4:11). She became the great grandmother of David. She married Boaz. Family line: Obed Jesse, David.
Lesson: When we turn to God from idols and the word, God blesses us. 27. Sapphira means “beautiful” (Acts 5:1-11). She conspired with Ananias her husband to lie to the apostles and to God. She was punished by instant death. Lesson: Don’t lie to God or men. 28. Sarah means “princess”. She was the first wife of Abraham and bore Isaac at age 90. She gave wrong, impulsive advice to Abraham to take Hagar as concubine, who bore Ishmael. Lesson: Trust God to work miracles all our life. Don’t panic or give wrong advice, but wait on God. 29. Susanna (Luke 8:3) helped support Jesus Christ financially. 30. Zeresh means “gold” (Esther 5:10,14; 6:13) was the wife of Haman who suggested that he build a gallows for Mordecai, which Haman was later hung on.
Lesson: What you sow, you reap.
