Women of the Bible (2)

Proverbs 31:10 “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” After creation God saw that Adam was lonely and created a companion for him (Gen. 2:18). Then the Lord God said, “ it is not good for man to be alone. I will make him a helper that is just right for him.” So God created the animals and said “But still there was no helper just right for him.”

Genesis 2:21–23 “21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. 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.”

Now we have to discuss both good and faithful women as well as maybe, not so good and doesn't have much faith.

A. Lot’s wife, Genesis 19:26 “But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt. She loved sinful Sodom more than the commands of God. Because of this she was lost.

B. Potiphar’s wife. She tempted Joseph.Genesis 39:7–8 “7 and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him (Joseph) lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. 8 But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. When he refused to give in she lied, and Joseph was sent to prison.

C. Jezebel. We have all heard of a “Jezebel” haven't we? Jezebel encouraged her husband Ahab to have Naboth killed so that he could take his vineyard. She also persecuted Elijah. She died a terrible death.

D. Delilah, Delilah was paid to trick Samson. Judges 16:4 “4 Some time later Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the valley of Sorek.

20 Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.

So DECEIT from Delilah, following and chasing lust, caused the Lord to leave Samson. Has this happened to anyone you might know?

These are just a few women who did not have faith, who did not follow the Lords ways.

SACRED WOMEN

A. Sarah was over ninety years old. Yet God gave her a son, Isaac. Genesis 21:1–3 “1 The Lord kept his word and did for Sarah exactly what he had promised. 2 She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would. 3 And Abraham named their son Isaac.” She is mentioned in the “Bible Hall of Fame” (Heb. 11:11). Sarah is called “the mother of nations.”

B. Hannah. After many years of waiting God gave her a son. His name was Samuel.1 Samuel 1:9–11 “9 Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle. 10 Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. 11 And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.”

C. Samson’s mother. Judges 13:1–5 “1 Again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines, who oppressed them for forty years. 2 In those days a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was unable to become pregnant, and they had no children. 3 The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and said, “Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son. 4 So be careful; you must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink nor eat any forbidden food. 5 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazirite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.”

So let’s talk about two of who I believe stand out as MOTHERS in the New Testament.

D. Elisabeth, mother of John the Baptist and Mary, cousin of Elisabeth, mother of Jesus. Pretty good bloodline there I would say. Luke 1:13–15 “13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.” Her son became a great preacher. He was known as John the Baptist, who introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God.

SERVING WOMEN OF GOD

A. Bathsheba. 1 Kings 2:12–13 “12 Solomon became king and sat on the throne of David his father, and his kingdom was firmly established. 13 One day Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, came to see Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother. “Have you come with peaceful intentions?” she asked him. “Yes,” he said, “I come in peace.” Though Bathsheba was guilty of adultery with King David their son, Solomon, became the wisest man that ever lived.

B. Mary. Isaiah 7:14 ‘14 All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).” An angel appeared to Mary and told her that she would be the mother of Jesus. This was a fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 when the angel appeared to Mary. Mary was to be a Mother, the mother of Jesus......

C. Mary of Bethany, remember she was Martha’s sister, the one that was upset that Mary was not helping prepare the meal..... Mary sat at the feet of Jesus: (1) Mary was listening for instruction from Jesus, Luke 10:39 “Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.” (2) for comfort when Lazarus died, John 11:32 “When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” (3) John 12:3 “3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.” Mary was both serving and Worshiping Jesus.

D. Dorcas, AKA known as Tabitha who was full of good works. Acts 9:36–37.....”36 There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. 37 About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room.”

E. Eunice who was Timothy’s mother. She left a lasting impression on Timothy. Have any of your mothers left a lasting spiritual impression on you? Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 1:5 “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.”

What a testimonial from Paul concerning Timothy’s grandmother, mother and now Timothy. AMEN

Women have much to do in controlling the course of the world. Many women “work behind the scenes” in making the church, home and community a success. My Mother raised 4 kids, no job outside the home but the best Mom ever inside the home.

AMEN