Women of God
Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah- Claiming Their Inheritance in The Land

The five daughters of Zelophehad approached Moses and pleaded their case. Their father had died without sons. They want to inherit land in the promised land or their father’s family branch will disappear. So Moses seeks counsel from the Lord and the Lord says they are right and he even changed the law to accommodate them. We learn that context changes, divine wisdom is called for. The Bible does not cover every situation we will ever encounter. Israel had Moses and the prophets, who could consult God. But what now? Yes, we have scripture and all the wisdom it offers, yet we have something even more. We have the Holy Spirit! We can pray and he will give us discernment and wisdom.

Heavenly Father, how you bless us. You see into every life and heart and wish them to prosper. You wish for no one to miss out on our inheritance through Jesus Christ. Give us wisdom to live well by your Holy Spirit and not by rules alone. Help your church be a blessing in this darkened world.

The daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. They came forward and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting and said, “Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among Korah’s followers, who banded together against the Lord, but he died for his own sin and left no sons. Why should our father’s name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father’s relatives.”
So Moses brought their case before the Lord, and the Lord said to him, “What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives and give their father’s inheritance to them. ”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭27‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Zipprah- Standing in the Gap

Zipporah was the wife of Moses, the shepherd daughter of a Midianite priest who appeared to know and worship the God of Jacob, Isaac and Jacob. She bore Moses two sons Gershom and Eliezer. She may have also been a Cushite (depending on how you interpret Numbers 12:1). Zipporah was yet another woman saving Moses from certain death. After Moses was called by God to speak to Pharaoh and deliver God’s people from Egypt, he headed to Egypt with his family. However Moses was met by the Lord and about to be killed. He had neglected the covenant of the Lord and Abraham because his son Gershom was not circumcised. Zipporah intervenes, both as his “ezer kenegdo” helper/rescuer and, surprisingly, as a priest would between God and man. She stood between God and man to restore righteousness. She knew of the covenant of circumcision between God and Abraham (perhaps from either her priest father or Moses). Where Moses was reluctant (both in regard to circumcision and in rescuing Israel), Zipporah was quick and decisive and circumcised her son on the spot. She stood in the gap on behalf of Moses so he would not be destroyed.

Lord God, where Zipporah stood in the gap to restore righteousness to Moses, my Lord Jesus Christ does this for me today so I am not destroyed. Teach your church to be as Christ too. Help us lay down our lives daily so that many might be saved.

At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him. But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. So the Lord let him alone. (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood,” referring to circumcision.)
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭4‬:‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Pharoah’s Daughter- Utterly Audacious

The Pharoah’s daughter saved Moses from the evil one- her father. She defied him, saved a Hebrew child and then raised him in the royal household. It’s astounding to consider. She defied her father, she shamed her father, she would have cause an incredible stir within the royal family. Egyptian royals did not even associate with non royals, let alone Hebrews! Today in this age our bold acceptance of Jesus Christ defies royalty too- the prince and ruler of earth- Satan himself. (Matthew 4:8-9,9:34,12:24/Luke 4:5-6/John 12:31,14:30,16:11/2 Corinthians 4:4/Ephesians 2:2). Praise God that Jesus defied him and conquered him first, so we have nothing to fear (Colossians 2:15).

Lord, as you drew Moses out from the dangerous waters of the Nile, so you drew creation out of the waters, the Israelite nation through the Red Sea and through the Jordan, you drew Jesus out of the Jordan “to fulfill all righteousness “, you drew Jesus from the grave to conquer death, and today you draw us out of the waters of baptism from death to life. Praise be to you who draws us out to walk with you.

When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬‬

Women of God
Pharoah’s Daughter-Kindness and Mercy

When evil flourishes around us, we don’t have to take part in it. We can resist. We can keep our hearts soft. We can grieve and seek goodness and righteousness all the days of our lives. Despite her polytheistic background and likely zero knowledge of the God of Israel, when Pharaoh’s daughter opened the basket she somehow knew that she saw a tiny human made in the image of God. Her heart was moved and she felt sorry for him. She would let this infant die.

Lord God, move my heart. Fill me with compassion for the world around me. I know that works of kindness and mercy are seen before your throne. You said blessed are the merciful and blessed are the peacemakers. Change me so that my life is a pleasing offering before you.

Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Miriam-Rebellion

In this story, a spirit of grumbling arose in the Israelites’ camp. In Chapter 11, the Israelites grumbled about their hardships and they grumbled about the mana. In chapter 12 Miriam and Aaron grumbled against Moses and his wife, even using the age old vice of racism. And it seems Miriam is the instigator, but they were never really complaining about Moses’ wife, or even Moses himself. Miriam and Aaron wanted more power and acknowledgment from God himself. Moses and his wife were simply the scapegoats.
There are so many things to learn from this story, gratitude, humility to God’s appointed leadership, that grumbling angers God and
grumbling has consequences. But ultimately Miriam fell into the trap that Eve fell into so many years before, she doubted the Lord and took her doubts to men and not the Lord.

Heavenly Father, give me wisdom to build others up and not tear them down. Let our words encourage others and praise your name. When I struggle, be my comfort and my hiding place. For you hold all things in your hands, you are gracious and compassionate and close to the broken hearted. Let me learn the secret of being content in every circumstance through your strength and power.

Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the Lord heard this.
(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)
At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, “Come out to the tent of meeting, all three of you.” So the three of them went out.
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Miriam- Prophet and Worship Leader

In Exodus 15 Miriam is identified as a prophet. Why? She spoke his words and sang his praises, making the Lord known to the people. She also acted as an intermediator between men and death. She, along with Aaron and Moses, led the Israelites out of Egypt and into freedom (Micah 6:4). She also interceded with Pharaoh’s daughter to save Moses’ life, a brave move that could easily cost her life.

Praises be to you Lord, for you have rescued me over and over in my life and will continue to do so. May your praise be ever on my lips (Psalm 34:1). Let the wonders of your deeds be known by the words and praise that I offer.

Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing.
Miriam sang to them:
“Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭15‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam.
Micah 6:4 NIV

Women of God
Miriam- My Brother’s Keeper

Who was this brave Miriam? When Jochebed put Moses into the water in a basket, she entrusted Miriam watched over her brother. Miriam would have been expecting and waiting for the Pharaoh’s daughter to come to bathe. And when the princess found him, sister Miriam boldly and successfully negotiated with royalty for her brother’s life.

Lord God, whether I am entrusted with small things or big things let me be trustworthy. Help me to be shrewd like Miriam. Give me courage. Give me Godly wisdom and grace. Help your church be like her, prayerfully watching over the lost and vulnerable and saving souls.

His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.
Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”
“Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Jochebed- Faithful Mother

I believe Jochebed must have been an incredibly faithful and prayerful woman. If I was Hebrew mother I would have hidden my baby son too. I would then have pretended Moses was a girl until he was far too old to be thrown in the Nile and lied about his age. Jochebed chose a different way. She was not going to lose her second son and she came up with an incredible plan, surely a God given plan to save not just her son but an entire nation. Jochebed casts her son Moses into water, not to perish but in a floating basket. She casts her son onto the mercies of the Pharaoh’s daughter, the very Pharaoh who would have Moses killed. Her courage is rewarded and she is even paid to raise Moses for the princess until he is weened.

Heavenly Father, give me courage and wisdom that comes from you alone. For human wisdom pales in comparison.

Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.
Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”
“Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Shiprah and Puah- Righteous Rebellion

When the Hebrew midwives Shiprah and Puah were asked by Pharaoh to start the routine killing of Hebrew baby boys, they bravely resisted. It was a horrific request. Neither Egypt nor the Israelites were nations that engaged in infanticide. We are told the midwives feared God more than they feared Pharaoh. The Bible is full of examples of people who chose the righteousness of God over obeying those in authority and these two Hebrew women are considered by theologians to be the first.

Lord God, let me seek to do what is right. Let me submit to earthly authority according to your will and to live peaceably with others wherever possible. But when needed help me step out in faith and courage to do what is right in your eyes.

The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.”
The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?” The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.”
So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Tamar- An Ugly and Complicated Story

In Genesis 38 we hear the story of Tamar, an ugly complicated story of sin and traditions of the day, yet it’s worth considering because it brought Tamar directly into the lineage of King David and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Judah found a bride for his oldest son Er in Tamar, yet the Lord kills Er because he is “wicked”. So Judah gives Er’s widow to his next son Onan to bear children on Er’s behalf (per the custom of the day). But Onan was reluctant do so. His children through Tamar would be considered Er’s and receive a portion of the inheritance that would otherwise go to Onan. So he ejaculated onto the ground. The Lord saw his greed and Onan died too.
Judah somehow considered Tamar responsible for the deaths of his sons. So instead of either marrying her himself (an acceptable custom of the day) he sent her away to her own father to live as a widow. He pledged his third son Shelah to be her husband when he was old enough but this never eventuates. Tamar knows she has been wronged. She has been cheated out of a husband and she has been cheated out of bearing children. Much later she seduced the now widowed Judah disguised as a prostitute and becomes pregnant to him taking his cord and staff as payment. When Judah realised the widow Tamara is pregnant he wants her put to death. However he discovered he is the father by ways of prostitution declared “She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her my son Shelah.” Tamar went on to bear twins. The oldest was Perez, from whom we have the line of Christ.

Heavenly Father, people matter to you. It seems you chose both Tamar and Judah to be in the line of Christ. Despite the sins of Judah and his sons, you were determined to keep Tamar as part of your plan. You drew redemption out of even the ugliest situations. Give me faith to act righteously so that ugliness does not arise.

Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭38‬:‭26‬a NIV‬‬

Women of God
Leah and Rachel- Jacob’s Children

In a passage riddled with grief, the sisters Leah and Rachel engaged in a baby making competition.
Leah grieved she was not loved, with every son she bore she longed for Jacob to love her. By her fourth son she surrendered and chose to simply praise the Lord. The fourth son was Judah, a name possibly derived from the Hebrew word for praise. It was from Judah’s line, that our Lord Jesus would be born and redeem us from our sins.
Rachel mourned her barren womb resorting to offer her servant to Jacob to bear children on her behalf and cover her shame. Leah then does the same. Rachel resorted to using mandrakes for fertility, perhaps even unwittingly causing miscarriages.
It seems the grief and struggle does not end until Rachel finally bore a son of her own. It was Joseph, whom God used to eventually save the family from famine.

Heavenly Father, it can be so hard to see you in ugly situations. Our sins and the sins of others has consequences, for we reap what is sown. But this I know: you are close to the broken hearted. You see our pain. Let me be like Leah who eventually chose simply to praise your name. Let me be patient. Let me cling to you faithfully as you mould me into your likeness. Let me bear spiritual fruit, not bitterness, when in barren seasons.

She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭29‬:‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”
Jacob became angry with her and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭30‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” She named him Joseph, and said, “May the Lord add to me another son.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭30‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Leah- The Pawn to Entrap Jacob

When Jacob fled from Esau, Rebekah sent him to Laban her older brother. He fell in love with Laban’s daughter Rachel who is beautiful with a lovely figure overlooking the older Leah with weak eyes. Jacob pledged to work for seven years to marry Rachel. Laban prospered with Jacob’s help so did not want to let him go, and he needed to marry Leah. He tricked Jacob into marrying Leah, then further tricked him into another seven years of work for the hand of his beloved Rachel. It’s an ugly story. Where was Rachel during the wedding? Was Leah coerced or willingly engage somehow in the deception? Did the sisters ever forgive each other and their father?

Heavenly Father, protect exploited women everywhere. Bring what is hidden into the light. Give these women comfort in you. Protect them from the schemes of men. Bring justice quickly to those in oppression. And to all peoples everywhere, bring your gospel, for in you alone are we truly set free.

Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”
Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.
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! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?”
Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭29‬:‭18-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Rebekah- Taking God’s Promises into her Own Hands

When Jacob and Esau were born Rebekah wondered why they jostled together in the womb. The Lord revealed that “the older would serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23). Yet Rebekah felt the need to take the promise into her own hands and enabled the younger Jacob to lie and steal the blessing of the older Esau. Why?
-Firstly, Rebekah did not trust the promises of God and she felt the Lord needed help. So she trusted actions of the flesh over waiting faithfully. Like Sarah before her she took the promises of God into her own hands and paid the price. For the Lord God cannot be mocked.
-Secondly, both Rebekah and Isaac indulged in favouritism towards the different sons.
The cost was enormous of her mistake; she broke Isaac’s heart, Esau vowed to kill Jacob and she never saw her son Jacob again. Yet the Lord God remained faithful. Jacob survived and it was from him that the nation of Israel was brought forth.

Heavenly Father, forgive me my faithlessness. Give me patient endurance, courage in the wilderness, humble obedience in the valleys of deepest darkness. Let me ever lean on the wisdom of your words and not the wisdom of men.

Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother Esau is planning to avenge himself by killing you. Now then, my son, do what I say: Flee at once to my brother Laban in Harran. Stay with him for a while until your brother’s fury subsides. When your brother is no longer angry with you and forgets what you did to him, I’ll send word for you to come back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭27‬:‭41‬-‭45‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Rebekah- Bride of Isaac

Rebekah’s marriage to Isaac is seen as a foreshadowing of the church as the bride of Christ. Rebekah gave up everything she knew to marry Isaac, a man she had never met. Her kindness and generosity to the ten thirsty camels (I understand they can drink 20-30 gallons each!) drew the prayerful attention of Abraham’s servant. He extended an invitation of marriage to Isaac and she chose to immediately leave her home and family and travel far away.

Lord God, let your church be as Rebekah- overwhelmingly generous and kind, willing to serve even the lowliest, willing to go where ever you lead. Lead us to be brave and courageous in our faith, for you love us even more than Isaac.

Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. Rebekah also looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel and asked the servant, “Who is that man in the field coming to meet us?”
“He is my master,” the servant answered. So she took her veil and covered herself.
Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭24‬:‭62‬-‭67‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Rebekah-Chosen

In Genesis 24, Abraham sent out a servant to seek a bride for his beloved son Isaac. I just knew there had to be gospel parallels between the story of Rebekah and the church, so I went searching. We know Isaac foreshadowed Christ in his faithful obedience and willingness to be laid down as a sacrifice by his father Abraham. Blessedly we are all spared like Isaac and the Lord provided another sacrifice- a ram/our Lord Jesus Christ. In the story of Rebekah, Abraham sent out his servant and 12 camels of riches to look for a bride to share the inheritance of Isaac. Nowadays, the Holy Spirit is seeking to build the church to present as a bride to Christ to share in his inheritance. It is no coincidence that the met at well and shared water; while Christ met the Samaritan woman at the well, offered her living water and became the seventh man in her life- the one who truly healed her broken heart.

Lord God, your gospel is woven into the very line and corner of the Bible. For this I praise you! You build my faith and strengthen my trust. You came to seek your church with treasure beyond comprehension. Give us faith like Rebekah and the Samaritan woman at the well, who left everything and followed a new life. Send your Holy Spirit out more and more to build your church.

Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful.
When the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels. Then he asked, “Whose daughter are you? Please tell me, is there room in your father’s house for us to spend the night?”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭24‬:‭21‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Hagar-El Roi

When Hagar fled, the Lord met her. He saw her pain, he comforted her, and encouraged her. He told her what to next. And Hagar named him: El Roi אֵל רֳאִי, “the God who sees”. Hagar is the first and only person in the entire Bible to give a name to the Lord. All other names are revealed by God himself. Yet she is a woman, a slave, a foreigner, in rebellion and a runaway. No one is invisible to the Lord God in their distress. You are not invisible to the Lord God in your distress. El Roi! I could sing it all day long!

Lord God, how you love us. Not one of us is invisible to you. You search out and save the lost sheep. You fed Elijah in his sorrow and let him rest. You walk with each of us all the days of our lives- if only we had eyes to see it! And when the time is right you will comfort and deliver us from evil. Open the eyes of the world to see you and to seek you, as you do for us. Praises be to El Roi!

The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert; it was the spring that is beside the road to Shur. And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?”
“I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered.
Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.”
The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.”
The angel of the Lord also said to her: “You are now pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery.”
…She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭16‬:‭7‬-‭11‬, ‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬
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Women of God
Hagar-Mercy in the Desert

Hagar and her son were banished in Genesis 21 for mocking Sarah at the weaning feast of Isaac. At Sarah’s request Abraham banished his second wife and firstborn son. The bitter root that grew up between Sarah and Hagar during Hagar’s pregnancy had become too much. Even the Lord confirmed it was time for them to leave. It is a lesson about the importance of reconciliation, both women wronged each other and never forgave. It nearly cost Hagar her son and her life. Praise be to God who intervenes and reconciles on our behalf.

Heavenly Father, how we fail you and fail each other. Forgive us. Teach us wisdom in every situation. Teach us humility and forgiveness. Teach us to walk as our Lord Jesus Christ. Save us from allowing bitter roots to grow up and choke us.

Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the Desert of Beersheba.
When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went off and sat down about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there, she began to sob.
God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”
Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭21‬:‭14-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Hagar-Mistreated

Hagar is a story for mistreated people everywhere. She was the slave of Sarah, given to Abraham as a wife to bear him a son and likely given little choice. When inevitable conflict arose between Sarah and Hagar over her pregnancy (could this ever have gone well?), Abraham all but abandons Hagar. Sarah mistreats her and Hagar flees into the desert while pregnant. How badly does a pregnant woman have to be mistreated to flee into the desert? Perhaps she fled and longed to die.

Lord God, in this story we are about to learn how much you love all people; the enslaved, the abused, the lost, the hopeless. When you say you are close to the brokenhearted, you do not say it lightly. Give me the same heart for all those who suffer. Give me grace, compassion and love. Clothe your church in grace, compassion and love. Help us shine your gospel glory in every land and every dark corner. In my own life, give me endless hope in you and save me from cords of embitterment that seek to bind my joy.

So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.
When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my slave in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the Lord judge between you and me.”
“Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭16‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Sarah’s Faith

Four confirmations of a promise and Sarah believed and conceived. How hard it is to stay faithful for years on end! Despite her mistakes, the Lord God delivered on the promised son. And we are the fruit of that faith!

Praises be to our God in whom all things are possible. Give us faith to live as we believe through all seasons. You are our hope and rock!!

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭8‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Sarah- A Promised Fulfilled

Sarah was ninety years old when the Lord our God finally fulfilled his promise of a son for Abraham and Sarah. Isaac through whom all nations would be blessed. Sarah laughed with joy and cynicism was left behind. The Lord had done what he said he would do. For the Lord will always keep his promises.

Thank you Lord for over time you have slowly replaced the cynicism in my own heart with joy. It is through the grace of the Holy Spirit that these things come about. May all people know the joy of your promises!!

Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭21‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Sarah- Is Anything Too Hard For The Lord?

In Genesis 18 the Lord visited Abraham and told him for a fourth time he would have a son through Sarah. This time it was Sarah who laughs and doubts. Abraham and Sarah waited so long for the birth of their promised son it seems they almost gave up at times. There is so much waiting in the Bible!

Lord God, teach me to wait in faithfulness and not in doubt. Give me faith to hang on when all hope seems gone, for this was the faith from which Abraham and Sarah bore a child.

“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.
“There, in the tent,” he said.
Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”
Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my Lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”
But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭18‬:‭9‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Sarah- A Promise is a Promise

In Genesis 17, the Lord promises for a third time he will make Abraham into a great nation. He includes Sarah. A covenant is made. A promise now trebled down on! And Abraham laughs!

Lord God, give me faith despite impossible odds. For you make promises over and over again in the Bible, through multiple writers, over thousands of years. Your words are true and everlasting. Rebuke me for my doubts. Give me faith like a mustard seed, let it grow into a tree for birds to rest in. Give your church faith in adversity, courage to grow and care for their flocks, to minister in every way to the lost. Help us be children of God, loving, obedient and trusting you in every way.

Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”
And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!”
Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭17‬:‭17‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Sarah- Women of God

In Genesis 17, the Lord promised again to make Abraham the father of many nations and to bless him with descendants. He made a covenant with Abraham including Sarah in the terms of the covenant. He commanded Abraham to call her by a new name. Sarai was now to be called Sarah. While possible meanings of Sarai שָׂרָי are “my princess” or “my lady”, Sarah שָׂרָה almost certainly means “princess”, the feminine of Sar שַׂר or “prince, ruler, cheiftan, military leader”. In a messianic foreshadowing, Sarah and Abraham would become the parents of nations to whom kings of nations would come to. And why will these kings come? To worship the Lord our God (Psalms 2:10-12, 72:10-11, 102:15, 138:4-5, Isaiah 47:7, 60:3,6&11, Daniel 7:14). The Lord’s promise and covenant was for both Abraham and Sarah. God was about to start his plan of reconciliation for the world through both Abraham and Sarah.

Heavenly Father, I praise you that you blessed both Abraham and Sarah in your ministry of reconciliation. Sarah was not an insignificant side character. None of us are! You have a plan for each and everyone to come into your grace and worship. And you have a plan for all of us to be a part of your ministry of reconciliation. Give us more and more faith in you!

Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you….”
God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭17‬:‭3‬-‭6‬, ‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Sarah- Wounded Faith

Every family makes mistakes. In a scene that should horrify all of us, Sarah gave over her slave Hagar to Abraham to bear a child on her behalf. It is unlikely a Hagar as slave woman would have had any genuine choice in becoming Abraham’s second wife. And this was despite Abraham having already been told twice by the Lord, that he will be the father of a great nation. Time was ticking and Sarah and Abraham were surely starting to doubt the promises. At Sarah’s prompting they took God’s promises into their own hands. Forcing the hand of God into fulfilling prophecy on our own terms is wounded and dangerous faith. It was then and it is now. It was a decision that had great consequences for the family of Abraham. A bitter root that never really healed grew up between Sarah and Hagar. Hagar’s descendants would ultimately become enemies of Sarah’s. Sarah blamed Abraham. So Abraham gave Sarah permission to mistreat her slave Hagar. And as a result Hagar fled into the desert and would surely have died if the Lord had not intervened saved her.

Lord God, your promises endure forever. Let me stand on your promises faithfully and patiently, knowing the you hold all time and purposes in your hands. Let me not be like the Israelites in the desert who dared to enter the promised land early against the command of you. Let me put every decision and thought before you in prayer so that it may be tested and I might walk in your will. Teach us as your church to do the same, Because the days are evil and the enemy would seek to deceive us!

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.”
Abram agreed to what Sarai said.
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Women of God
Sarah- Introducing Sarai

What do we know about Sarah, the wife of Abram? She was beautiful (Genesis 12:11). She was seemingly unable to bear children (Genesis 11:30). Sarai live a nomadic life in tents. She and Abram came from Ur of the Chaldeans (Genesis 11:31). They settled in Haran for a while. She and Abram then travelled to Canaan at the command of the Lord (Genesis 12:1). When the Lord God blessed Abram and promised to make into a great nation, Sarai was also chosen to be the intended mother. Her later attempts to fulfil that promise to Abram through another woman went terribly wrong. But God blessed her anyway. And Sarai will be forever remembered as Sarah.

Lord God, through Abraham and Sarah we learn how much you truly love us. Through their faith and through their mistakes we learn that your promises never fail. You have a plan for each and every one of us. You blessed the nations through the offspring of this couple, for in our Lord Jesus Christ our sins are forever forgiven.

Terah fathered Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran fathered Lot. Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his kindred, in Ur of the Chaldeans. And Abram and Nahor took wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and Iscah. Now Sarai was barren; she had no child.
Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there.
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭11‬:‭27‬-‭31‬ ‭ESV‬‬