Category: From the Insideout

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 4

Lot’s Wife

Posted on by MaryEllen

adapted from the study: She, Delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible, pp39-40

Before we meet Lot’s Wife, let’s familiarize ourselves with Lot. He is the nephew of Abraham. When Abraham and Sarah obeyed the Lord’s call to leave Haran and go to Canaan, Lot went with them. Eventually, their families parted ways, and Lot settled his family near the land of Sodom, a very sinful city.1 

As for Lot’s wife, Scripture does not tell us her name, nor when they met and married. Though some have suggested that “Lot met and married her within the cesspool of Sodom.” Which is exactly where we find them living in our story today. 

Her Story

1 That evening the two angels came to the entrance of the city of Sodom. Lot was sitting there, and when he saw them, he stood up to meet them. Then he welcomed them and bowed with his face to the ground.

2 My lords,’ he said, ‘come to my home to wash your feet, and be my guests for the night. You may then get up early in the morning and be on your way again.’ ‘Oh no,’ they replied. ‘We’ll just spend the night out here in the city square.’

3 But Lot insisted, so at last they went home with him. Lot prepared a feast for them, complete with fresh bread made without yeast, and they ate. 4 But before they retired for the night, all the men of Sodom, young and old, came from all over the city and surrounded the house. 5 They shouted to Lot, ‘Where are the men who came to spend the night with you? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!’

6 So Lot stepped outside to talk to them, shutting the door behind him. 7 Please, my brothers,’ he begged, ‘don’t do such a wicked thing. 8 Look, I have two virgin daughters. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do with them as you wish. But please, leave these men alone, for they are my guests and are under my protection.

‘9 Stand back!’ they shouted. ‘This fellow came to town as an outsider, and now he’s acting like our judge! We’ll treat you far worse than those other men!’ And they lunged toward Lot to break down the door.

10 But the two angels reached out, pulled Lot into the house, and bolted the door. 11 Then they blinded all the men, young and old, who were at the door of the house, so they gave up trying to get inside.

12 Meanwhile, the angels questioned Lot. ‘Do you have any other relatives here in the city?’ they asked. ‘Get them out of this place — your sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone else. 13 For we are about to destroy this city completely. The outcry against this place is so great it has reached the Lord, and he has sent us to destroy it.’

14 So Lot rushed out to tell his daughters’ fiancés, ‘Quick, get out of the city! The Lord is about to destroy it.’ But the young men thought he was only joking.

15 At dawn the next morning the angels became insistent. ‘Hurry,’ they said to Lot. ‘Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction of the city!’

16 When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the Lord was merciful.  Genesis 19:1-16 NLT

It is a horrid story and not easy to read, yet to truly understand the story of “Lot’s wife,” it is helpful, if not necessary,  to understand the place and people she has been living among, perhaps her entire life, as some commentators think that this may be where she lived when Lot met and married her. Verses four and five paint a vividly depraved picture of just how steeped in sin the people of Sodom were. Notably, Lot went to great, shocking, even questionable lengths to protect the angels from the riotous mob at his door (6-9). Yet, we must not miss the difficulty Lot and his family had in leaving the city, to the point that the angels had to physically grab hold of their hands and pull them to safety outside of the city. They had been warned that the city would be destroyed and that if they stayed, they would be swept away with it, yet somehow they still struggled to leave.

BUT GOD, in his mercy, had heard the request of Abraham to spare Lot and his family, and the angels delivered them safely outside of the destruction. Before they left them, the angels instructed the family to run for their lives, without looking back or stopping anywhere in the valley. They were to escape to the mountains in order not to be swept away. (vv 18–22). 

‘Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!’ Genesis 19:17

A Pillar of Salt

Sadly, as Lot led his daughters from the city, his wife “looked back.” As one commentator writes, “She turned her focus to what she was losing instead of looking forward to God’s offer of salvation” (Genesis 19:1–26).

Gotquestions.org points out that “Lot’s wife lagged behind.” While Scripture does not indicate that this was purposeful, it does say that she was following behind Lot (Genesis 19:26). Whatever the reason, she disobeyed God’s instructions through the angels and “looked back.” Because of this, she was “turned into a pillar of salt.” As Bibleref.com explains, “Whether this is a literal, supernatural transformation, or a poetic way of indicating that she was caught up in the destruction due to her delay, the text gives no further details. In either case, God does not let her sin stand.”2

LOT’S WIFE SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE THAT SIN HAS CONSEQUENCES.

“If we choose to reject the salvation that the Lord has given us, we too will become a pillar of regret.”3

Lot’s wife chose the old over the new, the world over God and His ways, sinful pleasures over the will of God…the way of death over the way of new life. Friends, when we are tempted to ‘look back’(clinging to ways, or people, or things that displease God) we would be wise to “remember Lot’s wife,” just as Jesus said to do (Luke 17:32). May she be a reminder for us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the perfecter of our faith…” so that we do not ‘look back’ and become stuck in our longings for sinful pleasures or regrets of our past. Consider the Israelites,

  • who looked back and longed for the food of Egypt, or as one commentator puts it, “When the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, they often romanticized their past. Despite enduring brutal slavery, they longed for the predictability and familiar foods of Egypt (like fish, cucumbers, and garlic) when faced with the harsh realities and uncertainties of desert life.” [1, 2, 3]

Or this example from my own life,

  • The enemy sometimes assaults me with reminders of the sins of my past, causing my mind to be filled with shame and regret. If I do not quickly turn the thought into a praise of gratitude for God’s mercy and grace, I can get stuck in the muck and mire of regret and lose sight of the blessing of joy in His love and forgiveness. Praise God, the Spirit reminds me that God’s children are not meant to live in shame and regret but in the fullness of joy found in the salvation that is ours through Christ Jesus.  

REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE


Jesus’ instruction to “remember Lot’s Wife was meant to serve as a reminder for those who will be among the remnant in the last days. “It is a warning not to seek rescue through things of the world, or to prioritize one’s life over obedience. Even as we trust Jesus’ promises, we must be willing to lose our physical lives, knowing Jesus gives us eternal life” (Luke 17:33). “many will be caught off guard, living normal lives like those in the days of Noah and Lot; Jesus’ followers need to watch the signs and be ready.” As Lot led his daughters from the city, his wife “looked back.” She turned her focus to what she was losing instead of looking forward to God’s offer of salvation (Genesis 19:1–26).

“The language used here might suggest Lot’s wife gazed intently; the point is not that she merely allowed her eyes to take in the catastrophe. The implication of the passage is that in looking back, Lot’s wife was expressing her continuing affection for the sinful culture of Sodom (Luke 17:31–32).4” Jesus’ reminder is meant to help the remnant in that day not make the same mistake.

The More We Know

quotes and added details from gotquestions.org and bibleref.com

Abraham’s plea for the righteous within Sodom … After God indicates His intent to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their sins, Abraham tries to convince God to consider the righteous people who might live there. In truth, God already knows that Sodom is doomed, and has no need to justify Himself to Abraham. However, using human language, He has allowed Abraham to discuss sparing the city if a small number of people there are not involved in the city’s pervasive sins (Genesis 13:13; Ezekiel 16:49–50).

Abraham concludes his negotiation with the Lord here, with another request that the Lord not be angry with him, and a promise not to push any further after this. If the Lord finds 10 righteous people in Sodom, will He spare the city for the sake of those 10 people? This particular number was probably Abraham’s goal all along, with the intent of sparing his nephew, Lot, from death in the judgment against Sodom.

Once more, the Lord agrees to Abraham’s request. He will not destroy the city if 10 righteous people are found. Of course, the Lord already knows how many righteous people He will find in Sodom and Gomorrah. He knows what’s coming. Still, He has been gracious and kind to endure Abraham’s pointed questions and requests. In the end, Abraham will know that the Lord is both just in His judgment and merciful in His approach.

We’re fortunate to receive similar warnings. Ephesians 4:22-24 tells us to take off the old self that is ruled by sin and be renewed, putting on the new self that is in the likeness of God. Similarly, 1 John 5:16 says that willful, deliberate sin can lead to death. Lot’s wife wasn’t able to accept that. What she chose to value in her heart led her to sin, which led to her “death”.

The Bible isn’t clear whether Lot’s wife was covered in the salt that rained down with the brimstone or if her remains were dusted with a coating of salt later. But it is interesting that she is described as a “pillar.” The Hebrew for “pillar” refers to a garrison or a deputy, that is, something set to watch over something else. The image of Lot’s wife standing watch over the Dead Sea area—where to this day no life can exist—is a poignant reminder to us not to look back or turn back from the profession of faith we have made, but to follow Christ without hesitation and abide in His love (Luke 17:32).

  1. https://www.gotquestions.org/Lot-in-the-Bible.html ↩︎
  2. Bibleref.com on Genesis 19:26 ↩︎
  3. She, Delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible, p40 ↩︎
  4. quotes in the last two paragraphs from Bibleref.com ↩︎

A crowned woman holds a plate with a bleeding severed man's head with closed eyes.
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, She, Volume 4

Herodias

Posted on by MaryEllen

Adapted from the study, She – volume 4/pp33-34.

Unlike most of the women we have journeyed with, Herodius is not a woman we would want to pattern our lives after. We meet her in our story today as the wife of Herod; however, Herod was not her first husband. Before marrying Herod, or Antipas1 as he was also known, Herodias was married to Herod’s half-brother, Philip. The more troubling part of the family connection is that she was also the daughter of Herod’s and Philip’s half-brother Aristobulus, making her their niece. Gotquestions.org states that when Herod was visiting Philip, he met Herodias and fell in love with her. Long story short, she divorces Philip and marries Herod Antipas.

As the study journal describes her, Herodias was one of the most wicked women. While there is no reference in the Bible comparing her to Jezebel,2 many commentators write that she was the “Jezebel of the New Testament”, using a variety of reasons, such as:

  • The Prophet vs. The Queen: Just as Jezebel fiercely opposed and sought the life of the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 19), Herodias held a deep grudge against John the Baptist and ultimately succeeded in having him beheaded. [1, 2, 3]
  • The “Elijah” Connection: Theologically, John the Baptist is recognized as coming in the “spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17). This makes Herodias’s hostility toward John an exact New Testament mirror of Jezebel’s hostility toward Elijah. [1, 2, 3, 4]
  • Controlling Wives: Both women were highly ambitious and manipulated their weaker husbands (King Ahab and King Herod Antipas, respectively) into carrying out their malicious goals. [1, 2, 3]
  • Using Their Daughters: Both used familial relationships—Jezebel using her daughter Athaliah and Herodias using her unnamed daughter—to achieve their wicked objectives. [1, 2, 3]

The last point (using her daughter) in the list of reasons that she was compared to Jezebel is where we find Herodias in our journey today. You see, Herodias bore a grudge against John the Baptist 3, because he had told Herod that their marriage was unlawful. 4 Herodias wasn’t just bothered by John’s declaration; her grudge was so strong that she wanted to kill him, but without Herod’s approval, she was powerless to do so.5 Herod, while not a fan or friend of John, “knows John is a righteous man and he fears him, plus he liked to listen to John. So, since Herodias is trying to kill John, Antipas holds him in the one place she can’t reach: prison.6“

Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. ‘Ask me for anything you like,’ the king said to the girl, ‘and I will give it to you.’

Mark 6:22

One would think that John’s imprisonment would have appeased Herodias, but prison did not satisfy her; she wanted him dead. So she came up with an evil plan and used her daughter to manipulate Herod when she danced for him at his birthday celebration. Whether the dance was meant to arouse his lust or simply play with his emotions, Harod was so pleased with the dance that he offered her anything she wanted. The girl asked her mother what she should request, and Herodias seized the opportunity and replied: “The head of John the Baptist.” Without hesitation, Herod ordered it done, and John was not only beheaded, but his head was delivered to Herodias’ daughter on a tray, who took it to her mother.

The story of Herodias serves as an example of the disgrace that lust and sin brings to a life consumed with pride.

Reflection and Application

Friends, from Herod’s lustful7 desire for his brother’s wife to Herodias’ hurt/angered pride aroused by John’s condemnation of their marriage and the sin of murder that ensued because of the lust and pride ~ is it any wonder that we are warned in Scripture that pride goes before destruction,8 and to “get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, we are to be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven us.” 9? Oh, let us not be like Herodias, manipulating an end that we desire – but may our hearts and minds be forever yielded to God, slow to anger, abounding in love, and quick to repent of our sins.

Practical Applications by Bible Hub

• Expect resistance when confronting sin with truth.

• Guard your heart from grudges; unresolved resentment breeds greater evil.

• Public righteousness may cost temporal safety but garners eternal reward (Matthew 5:11-12).

• The gospel calls even Herodias-like sinners to repentance; Christ’s resurrection proves that forgiveness is available to the hardest heart.

Summary

Herodias harbored a grudge against John the Baptist because his uncompromising proclamation of God’s law threatened her illicit marriage, her ambition, and her conscience. Her reaction—rooted in pride, political calculation, and spiritual darkness—culminated in John’s execution, fulfilling the biblical motif of prophetic suffering and underscoring the peril of resisting revealed truth.

The More We Know

  1. The family history of Herod the Great is twisted and confusing. This is especially true given that “Herod” means “king” and seems to have been used as a family name by several members, whether they were recognized as kings by the Roman emperor or not. Herod Antipas is one of at least eight sons. Upon the death of Herod the Great, the kingdom was split into four tetrarchies, and Antipas the Tetrarch was given rule over Galilee, north of Samaria, and Perea, across the Jordan River from Judea. Antipas married the daughter of the king of Nabatea, a nation which bordered southeast Perea, and settled down to a life of irritating the Jews. ↩︎
  2. https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Jezebel.html ↩︎
  3. John the Baptist, the cousin of Jesus, not John the disciple of Jesus. John was related to Jesus, as their mothers were relatives (Luke 1:36). In fact, when the angel Gabriel told Mary that she would give birth to Jesus, he also told her about John. When Mary was carrying Jesus in her womb, she visited Elizabeth, and John leapt in his mother’s womb for joy at the sound of Mary’s voice (Luke 1:39-45).

    Although his name implies that he baptized people (which he did), John’s life on earth was more than just baptizing. John’s adult life was characterized by devotion and surrender to Jesus Christ and His kingdom. John’s voice was a “lone voice in the wilderness” (John 1:23) as he proclaimed the coming of the Messiah to a people who desperately needed a Savior. He was the precursor for the modern-day evangelist as he unashamedly shared the good news of Jesus Christ. He was a man filled with faith and a role model to those of us who wish to share our faith with others.  ↩︎
  4. Mark 6:17-18 ↩︎
  5. Gotquestions.org ↩︎
  6. Gotquestions.org ↩︎
  7. Lust is an intense, overwhelming desire, craving, or enthusiasm. While most commonly associated with strong, uncontrolled sexual attraction, the term is also frequently used to describe a powerful, often obsessive longing for something—such as a “lust for power,” wealth, or adventure. [1, 2, 3, 4] ↩︎
  8. https://www.bibleref.com/Proverbs/16/Proverbs-16-18.html ↩︎
  9. Ephesians 4:31-32 (NLT) ↩︎

Dear Reader: Do you know the Lord of Heaven and earth, the one whom John the Baptist so faithfully proclaimed? If not, I invite you to follow the link to know the truths about who He is, and how He loves you and can save your soul.

Know These Truths
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 4

Evidence of Sarah’s Faith

Posted on by MaryEllen

adapted from She, delighting in the examples of women in the Bible, volume 4, pp. 71 and 72

Today’s Scripture Reading: Genesis 21:1-8, 22:2, and 23:1-2; Hebrews 10:23 and 11:11-12,

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)”. Hebrews 10:23

“…she judged him faithful who had promised.” Hebrews 11:11

The Promise

We’ve been journeying through Sarah’s story for five days now, so the question begs to be revisited: What was the promise, and who made it?” We find the answer in Genesis 17, where God is conversing with Abraham, expounding on a promise He had made in chapter 12, in which He called Abraham to leave his father’s family and his country for a new country. He wasn’t even told where he was going, only that he was to leave and go to a land God would show him. Abraham, along with Sarah, his wife, answered the call.1 The call God made came with a promise2, which is where today’s journey picks up:

God Gives More Details

6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. …15 Then God said to Abraham, “Regarding Sarai, your wife—her name will no longer be Sarai. From now on, her name will be Sarah. 16 And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants. 17 Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. “How could I become a father at the age of 100?” he thought. “And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?” 18 So Abraham said to God, “May Ishmael live under your special blessing!” 19 But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac, and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant. 20 As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.”  Genesis 17:6, 15-21

Sarah, who was barren, had laughed when she heard God tell her husband, Abraham, that through his descendants a great nation would arise, but God still placed her in the ‘Hall of Faith’ that we find in Hebrews chapter 11. Yes, “Even though she laughed, even though she was afraid, she is still known for her faith.3” Actually, Scripture tells us that it was through her faith that Sarah received strength to conceive and give birth to a child, even though she was past the age of childbearing. The author of Hebrews writes, “…she judged God faithful who had promised;” and because she did, God opened her womb, and she gave birth to a son, just as God had promised, and his name was Isaac. From Isaac, the seed of Abraham and Sarah, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Again, this was just as God had promised (Genesis 22:17).

When I look at my daughters (Annie, who battled childhood cancer but now is married with two children of her own…and Abi, who was born with crippled feet but now runs on two healthy feet, I rarely see them without also seeing God’s mercy, love, and grace, and His hand of miraculous power. So I can only imagine that every time Sarah looked at Isaac, she would have remembered God’s faithfulness to keep His promises.

Friends, remembering God’s faithfulness is not only an encouragement to stay faithful to Him, but it is the weapon we need to use in our warfare with the enemy, when fears rise up to surround us, or sorrows keep us inward focused, or following God’s call on our lives seems too risky… It is why we are told throughout Scripture to keep our eyes on Him. Or, paraphrasing one commentary, recalling God’s guidance through the wilderness and His protection from enemies, anchors our current trust in His past faithfulness.

Consider the words of the Psalmists and others in the Bible:

Psalm 77:11-12: “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.”


1 Chronicles 16:12: “Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered.”


Psalm 103:2: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

And may we never forget the words of the Apostle Paul which guide us to a peace that passes all understanding:

Philippians 4:8-9: “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

SARAH SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL

Father, help us continually remember Your faithfulness, and, in response, may we remain faithful to You, even in the seasons of waiting we face along the way. Thank you for the beautiful examples you have given us throughout Your Word. ~ Strengthen us, as the author of Hebrews wrote, to hold fast to the profession of our faith without wavering, knowing that You who promised are faithful. ~Amen and Amen

Reflection and Application

Why do you think Sarah was included in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews chapter 11? ~ I believe it is because her faith points us to The One in whom we are to place our faith – The One Who is the most faithful Promise Keeper we will ever know. ~What are your thoughts?

The More We Know

Paul Weighs In

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. Romans 4:18-22 NLT

  1. The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. Genesis 12:1 ↩︎
  2. “2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” ↩︎
  3. She, delighting in the examples of women in the Bible, volume 4, pp. 71 ↩︎
Person standing beside signpost on dirt road in desert at sunset
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 4

Sarah’s Visit from the LORD

Posted on by MaryEllen

adapted from She, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible, Volume 4/pp69-70

Today’s Scripture: Genesis 18 and 21:1-3; Isaiah 64:4; Psalm 56:3

For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him! Isaiah 64:4 NLT

Genesis 18 is filled with details that are helpful, if not necessary, for understanding and truly appreciating this part of Sarah’s story and the blessing that she and Abraham experience.

Bibleref.com sums the first portion up like this: “The events of Genesis 18 take place not long after God’s visit with Abraham in chapter 17. However, this visit from the Lord is quite different. It’s not clear, at first, if Abraham even recognizes the three men who appear outside of his tent as the Lord and two angels in human form. In either case, Abraham runs to show them deep respect and hospitality. He tells Sarah to bake them bread and has a young calf slaughtered for them to eat as they rest in the heat of the day.

Once the meal is over, the Lord fully reveals Himself, in a conversation He conducts with Sarah through Abraham while she remains hidden and listening in the tent. First, the Lord asks where Sarah is and then reveals to her what He had said to Abraham in the previous chapter: by this time a year from now, she will have a son.“

“by this time a year from now Sarah will have a son.“

Genesis 18:10

Part of the story hasn’t changed, Sarah is still barren and advanced in age…but now she knows her waiting is about to come to an end. As we read in Genesis 21:1, the Lord keeps His promise – regardless of how difficult a thing may seem in human eyes or understanding – nothing is too difficult for our God! We are not told exactly how the promise comes about – only that “the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did unto Sara as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac” (Genesis 21:1-3).

How would you say you wait? Patiently…Impatiently…Excitedly…Nervously…Doubtfully…? I would venture to say that for most – if not all of us, it depends on what we’re waiting for. My four-year-old grandson is working on waiting patiently to have our attention if we are already talking to someone else. Sometimes he waits really well, but if what he wants to say is super exciting or important, the wait becomes nearly impossible for him. Sometimes I wait well, but waiting on a doctor’s report or a job position may turn into waiting nervously, waiting on my smoothie at McDonald’s when I’m running late for work may stir up the impatient side of me, and the eight years of waiting on a baby ran the gamut from waiting patiently to impatiently to excitedly and nervously and eventually doubtfully. The fact of the matter is, waiting is generally not easy, so when you’re talking 25 years of waiting, which is approximately the amount of time that Sarah and Abraham waited on the promise God had made concerning Sarah having a child, specifically a male child who would be the first seed of the great nation God had told Abraham he would one day father.

As we have seen through our journey with Sarah, it wasn’t an easy wait for her, and subsequently not an easy wait for Abraham either. However, “the longer she waited, the more of a miracle her situation became.” Why? Because the older she and Abraham became, the possibility of conceiving and giving birth, humanly speaking, diminished. Sarah understood this, which is why she laughed at the very thought of it being true – it is also why God’s rebuttal to her laughter was a question: “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14). It was a pointed reminder then and remains so today, that nothing, absolutely nothing, can limit or hold back the power of God.

“Waiting sometimes causes us to fear the unknown. However, there is no need to fear when we trust in Him.”

She, study guide, volume 4, p70

Friends, I don’t know if waiting ever becomes easy. However, I have found that the more life has required me to wait, the more God has strengthened/deepened my roots of faith. Waiting teaches us to depend on God, to look to Him for help when we grow weary and/impatient, to confess our weariness and trust Him even in the midst of humanly impossible situations that raise shadows of doubts. … Yes, as today’s journal entry states: “Waiting sometimes causes us to fear the unknown. However, there is no need to fear when we trust in Him.1“

The More We Know

The Wait for Isaac

Genesis 12 begins the story of Abraham (then called Abram) and his barren wife, Sarah. Verses 1 through 4 record God’s first words to him about a homeland for his offspring. Even though the gift of a son is not directly mentioned in this first communication, God hinted at His plan for Abram. Abraham was 75 years old when he first received the promise, and Genesis 21:5 tells us he was 100 years old when Isaac was born. Sarah was 90. So Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for the fulfillment of God’s promise.

In those 25 years between the time that Abram was promised a son and the birth of Isaac, Abram and Sarah had certain ideas of how they might facilitate the keeping of the promise. One was that Abraham’s steward, Eliezer, would become the heir of Abraham’s household (Genesis 15:2–3). Another idea was that Abraham could have an heir through a son conceived by Sarah’s slave, Hagar (Genesis 16:1–2). In both cases, God rejected those men as Abraham’s heirs, pointing Abraham and Sarah to a literal, miraculous fulfillment of the promise.2

  1. She, study guide, volume 4, p70 ↩︎
  2. Gotquestions.org ↩︎
Woman looking up at the Milky Way in a desert at night
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 4, Uncategorized

Sarah

Posted on by MaryEllen

adapted from the study She, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible, volume 4/pp63-64

Today’s Scripture Reading: Genesis 17, Genesis 18:11-12, and Jeremiah 32:17

Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by the great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:”

This is our third day’s journey with Sarah, or Sarai, as she has been known until now, when God gives her a new identity. It wasn’t a drastic change, simply one letter, but when God changed someone’s name, there was always a reason. According to gotquestions.org, “it was usually to establish a new identity. In this case, Sarai, meaning ‘my princess‘, became ‘Sarah’, meaning ‘mother of nations‘ (Genesis 17:15).”

It has been said before, but the ‘elephant’ (as they say) is still in the room: Whether she is called Sarai or Sarah she is still not pregnant and there is literally no human hope or physical possibilities of her being able to conceive. So, why would God grace her with this new identity? “Mother of nations? Seriously? She wasn’t even the mother of one. She had been barren for decades and well beyond childbearing age. This was more than Sarah’s opinion it was physical reality for we read in Genesis 18:11-12 that Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. 12 So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” It would take a miracle for Sarah to give Abraham a son now ~ and that’s exactly what happened. As just “one year later, God’s supernatural restoration of Sarah’s womb and Abraham’s vitality resulted in the promised son, Isaac.  Abraham and Sarah’s moment of too much inward focus and not enough focus on God’s ability to do the impossible was a brief interlude to an otherwise trusting and believing relationship, as the author of Hebrews attests.1“

By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

(Hebrews 11:11–12)

Sarah is an example that nothing is too hard for the Lord our God.

Friends, let’s remember ~ if God can provide the impossible for Sarah, He is also able to so for us💜

Reflection and Application

How have you doubted God before? Is there something you are doubting Him about now?

The More We Know

What’s in a Name?

God changed Abram’s name, meaning “high father,” to “Abraham,” meaning “father of a multitude” (Genesis 17:5). At the same time, God changed Abraham’s wife’s name from “Sarai,” meaning “my princess,” to “Sarah,” meaning “mother of nations” (Genesis 17:15). This name change took place when God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. God also reaffirmed His promise to give Abraham a son, specifically through Sarah, and told him to name his son Isaac, meaning “laughter.” Abraham had another son, Ishmael, through Sarah’s handmaiden, Hagar. But God’s promise to bless the nations through Abraham was to be fulfilled through Isaac’s line, from whom Jesus descended (Matthew 1:1–17; Luke 3:23–38). Isaac was the father of Jacob, who became “Israel.” His twelve sons formed the twelve tribes of Israel—the Jews. The physical descendants of Abraham and Sarah formed many nations. In a spiritual sense, their descendants are even more numerous. Galatians 3:29 says that all who belong to Jesus Christ—Jew, Gentile, male, or female—are “Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

  1. Answer in Genesis ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, prayer, Quiet Time, She, Volume 4

Sarah~ [Sarai], part 2… and Hagar

Posted on by MaryEllen

adapted from the study She, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible, volume 4/pp63-64

Today’s Scripture Reading: Genesis 16 and Isaiah 55:8-9

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar.

Genesis 16:1

In our last encounter with Sarah, we learned that she was married to Abraham, and she left her family and a life she had known for more than 50 years to follow Abraham to a land God said He would show them. She has heard God’s promise to Abraham of many descendants that would make up a great nation. Yet, four chapters later, Scripture still reports that she has no children.

Sarah was considered barren, Yet she knew what God had promised.

She, Delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible, Volume 4, p65

The journal for this study poses the question, “Why had she not gotten pregnant yet?” This made me think of others we’ve met on our journeys, like Hannah (1 Samuel 1:5) and Rachel (Genesis 30:22), both of whom are reminders of the fact that it is God who opens the womb and/or keeps it closed. The journal also reminds us that “she was getting up in years, and it seemed as if time was short.” This truth is made evident in today’s journey through Genesis 16, where we find that Sarah decides not to wait any longer; she devises a plan and takes the necessary steps to carry it out. The plan involved her Egyptian handmaid, Hagar, and the very desperate act of having her sleep with Abraham. (Yes, this was a cultural norm at the time, but I can only imagine how desperate you must be for a child to consider, let alone actually, employing it.) I would like to say that I have never been one to manipulate situations for a certain outcome, but sadly, I played those games for years when I was younger, and I learned, just like Sarah, that manipulation comes with regret and consequences that are often more difficult and disappointing than waiting for God and His timing.

Friends, we must never forget that patience is a highly esteemed virtue in the Bible, often described as “long-suffering” or “endurance”. It is not passive waiting, but an active, steadfast trust in God’s timing and loving treatment of others. Patience is not only a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), but according to James, it is also a key ingredient in developing spiritual maturity (James 1:3-4).

We would be wise to remember that our God, the same God of Abraham and Sarah, is a sovereign God, a keeper of promises, and His timing is always perfect. Apparently, though, the years of waiting have made her question, if not flat-out disbelieve, that she would ever get pregnant. Unlike God, she had a plan B and set it in motion through a conversation with Abraham, explaining her plan. She then takes Hagar and gives her to Abram as a ‘surrogate’ wife. Can you even imagine what a desperate desire Sarah had for a child, to the point that this became her solution?

A Plan Gone Wrong

2 So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. 3 So Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian servant and gave her to Abram as a wife. (This happened ten years after Abram had settled in the land of Canaan.) 4 So Abram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. But when Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt.

Genesis 16:2-4

The plan accomplishes Sarah’s desire for a child, but it backfires in every other way. Her husband was now the husband of Hagar, her handmaid, who was now pregnant with his child. On top of that, Hagar now despises Sarah and treats her with contempt, and in turn, Scripture says that Sarah treated Hagar harshly, and Hagar fled from Sarah’s presence.” (Genesis 16:6, CSB)

Sarah is an example of how impatience, not being willing to wait on God’s will, can lead to trouble and heartache ~ having a negative impact on our lives as well as others. I also believe Hagar serves as an example of how jealousy can lead to broken relationships. ~ May God guard us from jealousy and impatience. In His worthy and powerful name I pray – AMEN!

The More We Know

I hope you will take time to learn more about Hagar from this commentary, borrowed from Gotquestions.org.

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, She, Volume 4

Sarah~[Sarai], part 1

Posted on by MaryEllen

adapted from the study She, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible, volume 4/pp63-64

Today’s Scripture Reading: Genesis 11:27-32, Genesis 12, and Genesis 18:14

This is the account of Terah’s family. Terah was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran was the father of Lot. 28 But Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, the land of his birth, while his father, Terah, was still living. 29 Meanwhile, Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah. (Milcah and her sister Iscah were daughters of Nahor’s brother Haran.) 30 But Sarai was unable to become pregnant and had no children.

31 One day Terah took his son Abram, his daughter-in-law Sarai (his son Abram’s wife), and his grandson Lot (his son Haran’s child) and moved away from Ur of the Chaldeans. He was headed for the land of Canaan, but they stopped at Haran and settled there. 32 Terah lived for 205 years and died while still in Haran.

Genesis 11:27-32 (NLT)

God was repositioning Abraham and Sarah according to His perfect plan and they followed where He led.

Me~ from the InsideOut🦋

When we first read of Abraham and Sarah, they are living with Abraham’s family in Ur of the Chaldeans, but they moved away from there, intending to move to the land of Canaan. However, Terah, Abraham’s father, settled the family in Haran. Abraham and Sarah stayed with his family until God spoke to Abraham, telling him to move out of the country, away from his father’s family. While this move requried blind faith (for God simply said, move to a land that I will show you), it came with an amazing promise of blessing, which included him being made into a great nation, fame, God’s protection, and becoming a blessing to others. God was repositioning Abraham and Sarah according to His perfect plan and they followed where He led. Keep in mind that Abraham was at 75 years old when God called him out of Haran. Yet, Scripture doesn’t tell us that Abraham struggled with this call on his life. He and Sarah had made a home in Haran for at least 50 years. It was where their family was, but we read of no debate or conversation between Abraham and Sarah about whether to go or stay – only that Abraham (still called Abram at the time) departed as the Lord had instructed.

4 So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. 5 He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth—his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran—and headed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan, 6 Abram traveled through the land as far as Shechem. There he set up camp beside the oak of Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites. (Gen 12:4-6)

It was in Shechem, where the Lord appeared again to Abraham, saying:

“I will give this land to your descendants.[a]” After which, “Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord. 9 Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev. (Gen 12:7-9)

If you’re reading this account of Abraham and Sarah for the first time, or if you’ve read it more than a dozen times yet find yourself amazed yet again at God’s timing in the things He discloses before they even happen, you may be wondering how the promise of making Abraham into a great nation and giving land to his “descendants” could ever happen, especially since Sarah was barren, (Genesis 11:30) … but rest assured friends, it happens just as God said it would. Join me tomorrow and in the week ahead as we explore Sarah’s story, which includes her handmaid named Hagar, Sarah’s plan to have a baby despite being barren. and God asking Abraham the questions: “Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ 14 ‘Is anything too hard for the Lord?’ I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

Is anything too hard for the Lord?

Genesis 18:14a

A Prayer of Response

O Sovereign Lord, may we never doubt what You have said, but instead always stand amazed at the reality we see time and time again in Your Word, that nothing is too difficult for You.You gave sight to the blind, You made the lame walk, and You raised Your only begotten Son from the grave that we might have everlasting life! Absolutely nothing is too difficult for You. 💜

Reflection and Application:

  1. What is God positioning you for? Are you ready to follow where He leads/calls you to go?
  2. Is there something that seems impossible to you right now?
    • Health situations?
    • Finances?
    • An unsaved loved one?
    • The return of a prodigal child?

~ Ask the Lord to help you have faith in Him today, remind yourself often throughout the day(s) ahead that “NOTHING, absolutely nothing is too difficult for our God.”

The More We Know

Sarai began her life in the pagan world of Ur, in the land of the Chaldees, which was located in the area now known as Iraq. She was the half-sister, as well as the wife, of Abram, who would be called Abraham. Sarai and Abram had the same father but different mothers, according to Genesis 20:12. In those days, genetics were purer than they are today, and intermarriage was not detrimental to the offspring of unions between relatives. Also, since people tended to spend their lives clustered together in family units, it was the natural course to choose mates from within their own tribes and families.

When Abram encountered the living God for the first time, he believed Him (Genesis 12:1–4; 15:6) and followed after Him, obeying His command to leave his home to go to a place he had never heard about, much less seen. Sarai went with him.

Their journey brought them to the area called Harran (Genesis 11:31). Abram’s father, Terah, passed away in this city, and Abram, Sarai, and their nephew Lot and their retinue continued their journey, allowing God to lead and guide them. With no housing and no modern conveniences, the journey must have been very difficult for all, especially for the women. During their journey, there was a famine in the land, prompting Abram and Sarai to go to Egypt (Genesis 12:10). When they did, Abram feared that the Egyptians would kill him because Sarai was beautiful and they would want her as a wife. So he asked Sarai to tell everyone that she was Abram’s sister—which was technically true but also meant to deceive. Sarai was taken into Pharaoh’s house, and Abram was treated well because of her. But God afflicted Pharaoh’s house, and the couple’s lie was revealed. Pharaoh returned Sarai to Abram and sent them on their way (Genesis 12). Sarai and Abram came back to the land now known as Israel. They had acquired many possessions and a great deal of wealth in their travels, so Lot and Abram agreed to split up in order that the massive herds of cattle would have adequate ground for grazing (Genesis 13:9).

Gotquestions.org

King seated on an ornate throne extending a jeweled scepter to a queen in a grand palace hall with golden columns and courtiers.
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 4

Esther, Part 3

Posted on by MaryEllen

adapted from She, volume 4, Delighting in the Examples of the Women of the Bible, pp 21-22

Today’s Scripture: Esther 3-4

“…and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14b

As has been said many times already, Esther was placed here in this Kingdom at a specific time for a specific purpose. From an exiled Jew, to an orphan girl, to one of hundreds ‘auditioning’ for the role of Queen of Persia, she now has the opportunity to save her people (God’s people) from the murderous plot of Haman.

So far in our journey through Esther, the attention has been on the King’s need for a new queen and Esther’s rise to that position. Today, the story turns its focus to Mordecai, Esther’s relative, who raised her and Haman, King Xerxes’ chief adviser. To understand what happens next, it is vitally important that we understand the connection between the two men.

  • In Esther 3 one of Xerxes’ chief advisers, Haman, is angered that Mordecai will not bow down to him, so he hatches a plot to kill not only Mordecai but all of the Jews. Haman convinces King Xerxes to authorize the extermination; however, it appears that the king does not know the identity of the people that Haman plans to wipe out—only that they are enemies of the state. He trusts Haman to handle the details. In chapter 4 Mordecai informs Esther of the danger the Jews are in and convinces her to intercede with the king. The problem Esther faces is that Xerxes has not called for her for some time and, if she approaches him without being summoned, she risks death. At this point, neither the king nor Haman knows Esther’s nationality or her relationship to Mordecai. Mordecai encourages Esther to take the risk, saying that perhaps she has been made queen “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).
  • The Root of the Conflict: Mordecai refused to bow to Haman due to his Jewish convictions, which triggered Haman’s murderous rage. Guzik points out that this conflict mirrors the historical, spiritual enmity between Satan and God’s people. Blue Letter Bible +3
  • Malicious Deception: To convince King Ahasuerus to sign the decree of annihilation, Haman manipulated the king by falsely labeling the Jews as an isolated, disobedient, and dangerous people. 
  • The Sovereignty of God: Guzik reminds readers that even when God’s name is not explicitly mentioned, His redemptive plan remains firm behind the scenes, turning chaotic evil into eventual deliverance. 1

Esther was worried about the request Mordecai had made of her, and rightfully so. To go before the King could mean not just upsetting the King, but there was a great chance she would lose her life. Mordecai is undoubtedly aware of this, yet he still prods her to consider that this might be the very reason God has placed her in the position of Queen. Friends, Mordecai’s instructions and reminder to Esther that she was there for a reason couldn’t have been easy for either of them. Yet, as her parental figure and spiritual mentor, it was the right thing to say, and as fear/concern arose within her, she needed to hear the admonishment and encouragement, to be spurred on, as Paul wrote to the church in the New Testament. Honestly, friends, I cannot help but think that this is our job as believers today. For as brothers and sisters in Christ, we are to encourage one another daily, spurring one another on to love and good works, lifting each other up when we are weak. Likewise, are we not to respond as Esther did, both committing to pray and requesting prayer for issues concerning the body of Christ?

She is a wonderful example for us to follow, as women of faith.

Esther considers his words and takes it upon herself to fast and pray for three days, asking Mordecai to: “Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.” – It strikes me that while Esther ‘intimately’ knew the King she wasn’t certain she could trust the him not to kill her; but she both knew and trusted her God. She was concerned, if not scared, for her welfare, yet she did not change her position nor her commitment to what she was called to do.

She did not do it alone; she enlisted her people to fast and pray for her … pledging to “go in unto the king even thought it wasn’t according to the law,” saying: “If I perish, I perish.”

If you’ve never read the ending of Esther’s beautiful story, I encourage you to make time for that now – and see the unbelievable way that she was used by God to save not only Mordecai and herself but all of God’s people. You will undoubtedly see that Esther is an example not only of God’s sovereign power but also of how He can empower us to do great things for His glory.

Reflection and Application

  • What would have happened to Esther if the king had not held out the golden scepter?
  • Would you be brave enough to risk your life for God’s glory?
  • How can you follow Esther’s example?
  • How can you follow Mordecai’s example?

The More We Know

  1. Blue Letter Bible, Commentary by David Guzik on Esther chapter 3 and 4:14 ↩︎
Persian palace with blue domes and illuminated arches at sunset
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 4

Esther, Part 2

Posted on by MaryEllen

adapted from She, volume 4 of Delighting in the examples of the Women of the Bible/pp19-20

Today’s Scripture: Esther 1-2 and Psalm 75:6-7

6 For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, 7 but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. Psalm 75:6-7

Esther also serves as an example that we are able to obtain grace and favor in the sight of our King. 1

The Road to Queenship

So many thoughts go through my mind when I read this portion of the story. Did the women have a choice? Is it something they would have wanted? As young Persian girls had they dreamed about becoming the queen? Surely, as a Jew, Esther would have never entertained the thought – yet here she was on the threshold of that possibility. I can’t help but wonder how she felt. After all, it seems to be the beauty pageant of all beauty pageants (of which I have never been a fan). Secondly, as was the custom of the day/culture, the women were being groomed, trained/coached, and then examined not just for their beauty but also for their appeal to the king and their suitability or likability as the queen. Keep in mind, this wasn’t just a long-weekend spa treatment; it was a yearlong regimen.2 It is also helpful, if not important, to understand, as gotquestions.org explains, “the queen of Persia was not simply the wife of the king. The queenship was an honorary/political position. The king was a polygamist with many wives and concubines in his harem, but the queen was a special wife occupying a favored position. … Each of the women would spend a night with the king. After their night together, each woman would be moved to the “other side” of the harem and would never see the king again, unless he called for her.“3 Actually, it is said by one commentator that “when the king found the ‘right one,’ He would name her queen, although she would not be his exclusive wife or sexual partner. A woman whom Xerxes never called again would live her life in the harem as a pampered prisoner with no possibility for a real marriage or family of her own. ~ Perhaps it is just because we live in a completely different culture, but I cannot imagine any woman choosing or wanting this life.


15When the turn came for Esther, the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now, Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her. 16And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign, 17the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 

Esther 2:15-17

Friends, I am confident of this: nothing in Esther’s life was a mistake or a coincidence. From the timing of the exile … to the death of her parents … to Mordecai raising her as his own daughter … to the fact that she was still in Judah, having not returned with Ezra at the end of the exile … to her finding favor in the eyes of Hegai, the King’s keeper of women … to her heeding Mordecai’s wisdom/advice to not reveal that she was a Jew … to the grace and favor she found in the king’s sight … and ultimately the crown that was placed upon her head … and everything we will witness in the next chapters of our journey … all of it is more evidence of God ordering the steps of Esther and protecting the plight of His people.

The Wisdom of a Secret Kept

In regard to Esther’s obedience and respect to Mordecai’s request that she not reveal that she was a Jew, consider this commentary by David Guzik:

Now, Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her: Some have thought that the book of Esther carries this idea of concealment too far. This book has been criticized because it does not mention the name of God (as neither does the Song of Solomon).

i. Some say that the name of God was left out of the book of Esther because of its use in the festivities surrounding Purim, where people commonly became drunk. One rabbi taught: “A man is obligated to drink on Purim until he is unable to distinguish between ‘Blessed be Mordecai’ and ‘Cursed be Haman.’” Some have wondered if, in that atmosphere, it would be too easy to profane the name of God if it were to be read at such a festival.

ii. Others see the name YHWH hidden in acrostics, based on the initial and final letters of successive words in Esther 1:20, 5:4, 5:13, and 7:7. In some manuscripts, the letters in these words are written a bit larger to give them prominence.

iii. Perhaps also the book of Esther does not contain the name of God because it was written under Persian rule, and for distribution in the Persian Empire.

iv. Most likely, the book of Esther doesn’t have the name of God because it shows how God works behind the scenes; God is always active in Esther, even though it is behind the scenes.

The More We Know

In Esther 2, Xerxes begins to regret his decision to oust the queen, and he decides to find a new queen. The queen of Persia was not simply the wife of the king. The queenship was an honorary/political position. The king was a polygamist with many wives and concubines in his harem, but the queen was a special wife occupying a favored position. A call is sent out throughout the kingdom for all beautiful virgins to be gathered into the harem so that the king could choose a new queen from among them. As a member of the harem, a woman would technically be the property of the king—either a wife or a concubine. Each of the women would spend a night with the king. After their night together, each woman would be moved to the “other side” of the harem and would never see the king again, unless he called for her. When he found the “right one,” Xerxes would name her queen, although she would not be his exclusive wife or sexual partner. A woman whom Xerxes never called again would live her life in the harem as a pampered prisoner with no possibility for a real marriage or family of her own.4

  1. She, Volume 4, Delighting in the Examples of the Women of the Bible ↩︎
  2. 3. (Esther 2:12-14) The method of preparing and presenting the women before the king is established.
    Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months’ preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women. Thus prepared, each young woman went to the king, and she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the women’s quarters to the king’s palace. In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned to the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who kept the concubines. She would not go in to the king again unless the king delighted in her and called for her by name.
    a. After she had completed twelve months’ preparation: Persia was one of many countries famous for its aromatic perfumes and ancient customs for the preparations of brides, including ritualistic baths, plucking of the eyebrows, the painting of hands and feet with henna, facial make-up, and applications of a beautifying paste all over the body, meant to lighten the color of the skin and to remove spots and blemishes.
    i. One reason for the lengthy time of preparation was to tell if the women had been pregnant upon coming into the harem, so that the king would not be charged with fathering a child that was not his.
    ii. Matthew Poole says that the oils and perfumes were necessary because “The bodies of men and women in those hot countries did of themselves yield very ill scents, if not corrected and qualified by art.”
    b. Thus prepared, each young woman went to the king: It sounds wonderful – a year of constant spa treatments. Yet the destiny of these women should also be considered: one evening with the king. If he chose them from the 400 others to be his queen, then she would be his companion (until she displeased him). As for the 399 who lost, they were banished to the harem where they stayed the wife or the concubine of the king, but rarely if ever saw him afterwards. And they were never free to marry another man, essentially living as a perpetual widow.
    ↩︎
  3. Gotquestions.org ↩︎
  4. The method of preparing and and presenting the women to the king ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 4

Delilah

Posted on by MaryEllen

adapted from She, delighting in the women of the Bible, volume 4, pp. 11-12

Today’s Scripture: Judges 16; 1 Corinthians 10:6; 1 Timothy 6:10

The Judas of the Old Testament

She sold out Samson for at least 1,100 pieces of silver; yet another picture that money is the root of all evil.1

After this Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the Sorek Valley. 5 The rulers of the Philistines went up to visit her and said to her, “Trick him! Find out what makes him so strong and how we can subdue him and humiliate him. Each one of us will vgive you 1,100 silver pieces.” Judges 16:4-5

Can I just say right up front that Delilah, the Judas of the Old Testament, as some have dubbed her, is not a positive role model from Scripture? Instead, she serves as an example of “what not to do” or “how not to live”. Seriously, friends, she lacks any hint of good character, and, quoting from today’s journal entry in the study guide: “Her lack of character is enshrined within the pages of Scripture for each generation to learn from her wickedness.” Let it be heard, loud and clear, there is nothing from her life that we should copy; however, we can clearly learn some ‘lessons of what not to do’.

The Philistines were always trying to understand Samson’s strength and find a way to defeat him. They were always thwarted—Samson was just too strong—until they teamed with Delilah. This woman was eventually Samson’s downfall.

gotquestions.org

Let’s look at the bullet points of her story:

  • Delilah had an affair with Samson, one of the judges of Israel (Judges 16)
  • She betrayed Samson to the Philistines for no other reason than money (Judges 16:19)
  • She accepted a bribe from the Philistine leaders to get Samson to reveal the secret of his great strength (Judges 16:18-19)
  • Delilah was relentless in her attempt to find out his secret and finally won out through her “nagging” (16:16-17)
  • Delilah’s love of money was greater than anything she may have felt for Samson (Judges 16:5-6)

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10

Make no mistake: today’s journey through the story of Delilah is meant to be about the example she left behind, not about whether money is good or evil. However, we would be terribly remiss not to mention the role money plays in her story. to note that she had a love for money, and that her love and/or craving for money led to her ‘evil’ actions of selling Samson out to those who sought to destroy him. In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he warned him that the love of money could lead to all kinds of evil. So, while money itself is not evil, in light of Delilah’s example concerning money, I am reminded of the wisdom in Paul’s teaching. May God help us keep it in our minds so that we do not fall captive to the craving for it ourselves and wander from the faith, inflicting many sorrows upon ourselves or others.

The Danger of “Delilahs”

David Guzik, a wonderful commentator, uses Delilah to symbolize ‘ anything that lures a believer away from God’s truth and power. He urges his readers to guard their hearts and not let their guard down in dangerous, fleshy environments.2 We would be wise to heed his wisdom and warn others to do the same.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

1 Corinthians 10:6

Reflection and Application

What can we learn from Delilah?

How is her deception an example to you?

What can we learn from Samson?

The More We Know

  1. She, delighting in the women of the Bible, volume 4, pp. 11 ↩︎
  2. https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/judges/judges-16.cfm ↩︎