I have never been loved like this... every woman wants a man to love her like Jacob loved Rachel...
first comment would be that Rachel was a worker... she was a shepherd.. I don't know how often women would work with the animals... I find it strange that she did not work at the house like I would expect women to work... but maybe.. that made her special to Jacob... if we remember back.. Jacob sat up under his mother at the house... he was not a good worker.. but he could cook.. he had soft hands and skin because he did not work outside while his brother... Esau worked the fields...
Genesis 29: 18 Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19 Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” 20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. 21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.”
first thought is.. 7 years were only a few days to him... I don't know about you but when I am waiting for something I want it seems to make time drag on... not get shorter... greater thought being... give me my wife... he already considered her his wife.. all the time before they were married... and.. I want to make love to her... not that he wanted to be satisfied... he wanted to show her how much he loved her... in the physical form of making love... what a thing to have a man say... it wasn't about him.. it was about her...
God allowed Rachel to remain childless because she was loved so much by her husband... it was a kind thing to do for Leah.. but it wasn't Rachels fault that she was loved by her husband and he was given her sister that he did not love... her father did this to them.. yet they had to pay the price for it.. so she has her servant sleep with her husband to give her children... I don't care what the situation is.. I am not okay with my husband sleeping with someone else.. I am SURELY not going to send him off to do it... Genesis 30: 22 Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive. 23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” disgraced because she did not have children.. that makes it more understandable to 'need' children.. some part of the woman's value was in her ability to bear children... and God granted her wish.. twice.. and the second one cost her life...
Genesis 31:19 When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household gods. Laban chased them as they left claiming that someone has stolen his idol. Jacob curses the person that has the idols... Genesis 31:31 Jacob answered Laban, “I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force. 32 But if you find anyone who has your gods, that person shall not live. In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods. could this have been the reason she died at a young age? we all have to be careful to never allow anything to come before God...
Ruth 4:11 Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.
regardless of the fact that Rachel died at a young age.. or the fact that she had only two children.. Rachel is remembered for two things in my opinion... one being that Jacob loved her greatly.. enough to work 14 years to marry her... the other being the fact that she and her sister Leah were the mothers to the tribes of Israel... that is a very great honor indeed...
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Dinah? (the wife of Job)
well.. I never knew the wife of Job was supposedly the daughter of Jacob! what do you think about that? now I am surely not saying it is the truth, just something written about the woman...
there was no need for her name in the bible in my opinion.. she was not worth remembering for who she was.. she is more worth remembering for who she is not...
when we read proverbs, especially 31.. it gives us the qualities of a godly wife.. the qualities a man needs in a wife... things we should strive toward being... it tells us things to avoid being.. such as nagging.. complaining... proverbs 12: 4 A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
so we look at the wife of Job.. Job 2: 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.
that is how this woman is remembered... telling her husband to curse God and die... how will we be remembered? as a wife? as a woman of God? are we encouraging? are we uplifting? are we covering our husband in prayer and protection? is our home a place of peace and rest? does he look forward to coming home? does he think of love when he thinks of us? are we a shining example of love for him? regardless of his actions or circumstances.. who he is has nothing to do with what is required of you...
Job 42: 12 So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters. 14 He named his first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. 15 In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers.
16 Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. 17 Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life.
this woman.. despite her negativity.. despite her not being a good wife.. someone that stands by you when things go badly.. she was still able to receive the blessings that God bestowed upon her husband...
we cannot only stand by a man when things go our way.. if that is the type of person we are.. what value are we? are we striving to be a crown on his head or a decay in his bones... yet the blessings from God come through a man... although I know women do not want to hear that.. they feel they are equal.. find it in the bible... find a place in the bible where God enters a covenant with a woman... stand up and be a woman of God.. a woman of proverbs 31.. be remembered for the positive things you say and do.. not the one hateful line that you have spoken.. allow the positive to far outweigh the negative... be a light for a man to come home to.. instead of a cold draft on a cold night...
revision: according to the apocryphal Testament of Job (which is a book of Jewish descent that was not added in the bible)(I have been told by my pastor that these books don't count for validity and I can't use them as a source when arguing with him.. LOL!) states that the FIRST wife of Job was named Sitis, she is the one that was quoted, she supposedly died during his trials (as if they weren't bad enough.. sheesh..) and he afterward married Jacob's daughter Dinah... again... the truth of these statements is unsure as they are not quoted in the bible...
there was no need for her name in the bible in my opinion.. she was not worth remembering for who she was.. she is more worth remembering for who she is not...
when we read proverbs, especially 31.. it gives us the qualities of a godly wife.. the qualities a man needs in a wife... things we should strive toward being... it tells us things to avoid being.. such as nagging.. complaining... proverbs 12: 4 A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
so we look at the wife of Job.. Job 2: 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.
that is how this woman is remembered... telling her husband to curse God and die... how will we be remembered? as a wife? as a woman of God? are we encouraging? are we uplifting? are we covering our husband in prayer and protection? is our home a place of peace and rest? does he look forward to coming home? does he think of love when he thinks of us? are we a shining example of love for him? regardless of his actions or circumstances.. who he is has nothing to do with what is required of you...
Job 42: 12 So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters. 14 He named his first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. 15 In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers.
16 Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. 17 Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life.
this woman.. despite her negativity.. despite her not being a good wife.. someone that stands by you when things go badly.. she was still able to receive the blessings that God bestowed upon her husband...
we cannot only stand by a man when things go our way.. if that is the type of person we are.. what value are we? are we striving to be a crown on his head or a decay in his bones... yet the blessings from God come through a man... although I know women do not want to hear that.. they feel they are equal.. find it in the bible... find a place in the bible where God enters a covenant with a woman... stand up and be a woman of God.. a woman of proverbs 31.. be remembered for the positive things you say and do.. not the one hateful line that you have spoken.. allow the positive to far outweigh the negative... be a light for a man to come home to.. instead of a cold draft on a cold night...
revision: according to the apocryphal Testament of Job (which is a book of Jewish descent that was not added in the bible)(I have been told by my pastor that these books don't count for validity and I can't use them as a source when arguing with him.. LOL!) states that the FIRST wife of Job was named Sitis, she is the one that was quoted, she supposedly died during his trials (as if they weren't bad enough.. sheesh..) and he afterward married Jacob's daughter Dinah... again... the truth of these statements is unsure as they are not quoted in the bible...
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Esther
we all think of Esther as such a lucky woman.. she was the queen.. not just one of the wives.. but the QUEEN... the first lady to a KING... of course there were other wives.. concubines.. but she was able to know that she was the very favorite...
but lets dig a little deeper... first of all... her whole life's purpose was in this position... and while on the outside.. we may feel it was a leisurely life.. a life of luxury and of happiness... things usually are not what they appear... any of us who have the smallest amount of insecurity would be able to see this from an entirely different perspective..
1. she did not marry for love.. her whole life she was being prepared for this position that without God's purpose in it.. she would never have even gotten.. she missed out on alot of things in her young life because of this preparation... everything that she was.. was for this one man... she probably didn't even know him other than what he wanted in bed.. it's not like he talked to her.. his talking was with his advisors.. her whole purpose in the palace was to please him.. sexually... or whatever other way he wanted at the time... we don't know if she ever loved him.. but my thought is that God controls our hearts.. and he will put love in us so that we can be happy in the situation He plans for us...
2. he had LOTS of other women.. who do you know that wants to share a man with other women? those women had the same purpose to him that you did.. satisfying him... what a great life that is.. right? how would you ever feel a man loved you when you have to share him with a vast amount of other people.. and as women.. we need to be given affection more than sex.. we want to be held and whispered sweet things to..
3. her position was given to her because of her appearance and performance... all of us know that beauty fades.. so what would happen to her then? and as far as her performance goes... well.. many of us have special gifts and qualities... that does not make who we are... it is not hard to keep a man... especially if God has gifted you... but eventually someone would be younger.. prettier... just as gifted.. without love.. do you have stability? surely as Vashti was put out just before her, she was probably insecure..
but it so happens that because God put Esther in the position.. she would have stability... it happens that the king actually did love her.. again.. none of this due to her, but instead due to God's favor on her... her true purpose... to save the jews from the evil man wanting to destroy her uncle and in so doing, destroying ALL the jews.. so she has to go see this man.. who is supposed to be her husband.. but she has to REQUEST TO SEE HIM.. on top of that.. she was really not allowed to do that.. she was supposed to wait until he called for her.. but in her obedience to God.. she puts her life on the line and asks to see him... I am sure she was thinking... why did God put me in this position just to kill me?
but because of God's purpose for her position and for her life... the king is favorable toward her.. and she rescues the jews from being destroyed...
that is all we ever hear about her... don't you wonder what else happened? but she had served her purpose so there is no need to tell us anything more.. I pray I am faithful to fulfill my purpose regardless of whether or not it is pleasant or easy... I pray that God will give me strength and understanding to know that my only value is in Him.. not in man... and I pray that God will give me love from a man in the process of fulfilling His ultimate will and purpose...
but lets dig a little deeper... first of all... her whole life's purpose was in this position... and while on the outside.. we may feel it was a leisurely life.. a life of luxury and of happiness... things usually are not what they appear... any of us who have the smallest amount of insecurity would be able to see this from an entirely different perspective..
1. she did not marry for love.. her whole life she was being prepared for this position that without God's purpose in it.. she would never have even gotten.. she missed out on alot of things in her young life because of this preparation... everything that she was.. was for this one man... she probably didn't even know him other than what he wanted in bed.. it's not like he talked to her.. his talking was with his advisors.. her whole purpose in the palace was to please him.. sexually... or whatever other way he wanted at the time... we don't know if she ever loved him.. but my thought is that God controls our hearts.. and he will put love in us so that we can be happy in the situation He plans for us...
2. he had LOTS of other women.. who do you know that wants to share a man with other women? those women had the same purpose to him that you did.. satisfying him... what a great life that is.. right? how would you ever feel a man loved you when you have to share him with a vast amount of other people.. and as women.. we need to be given affection more than sex.. we want to be held and whispered sweet things to..
3. her position was given to her because of her appearance and performance... all of us know that beauty fades.. so what would happen to her then? and as far as her performance goes... well.. many of us have special gifts and qualities... that does not make who we are... it is not hard to keep a man... especially if God has gifted you... but eventually someone would be younger.. prettier... just as gifted.. without love.. do you have stability? surely as Vashti was put out just before her, she was probably insecure..
but it so happens that because God put Esther in the position.. she would have stability... it happens that the king actually did love her.. again.. none of this due to her, but instead due to God's favor on her... her true purpose... to save the jews from the evil man wanting to destroy her uncle and in so doing, destroying ALL the jews.. so she has to go see this man.. who is supposed to be her husband.. but she has to REQUEST TO SEE HIM.. on top of that.. she was really not allowed to do that.. she was supposed to wait until he called for her.. but in her obedience to God.. she puts her life on the line and asks to see him... I am sure she was thinking... why did God put me in this position just to kill me?
but because of God's purpose for her position and for her life... the king is favorable toward her.. and she rescues the jews from being destroyed...
that is all we ever hear about her... don't you wonder what else happened? but she had served her purpose so there is no need to tell us anything more.. I pray I am faithful to fulfill my purpose regardless of whether or not it is pleasant or easy... I pray that God will give me strength and understanding to know that my only value is in Him.. not in man... and I pray that God will give me love from a man in the process of fulfilling His ultimate will and purpose...
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Leah
there is not much written about Leah that makes her likeable.. my personal thought is that we all wish to be a Rachel.. not a Leah.. but do you think God felt like that? I don't.. I think Leah was possibly more special to God than Rachel ever would be...
Jacob wants to marry Rachel.. so he works 7 years for her.. the night he is supposed to go in to complete the covenant and sleep with her... it turns out to not be her.. it is instead Leah... Laban, their father, has sent Leah into Jacob stating that the older daughter had to marry first... now personally... I don't care HOW dark it is... you KNOW who you are sleeping with... my thought is that he didn't care at the moment... you can't make me believe that he didn't realize she didn't feel like or smell like or talk like Rachel... but.. because covenant comes from blood being shed.. or seed being spilled.. he is stuck with Leah... he gets Rachel too but he has to work 7 more years for her..
if you read the bible.. Leah seemed to be a quieter disposition.. she seems more meek and mild tempered.. she prays to God who opens her womb and she bears all these children for a man that doesn't realize he loves her... through this marriage... she fulfills the purpose of a woman.. all along she plays second place to her sister Rachel... she continues on... I imagine in this time she realizes that despite her relationship with her husband.. all that she really can find comfort or love in is God... I believe her relationship with God is real and righteous regardless of her circumstances...
Rachel dies as an early age.. she is buried on the side of the road as they are traveling... Leah lives a long life with Jacob... she is buried beside him... Rachel may have gotten all the recognition from Jacob early on.. but in the end.. Leah was what he needed.. she was constant.. she was trustworthy.. she was faithful... no matter what mistakes we make in life.. God will turn them to the good.. His will is going to happen.. all we have to do is trust Him and wait upon the Lord...
Genesis 29:31 When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben,for she said, “It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”
we can see that it is an issue for Leah that she was not loved by Jacob.. it was obviously an issue for God too.. He continued to bless her with children... I believe she had a special relationship with God because of this... God loved her...
Jacob wants to marry Rachel.. so he works 7 years for her.. the night he is supposed to go in to complete the covenant and sleep with her... it turns out to not be her.. it is instead Leah... Laban, their father, has sent Leah into Jacob stating that the older daughter had to marry first... now personally... I don't care HOW dark it is... you KNOW who you are sleeping with... my thought is that he didn't care at the moment... you can't make me believe that he didn't realize she didn't feel like or smell like or talk like Rachel... but.. because covenant comes from blood being shed.. or seed being spilled.. he is stuck with Leah... he gets Rachel too but he has to work 7 more years for her..
if you read the bible.. Leah seemed to be a quieter disposition.. she seems more meek and mild tempered.. she prays to God who opens her womb and she bears all these children for a man that doesn't realize he loves her... through this marriage... she fulfills the purpose of a woman.. all along she plays second place to her sister Rachel... she continues on... I imagine in this time she realizes that despite her relationship with her husband.. all that she really can find comfort or love in is God... I believe her relationship with God is real and righteous regardless of her circumstances...
Rachel dies as an early age.. she is buried on the side of the road as they are traveling... Leah lives a long life with Jacob... she is buried beside him... Rachel may have gotten all the recognition from Jacob early on.. but in the end.. Leah was what he needed.. she was constant.. she was trustworthy.. she was faithful... no matter what mistakes we make in life.. God will turn them to the good.. His will is going to happen.. all we have to do is trust Him and wait upon the Lord...
Genesis 29:31 When the LORD saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. 32 Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben,for she said, “It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.”
we can see that it is an issue for Leah that she was not loved by Jacob.. it was obviously an issue for God too.. He continued to bless her with children... I believe she had a special relationship with God because of this... God loved her...
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Job
Job was a righteous man... God loved him and he loved God... he was prosperous... he had a good life... all in a few days... the enemy went to God to say that Job only loved God because of what God has given him and done for him.. God knew that was not true so he allowed satan to 'test' Job.. to take everything from him slowly... even his health.. he lost his possessions.. he lost his children.. he lost his health... and on top of all that misery his wife tells him to just curse God and die.. which he still will not do... despite what he feels... or what has been done to him..
then he has 3 friends who have determined to come and ride this out with him.. off and on... and tell him that he needs to figure out what his sin is and to repent from it so that God will be good to him again... and he has thought and prayed and he is sure that he has not done anything that he has not asked forgiveness of.. he doesn't know what is wrong.. or why this is happening.. but he knows he has been true to God...
what about us... have you ever been in a situation where you have not sinned.. yet you are persecuted.. you cannot leave the situation... you get no reprieve from the pain it causes you... and you wonder where God is.. you don't doubt Him.. you just wonder why you have to go through this... it doesn't seem fair.. but God is not fair.. He did not ask you what you felt when He chose you... He just determined that you will walk through it...
and while we wonder if there is any end in sight... look to chapter 40 where the voice of God comes to Job... I have no idea how long it takes to get to 40 chapters... but I know it is a long time in my own life... and I am not at chapter 40 yet.. where God takes me out of this darkness where I cannot see and I cannot hear and I have to rely on what He said while it was still light... I have to believe that God is not a man who changes His mind as the scripture says... He will stand true to what He said and by my chapter 42... just like Job... God will restore me... at this point.. all I really need is the lights turned back on... I would be thankful for God's hand of blessing but more important to me than that would be the sound of His voice... the touch of His love... that is what I really desire to be restored... as I am sure Job did too... yet God will give us so much more than what we need if we will only be faithful till He gives us the relief that we need...
trust God.. even on the hard days... it will be to your benefit...
then he has 3 friends who have determined to come and ride this out with him.. off and on... and tell him that he needs to figure out what his sin is and to repent from it so that God will be good to him again... and he has thought and prayed and he is sure that he has not done anything that he has not asked forgiveness of.. he doesn't know what is wrong.. or why this is happening.. but he knows he has been true to God...
what about us... have you ever been in a situation where you have not sinned.. yet you are persecuted.. you cannot leave the situation... you get no reprieve from the pain it causes you... and you wonder where God is.. you don't doubt Him.. you just wonder why you have to go through this... it doesn't seem fair.. but God is not fair.. He did not ask you what you felt when He chose you... He just determined that you will walk through it...
and while we wonder if there is any end in sight... look to chapter 40 where the voice of God comes to Job... I have no idea how long it takes to get to 40 chapters... but I know it is a long time in my own life... and I am not at chapter 40 yet.. where God takes me out of this darkness where I cannot see and I cannot hear and I have to rely on what He said while it was still light... I have to believe that God is not a man who changes His mind as the scripture says... He will stand true to what He said and by my chapter 42... just like Job... God will restore me... at this point.. all I really need is the lights turned back on... I would be thankful for God's hand of blessing but more important to me than that would be the sound of His voice... the touch of His love... that is what I really desire to be restored... as I am sure Job did too... yet God will give us so much more than what we need if we will only be faithful till He gives us the relief that we need...
trust God.. even on the hard days... it will be to your benefit...
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Elizabeth
we find the story of the mother of John the Baptist in Luke 1. she is an old woman and her husband is an old man. well past child bearing years it would seem. her husband is a priest in the temple. the angel Gabriel comes to him to tell him that God has seem his faithfulness and intends to bless him with a special child. this man, Zechariah is his name, doubts that this could be real. and for this doubt he is stricken with silence until the child is born.
it seems that Elizabeth has no such fears and she is thankful and gives God all the credit for this miracle. Luke 1:25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
she had been looked upon with disgrace because she could not have children. in those times that seemed to be looked upon as though God was not pleased with you. I guess it actually is still looked at as though something is wrong with you. maybe not a curse, but surely as an abnormality.
we often feel as we get older that we are no longer of use to God. or that He will not use us in a spectacular way. instead of doubting God, what would happen if we would all begin to believe all that He puts in our spirit? can you imagine the massive move of God that would transpire if we would just believe Him and take His promises as truth and be thankful.
God chose to use her. He chose to bless her with a favored son and she was thankful.
it seems that Elizabeth has no such fears and she is thankful and gives God all the credit for this miracle. Luke 1:25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
she had been looked upon with disgrace because she could not have children. in those times that seemed to be looked upon as though God was not pleased with you. I guess it actually is still looked at as though something is wrong with you. maybe not a curse, but surely as an abnormality.
we often feel as we get older that we are no longer of use to God. or that He will not use us in a spectacular way. instead of doubting God, what would happen if we would all begin to believe all that He puts in our spirit? can you imagine the massive move of God that would transpire if we would just believe Him and take His promises as truth and be thankful.
God chose to use her. He chose to bless her with a favored son and she was thankful.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Judith
okay... this woman is not in the bible we read daily.. she is in the so called Lost Books of the Bible...
she is hailed as a hero.. yet I wonder...
she lived in the time when the Assyrians were attacking Israel.. she is a widow and apparently a beautiful woman... it is first stated that she lived alone, well.. she had a maid that lived with her.. she was left well taken care of by her late husband who had been very wealthy... she was to have given up the rich clothing she wore when she was married and living a meager existance in prayer and supplication... that is the beginning of the story...
in comes this general of the Assyrians named Holophernes... and the Israelites were afraid of him... and they did not go and attack him because of their fear... she hears the Jewish leaders talking and they are not talking of coming against this general who leads under the king Nebuchadnezzar... so as they are not intending to do anything about this man... she takes it upon herself and she goes out of the city gate at night... goes to the Assyrian camp.. and says she has information for Holophernes...
she has put on all her rich clothing that she used to wear when her husband was alive... made herself attractive under the guise of seduction... and is led into this man... he gets drunk... she cuts his head off and carries it back to the Israelites....
okay... here are the questions/issues with this story... that are still in question with us today... does the end justify the means?
women throughout the bible are not given leadership roles... this is just a bible fact.. I am sorry if you do not like it.. a man is to be the head... all the time.. women really were not to be outspoken like we are... they were to be in submission to a man... as are we... so... she had remained humble and lowly all that time.. which was right... then she dresses herself up for seduction... of a 'pagan' man... and cuts his head off... taking the lead role... the role of a liar.. the role of a murderer... yes... she did cut the head off of someone trying to attack God's people... but does that make it right? should it not have been a man that stepped up and led the country to victory? and while we as women like to say that men are not stepping into leadership roles... well of course they aren't.. when do we ever give them an opportunity to? are we quiet enough long enough to allow it to happen? and trust me.. GOD controls the heart of a man... when GOD was ready to step a man up to be against that general... He would have...
Genesis 3:16 To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."
Proverbs 7: 10 Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. 11 (She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; 12 now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) 13 She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: 14 "I have fellowship offerings [a] at home; today I fulfilled my vows. 15 So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! 16 I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. 18 Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love! 19 My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. 20 He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon."
we as women need to be cautious what type of woman we are portraying... are we loud and rebellious, always trying to gain control? or are we God fearing women that allow God to be the true Head of our lives?
she is hailed as a hero.. yet I wonder...
she lived in the time when the Assyrians were attacking Israel.. she is a widow and apparently a beautiful woman... it is first stated that she lived alone, well.. she had a maid that lived with her.. she was left well taken care of by her late husband who had been very wealthy... she was to have given up the rich clothing she wore when she was married and living a meager existance in prayer and supplication... that is the beginning of the story...
in comes this general of the Assyrians named Holophernes... and the Israelites were afraid of him... and they did not go and attack him because of their fear... she hears the Jewish leaders talking and they are not talking of coming against this general who leads under the king Nebuchadnezzar... so as they are not intending to do anything about this man... she takes it upon herself and she goes out of the city gate at night... goes to the Assyrian camp.. and says she has information for Holophernes...
she has put on all her rich clothing that she used to wear when her husband was alive... made herself attractive under the guise of seduction... and is led into this man... he gets drunk... she cuts his head off and carries it back to the Israelites....
okay... here are the questions/issues with this story... that are still in question with us today... does the end justify the means?
women throughout the bible are not given leadership roles... this is just a bible fact.. I am sorry if you do not like it.. a man is to be the head... all the time.. women really were not to be outspoken like we are... they were to be in submission to a man... as are we... so... she had remained humble and lowly all that time.. which was right... then she dresses herself up for seduction... of a 'pagan' man... and cuts his head off... taking the lead role... the role of a liar.. the role of a murderer... yes... she did cut the head off of someone trying to attack God's people... but does that make it right? should it not have been a man that stepped up and led the country to victory? and while we as women like to say that men are not stepping into leadership roles... well of course they aren't.. when do we ever give them an opportunity to? are we quiet enough long enough to allow it to happen? and trust me.. GOD controls the heart of a man... when GOD was ready to step a man up to be against that general... He would have...
Genesis 3:16 To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."
Proverbs 7: 10 Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. 11 (She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; 12 now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) 13 She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: 14 "I have fellowship offerings [a] at home; today I fulfilled my vows. 15 So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! 16 I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. 18 Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love! 19 My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. 20 He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon."
we as women need to be cautious what type of woman we are portraying... are we loud and rebellious, always trying to gain control? or are we God fearing women that allow God to be the true Head of our lives?
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