Jesus – Page 2 – Me From the Inside Out

Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, part 1

Posted on May 3, 2026 by MaryEllen

Adapted from She, delighting in the women of the Bible, volume 3, pp 29-30

Today’s Scripture: Matthew 1 and Luke 1:37

For with God nothing will be impossible.

Luke 1:37

I suppose it seems odd in a sense to read certain Scriptures at certain times of the year. What I mean is we tend to read, even relegate, certain passages to particular times of the year. For instance, the passages about the crucifixion are more typically heard in the spring, while those about Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus are typically heard in December. Verses about being thankful are heard throughout the year, but seem to come to life more during the latter part of October and throughout November. So when I began working on this portion of our study, which spends five days covering Mary, the mother of Jesus, while seasonally celebrating the long-awaited Spring sunshine and warmth, I found it a bit odd at first. However, after reading the first of the five days, which comes with the reminder that nothing is impossible with God, it no longer seems odd ~ but perfectly refreshing. For it is a sweet reminder my ears and heart needed to hear.

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS, SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE THAT NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.
SHE, DELIGHTING IN THE WOMEN OF THE BIBLE, VOLUME 3, P 30

Many of the women (if not all) who we’ve studied through this journey are vivid reminders of this truth, are they not?

Gomer was the unfaithful wife of Hosea; her infidelity was a symbol of Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness, but Hosea’s marriage to and redemption of Gomer is an enduring symbol of God’s faithfulness and provisional redemption of His unfaithful people, then and now, through Jesus Christ. God’s words to ancient Israel should fill us with hope today: “I will betroth you to me forever; / I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, / in love and compassion. / I will betroth you in faithfulness, / and you will acknowledge the Lord” (Hosea 2:19–20). (gotquestions.org)

Elisabeth, the cousin of Mary, became a mother in her “old age,” something she and her husband believed to be impossible.

Leah’s womb was finally opened when there seemed to be no hope of that ever happening, and she gave birth to Joseph and Benjamin.

Rahab, the prostitute, not only offered safety to the spies Joshua had sent into the land, but she was also miraculously spared (along with her family) from the death that came on everyone else within the walls of Jericho, and her name is now found in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

Tabitha, against all possibilities, rose from the dead after Peter had prayed and told her to arise.

The son of the Widow of Nain arose from his deathbed at Jesus’ command.

For with God nothing will be impossible.
Luke 1:37

Truly, nothing is impossible with God, as we are reminded in today’s story of Mary in Matthew 1. She was a virgin and yet with child, just as Isaiah had prophesied. All impossibilities became possible not only for Mary, but for everyone who has ever put their faith in Jesus Christ. For had He not been fully man and fully God, the requirements of the law would not have been met, and we would have no spotless lamb to take away our sins and fit us for Heaven. Praise God for all the wonderful impossibilities made possible through Jesus Christ, the immaculately conceived Son of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Reflection and Application

Why is the virgin birth of Jesus Christ so important?

Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

The Widow of Nain

Posted on April 30, 2026April 30, 2026 by MaryEllen

adapted from She, delighting in the women of the Bible, Volume 3, pp 75-76

Today’s Scripture: Luke 7:11-17 and 1 John 4:9

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 1 Jn 4:9

The raising of the dead never gets old, does it? On the contrary, it moves (or should move) us to marvel at what God has done, weeping with joy and/or glorifying God. Whether it is Peter raising a beloved and generous widow from her deathbed, or Jesus speaking to a mother’s son lying dead on a bier¹, or Christ, who was dead for three days but rose and walked out of the tomb on the third day – may we never cease to glorify God when we read of resurrected life or see Him work miracles around/for us today.

THE WIDOW OF NAIN SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE MIRACLES THAT CHRIST CAN PERFORM IN OUR LIVES SIMPLY BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR US. ²

The emphasis on never tiring of reading about these miracles hit me today as I caught myself thinking – ‘hey, we just read about Peter telling Tabitha to “arise”‘. I found it a bit strange that the study book had put two “resurrection” accounts so close together. However, there are notable differences, such as in the story of Tabitha being raised, which happened because Peter had been urged to come without delay. Yet, in the story of the widow of Nain, Scripture does not indicate that Jesus had been told about the son’s death, only that Jesus saw her, and He had compassion on her, saying, “Weep not”. These comforting words were followed by the life-giving words spoken to her son: “Young man, I say to you, arise.”

Friends, until that day comes when we are called to be with Him, may we rise up daily, take up our cross, turn from our selfish ways, and faithfully follow Him toward everlasting life in His presence.

The More We Know

When the Lord works miracles, we must do just as the multitudes did that day…glorify Him.³

So what does it mean to glorify God?

I was taught years ago that to glorify God means to make him known.

Check out these other helpful definitions/explanations that rightfully help us to understand the importance and value of glorifying God.

Glorifying God is the ultimate purpose of human existence, defined in Christian theology as thinking, feeling, and acting in ways that reflect God’s supreme greatness, beauty, and perfections. It is the act of making God’s glory visible, acknowledging His intrinsic worth (kabod/glory) and magnifying His character to the world.

The Theological Foundation of Glorifying God

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Glory: God possesses inherent, infinite glory (intrinsic) that cannot be increased. Glorifying God means acknowledging this glory and displaying it (extrinsic) through creation, redemption, and human lives.
The “Telescope” Analogy: As described by John Piper in The Wasted Life, humans are intended to act like telescopes, not microscopes. A telescope reveals the massive grandeur of God, whereas a microscope shrinks the view to focus on oneself.
The Trinity and Glory: God glorifies Himself in everything; therefore, believers glorify God by aligning with His purposes. Jesus modeled this by perfectly obeying the Father, revealing His character, and offering His life as a sacrifice.

Reflection and Application

Do you make a habit of glorifying God daily, regardless of where you are? Or do you just save it for Sunday morning church services? How can you be more intentional to daily glorify Him wherever you are and no matter who you are with?

How can we glorify God at all times? To glorify God is to honor Him with praise or worship. God is glorious; that is, He is great and magnificent—He is exceptionally grand in His nature and deeds. “Full of splendor and majesty is his work” (Psalm 111:3, ESV). When we glorify Him, we acknowledge His greatness and splendor and laud Him for it. When we “give Him glory,” as all the world is told to do in Revelation 14:7, we direct our praise, adoration, thanksgiving, and worship to Him who alone is worthy.

David suggested these particular ways (and more) in First Chronicles 16:7–36

• give praise to the Lord (verse 8)
• proclaim the greatness of God’s name (verse 8)
• tell the whole world what God has done (verses 8–9, 24)
• sing to the Lord (verses 9, 23)
• glory, or exult, in His name (verse 10)
• rejoice in Him (verse 10)
• seek out the Lord and trust in His power (verse 11)
• remember all the Lord’s mighty deeds (verse 12)
• ascribe glory and strength to Him because it is His due (verses 28–29). To ascribe is to think of as belonging, as a quality or characteristic; thus, we regard the Lord as possessing glory and strength.
• bring an offering to God (verse 29). In Asaph’s time, the offerings were in accordance with the Law of Moses; today, we are “to offer [our] bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is [our] true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1).
• worship the Lord (verse 29)
• give thanks to God for His goodness and love (verse 34)
• cry out to God for deliverance (verse 35)

Sources

A bier is a stand on which a corpse, coffin, or casket containing a corpse is placed to lie in state or to be carried to its final disposition. In a Christian burial, the bier is often placed in the center of the nave with candles surrounding it, and remains in place during the funeral. Source: Wikipedia ↩︎
She, delighting in the women of the Bible, Volume 3, pp 75-76 ↩︎
She, delighting in the women of the Bible, Volume 3, pp 75-76 ↩︎

Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, She, Volume 3

The Shunammite Woman

Posted on April 30, 2026April 30, 2026 by MaryEllen

adapted from She, delighting in the women of the Bible, Volume 3, pp 75-76

Today’s Scripture: 2 Kings 4 and 1 Corinthians 12:58

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
1 Corinthians 15:58

Today’s woman of the Bible, the Shunammite Woman, may not seem quite as exciting as some of the others we have studied – like Rahab, who risked her life by hiding the spies, but she has much to teach us in the way of hospitality and the blessings of our faith. Her story is found in 2 Kings chapter 4, where we find short details of several situations in her life involving the prophet Elisha.

The woman is described as a wealthy married woman in the village of Shunem, who had no children. She met Elisha and offered him food as he passed through their town of Shunem. Because he continued to pass their way, he would stop and visit/stay with them. She sensed that he was a “holy man (prophet) of God,” so she sought her husband’s permission to set up a guest room for Elisha, acknowledging Elisha as a true prophet and holy man of God. How nice it must have been for Elisha, who often passed that way in his travels, to know that he always had a place to stay. Today, many churches have a “prophet’s chamber” for traveling evangelists and other servants of God to stay in free of charge.

SHE SAW THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING FOR HIM THAT WOULD HONOR THE LORD¹

“The Shunammite woman’s heartfelt hospitality to Elisha and simple, sincere faith led to an amazing series of events. Elisha was certainly blessed. And God abundantly blessed the woman’s life during a difficult period in Israel. Still today, God often uses His people’s humble acts of service to bless both the giver and the receiver.”² For the full commentary by Gotquestions.org, visit https://www.gotquestions.org/Elisha-Shunammite-woman.html

Reflection and Application

Are you a person who practices hospitality?
What are some ways you can effectively practice hospitality today?
How does practicing hospitality honor those like Elisha who faithfully serve the Lord?

She, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible, p75 ↩︎
Gotquestions.org ↩︎

Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

Tamar

Posted on April 28, 2026April 29, 2026 by MaryEllen

adapted from She, Volume 3, Delighting in the Women of the Bible, pp 69-70

Today’s Scripture: Genesis 38 and 1 Corinthians 15:57

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

1 Corinthians 15:57

Tamar, believed by most commentators to be a non-Jew¹, ‘married into the family of God’ when she married Er, the oldest son of Jacob and Leah. While Er was Judah’s son and thus of Israelite descent, it is important to note that after selling his brother into slavery, Judah had left his home and family and married a Canaanite woman². Through this woman, Judah had three sons, Er, Onan, and Shelah. Er was given in marriage to a woman by the name of Tamar³. As we read in today’s Genesis 38, “Er was an evil man, so the Lord put him to death (verse 7). Following the custom of levirate marriage, Tamar was then given to Onan, who selfishly refused to give Tamar children (verse 9); he was also put to death by the Lord for his actions. Shelah was too young to take a wife, so Judah ordered Tamar to live as a widow in her father’s house (verse 11).⁴

Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until Shelah my son grows up.” For he thought, “I don’t want him to die like his brothers.” So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.
Genesis 38:11

However, as today’s journal entry points out: “Instead of doing what he had promised, Judah refrained from giving his third son to her to marry. When she realized this, Tamar took matters into her own hands and disguised herself as a prostitute, or harlot as she is called in the KJV, by covering her face from Judah when he inquired of her. She became pregnant with twins after her encounter with Judah, though he did not know it was her.” Afterward, Scripture says:

When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face. ¹⁶He turned aside to her along the road and said, “Come, please, I want to sleep with you.” (He did not realize it was his daughter-in-law.) She asked, “What will you give me so that you may sleep with me?” ¹⁷He replied, “I’ll send you a young goat from the flock.” She asked, “Will you give me a pledge until you send it?” ¹⁸He said, “What pledge should I give you?” She replied, “Your seal, your cord, and the staff that’s in your hand.” So he gave them to her, then slept with her, and she became pregnant by him. ¹⁹She left immediately, removed her veil, and put on her widow’s clothes.
Genesis 38:15-19

Tamar had tricked Judah into sleeping with her so that she would become pregnant. She also cleverly kept the one pledge for “her services” that she knew would prove that Judah was the father. According to verse 24 of Genesis 38, it is a good thing that she had the proof. For when Judah first learned she was pregnant, he ordered for her to be burned – “While they were bringing her out, she sent word to her father-in-law: “I am pregnant by the man to whom these belong.” Then she said, “Identify the one to whom the seal, cord, and staff belong.” ²⁶Judah recognized them and said, “She is more upright than I am, because I wouldn’t give her to Shelah my son.” He was not physically intimate with her again” (Genesis 38:23-26).

Tamar gave birth to twin sons, Zerah and Perez, and through the line of Perez came our Savior, Jesus Christ.

1This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham :

2Abraham was the father of Isaac.Isaac was the father of Jacob.Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers.3Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar).Perez was the father of Hezron.Hezron was the father of Ram.4Ram was the father of Amminadab.Amminadab was the father of Nahshon.Nahshon was the father of Salmon.5Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab).Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth).Obed was the father of Jesse.6Jesse was the father of King David.David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah).7Solomon was the father of Rehoboam.Rehoboam was the father of Abijah.Abijah was the father of Asa.8Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat.Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram.Jehoram was the father of Uzziah.9Uzziah was the father of Jotham.Jotham was the father of Ahaz.Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah.10Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh.Manasseh was the father of Amon.Amon was the father of Josiah.11Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon).12After the Babylonian exile:Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel.Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel.13Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud.Abiud was the father of Eliakim.Eliakim was the father of Azor.14Azor was the father of Zadok.Zadok was the father of Akim.Akim was the father of Eliud.15Eliud was the father of Eleazar.Eleazar was the father of Matthan.Matthan was the father of Jacob.16Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.

17All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.
Matthew 1:1-17

Tamar serves as an example of how God can overcome the sin we commit and give victory through His Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
She, Volume 3, delighting in the women of God, p 70

While the Bible does not explicitly state her ethnicity, Tamar (Genesis 38) is widely considered to have been a Canaanite or Aramean Gentile. She married into the Hebrew family of Judah, and despite her foreign background, she became an ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ. C.S. Lewis Institute +4
Gentile Background: Many scholars and traditions, including the C.S. Lewis Institute, describe her as an Aramean or Canaanite Gentile.
Marriage and Family: She was married to Judah’s firstborn son, Er, and later to his brother Onan.
Significance: Tamar is noted for her righteousness by Judah himself and for using unconventional means to secure her place in the family line. ↩︎
Genesis 38:1 ↩︎
Did you know there are three Tamars in the Bible? ↩︎
https://www.gotquestions.org/Judah-in-the-Bible.html ↩︎

Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Love, prayer, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

Tabitha

Posted on April 27, 2026April 27, 2026 by MaryEllen

adapted from the She study, delighting in the women of the Bible, volume 3, pp 68-69

Today’s Scripture Reading: Acts 9:32-43 and Proverbs 31:10

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.”
Proverbs 31:10

Tabitha, also known as Dorcas, is another woman of the Bible who is seldom taught and little known by most. Actually, if you had asked me three weeks ago (before I began looking through this study book) who Tabitha was, I would have told you she was a character from the Bewitched Show.¹ It wasn’t until I began reading today’s passage of Scripture that I remembered her story. This Tabitha was not an adorable child who could twitch her nose and make things move or disappear. Instead, she was a New Testament believer known for her good works and kind deeds. These deeds/works are not really elaborated on, but what we do know is that she was specifically known for her good works and acts of love for the poor/needy, particularly the widows (Acts 9:36 & 39).

While Tabitha’s story is told in a mere seven verses, it is one of inspiration and a miraculous restoration of life that led to many more believers in the city of Joppa. It is safe to say that her testimony is far more valuable than rubies. This is made evident when Peter not only responds quickly to the message he received about her passing, but then raises her from the dead.

SHE WAS ALIVE AGAIN, A LIVING TESTIMONY OF THE MIRACULOUS GRACE OF GOD.²

Friends, like Tabitha, our testimonies matter. How we live for God, not only on Sundays or when people are watching, matters. From our words, to our facial expressions, to the things we do for God and for others matter. How we live will either lead people toward God or away from Him. As my pastor preached yesterday,³ “others will know when we have spent time with Jesus”(Acts 4:13).

Every time a person is raised from the dead, it is a stupendous miracle, showing that the God who is Himself the Source of Life has the ability to give life to whom He will—even after death.⁴

Tabitha serves as an example that faithfulness can lead to great miracles and much fruit, which in this case was other believers⁵ (Acts 9:42).

Reflections and Application

When others see us, will they see that we have spent time with Jesus? Will they be able to tell that we are faithful followers of Jesus? When they hear or see that we are sick, will they call others in the body of Christ to pray for us? Will the watching world see what Jesus is doing in us and choose to follow him as well?

Faithfulness is a rare quality. How can you/we be more faithful?

The More We Know

How many people were raised from the dead in the Bible?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bewitched ↩︎
She, delighting in the women of the Bible, volume 3, p 69 ↩︎
Sermon, The Cost of Following, by Pastor David Lemming ↩︎
https://www.gotquestions.org/raised-from-the-dead.html ↩︎
She, delighting in the women of the Bible, volume 3, p 69 ↩︎

https://lmbc.org/media/v5r87c4/the-cost-of-following-part-3

Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, prayer, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

Rhoda

Posted on April 26, 2026April 26, 2026 by MaryEllen

Adapted from the She study, volume 3, pp. 57-58

Today’s Scripture: Acts 12 and Matthew 7:7-8

⁷“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

Have you ever been so excited or stunned by something or someone that you reacted differently than expected? That appears to be how it was with Rhoda – today’s woman of the BIble. Did you even know there was a Rhoda in the Bible? – I remember the story of Peter coming to the door of the house unexpectedly, but I did not remember the “damsel,” as the KJV describes her, named Rhoda. Her reaction to Peter’s appearance made me laugh out loud, mostly because I could picture myself reacting the same way.

James is killed, and Peter is imprisoned

12 About that time King Herod laid hands on some from the church to harm them. ²He had James, the brother of John, executed with a sword. ³When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too. (This took place during the feast of Unleavened Bread.) ⁴When he had seized him, he put him in prison, handing him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him. Herod planned to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. ⁵So Peter was kept in prison, but those in the church were earnestly praying to God for him. ⁶On that very night before Herod was going to bring him out for trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. ⁷Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the prison cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly!” And the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. ⁸The angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” Peter did so. Then the angel said to him, “Put on your cloak and follow me.” ⁹Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰After they had passed the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went outside and walked down one narrow street, when at once the angel left him. ¹¹When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from everything the Jewish people were expecting to happen.”

¹²When Peter realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying. ¹³When he knocked at the door of the outer gate, a slave girl named Rhoda answered. ¹⁴When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she did not open the gate, but ran back in and told them that Peter was standing at the gate. ¹⁵But they said to her, “You’ve lost your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was Peter, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” ¹⁶Now Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were greatly astonished. ¹⁷He motioned to them with his hand to be quiet and then related how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, “Tell James and the brothers these things,” and then he left and went to another place.

Acts 12:1-17

Their answer to prayer was literally knocking on the door of the house.¹

While I love Rhoda’s reaction, I appreciate even more that the very thing (person) they were praying for was knocking on the door of the house. Yet when they received her report, they thought she was crazy and declared that it must be his angel. However, when they heard the knocking, “they opened the door and were greatly astonished.“

Friends, while this might come across as a slapstick comedy at first, it is real. Peter was captured and awaiting a trial that would most likely result in his death. Prayer warriors were gathered together, praying for him – a prayer that, I imagine, most certainly would have included pleas for his protection and deliverance. Now, he stood knocking at the very door where they were praying. Yet when Rhoda, who recognized his voice, told them he was there, they could not believe it was true. I would dare say, most, if not all, of us may have reacted the same way. Much like Thomas², they needed to see it to believe it. While this is, of course, human nature, it brought a surge of conviction/reminder to me that when we pray, we are to pray believing and expecting God to answer, we are to watch and wait expectantly, and not doubt. We are to remember His deeds from the past, from speaking the world into place, to parting the Red Sea, to the empty tomb … and all of His miraculous deeds, including the evidence of His hand in our own lives. May we continually stand amazed at the door – astonished – not because we didn’t believe He could do such a great thing, but because we are overwhelmed with the joy we receive when we see His great deeds and experience His response to our prayers.

Rhoda serves as an example of the gladness and joy that we can receive when the Lord answers our persistent prayers.³

Reflection and Application

What evidence of His hand have you seen in your own life?

The More We Know

She, Volume 3 [delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible], pp 57 and 58 ↩︎
John 20:24-29 ↩︎
She, Volume 3 [delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible], p 58 ↩︎

Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

Rahab, part 2

Posted on April 24, 2026April 24, 2026 by MaryEllen

Adapted from the She study, volume 3, pp. 51-52

By faith Rahab the prostitute escaped the destruction of the disobedient, because she welcomed the spies in peace.
Hebrews 11:31

Rahab, a prostitute in Jericho, had not only welcomed the spies into her home, hid them, and lied to protect them, but she also professed her faith in their God. God considered this an act of genuine faith and spared her and her family from the destruction that met all the others who lived within the city’s walls. This was the promise the spies had made to her at her profession of faith in God and her request to “be saved” (Joshua 2:12-13).

For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below!
Joshua 2:11

The spies agreed to her request, giving her three conditions:

1) She must distinguish her house from the others by hanging a scarlet rope out of the window so the Israelites would know which home to spare.
2) Her family must be inside the house during the battle; and
3) She must not later turn on the spies.

Rahab agreed to the conditions and sent them safely on their way, and then tied the scarlet cord in the window, a signal of their commitment to her and visible expression of her faith in God

Safely escaping the city, the two spies returned to Joshua and reported that the “whole land was melting with fear.” The Israelites crossed the Jordan into Canaan where they laid siege to the city of Jericho. The city was completely destroyed, and every man, woman, and child in it was killed. Only Rahab and her family were spared. Ultimately, Rahab married Salmon, an Israelite from the tribe of Judah. Her son was Boaz, the husband of Ruth. Joseph, the legal father of Jesus, is her direct descendant.
Gotquestions.org

I love that Scripture gives us details about what happened after the spies escaped. I love that it includes the details of Rahab and her family being spared, and I marvel at how we see that she was saved for a purpose – and what a purpose it was! Rahab was not only spared from certain death but also escaped to safety and married Salmon. Salmon was from the tribe of Judah, whose wife, Tamar, gave birth to Boaz, who grew up to marry Ruth, who gave birth to Obed, who became the father of Jesse, the father of King David, whose royal dynasty leads directly to the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad. Psalm 126:3

The More We Know

The cord was not merely a passive marker but a visible expression of Rahab’s faith in God.

Rahab was a Canaanite prostitute from Jericho who, due to her faith, protected two Israelite spies and became a significant figure in the Bible. Often cited as one of the first Gentile converts to worship the God of Israel, she is part of the lineage of Jesus Christ, demonstrating God’s grace to outsiders. (gotquestions.org)

Salmon, the father of Boaz is a significant figure in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, as outlined in the Gospels. He is traditionally believed to have been one of the Israelite spies who married Rahab, the Canaanite woman from Jericho who protected the spies (Joshua 2). This union is a powerful example of God’s grace and the inclusion of Gentiles into the covenant community. Salmon’s marriage to Rahab also highlights the theme of redemption and transformation, as Rahab’s faith led to her becoming part of the lineage of the Messiah. This connection to Rahab is a testament to God’s ability to use unexpected people and circumstances to fulfill His divine purposes.

Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

Rahab, part 1

Posted on April 21, 2026 by MaryEllen

Adapted from the She study, volume 3, pp. 49-50

Today’s Scriptures: Joshua 2:1-15; Genesis 12:3

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse that curseth thee and in thee: shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Genesis 12:3

When Joshua sent two men to spy out Jericho, we are told that they went into the house of a prostitute named Rahab, whose house was on the town wall. To help explain why/how the spies came to be in the house of a prostitute, gotquestions.org offers this insightful explanation:

It may seem strange that the spies found refuge in the house of a prostitute—what were they, people of God, doing there? The answer may be quite simple. To state the obvious, perhaps the spies were seeking the services of a prostitute. There is another possible explanation, however. The house of a harlot was probably a good place to avoid detection—a couple of travelers entering such a house would probably not arouse much suspicion. The spies, seeking anonymity, figured a house of prostitution would be a good place to find it. Also, Rahab’s house was situated on the city wall (Joshua 2:15), providing an escape route. As it turned out, the spies’ choice of a hiding place was God-ordained.

God gives us so many wonderful examples of His timeless and boundless grace through the people He saves and chooses to use throughout His Word. Rahab is definitely one of these living illustrations. We find her story in Joshua chapters 2 and 6 as well as in Matthew 1:5, Hebrews 11:31, and James 2:25. Each time she is mentioned, we are pointed to her faith, and in three of those passages, the author notes not only her faith but things she did because of her faith. In the Joshua 2 account, Rahab:

hid the men in a safe place
lied to protect the men when men from the town came searching for them
made her faith known to them
sought protection for herself and her family, and
when it was safe, she safely let them down through the window

She serves as an example that when we bless the people of God, He will bless us in return.
She, delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible, p50

Like Gomer in the book of Hosea, Rahab is among my favorite stories because of how God’s grace is revealed to and through her. Notice, for instance, one of my favorite passages in this story: “9 And she said unto the men, ‘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. 10 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 and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. 11 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.’”

Friends, may we make sure others hear what God is doing in our lives and in the world around us ~ so that, like Rahab, they might declare their faith and be saved.

The More We Know

For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) – There is no one, not even a prostitute, beyond the saving grace of our God.

If you have questions about how you can be saved and what it means, I invite you to read “Know These Truths,” where you will find why and how – and the promised hope that Rahab received.

Know These Truths

Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time, She, Volume 3

Gomer

Posted on April 15, 2026April 15, 2026 by MaryEllen

adapted from She, Delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible/volume 3, pp17-18

Read: Hosea 2 and 3 (note, while this may seem a lot of reading, it is a beautiful love story you won’t want to miss)

“Therefore, I will soon fence her in with thorns;
I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way.
Hosea 2:6

Gomer has long been one of my favorite women of the Bible. I first met her not through Bible study but through a novel written by Francine Rivers. The novel is called “Redeeming Love“. A story written to tell what I believe are the two most beautiful love stories of all time. One between a man (Hosea, the servant of the Lord) and a woman (Gomer, the adulterer), and the other between God (who loves Israel with an everlasting love) and Israel (God’s chosen people who continually chase after the other gods of the world).

Gomer’s story was instrumental in helping me to understand not only the deep relational love of God but His marvelous, life-changing mercy and grace. I have read both the book of Hosea and the novel version, Redeeming Love, more times than I can count – and am convinced that Christianity is more than a religion – it is about having a genuine and meaningful relationship with God; not just a god but the true and living God who pursues His people with a faithful and personal love. He is broken-hearted when we forsake Him for other gods, yet relentlessly loves and pursues us.

We cannot do Gomer justice with this one short look at her, but I hope to journey through her story over the summer. For now, I will borrow from the study journal of Delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible/volume 3, pp17-18, and give you the bullet point version of Gomer’s story:

She left her husband, and suffered the consequences.
She left her Hosea, but he loved her still.
He redeemed her back to himself.
She is a picture of the nation of Israel that was separated from Judah, but she is also a picture of us.
Gomer serves as an example of how Jesus Christ loves us and wants to redeem us.

It struck me as I was working through this section of the journal that for Gomer, adultery meant running away, trading her relationship with Hosea for relationships with other men. But I have learned this isn’t the sole definition of adultery – for believers, for me, and perhaps even you – it happens whenever we have choose to forsake our relationship with God for one or more relationships with the gods of this world.

Friends, as Paul points out in 1 Corinthians 6:20, we have been bought with the high price of Jesus’ blood, and so we are to glorify God with our bodies. We are to pursue Him with a faithful love that turns neither to the right nor to the left but stays close to Him. We can do this in a number of ways:

Prayer and staying in His Word are vital to a healthy relationship. (James 4:8)
Keeping our eyes and minds on Him so that we are not easily swayed by the enemy and other loves of this world. (James 4:8; Isa 26:3; Philip 4:6-8; 1 Peter 5:8)
Seeking to please and honor Him in all that we do and say. (Colossians 3:17)

do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? ²⁰For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

May this be the way we live, surrendered to loving God with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength… living and loving like Jesus… and faithfully walking in the Spirit

The More We Know

How has Jesus redeemed us?

Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, She, Volume 3

Elizabeth

Posted on April 12, 2026April 13, 2026 by MaryEllen

adapted from the She study, volume 3, pp11-12

You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.
Psalm 16:11

Elizabeth is a well-known woman of the Bible. She is a beautiful example of faith and of the fullness of joy in the presence of the Lord. We find her story in Luke, chapter 1, verses 5-80, where we learn that she was the wife of Zachariah, the prophet, and she was very old when she conceived. She was also the cousin of Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is this part of her story that we will focus on today.

Not long after Mary learned that she was pregnant with Jesus, the Son of God, she traveled to visit her cousin Elizabeth in Judea. Let’s stop and marvel for a minute at the contrast of the miracles God had worked in both women. Mary, a young, unmarried virgin, has just learned that she has become pregnant through immaculate conception, while Elizabeth, who was described as ‘barren and very old’ in Luke 1:7, is now six months pregnant. I can’t help but notice how their stories accentuate the beautiful truth that: “Nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).

³⁵The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. ³⁶What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.
Luke 1:35-36

While I love the entire story of Elizabeth and Mary, I particularly appreciate the beauty of Elizabeth and her baby when Mary arrived.

³⁹A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town ⁴⁰where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
⁴²Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. ⁴³Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? ⁴⁴When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. ⁴⁵You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
Luke 1:39-45

Elizabeth was clearly overwhelmed at Mary’s arrival, but it was more than excitement to see Mary. Scripture says that it was because “at the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s baby leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” This was evident by Elizabeth’s “glad cry and exclamation to Mary,” that “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed.” Elizabeth goes on to question why she is so honored to be visited by the “mother of her Lord.” What a moving and beautiful example of how the joy we find in the presence of the Lord our God affects those around us.

Experience and Application

Friends, I know that I share (or perhaps overshare) various stories of how God has worked in my life – so forgive me if you have heard this too many times. However, I cannot read this story without remembering my own experience with being unable to conceive for eight long and often torturous years. While I realize this in no way compares to the number of years that Elizabeth waited, it did offer me a similar experience as God restored a joy that had long been stifled by life’s sorrows and disappointments. For it was during my pregnancy and the birth of my first daughter that God sent several “Elizabeth’s” to me who poured out encouragement and joy by feeding my soul and mind with the Word that I had somewhat tuned out for years because of my disappointment in myself and in God. The pregnancy itself brought a sense of joy because I had hoped so long for it, but through the joy of godly friendships, He began doing the work of changing me from the Insideout and when that baby girl was born and they held her up to me – I knew my life would never be the same … not only because I had been blessed with a child but because I was filled with an awareness of His Presence in me.

“May we all seek to be an Elizabeth to someone else.”
She, Volume 3, p12

The More We Know

Who is an Elizabeth in your life?
Who was Elizabeth’s Son?