Category: women of genesis
HELLO HAGAR PART I
Last week we wrapped up Hello Sarai/Sarah.
Remember her servant?
No? Then go back and check out Hello Sarai/Sarah Part I, II, III, IV.
The servant/slave girl that is sprinkled throughout Sarah’s story, her name is Hagar. Today I want to take a closer look at Hagar and all that she experienced as a result of being Sarah’s slave.
The first thing we learn about Hagar is that she is a servant.
No, worse. She is a SLAVE.
When I think about what the word slave means I think phrases such as: confined, ordered around, can’t make own choices, controlled.
We can all agree that slavery no matter the circumstances is not a good way to live. So off the bat we see that Hagar already has a difficult life. In verse two Hagar gets a curb ball thrown at her that is about to make things even more challenging.
[Quick side bar… What are you a slave to? What controls your decisions? What confines you? What dictates your thoughts and emotions?
Good news is that Jesus came to set you and me free. We DO NOT need to be slaves to our sins any longer. We can be coheirs with Christ.]
Genesis 16:2… Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 … Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.
Now I understand that Hagar is a slave but it kills me that Sarai thought of her as an object that she could “take” and “give” to her husband. Hagar had no say in the matter. I wonder. Was she raped? Did Abram force himself upon her? Well. It’s not like she had the option to say no.
Genesis 16: 4 … When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.
Verse 4 is our window into Hagar’s emotions. She “DESPISED” Sarai. That’s such a strong word.Who do you despise? I know who I have despised…. that person who I felt had ruined it for me… that person I don’t want to see even in a painting. It’s an emotion like many others, yet the bible has something pretty convicting to say about hatred.
1 John 3:15 Anyone who hates another brother or sister is really a murderer at heart.
Ouch! Sometimes people’s actions towards you or me are painful and unmerited. We may even think that despising or loathing them is what they deserve. However let’s be careful that we don’t allow others actions towards us to cause us to think, say or do something we can end up regretting.
I can’t say I’m surprised by her reaction. Hagar did not request to become Abram’s baby momma. This was forced upon her.
Sucks, because sometimes that’s how life is.
Sometimes something gets forced upon you or me that we did not look for, we did not ask for, we do not want.
My question is this… How do you respond?
Heck, how do I respond?
In those dark moments when we have no control and someone else is making the decisions that ultimately affect you or me directly.
Those moments when we want to shout NO! STOP! and our screams go unheard. The pain seems overwhelming and unbearable. I’ve been there. You are not alone.
Let’s remember:
1. It’s NOT your fault.
2. Don’t beat yourself up over someone elses actions.
3. You are not defined by the incident.
4. Forgive the people involved, yourself included.
5. Surrender the situation to God and make good choices as you move forward.
Next time we will see what course of action Hagar takes.
My Prayer for you:
Heavenly Father, thank you for showing us that there were women in the bible who felt real emotions. Thank you because that reminds us that we are not alone in our pain. We are not alone in our suffering. I pray for every reader experiencing pain at this moment. Any heart ache any disappointment or disillusionment. I ask you to surround their hearts with your love and with your joy. Your word declares that you are with the brokenhearted and crushed in spirit and I believe you are with each broken heart right now. I ask you to heal all broken hearts and help us forgive those who have caused us to feel any negative emotions such as hatred or jealousy. Thank you for hearing and responding to this request in Jesus’ heavenly name, Amen.
Memory Verse: Psalm 34:18
HELLO SARAI/SARAH IV
HELLO SARAI PART I
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HELLO SARAI PART II
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HELLO SARAI/SARAH PART III
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I love Sarah’s story.
It paints such a picture of God’s love and Christ’ redemption.
How I long to see God move in my life the way He did in Sarah’s.
How I desire a new name… a renewed promise.
Sarah’s story gives us a glimpse into God’s mercy and grace.
Playing catch up?
Read the first 3 installments and then you’ll be all up to date.
Genesis 21: 1
Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. 2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. #1 God is FAITHFUL!No matter what you are praying for.
No matter how unlikely the promise may seem.
No matter how long you’ve been waiting.
GOD IS FAITHFUL.
God came through for Sarah.
HE WILL COME THROUGH FOR YOU!
Believe it!
Receive it into your spirit!
Don’t allow the lies of this world, your fears, your insecurities to get in the way of trusting and ultimately seeing your dreams and God’s promises for your life come to pass!
In Hello Eve Part I, II, III we learned that we were created with a divine purpose. Nothing can prevent God from showing up and showing off in your life!
Look at Sarah.
Everything was against her.
Her choices, her faith, her age.
Did any of these things stop God from fulfilling His promise?
NO!
Did it happen the way Sarah would have liked? Or when Sarah would have wanted it?
NO!
But did it happen?
YES!
Dear sister friend, let’s, you and me start believing again! Let’s grab hold of God’s promise once more. Let’s not lose hope. Let’s not forget what He has already done.
Let’s live above reproach.
Genesis 21: 6 Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”
7 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.” #2 CELEBRATE!When was the last time you took time to celebrate God’s grace? When was the last time you shared your testimony so others can join in on your celebration.
I love verse 6.
Sarah went from laughing from incredulity (Genesis 18:12) to laughing from celebration!
This encourages me to praise.
It reinforces that God will see me through.
It reminds me that He has ALREADY brought me through struggles and hurts. God’s love is so big He doesn’t want me to go back to who, what, where I used to be. I must celebrate that!
I must celebrate the times and seasons when God demonstrated His grace and mercy. I need to create a habit of celebrating even if I haven’t seen the blessing yet.
I really believe that Joel Osteen quote, “If you complain you’ll remain; if you praise you’ll be raised.”
Let’s praise God for what He’s done in our past. Let’s praise God for moving in the unseen. Let’s celebrate the fact that even though we don’t know how or when God does and He’ll reveal it when we are ready to experience it!
I am so grateful for Sarah. I am thankful that her story mattered to God and we can read it today and gain insight and wisdom. We can learn how to improve ourselves to live to our maximum potential.
Memory Verse: Romans 8: 38-39Romans 8: 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
My prayer for you:
Heavenly Father, I pray for every reader today. I pray that you may use these words to encourage, motivate and inspire them. I ask that you may remind them of how you have blessed them in the past. I pray Lord Jesus, that you may remind them of the promises you have in store for them. Please lift their spirits. Please let lose your joy within them that they may praise you for past successes. That they may celebrate your faithfulness. Thank you Jesus for bringing me up out of the mire and setting my feet on solid ground. I pray that I may continue building a strong foundation in you and that through my walk and experiences you may be able to touch and impact someone’s life. Thank you for your goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
HELLO SARAI/SARAH PART III
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The last two weeks I’ve had the blessing of studying Sarai. Her life, her struggles, her story. Before diving into today’s post go back and check out Part 1 and Part 2.
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HELLO SARAI PART I…
HELLO SARAI PART II…
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WHAT?!?!
God has shown up once more to renew the promise! Not only did God renew the promise of making Abram and Sarai the parents of multitudes, (original promise in Genesis 15:5 “He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspringd be.”) God also changes Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai’s name to Sarah. This is the first time in the bible that God changes someone’s name but it’s not the last. These name changes excite my heart; it shouts of something new! It’s almost as if God wants Abraham and Sarah to see themselves in a new light. To refer to themselves by a new name implies that they have a new identity. They have a new destiny. Maybe what they thought would be the outcome of their lives is no more. Now they have new dreams and renewed hopes to trudge into the unknown future with.
Wow!
This passage strengthens my faith and makes my heart swell! If God could forgive Sarai’s mistakes and repeat a promise they thought would never come to pass then whose to say he can’t do the same for you and me?!
I hope this thought encourages you as much as it has encouraged me!
Nevertheless, I know the ending to this story. Sarah does not, so it doesn’t surprise me the way she responds to her heavenly visitors and the message they share with Abraham.
Let’s read the passage and discuss the three actions Sarah takes.
Genesis 18: 1-15.
Quick paraphrase, three angels show up at Abraham and Sarah’s. Abraham is very hospitable so he invites them in to rest, wash their feet and eat. He immediately gives word to Sarah and the servants to prepare some yummy goodness to bless their visitors with. The angels get straight to the point, 9 “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said. 10 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 I just have to point out how interesting it is to me that they asked Abraham about Sarah’s location. A part of me feels like they already knew where she was and they wanted her to overhear that they knew she could hear the conversation.
Why do I think this?
Let me show you with verse 10 “…Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him…”
#1 Sarah eavesdropped.
Tsst tsst tsst. But. Don’t we do this at times? Don’t we try to listen in on God’s conversations with other people looking for some clue, hint or something that will give us the link we think we are missing? Don’t we ever ask our friends or loved ones… “So what did God say to you…?” and we do our best not to add, “about me” at the end of that question. I know I have. And if I don’t it’s only because I don’t want them to think I’m rude.
What she does next convicts my heart even further.
12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
#2 Sarah laughed.
Uuufff. Talk about a spiritual punch in the face! How many times does God lay a promise on our hearts and our reaction is to laugh in his face? Whenever we respond in this manner we are literally saying, “I do not believe that you will keep your promise, God.” I can’t imagine how this grieves our Heavenly Father. He wants so badly to bless us and we prevent the blessings from flowing because of our disbelief and lack of faith.
Sarah’s third action is the kicker. It wasn’t enough for her to eavesdrop and laugh but then she….
15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”
#3 Sarah lied.
This girl had angst. OK. She reacted out of fear but that doesn’t excuse her for lying! Does that sound judgy? Like I have a right to judge! Seriously, am I the only one who gets freaked out at times and doesn’t know what else to do but lie? When your dreams are so big that they scare you out of your wits isn’t it easier to just lie and say, “Naw, I’m good where I’m at.”? Call me crazy but I completely get Sarah. She was pushing 90 when these angels came to visit. She did not believe her body could handle it but next week we will see how God had other plans.
To close this out, let me say how one of my favorite parts of the entire passage is when the angel responds to Sarah in verse 15… But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
I love this for two reasons:
1. He confronted her. He didn’t let her slide. He told her to her face that he knew she was lying.
2. He doesn’t take the promise back. I’m sure he understood her fear the same way God understands our fears today.
Memory Verse: Proverbs 3:25-26
Proverbs 3:25 You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, 26 for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
Prayer for you:
Heavenly Father I pray that you may grab hold of every reader. I pray that you may reveal to them the dreams and promises you’ve placed on their hearts. I ask you Lord to remind them of these promises. That no matter what they have done or not done they may be confident that nothing can separate your love from them. Help us to accept your promises with confidence instead of incredulous laughter. Help us to not be afraid of your path for us but strengthen our faith that we may chase after you and your plan with reckless abandon. Thank you Lord because you hear our prayers and move behind the scenes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
HELLO SARAI PART II
Last week I introduced Sarai. I spoke about how her desperation led her to influence her husband to make an unwise choice.
Read Hello Sarai Part I here.
This week I want to explore the aftermath of Sarai’s choices.
Sarai took control of the situation thinking she could force the promise to come to life. She thought that maybe she was not the one God would fulfill the promise through. In Genesis 16:2 Sarai said to Abram, “The LORD has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal.
1. Did she think her servant would be okay with this arrangement?
2. Was she planning on just taking the baby away from the servant girl and raising it as her own?
3. Did she truly believe God would bless this arrangement?
4. Where did her faith go?
Post Abram’s agreeing to sleep with the servant girl, we quickly see the situation spiral out of Sarai’s control.
I want to share two points that I found in this passage.
Verse
4 tells us that Abram slept with Sarai’s servant and she became pregnant.Read her reaction, “when she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress.“
Uh oh!
So much for Sarai’s plan to create a family with her servant’s child!
As we continue reading Genesis 16 we learn what the servant’s reaction causes. Verse 5 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.”
Hold up!!!!!
“You are responsible…”? Really Sarai?!?!
Last time I checked whose idea was this?!?! Who came up with this genius plan?
Point #1: Sarai’s plan caused division in her marriage.
She made the choice to suggest and encourage it but instead of taking responsibility for her poor decisions she blames Abram. I’m not saying that he is completely innocent in this, he very well could have said NO! He didn’t have to accept the indecent proposal but he did… womp!
In verse
6 Abram responds to Sarai. He put’s it back on her washing his hands of the whole situation. “Your slave is in your hands,” Abram said. “Do with her whatever you think best.” Then Sarai mistreated Hagar…Point #2 Sarai’s plan causes unmanageable resentment towards her servant.
I can’t imagine the pain Sarai felt in these moments. I mean, she’s been married for decades and has undoubtedly slept with her husband enough times to conceive. Her servant sleeps with her husband ONE time and immediately becomes pregnant! I’m tempted to excuse her resentment. I feel badly for Sarai. I think I might have responded the same way if I had been in her sandals. This situation reminds me of the quote,
“Hurting people hurt people.”
That’s exactly what happens here. I think Sarai, a normally God fearing woman doesn’t know what to do with her emotions and finds herself treating her poor servant girl horribly.
There is so much to learn from this portion of the story.
Firstly, it reminds me to be introspective. It’s so important to make the time to self evaluate our choices and reactions.
Let’s make sure we take responsibility for our own.
Secondly, I learned that it’s easy to lash out when we don’t get our way. Sarai is totally throwing a temper tantrum here because things did not go as she planned. I can relate. I’ve acted out tantrum style in my adult life… haven’t you?!
I think we benefit from being aware of our emotions and taking control of them before they take control of us.
Let’s not mistreat those around us who are innocent bystanders to our messes. Yea, I know. Easier said than done, but if we learn to control our thoughts we will be able to grab hold of our emotions which stem from our thoughts. I love how much this story is like a telenovela!
I’m excited to say that I will be extending the three week series to a four week Sarai/Sarah series.
Next week I want to explore chapter 18 and see what God says next. I hope you can stop by again next Friday and take a look at Hello Sarai Part III. Memory Verse: Philippians 4:8
Philippians 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
My Prayer for you:
Heavenly Father, thank you for your precious word. I believe it is alive and working in us. I pray for all of the readers who are struggling with the guilt or shame of a poor decision. I ask you to help them surrender those emotions to you. Help them accept that even though the choice was bad they are NOT bad. I pray, Father God, that you may minister to someone through Sarai’s story. That we may see and understand the relevance that her experiences then have to our lives today. Help us lean into your word and glean the wisdom you desire for us to gain. Thank you, Lord. I am confident that you will show up and show off in the lives of my readers. I trust that you guide us to reflect on our choices and emotions that we may not blame or hurt the innocent but that we may allow you to turn all of our circumstances into good for your Glory! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
HELLO SARAI PART I
Talk about shaking things up. Sarai must have had it good up to this point. Verse 5 tells us that she follows her husband on this new adventure. They leave their families and comfortable lifestyle to become nomads. They roam and roam, they stop in Egypt get some more riches and get kicked out when the Pharaoh learns that Sarai is actually Abram’s wife and not his sister.
This story is pretty juicy, if you’ve never read it click here.
After leaving Egypt they travel some more and end up finding themselves in the land of Canaan. Now a lot has happened between chapter 12 and chapter 15 including wars and rescue missions.
In chapter 15 God speaks to Abram again. This time he gives Abram an unbelievable promise, “Look at the heavens and count the stars – if indeed you can count them… so shall your offspring be.”– verse 5.
What a weird promise to give to a man who is nearing really old age and has not had any children.
At this point in the story I start thinking about Sarai.
Her barrenness.
Her lack of motherhood.
How much did she suffer?
How insecure was she?
I wonder how incomplete she felt.
Did Abram share God’s promise with her?
I was thinking through this and it occurred to me that they were husband and wife…. marriage made them ONE.
So technically if God gave this promise to Abram then the promise was for Sarai too!
Did she believe it?
Did she get excited?
I picture her daydreaming about that moment when she would get to hold her newborn child, a child she has waited practically forever for.
I imagine her waiting for the confirmation of pregnancy and the first year passes. Then the next and the next until it’s been 10 years and Sarai has yet to feel the squirming of a baby within her womb.
After 10 years of waiting for her dreams to come true I think Sarai became a bit impatient. In verse 2 of Genesis 16 Sarai utters these words, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave…”
I bet there was exhaustion, frustration, disappointment and disillusionment in her tone, maybe even a little bit of resentment and bitterness towards God. I mean He made this grandiose promise and hadn’t followed through.
Haven’t we all been here before?!
There is that one thing that comes to mind. You’ve been praying for and working towards this for years and years and have yet to see the fruit of your faith and efforts.
It’s so typical for us as women to throw our hands up in the air and shout,
“I AM TIRED OF WAITING!!!!”
I know I’ve said it. I know I’ve cried it.
These emotions that lead us to take control.
That moment when the patience has completely dried up and we start making erratic decisions thinking we can play God.
In this very state of desperation Sarai makes a horrible decision. A decision she ends up regretting terribly.
I mean come on!!! It has to be a desperate move to tell your husband to sleep with another woman! The first attempt at surrogacy. And guess what… she took matters into her own hands and everything ended up blowing up in her face big time!!!
Next week I will go into further detail on Sarai’s decision and the repercussion of her poor choice and lack of faith. I hope that we may learn from her experience. Let’s not lose hope! Let’s not forget the ways that God has already come through for us! Let’s hold on tight. He WILL come through! You will see your blessing!!!!
Memory Verse: Psalm 130:5
My Prayer for you:
Heavenly Father, I pray for those readers who are struggling with patience right now. I pray that you may remind them of your past faithfulness. I ask you to give them supernatural hope in this moment that they may not lose faith. That they may hold on tight to your word and your promises. I thank you for all that you have already done and ask you to continue to show up and show off in our lives. I pray that as we experience moments of fainting and doubt that we may not forget the lesson Sarai teaches us. That we may not try to take control where only you can make things work. Thank you for hearing our prayers and for your faithfulness. I am confident that you have good things for each of us and we will see the fulfillment of your promises in our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Comment below with your thoughts on Sarai’s choice. I can’t wait to read your feedback!
HELLO NOAH’S GIRLS
One of my favorite bible stories is the story of Noah and the Ark. At first glance it seems so cruel. God destroys all of mankind in this crazy flood. Everyone except for Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives. All of a sudden it becomes a story of redemption. God didn’t want to end His relationship with mankind. He wanted to redirect the direction mankind was going in.
I wonder the doubt that passed through Noah’s wife’s mind as he is sharing with her what God told him. I wonder her disbelief. I wonder the discomfort at being ridiculed by her neighbors while Noah built the ark in the middle of a land that had never ever seen rain before.
I wonder what the first cruise was like. Confined space with her daughters-in-law. I hope they got along. I bet there must have been some drama involved. Whenever more than one woman is in a small space for more than a day there’s bound to be some type of drama. Right?! Was there a lot of complaining going on, because if it were me I know I’d be biting my tongue raw.
But no, seriously.
Did these four women have any idea what they were signing up for? (That’s starting to be a pattern with all these women… things don’t always go as expected.)
Were the daughters-in-law trying to skip out or did they have faith and believe what Noah heard from God?
I imagine the smells on this boat. The noises that rang out at random times. Cleaning up after those animals must have been something else.
These four women are not named and not much is mentioned regarding their character or their dispositions. Scripture doesn’t share whether they loved it or hated it.
However Genesis 6: 8-9 says, “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord…. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time and he walked with God.”
I dare gather two points
- Noah loved and feared the Lord.
- Noah led his family (wife, sons, & daughters-in-law) to love and fear the Lord.
I can’t help thinking that if I were in their place I would have grumbled and griped the whole time we floated along. Yet, I truly believe that these women took up their assignment with grace and poise. Maybe they knew the importance of their cooperation or maybe they just loved the Lord so much they were willing to sacrifice their daily comforts for His will be to be done. I choose to believe that these four unnamed women left an example for all of us to follow.
My Prayer for you:Heavenly Father, thank you for the story of Noah and the Ark. Thank you for the covenant you made through the symbol of the rainbow. I pray that we may take on all of the assignments we have before us with an attitude of excellence. That all that we do we may do it with you in mind, thinking of your glory and lifting your name high. Please help us to have a graceful heart and spirit that we may not waste time grumbling and complaining but that we may use our words to praise you instead. Please continue to be glorified. In Jesus name, Amen!
Memory Verse: Colossians 3:23-24
Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
HELLO LAMECH’S GIRLS
19 Lamech married two women. The first was named Adah, and the second was Zillah…. 22 Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.
Abarim-Publications
Adah and Zillah are the first “sister wives” of the bible.
Both women were married to a man by the name of Lamech. He was part of Cain’s genealogy, last week we talked about Cain’s unnamed wife, read more here.
Zillah had a daughter named Naamah. She is the first daughter to be recorded.
Adah, Zillah and Naamah come as a packaged deal….
3-4-1 if you will.
ADAH:
It does not say how long they were married before he took a second wife.
I wonder if Adah was in agreement or if she put up a fight and lost. Or maybe they were all married at the same time. 1 or “ornament”2. Her name gives me the impression that she must have been a beautiful woman. This makes sense considering that it’s only been 6 or 7 generations since Adam and Eve so humans are still close to perfect beauty.
The passage doesn’t give much information about Adah except to mention that she had two boys. These boys are special because they had skills that advanced the civilization of their time. In verse 20 we read that her first born Jabal raised livestock. Jubal, the second son born to Adah is named in verse 21; he is said to be a musician who played the flute and harp. Jubal was quite the cultured one.
Abarim-Publications
Zillah is Lamech’s second wife. Her name is said to mean “shadow”3. What a dark name. The word shadow makes me think of darkness; of secrets lurking in the “shadows”.
Did Zillah feel that her life was a shadow? Maybe life as a sister wife wasn’t as bright as Lamech made it out to be.
Zillah also had a son. He is mentioned in verse 22. His name was Tubal-Cain, a reminder of who their ancestor is. He created tools out of bronze and iron. It’s interesting because the passage says that Lamech boasted of using his son’s tools as weapons to murder and that he’d be more untouchable than Cain.
Lamech’s ruthlessness makes me think that both Adah and ZIllah were not God fearing women. They married into Cain’s blood line which because of Cain’s decisions generations early was far from the Lord.
Abarim-Publication
Naamah is Zillah’s daughter. Her name means pleasant. I like that meaning for a name. I hope she was “pleasant“3.
It’s interesting to me that she was recorded in the Genesis chapter 4. She’s the first daughter to be named. I trust that God placed her there for a reason however from my research it appears that scholars are unsure. There seems to be some controversy surrounding Naamah: who she really was and why she was mentioned in the scripture to begin with. If you would like to read some of the those theories check out the links below.
This grieves my heart because by association and family ties Adah, Zillah and Naamah are also condemned to God’s wrath.
It’s totally relateable to us today because how many of us allow others decisions and choices to bring us down? How often are we affected by the shrapnel that shoots into our lives cutting and bruising us as a result of an explosion in someone else’s life?
The good news is simple! There may be explosive material flying around you but when you are in Christ you will be protected by His hand. Someone else’s condemnation does not need to be yours.
God has promised us that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1!
Are you in Christ?!
If your answer is YES! Then no matter what comes, no matter your family ties, associations or lineage, YOU ARE FREE IN CHRIST!!!
If your answer is NO! Then let today be the day that you cry out to God and ask Jesus to set you free! He will! He died to set you free!
My Prayer for you:Lord help us set up boundaries in our lives to protect us from others decisions. I pray Father God that you may cover those reading this today. That Adah, Zillah and Naamah’s story may speak to their hearts. Lord I pray for those reading this who do not know you as their savior, I ask that as you knock on the door of their hearts they may open their hearts to you and allow you to transform their lives. Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice, your forgiveness, salvation and protection. In Jesus name, Amen.
Memory Verse: Romans 8:1
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
HELLO CAIN’S WIFE
When I read this verse with the intention of writing this post one question came to mind.
- She’s important because why??? (yes, that’s exactly how I thought it and how I wrote it in my notes…)
I continued to think about why she would even be mentioned.
Who was she really?
She is unnamed. Not significant enough to be named but the fact that she is mentioned at all tells me that there is something to be learned from her. She is mentioned in one line as if a passing comment.
Let’s start by listing some attributes:
- she had to have been a daughter
- she was a wife
- she was a mother
About her being a daughter:
There seems to be so much controversy around the question…. Where did Cain’s wife come from?
Here are some resources that helped me answer that question for myself.
- All the Women in the Bible – Cain’s Wife
- Cain’s Wife: It Really Does Matter!
- A Biblical Oldie, but Goodie: So Who Was Cain’s Wife?
- Cain’s Wife
The gist of the story is that Cain’s wife must have been his sister or niece. Apparently incest wasn’t considered incest yet. Actually there was nothing wrong with it for a few hundred years. I’m guessing that it started causing defects or something because it was happening all throughout Genesis and Exodus. Until one day in Leviticus (the third book of the Bible) God said “no, no, no, not in my house!!!” and a law was written against it. Leviticus 18 has a whole string of “Do not have sexual relations with…”
I know some people may find it far fetched… but either you believe the Bible to be true or you don’t… no gray area!
The thought occurred to me that Cain’s wife stayed with him even though he was a murdered. She stayed by his side in spite of the fact that he lost all favor before God. She stayed with him through exile. I imagine she had to leave her friends, her family, the people who raised her and loved her.
That makes me sad for her.
I wonder, what did she cling to? Did she continue loving God even though Cain turned his back on God?
Now, I am not a wife so I really have no authority to speak on this however I’m going to say it anyway.
I’ve often heard respectable women and men in ministry tell God fearing women married to non-believing men to continue loving, respecting, praying and living by example in their marriages. I truly believe that God will totally Show Up and Show Off. If you happen to be in that situation take heart! Hope on! Love your husband, respect your husband and most importantly pray for your husband! I believe that God will nudge his heart, remove the scales from his eyes and save his soul!
About her being a mother:
[Not to be confused with Enoch from Genesis 5 who was so close to the LORD that he was taken up to heaven.]
Cain built a city named after Enoch. I bet she was proud of this honor to her boy. After her one liner a list of generations is mentioned before the story pauses on Lamech and his two wives who we will be meeting next week. One commentary states that this information is included in the story to refer back to the beginnings of the Cainites. Loads of history that I’m not going to get into. Even still it shows that she is significant as the mother of that lineage. Read more on it here.
Towards the beginning I questioned Cain’s wife’s significance. I think that sometimes we as women question our own significance. I know I’ve dealt with identity issues. Who am I? Why am I? What am I for? The answer to all those questions… JESUS. I am the daughter of a KING! I am created with purpose to be of blessing and to glorify said KING. I am loved and honored by said KING. I am and so are you!
My Prayer for you:
Father God, how easy it is to feel like Cain’s wife. Like our lives are just one liners. Like we are a side comment that most people overlook without a second thought. How grateful I am that to you we are more than one liners. To you we are fearfully and wonderfully made. To you we are significant, cherished and delighted in. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for making our stories significant even if in a quiet way. We are still important to you! I pray that you may press that thought on our hearts daily. Please give us daily reminders of your love for us. Help us see how you pursue and romance each and every single one of us in such a way that is personal and unique to our individual spirits and hearts. In Jesus name, Amen.
Memory Verse: Isaiah 43:4a
Isaiah 43: 4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you.
HELLO EVE PART III
What can we learn from Eve…
(more than what I can fit in a three week series!!)
1. Temptation sometimes gets the best of us.
But gratefully Jesus said,
“Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7)
Let’s not throw stones!!! Let’s forgive and love instead!!!
2. Doubting will get us kicked out of paradise. (Genesis 3:23)
Eve doubted God’s goodness and faithfulness and it cost her everything!!!
James 1: 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
3. When you sin don’t hide from God! (Genesis 3:8)
Turn to Him instead!
*Side note* It’s interesting to me how immediate the guilt set in. As soon as they ate of the fruit Adam and Eve noticed their nakedness. They felt the repercussion of what they had done.
Recently someone shared with me,
“Guilt turns to shame in 3 days.”
My dear sister, DO NOT sit in your guilt! Repent! Ask God to forgive you. HE WILL!!! DO NOT allow the shame to drown you. That’s exactly what the enemy wants! Fight back! Take hold of your freedom in Christ!
Sometimes we lose a battle but the ultimate war is already won!!!! You have victory in Jesus!!! (1 Corinthians 15:57)
Tavo Quiros Original
Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Honestly, I feel bad for Eve! I mean let’s be real. How many of you in her situation would have been like, “Kick rocks, serpent!” And yet forever upon forever Eve has been blamed for all of the sin in the world. She may have been the first to sin but I guarantee she’s not the only one who would have chosen the fruit.
I can’t begin to imagine how delicious it looked. I bet it smelled better than any of the other fruit in the garden. And on top of looking and smelling amazing the thought of gaining WISDOM!
Curiosity killed the cat!!! No doubt about that!!!
But at what price? Was it worth it?
I wonder how much Eve regretted her poor decision. Just like Eve, I have been drawn in by the serpent’s craftiness. I have made bad choice after bad choice and woken up the next day to regret it. Like Eve I chose to hide and run away from God. To sew fig leaves together and cover up my sin.
Thank God, that Jesus, the Savior was the plan all along.
My prayer for you:
Heavenly Father, your grace is sufficient! I pray for every hurting heart. Every reader who is struggling with guilt or shame. I pray that you may embrace them in this moment. That as they read this they may feel your love and compassion. I thank you for your mercy which is new every morning. I thank you that you do not leave us in our sin to die but you stepped in and took the death in our place. Please show up and show out like only you can. Heal the hurting hearts. Ignite a passion in their spirits that they may know that their stories were not in vain. In Jesus’ healing name, Amen!
Memory Verse: Luke 1:45
Luke 1:45 “You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
I hope you have enjoyed this 3 part series on Eve.
Check out part 1 and 2 below.
Come back on Monday for another Bonus Monday and next Friday we’ll be studying the next woman mentioned in Genesis chapter 4.
I can’t wait!!!
HELLO EVE PART II
Genesis 2:21-22 (MSG) God put the Man into a deep sleep. As he slept he removed one of his ribs and replaced it with flesh. God then used the rib that he had taken from the Man to make Woman and presented her to the Man.
Last week I talked about Eve being a solution to a problem and how womankind was created with a specific purpose. (Read it here.) Today I want to touch upon two revelations that a dear mentor of mine shared with me once.
1. Both Adam and Eve had alone time with God.
2. Eve was created whole and complete.
In Genesis 2:21 God gives Adam a forced nap time. Prior to this nap Adam had an opportunity to commune with God. One on one time. He then falls into a deep sleep, I love the imagery, it’s a deep sleep as opposed to a light sleep lest he woke up in the middle of woman’s creation.
In verses 22 God creates woman. During this formation process and until God presents the woman to Adam, they too have an opportunity for some much needed QT. I was blown away when it was presented to me this way.
I love that thought: God had alone time with Adam and Eve separately before bringing them together. Independent of each other.
This reminds me that as much as I long for a husband who will lead me and my family in chasing after God, it will always be of utmost importance that I have that same quality time with Jesus myself.
Ladies, communion with our King is key for point number 2.
Have you ever heard the expression, “God created a God sized hole in your heart that only He can fill.”? I happen to believe that to be true. I want to break the mindset that so many women have. A mentality that has been perpetuated by novels, fairy tales and movies.
LADIES, NO MAN CAN EVER EVER EVER COMPLETE YOU!!!!!
NO MAN CAN EVER SATISFY YOUR SOUL OR LOVE YOU TO YOUR CORE LIKE ONLY JESUS CHRIST CAN!!!!
I really cannot stress this point enough. Trust me as I type it I remind myself.
That second revelation that was shared with me is that woman was complete in the moment of her creation. I imagine her sitting there in Eden, feeling comfortable in her own skin, ready to be of service, confident in her ability, secure in her designer and creator.
She was COMPLETE!!!
She wasn’t boggled down by insecurities, lack of confidence or the pressures that we face today.
My dear sisters, I have good news!
You and I were created by the same God! We too were made complete in God’s own imagine! We too can experience the confidence and wholeness that blessed Eve’s spirit. Seek your King Jesus and ask Him to fill that God shaped hole in your soul. Chase after Him with reckless abandon and watch as He heals and satisfies you.
My prayer for you:
Heavenly Father, I know the pain of feeling incomplete, of chasing after the things of this world to satisfy the depths of me that only you can quench. I pray that as you have worked in me you may also move in the hearts and minds of every woman reading this now. That she may see the importance of spending time with you to allow you a chance to refresh her spirit. I pray that she may lean into you and find her satisfaction in you. I pray that every woman reading this today may know what it is to be confident and secure in her designer and creator. I thank you in advance for how you will move in their lives. In Jesus holy name, Amen!
Memory Verse Colossians 2:10 (ERV):
Colossians 2:10a And because you belong to Christ you are complete, having everything you need.
SUPERSTARNAT 