Haritha

Don’t Mind Him – Abigail’s Story

While it is true we are called as wives to be submissive to our husbands when a husband is not a Godly man, there will most likely be times when being submissive to God will usurp the need to be submissive to our husbands. Abigail was one woman in the Bible who knew that first-hand.

Abigail’s Story

First, Samuel, chapter twenty-five is where we find the fundamental events of Abigail’s life in relation to living a godly existence.

Nabal was the husband of Abigail. Nabal is most accurately characterised as a filthy, decaying scoundrel. Sorry, but those are the cold, hard facts of existence. In any case, one day, David and a few of his men arrived at the location where Nabal’s men were cultivating his fields.

Abigail In The Bible

Read and Learn More Empowering Bible Verses For Women

David and his men were evading King Saul, as they normally did, and they requested sustenance from Nabal. Nabal essentially instructed them to disperse.

A member of Nabal’s army was aware of David’s fighting prowess and renown. Consequently, he approached Abigail, informed her that her husband had offended David and his men, and cautioned her against attempting to resolve the matter.

Abigail, who was both intelligent and attractive, promptly assembled a substantial quantity of food, mounted a donkey, and proceeded to meet David.

The food was offered to him, and she begged for absolution on behalf of her husband for his rudeness. She also requested that David refrain from retaliating against them.

David expressed his gratitude and reassured her that they would not be in danger. He also informed her that every male member of their household would have died by morning if she had not arrived.

1 Samuel 25 (Abigail’s Story)

Upon her arrival home, Abigail discovered that her husband was inebriated and had organised a banquet for all of his acquaintances.

She was aware that conversing with him in that state would be futile, so she opted to wait until the following morning, when he would be sober. Nabal suffered a heart attack and passed away a few days later after hearing David’s statement.

Abigail was actually relieved to be free of Nabal, and she became one of David’s brides shortly thereafter. Although this may appear harsh, it is a fact.

What Abigail Can Teach Us

Abigail was a remarkable woman in her era (and in ours, as well). She was prudent and proactive, in addition to being intelligent and wise. She was unafraid to take matters into her own hands when necessary…

Abigail And David In The Bible

Lesson One:

We are called to be gracious and extend hospitality to our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as those who are in need.

Abigail reached out to David and his men because

1. She knew the possibility of retaliation was there and
2. Because she knew being hospitable was the right thing to do.

Abigail acted quickly. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins, and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys.

Abigail’s Wisdom In 1 Samuel

These days it is somewhat doubtful that turning someone away will result in a war, but unfortunately, we are often suspicious of helping someone we don’t know because we have no way to know whether or not they are truly in need or simply wanting a handout.

While we have every right to be cautious these days, we also have a responsibility to be the hands and feet of Jesus. So instead of writing everyone off as lazy or fake reach out in ways that will meet needs that truly need to be met.

For example: instead of giving money to beggars on the street, give food, a pair of shoes, socks, hats/gloves, etc..

Lesson Two:

Conflict resolution skills are valuable skills.

Abigail didn’t let any grass grow under her feet when it came to smoothing things over. We shouldn’t either. When we are directly involved in a conflict or misunderstanding, we need to humble ourselves to offer a resolution whether we are at fault or not.

Notice I said, “directly involved in a conflict or misunderstanding”.

Abigail The Carmelitess

In other words, it is not your right to interject yourself and your resolution skills into everyone else’s conflicts (that’s code for don’t be a busybody). Instead, pray for resolution and that each person involved put Jesus first in their lives.

What are resolution skills? Resolution skills are:

• Forgiveness
• Owning your mistakes and participating in a situation
• Extending courtesy and modeling the same
• Going the extra mile
• Refusing to participate in arguments that are of no value or benefit
• Standing on Biblical principles unapologetically and with love

Lesson Three:

Abigail knew nothing would be gained from trying to talk to her husband when he was drunk.

He would not have been able to comprehend the severity of his actions. Instead, she waited until he was able to understand what she had to say.

The gifts of tact and good timing are invaluable when it comes to avoiding conflict and resolving it.

Biblical Story Of Abigail

To Sum It All Up

Abigail took matters into her own hands when she realized her family and household were in danger.

She did what was necessary to diffuse a bad situation and bring a resolution that was most beneficial for everyone.

She teaches us that remaining calm, cool, and collected instead of fretting and taking an “oh, woe is me” attitude always brings more positive results and is more pleasing to God.

Some Things Aren’t Meant To Be Shared – Rachel’s Story

God calls us to share our talents, our material possessions, and our time with others. What he doesn’t require us to share is our spouse. Marriage is meant for one man and one woman for life.

Rachel’s Story

Once Jacob had cheated his brother out of his birthright, Rebekah decided it would be best if Jacob left for a while so she sent him to her ‘hometown’ to find a wife.

It’s safe to say that God wasn’t pleased with Rebekah and Jacob, but the Bible tells us that God specifically chose Rachel to be Jacob’s wife.

Jacob and Rachel quickly fell in love, but her father wasn’t nearly as quick to agree.

Read and Learn More Empowering Bible Verses For Women

He finally consented on the condition that Jacob stay and work for him for seven years. Love won out, Jacob agreed, and when the wedding day finally came, Rachel’s father, Laban, tricked the happy couple by putting his older daughter, Leah, in Rachel’s place.

Hmm, did someone say payback?

Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.” So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast. But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her.

And Laban gave his servant Zilpah to his daughter as her attendant. When morning came, there was Leah!

Jacob was very angry and demanded that Laban give him Rachel as his wife. Laban did after he spent a honeymoon-like period with Leah. Oh, and he had to agree to:

• Keep Leah as his wife
• Worked another seven years before leaving to go back home-taking both women with him

Rachel was the woman Jacob loved, but she was not able to give him a child.

This made her resentful toward her sister. They were in constant conflict; Rachel’s resentment over being infertile and Leah’s for knowing she was the consolation prize and unloved.

God finally answered Rachel and Jacob’s pleas for a child and allowed her to have Joseph and Benjamin, but it wasn’t because of Rachel’s pure and sincere heart.

What We Can Learn From Rachel

Rachel wasn’t perfect, but then who of us is?

Lesson One:

An unmet heart’s desire is undeniably painful but shouldn’t turn you away from God.

Many of Rachel’s less-than-God-pleasing actions stemmed from her anger and resentment over not having children.

She desperately wanted to give Jacob a child-especially since Leah had no problems doing so. Her heart ached for a child. But unlike Hannah, she let her aching heart make her bitter rather than draw her closer to the LORD.

Whether it be infertility or another deeply personal issue, we cannot allow Satan to fill our hearts with bitterness which leads to sin. Instead, we need to rest in the arms of our Heavenly Father and let him comfort us, heal our hearts, and open our lives to what he desires for us.

Lesson Two

Family conflict is never solved by getting even.

Leah and Rachel were constantly trying to one-up each other. It never ended well. It won’t end well for you, either.

Getting even is impossible because the battle is never-ending. Seek or ask forgiveness, do what is right in the eyes of God, and then let it go.

Lesson Three:

Protect your marriage and keep it a priority.

To Sum It All Up

Rachel and Jacob had a tumultuous relationship the reasons not being their fault. Had they

Trusted the LORD to honor their love for each other and

Concentrated on their relationship rather than scheming to undermine those who were at the root of their problems, they would have been so much better off.

In other words, they had their priorities out of whack. Don’t let this happen to you.

You Are Worth More than Second Best – Leah’s Story

Leah was the third member of Jacob and Rachel’s love triangle. And not unlike her sister, she wasn’t entirely at fault.

Leah And Rachel In The Bible

Leah’s Story

Leah was Rachel’s older sister and according to the Bible was rather homely and not likely to find a husband on her own. So Daddy Laban took matters into his own hands and switched the two sisters on what was to be Rachel’s long-awaited wedding day.

The Story Of Leah In The Bible

This fact, as you read in the previous chapter, led to years and years of backstabbing, deceit, and a highly dysfunctional home.

What We Can Learn From Leah

I know Leah was not completely innocent in this whole mess, but I cannot help but feel sorry for her. She was a pawn. She was seen as second-best…at best.

Lesson One:

Leah’S Biblical Significance

You are worth more than second-best and don’t let anyone ever convince you otherwise.

Lesson Two:

Inner beauty is true beauty. Ask anyone (male or female) a kind, gentle, and sincere person always looks better than someone dressed in the latest and finest.

Lesson Three:

Bible Verses About Leah

You are created in God’s image and God doesn’t make mistakes.

To Sum It All Up

Leah never had the chance to be the land of wife and woman she wanted to be. Don’t let this happen to you. Don’t be afraid to be yourself and be confident in the woman God created you to be.

You Are Embarrassing Me – Michal’s Story

I recently read an article that basically said if you call yourself a Christian but don’t live according to God’s Word, then you aren’t a Christian. I couldn’t agree more.

Michal’s Story

Michal was the first wife of King David and the daughter of King Saul. This appears to be a farcical situation, as Saul harboured animosity towards David and was perpetually endeavouring to eliminate him. Nevertheless, Michal was fervently in love with David, and Saul gave her to him for matrimony.

Faith-Filled Stories: Michal

You may believe that the following sentence should be “and they lived happily ever after,” but it is not possible. David was not in love with Michal, despite the fact that she adored him. He regarded their union as one that offered political advantages. David presumably believed that he would be able to leave Saul alone once he became his son-in-law. Negative!

Michal remained steadfast in her devotion to her husband, even evading her father’s men by hiding him outside the home so that he could flee. When King Saul ordered his daughter to account for her actions, she fabricated a story, claiming that David had threatened her life if she did not assist him.

David and his men were absent for an extended period of time. Consequently, Saul returned to his hometown and married his daughter to a man whom she had fallen in love with and who reciprocated her affections. Nevertheless, upon his return, David expressed a desire to reunite with his wife, a reason for which remains unknown. Consequently, he dispatched his soldiers to retrieve her, much to the shock of Michal and her husband.

Michal’s Faith Journey And Challenges

Later, when David’s soldiers returned the Ark of the Covenant to the city, he was so elated that he danced in his pants in the street. Michal was appalled by this and did not hesitate to inform him of his feelings.

David replied that his joy at what God had accomplished for them was his form of worship and that it was more significant to him than what she or others thought.

Israel will exult before the Lord, who appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people, rather than your father or anyone from his family.

Michal’S Faith And Courage In The Bible

Michal In 1 Samuel

This is the last we hear of Michal, but we do know she was childless in both marriages and that her last years must have been unhappy ones since she was in a loveless marriage.

What We Can Learn From Michal

The primary lesson we can learn from Michal isn’t the one you might think it is…

Lesson One:

Don’t be ashamed to let everyone know you are a Christian.

We don’t have any idea whether Michal loved and worshipped God or not. The Bible gives no indication one way or the other EXCEPT to indicate that when her husband worshipped without abandon she was disgusted and ashamed.

This is NOT a recommendation for dancing in the aisles of the church in nothing but your underwear. It is; however, a reminder to never be ashamed of the Gospel and to live your faith every day in every way.

Women Of Faith: Michal’S Story

Lesson Two:

And yet another reminder to marry a man who loves the LORD.

Michal’S Role In David’S Life

Lesson Three:

Love must be a two-way street in order for a marriage to be happy and successful.

Michal loved David, but knowing he didn’t feel the same way should have been enough to keep her from marrying him. She deserved to be loved back. So do you.

Courageous Women In The Bible – Michal

To Sum It All Up

Marrying a man who will love and cherish you for the Godly woman you are and continually become is the only reason to marry someone. To do otherwise is to set yourself up for heartache and disappointment. To do so will also stagnate your relationship with God-something you never want to do.

Standing Apart From The Rest – Rahab’s Story

It’s not easy going against the popular opinion of the one person who says ‘no’ when everyone else says ‘yes’. It’s not easy being the only kid in class who doesn’t want to mess with the substitute.

It’s not easy being the only coworker who won’t go out for drinks (and more drinks) to forget the awful day at the office. It’s not easy being the one to stand against sin when everyone else sees it as progress.

Thankfully, Rahab didn’t let her fear stop her from doing what was right.

Rahab’s Story

This was the Promised Land God had led them to and they had finally arrived. And one more thing about Rahab…she was a prostitute.

When the two spies Joshua sent to Jericho arrived to scout things out, they ended up at Rahab’s house.

Okay, so the question on most people’s minds is why the two spies went to see a prostitute.

First of all, we don’t know if that was their intent or whether it was the fact that her house was built along one of the cities making it possible for them to escape more easily and quickly.

It might also have been because she most likely had a duo-purpose business; food, lodging, and…. Or even more plausible, God led them to Rahab’s house (directly or indirectly).

Whatever the reason, they were there and the king of Jericho found out about it.

When the king’s men came to her house, she said that the men had been there, but had left. She even told them which direction they had ‘gone’.

Later on that night, Rahab went to the roof of her house where she had hidden the spies and used a rope to let them down from the roof over the city wall. Before they left, however, they made a promise to Rahab.

The promise: because she had saved their lives, she and her family’s lives would be spared when the Israelites took over the city of Jericho.

All she had to do was put a red cord in the window to identify it and distinguish it from the others.

Joshua and his army made good on that promise and Rahab became a strong believer in God and worshipped him for the remainder of her life.

She married a man named Salmon and the two had a son they named Boaz.

Boaz and his wife, Ruth, were King David’s great-grandparents; making Rahab King David’s great-great-grandma and also making her part of the lineage of Jesus.

What We Can Learn From Rahab

What a story, right? A story with lessons to be learned…

Lesson One:

God’s grace and mercy are non-discriminating.

God doesn’t accept us into his family because of what we’ve done, who we’ve been, how much money we have, or how pretty we are.

God accepts us into his family when we come to him saying none of that matters anymore; that what matters is starting a life right then and there of obedience and faith in him.

Lesson Two:

Obedience to God is number one.

Rahab was risking her life by lying to the king and his men. And for who? What? Joshua 2:8-11 reveals that Rahab had not only heard of God but that she feared him and believed that he was the one true God.

So in spite of the fact that she was a lowly Canaanite prostitute, she understood the impact of aligning herself with God and his people.

While history does have a way of repeating itself, it is safe to say we are living in some very perilous times for Christians.

You need to be willing and ready to stay true to God and to the words of the Bible; to be obedient and faithful no matter what society, family, friends, or co-workers are telling you.

Lesson Three:

God blesses those who obey him.

Had Rahab turned the spies away or turned them over to the king and his men, she and her family would have perished along with the rest of Jericho.

God’s love for all creation is never-ending and undying. He cannot, however, bless us unless we are close enough to him to receive his blessings, recognize his blessings for what they are, and be thankful for his blessings.

I Get Tired Just Thinking About It – The Proverbs 31 Woman’s Story

Some women balk at the idea of being a homemaker, but if you are a woman of God, balking is the last thing that should be on your agenda. While it is true that the husband is the head of the household, it is equally true that the wife is the heart of the household.

The Proverbs 31 Woman’s Story

This diligent woman is a source of inspiration for many of us, particularly in her ability to transform yarn into fabric in order to create apparel for her family. Do not be disheartened. God is unconcerned if we opt to purchase at the mall or our preferred discount store rather than creating clothing for our family.

However, God does intend for women who identify as members of his family to be diligent and prioritise our household. They are to be good stewards, thrifty, honourable, faithful spouses, dedicated mothers, and ensure that their husbands and children are healthy, well-nourished, safe, clean, and loved unconditionally.

Read the passage below, in which God instructed Solomon to characterise the woman to whom we should aspire. Subsequently, dedicate some time to prayer, requesting that God transform your life and demonstrate to you how you can embody the qualities of a Proverbs 31 woman for your family.

Who can locate a wife of noble character? She is considerably more valuable than rubies. Her spouse has every confidence in her and she lacks nothing of value. All of her life, she brings him good, not damage. She works with enthusiastic hands and selects flax and wool. She is akin to the merchant ships, which transport her food from abroad.

She rises in the middle of the night to prepare food for her family and portions for her female servants. She purchases a field and plant a vineyard with the proceeds. She proceeds with vigour; her arms are capable of handling her responsibilities.

She observes that her trading is profitable, and her lamp remains illuminated throughout the night. She grasps the spindle with her fingertips and holds the distaff in her hand. She extends her hands to the needy and exposes her arms to the impoverished. She is unconcerned about the safety of her household during snowfall, as they are all dressed in scarlet.

She is attired in purple and exquisite linen, and she creates bedclothes. Her spouse is held in high regard at the city gate, where he occupies a position among the land’s elders. She manufactures and distributes linen garments, as well as provides merchants with sashes.

She is adorned with dignity and fortitude; she can chuckle at the days ahead. Her tongue is adorned with faithful instruction, and she speaks with considerable wisdom. She supervises the affairs of her household and refrains from consuming the sustenance of idleness.

Her children greet her with blessings, and her spouse concurs, stating, “You surpass all the noble deeds of many women.” A woman who fears the Lord is to be commended, as charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting.

Closing Remarks – God’s Word

When asked to name key figures from the Bible, first and foremost on our minds should be (and hopefully is) God/Jesus. Secondly, nearly everyone will start naming people like Moses, David, Paul, Peter, John the Baptist, Joseph, Abraham, Jacob, and Noah (in no particular order of importance); all of which are men.

It’s true that the majority of Bible heroes and ‘characters’ are men. The culture and the fact that God has placed men over women would dictate that.

Hey, without women, there would be no men, so that in itself is of utmost importance.

In reading this book we’ve seen how the role of women got off to a rough start with Eve, but that women like Ruth, Esther, Rahab, Mary, and many others took faith and obedience to a higher level than many of us can even imagine.

These women risked their lives, endured ridicule and prejudice, and emptied themselves out so that God’s purpose and plan could be fulfilled through them.

The question to you as we end our time together is this: Will you do the same? Will you…

• Share the Good News of salvation with others
• Use your talents and abilities to bring glory to God
• Live a lifestyle that reflects Jesus
• Be obedient to the Word in every way
• Allow Jesus to be the LORD of your life
• Ignore the pull of Satan to have a worldly mindset and lifestyle
• Put your faith in God to see you through the difficult and painful times in your life
• Give credit and thanks to God for all you have
• Raise your children to know who Jesus is and what it means to have a personal relationship with him
• Look forward to spending eternity with the Father and the Son in heaven

To be a woman of God is a tremendous blessing and privilege. We are his children, the sheep of his pasture, his precious creation, and heirs of the Kingdom. We have the honor and responsibility of bringing new life into existence and raising our children with the same unconditional love he extends to us.

Embrace being a woman of God and let your light shine before men (and other women) so that they can see your good works and glorify the Father in heaven.

The Church Is For Women, Too – Pricilla’s Story

The most disrespectful, horrible, hurtful thing a person can do with God’s Word is to take it out of context and twist it to justify their thoughts and actions. One of the most common reasons people do this is in regard to a woman’s role in the church.

Pricilla’s Story

Pricilla is written about in the books of Acts, Romans, 1st Corinthians, and 2nd Timothy. She is the wife of Aquila and works with him as a tentmaker and as a key figure in the early Church.

Members of the early church met in Pricilla and Aquila’s home. Priscilla and Aquila took a new convert named Apollos into their home for the purpose of providing intense teaching due to the fact that he (Apollos) was eager to spread the message of salvation through Jesus.

Priscilla and Aquila welcomed Paul into their home when he was in Corinth; working with them as tentmakers to support himself.

Priscilla loved the LORD and wasn’t afraid to let others know and to minister to them the best she could.

What We Can Learn From Priscilla

As you can see below, scripture is clear on the fact that women should not be over men in the home or in the church.

I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

So was Priscilla out of line? No. She opened her home to many. She wasn’t even out of line when she and Aquila poured themselves into Apollos. Yes, Apollos was a man, but she was witnessing and teaching a new believer-not teaching those who were in Christ.

Lesson One:

Women should not be in authority over men in the church.

The Bible gives several other references to this besides the one we’ve already given that support this fact:

Don’t look at this as demeaning, archaic, or chauvinistic. It’s not. God made us and he knows the specifics of what he designed us for. Besides, this isn’t saying a woman cannot or should not have an active role in the church.

Teaching children and other women is our job…and an important one, at that. We can also minister alongside all our brothers and sisters in Christ and should never pass up an opportunity to share the hope of salvation with anyone regardless of sex, color, etc..

Lesson Two:

Live the Great Commission.

Here it is again for anyone who doesn’t know or remember what the Great Commission is… given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything.

Lesson Three:

Being a Christian isn’t something you do…it’s who you are.

It didn’t matter whether Priscilla was making a tent, hosting a church service, or buying food in the local market, her love for Jesus and the Church was evident all the time.

This should go ditto for you.

To Sum It All Up

Priscilla did what she did best to serve God, and the Church, and to teach others about Jesus and the hope of salvation.