Hagar

For the List of "Women of the Bible", click Blog Archive, 2008 December

10 Questions & Answers
Scripture Reference: Gen 16; 21:8-21; Gal 4:22-31
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#1. Who was Hagar?

#1. Hagar was Sarah's servant(handmaid), an Egyptian slave who, following the marital customs of the times, was given by Sarai to Abram (Gen 16:1-16). When Hagar saw that she had conceived, she despised her mistress, causing trouble in the household.
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#2. How old was Abraham when Ishmael was born?

#2. 86 years
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#3. When Hagar showed contempt for her mistress, what did Sarah do?

#3. Hagar's actions were self-defeating. Sarah with anger mistreated Hagar, so that the pregnant slave girl fled in terror towards Egypt through the great wilderness.
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#4. True or False. Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, Abraham's heir, in the wilderness.

#4. False. By the fountain in the way to Shur, the angel of Lord found Hagar and instructed her to return and submit to her mistress. Angel delivered a remarkable prophecy respecting her unborn child, that her son would prosper(Gen 16:10-12). On her return, she gave birth to Ishmael. Sarah later had a son, Isaac whom the Lord decreed would be Abraham's heir, and not Ishmael.
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#5. Why Sarah insisted Hagar be sent away?

#5. When Ishmael was about 16 years old, at a great feast held in connection with Isaac's weaning, Ishmael cruelly teased his younger half brother, so Sarah demanded the expulsion of Hagar and her son. This violated the custom, which assigned definite rights to the offspring of a secondary wife(concubine). Abraham unwillingly complied to send his son and Hagar into the desert, only when God intervened and promised to care personally for Ishmael. God told Abraham
that Ishmael's descendants would become a nation.

(Concubine: a slave woman in ancient Near Eastern society who could have legitimate sexual relations with her master but still did not have the rights of a free wife).
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#6. What happened to Hagar and Ishmael after they were cast out the second time?

#6. She again fled to Egypt. When both seemed about to die of thirst, an angel appeared and reaffirmed God's promise to Hagar, and pointed out a fountain close by. Thus her son lived and grew up to be a hunter in the wilderness of Paran. Hagar took a wife for her son out of Egypt, her own land(Gen 21:1-21). Ishmael fathered a mighty nation, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham and Hagar.
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#7. What does Hagar's experience of mistreatments illustrate?

#7. Hagar's powerless state at mistreatment and injustice brought frustration and hostility. But hostility stimulates more severe mistreatment and it appears there is no way out for the cycle of injustice, hostility, and more injustice. Check out what Bible says about this situation in 1 Peter 2:13-25.

Paul made Hagar's experience an allegory of the difference between law and grace (Gal 4:24-25).Sarah pictures the covenant of grace, and Hagar represents the covenant of the law which "bearing children unto bondage".

Gal 4:24-25 24These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children.
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#8. What was the prophecy concerning Ishmael in Gen 16:12?

#8. "He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone
and every one's hand against him, and he will live in hostility
towards all his brothers."
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#9. Can this attitude of living in hostility infect the future generations?

#9. The birth of Ishmael probably is a memorial of doubt and a tampering with the covenant given by God. Through this child of unbelief, future generations were handed down full of animosity, which might have promoted the current international tension.
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#10. Where in the Bible we see about Hagar's descendants?

#10. Gen 25:12-15; 1 Chron 5:10, 19-22; Psalm 83:6

Elizabeth

For the List of the "Women of the Bible", click Blog Archive, 2008 December

15 Questions & Answers
Scripture Reference: Lk 1:5-80
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#1. Who were Elizabeth and Zechariah?

#1. Luk 1:1-5: During the reign of Herod king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and he had a wife named Elizabeth, who was a descendant(lineage) of Aaron. She and her husband Zacharia "were both righteous before God" (Luke 1:5, 13). They were the parents of John the Baptist, Messiah's forerunner (Luke 1:5).
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#2. True or False. Both of them were old and childless.

#2. True. Luk 1:7 They did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old.
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#3. Why the people of Israel waited hundreds of years for Messiah?

#3. Messiah would do away with all the sacrifices and priesthood. He would provide a direct bridge to God himself and his sacrifice would provide redemption for all time.
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#4. According to Bible why we have to be a friend and support to a woman who is struggling with infertility?

#4. Israelites saw children are a blessing from the Lord, recognizing his power to open or close a woman's womb. Women who couldn't bear children were considered subfemale, unable to fulfill their divine purpose on earth. When a woman was unable to fulfill this duty her emotional pain was tremendous. In addition to this, infertility brought also the reproach of a woman's husband, the disapproval of woman's family, and the rejection of the society. The productive women's fertility mocked the infertility of the barren woman every time she went to the market, well or a community social event.
Many women(eg: Sarah, Rachel, Hannah) in the Bible were barren. Elizabeth said she was disgraced among her people. 1 Tim 2:15 says, Women will be saved through child bearing and the pain that became incidental to childbirth through the Fall(Gen 3:16). Under these circumstances they deserve our friendship and support all the way.
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#5. When and where Zachariah did meet the angel Gabriel and what was the message?

#5. Lk 1:8-17 Once when Zechariah's division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.

He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
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#6. Whenever an heavenly being(angel) appear, why the human being get frightened?

#6. We are not told exactly what angels look like or how they appear. Matt 28:3 says
"His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow". Mary and Zachariah were cowered in fear when the angel Gabriel appeared- not an uncommon reaction. Certainly it is obvious from the reactions of those who saw them that the angels are supernatural beings and therefore frightening. There are 291 references to angels in Scripture.
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#7. What kind of incense Zachariah was burning in the temple and what was its purpose?

#7. The incense Zachariah burned in the temple was made according to a special recipe(Exod 30:34-38) of spices and salt that had been ground to a powder. This holy incense could be used only in the temple in worship, never for ordinary, everyday purposes. Zachariah was chosen by lot-which was God's way of making the choice- to burn incense in the temple. Each morning and evening he took fire from the altar of burnt offering and placed it on the golden altar of incense that stood before the curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. He then poured the dusty incense from a golden urn onto the fire. The worshippers stood outside and prayed. The smoke and aroma of the incense symbolized their prayers rising up to God. The fragrance also served to fumigate air, tainted with the odor of the blood of animals killed for the sacrifices.
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#8. Why the prophet Jeremiah often condemned the Israelites for burning incense?

#8. Jeremiah 6:20 What do I care about incense from Sheba or sweet calamus from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please me." God made it clear that the mere burning of incense didn't please him. It was only a symbol. He was looking for hearts that were turned toward him with faithfulness and trust.
Isn't that application obvious for us today as well?
In all our forms of worship-our hymns and praise songs, our liturgies and readings- what is important to God is our hearts, turned toward him in faithfulness and trust.
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#9. What punishment happened when Zachariah questioned the angel?

#9. Lk 1:18-20 Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."
19The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time."
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#10. How long Elizabeth had to wait to plant a child in her shriveled up, old-woman's womb?

#10. Luk 1:24 After some time his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she kept herself in seclusion.
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#11. Who convinced the secret pregnancy of Elizabeth to her relative Mary?

#11. Gabriel
Luk 1:36 “And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age – although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month!
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#12. What happened to Elizabeth when Pregnant Mary visited Elizabeth?

#12. Mary's visit to Elisabeth is described in Lk 1:39-63.
Mary travelled 60 miles south from Nazareth to Judea to visit her relative.
Luk 1:40 Mary entered Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
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#13. Give 3 promises in the Scripture related to Mary's Savior?

#13. a)Malachi 4:2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.

b)John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

c)1 Tim 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
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#14. Mary would have been in the first trimester of her pregnancy and Elizabeth in her third. What does the medical science say about the young baby's week by week growth in their wombs?

#14. God is the Creator of every child in the womb. To restore our appreciation for the miracle of human life, it is worth to look into the fetal development of the young baby.

Normally pregnancy is based on a 40-week schedule(=280 days) from the 1st day of LMP}. ie. 38 weeks(=266 days) from conception, Give or take a few weeks.

1st trimester of pregnancy: 1 - 12 weeks
2nd trimester of pregnancy: 13 - 27 weeks
3rd trimester of pregnancy: 28 - 42 weeks

Embryo, is upto the first two months of gestation, After the end of the second month the young is called, fetus. After the completion of 42 weeks induction of labor will be considered. 1st week of the pregnancy begins on the first day of the LMP(last menstrual period) for the calculation of gestational period. Mary or Elizabeth didn't have to go through pitocin or breaking the water(amniotomy) induction. Both of them didn't have to worry about epidural, cesarean or doula birthing. They must have had natural birthing.

Pregnancy Calendar:
Jesus:
4 weeks - his nervous system being developed.
5 weeks - most of his organ systems had begun to form.
6 weeks - his facial features forming.
7 weeks - his heart began beating.
8 weeks - all his major body structures, organs, blood were developing.
10 weeks - tiny teeth were forming in his gums.
11 weeks - genitalia beginning to develop, organs fully developed.
12 weeks - his basic structure of brain was formed and the circulatory system will begin functioning.

John:
24 weeks - Baby is almost completely formed.
6th month (26 weeks) - He could grasp his hands, kick, do somersaults. Baby can hear you and those around you. Although we assume that the uterus is a quiet place, the baby has been surrounded by noise for a long time. Things like your heartbeat, digestion, and other body functions are heard by the baby as well as external noises. Now you may feel the baby jump at a sudden noise.
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#15. What does the Psalm 139: 13-17 beautifully praise our Creator?

#15. For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me
were written in your book before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

Mary, the Mother of Jesus

For the List of the "Women of the Bible", click Blog Archive, 2008 December

25 Questions
Scripture Reference: Matt 1:18-25; Lk 1:26-80; 2; John 19:25-27
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#1. How many Marys you are aware in NT?

#1. There are many Marys in the NT, and at times it appears confusing. Before we Quiz on Mary, the Virgin, let us look at all the other 5 (may be 6, not sure) Marys of the NT.

a)Mary of Bethany:
Her sister Martha and brother Lazarus are close friends of Jesus. This Mary anointed Jesus' feet with perfume. Lk. 10:38-42;
Jn 11:1-46; 12:1-8; ( Mt 26:7; Mk 14:3).

b) Mary, mother of James and Joseph (and probably wife of Clopas):
A Galilean woman who after being healed, followed Jesus and supported his ministry financially. She was an eyewitness to death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Jn 19:25; Mt 27:56; 28:1; Mk 15:40,41,47, Mk 16:1

c) Mary, Magdalene:
Another Galilean woman whom Jesus healed, and who helped to support Jesus' ministry.
Jesus cast 7 demons out of her(Mk 16:9; Lk 8:2); appears at Jesus' crucifixion;
followed the body of Jesus to the grave; she was first to learn of the Resurrection, thus she was a key witness of Jesus' last days. mt 28:1-8; Mk 16:9; Lk 24:1-12
Jn 19:25; Mt 27:56,61;28:1; Mk 15:40,47; 16:1,9; Lk 8:2; Jn 20: 1-2, 11-18.

d) Mary, mother of John Mark:
A sister of Barnabas; her home was a meeting place for the Jerusalem church/ch.
When Peter was freed from prison he went to this Mary's house(Acts 12).
Acts 12:12,13; Col 4:10

e) Mary of Rome:
A Christian commended by Paul in Rom 16:6
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#2. What was the first and foremost assignment of Virgin Mary?

#2. Mary, the young Jewish virgin, chosen by God to bear the Savior. Thus a woman's body became the dwelling place of divinity.
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#3. Did Mary comply the eligibility of David's line to become the mother of Jesus, the promised Messiah?

#3. Yes
Mary lived in Nazareth, where Joseph was a carpenter. Mary and Joseph both are the seeds (descended from) of David.
Acts 2:30
Rom 1:3
2 Timo 2:8
Genealogy of Jesus orderly lists tracing his human ancestry found in Mt 1:1-17 and Lk 3:23-38. Each genealogy is intended to establish Jesus as a descendant of David and guards the doctrine of the virgin birth. Jesus' legal right to the throne is established through Joseph, while his biological descent from David is established through Mary.
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#4. Where was Jesus' place of birth?
a)Nazareth; b)Bethlehem; c)Egypt; d)Jerusalem

#4. b (Lk 2:1-18)
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#5. Where in the text of Luke portray Mary's faith, character, courage and joy?

#5. Lk 1:26-56
In this passage Mary also expressed her willingness to bear the "the son of the Most High", even though her pregnancy would surely be misunderstood and put her future at risk with personal shame.
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#6. Was Mary present in the Upper Room?

#6. Yes. (Acts 1:12-14)
Mary was praying with the disciples, other women, and Christ's brothers.
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#7. What does Jn 7:5 say about Mary?

#7. Mary is notably absent from Jn 7:5, which says, "Even his own brothers did not believe in him".
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#8. How did Mary express her humble submission to the will of God, when the angel Gabriel approached her?

#8. Lk 1:38 Mary expressed true faith in God by submitting to his will. She told the angel,
"I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
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#9. What was the promise, Gabriel announced to Mary?

#9. Lk 1;32 "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
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#10. When Mary raised the question of her virginity, what did the angel comfort her with how the conception would be?

#10. Lk 1:34-35 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God" .
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#11. When was Baby Jesus Presented in the Temple?
#11. Jesus Presented in the Temple
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord", 24and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."
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#12. What was the threat posed to the baby Jesus by the visit of Magi?

#12. Herod forced the family to take refuge in Egypt.
Matt 2:1-18 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." 14So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son." Hos 11:1
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#13. How Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist was related to Mary?

#13. 8. Both are distant cousins. Lk 1:36
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#14. Where was Mary when Jesus entrusted Mary to the care of John?

#14. Mary and John at the cross and Jesus on the cross (Jn 19:25-27).
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#15. What are the 4 distinctive Roman Catholic doctrines about Mary?

#15. a) Perpetual Virginity
b) Intercession
c) dogma of the Immaculate conception (1854)
d) Assumption of Mary (Pope declared this dogma in 1950)

Catholics' reaction is that Protestants have often failed to honor Mary sufficiently.
None of the post apostolic developments has any support in Scripture and hence Protestants, including Mar Thoma Church do not accept it. But all Protestants including Mar Thoma Church admire, honor, and love Mary because she was the mother of our Savior. Certainly, she was a blessed woman.

A)perpetual= a)continuing or enduring forever; everlasting; b)lasting an indefinitely long time; c)continuing or continued without intermission or interruption; ceaseless:

B)intercession = a prayer to God on behalf of another.

C)immaculate = a)Impeccably clean; spotless; b)Free from stain or blemish; pure;
c)Free from fault or error.

D)assumption= (Ecclesiastical). a) the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into heaven. Mary's body did not decompose in the grave but was reunited by God to her soul soon after she died; b)a feast commemorating this on August 15.
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#16. Joseph seems to have died before the crucifixion of Jesus. What is the last incident we see him with the family?

#16. With Jesus in the temple when he was 12. (Mt 1-2; Lk 1-2 Read the infancy story)
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#17. Can you locate the passage and sing Mary's hymn of praise to God for the favor accorded her in being the mother of the Messiah?

#17. Mary's Song

Lk 1:46-55 And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,........

(refer the Bible for the rest of the song........)
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#18. Where did Mary talk first time about Jesus' super natural powers?

#18. During the wedding at Cana in Galilee Jn 2:1-11 Mary seems to have some intimation that Jesus had more than natural powers, but Jesus corrected his mother regarding her notion about the use of these powers.
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#19. True or False. Neither Mary nor Joseph fully understood her son.

#19. True.
Lk 2:49 "Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" 50But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
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#20. Who does Mary call Jesus' father? Who does Jesus say his father is?

#20. Lk 2:48-49 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."
49"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"
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#21. How many children Mary had by her husband Joseph?

#21. Mary was the mother of at least 6 children, after Jesus. So Jesus had 4 half brothers and at least 2 half sisters.

a)Matt 13:55-56; "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56Aren't all his sisters with us?

b)Mark 6:3 Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?"
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#22. Did Mary's family relation as the mother, give her any special spiritual advantage?

#22. Scripture doesn't provide any.
a)Matt 12:46-50 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you."
48He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49Pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. 50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

b)Mk 3:31-35 Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you."
33"Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked.
34Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

c)Lk 8:19-21 Now Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you."
21He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."
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#23. Did Jesus appear to Mary after His resurrection?

#23. There is no record for this.
The last mention of Mary is in Acts 1:14 where she was with the disciples in prayer.
Acts 1:14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
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#24. God said to Mary, "nothing is impossible". Can you find at least 3 comparable promises in the Scripture?

#24. a)Joshua 4:23-24 For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God."

b)Matt 19:26 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"
26Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

c)1 Cori 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
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#25. The Magi bowed down and worshiped Jesus. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. What thoughts Mary might have had about these priceless gifts?

#25. Myrrh is a plant and its aromatic resin used as an ingredient in anointing oil(Exod 30:23), applied as perfume (Esther 2:12), placed in clothes to deodorize them (Ps 45:8), given as a gift (Matt 2:11) and used to embalm bodies(John 19:39).

The gold and incense are royal treasures and probably had helped them survive their stay in Egypt. She might have wondered about the myrrh. At the time of Jesus' burial, Mary might have figured it out. It was the embalming oil for the King.

Sarah

For the List of the "Women of the Bible", click Blog Archive, 2008 December

17 Questions
Scripture Reference: Gen 12:1-20; 16:1-8; 17:1-22; 18:1-15;
21:1-13; Gal 4:22-31
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#1. Who was Sarah?

#1. The half-sister and wife of Abraham who gave birth to Issac in 2100 B.C. at her old age of 90. Her original name was Sarai. She was about 65 years old when Abraham left Ur for Haran. (Scripture: Gen 12-23).
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#2. True or False. Sarah suffered greatly because she was childless(barren) most of her life.

2. True. When her servant Hagar conceived, she showed contempt for Sarah which stimulated Sarah to treat her harshly. Sarah's barrenness made her a bitter and vindictive woman. Tradition demanded that she "bear children" for Abraham by her maid Hagar. A son born in this way would be regarded as the son and heir of Abraham and Sarah. Still childless at the age of 75 Sarah induced Abraham to take her handmaid hagar as a concubine. But she found no satisfaction in Hagar's pregnancy, which only helped to prove Abraham's potency(meaning non sterile) and suggested their childlessness was Sarah's fault. Thus the hostility between Hagar and Sarah grew worse.
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#3. True or False. Abraham and his wife, Sarah have the same father.

#3. True, their father is Terah. Marriage with half-sisters have been not uncommon in antiquity(ancient custom). This practice might have been there until the growth of families offered wider selection.
Gen 20:12 Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father though not of my mother; and she became my wife.
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#4. Who changed Sarai's name to Sarah?

#4. God.
Gen 17:15 God also said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah.
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#5. What is God's promise to Abraham about Sarah?

#5.Gen 17:16 I(God) 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."
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. 20 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. 21 But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year." 22 When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.
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#6. Name the "son of promise" and the son of Hagar?

#6. Isaac, the son of promise(son born to Sarah at the age of 90) and Ishmael, born to Hagar when Sarah was 75 years old.
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#7. Because of Sarah's beauty, what did Abraham do when he lacked faith in God to protect his life in the presence of unfamiliar people and rulers?

#7. Two times Abraham tried the same ruse, his double relationship with Sarah.
1) Abraham feared the Egyptians might kill him and take her into the Pharaoh's harem. So he asked Sarah to pretend to be his sister. She went along with it. Read Gen 12:10-20.
2) For a while he stayed in Gerar, 2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, "She is my sister." Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.
Read Gen 20:2-16
Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again, 18 for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech's household because of Abraham's wife Sarah.
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#8. How many times Hagar was expelled from sarah's home?

#8. Two times. First time Hagar returned to Sarah's home at God's direction and submitted to Sarah, then she gave birth to Ishmael. After 15 years, Issac was born to Sarah. A few years later, at a great feast celebrating the weaning of Issac, Sarah observed Ishmael mocking her son and she demanded the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael again.
Abraham reluctantly agreed after God had instructed him to do so.
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#9. When did Sarah die and where was she buried?

#9. Sarah died at Kiriath Arba(Hebron) at the age of 127 and was buried with great celebration in the cave of Machpelah, which Abraham purchased as a family sepulcher(Gen 23:1-2), where Abraham's body was later laid. Here 127 mentioned is the only instance in scripture where the age of a woman is recorded.
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#10. At what age Isaac and Ishmael were cicumcised?

#10. Ishmael at 13 years (Gen 17:25), and Abraham at the age of 99 years both got circumcised. Isaac got circumcised when he was 8 days old.
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#11. Sarah is commended several times in the OT and NT texts. Where are the passages located?

#11. In spite of all faults of Sarah, she is held up as an example of faith in Isa 51:2 and Heb 11.11 and commended in 1 peter 3:6 as a model. Also Ref Gal 4:21-5:1, Rom 4:19, 9:9.

Isa 51:2
look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was but one, and I blessed him and made him many.

Heb 11.11
By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.
1 peter 3:66like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

Gal 4:21-5:1 Hagar and Sarah
Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.
24These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written:
"Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud,
you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate
woman than of her who has a husband."

28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son." 31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

Freedom in Christ
Gal 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Rom 4:19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah's womb was also dead.

Rom 9:9 For this was how the promise was stated: "At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son."
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#12. Sarah became impatient and took matters into her own hands without waiting for the promise to come through. What was the total net result of it?
#12. Following a practice common in the ancient world, she gave Abraham permission to sleep with her Egyptian maid, Hagar. Sarah's slave would become a surrogate mother for the promised child. Thus Ishmael was born. But the child brought only discord between the two women. After 15 years Sarah became the mother of the promised child, Issac. Now the hostility grew worse. Her attempts to fulfill God's promise of a son through her servant Hagar created disastrous results.

Even in our own day, the struggle between Israel and her Arab neighbors stems from the ancient strife between two women and the children they bore.
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#13. Choose 5 adjectives that describe Sarah from the following 4 passages.
Gen 16:6; 18:12, 15; 21:10.

#13. Some suggestions are given below. pick from the list or find your own.
offended, liar, emotional, angry, annoyed, jealousy, distrust, hateful, self- cetered, ungenerous, embarassing.

1) Gen 16:6 "Your servant is in your hands," Abram said. "Do with her whatever you think best." Then Sarai mistreated Hagar; so she fled from her.

2) Gen 18:12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?"

3) Gen 18:15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh." But he said, "Yes, you did laugh."

4) Gen 21:10 and she said to Abraham, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac."
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#14. We live in an age of the insant or immediate and we are do-it-yourselfers. Waiting patiently for God to work may be one of the most difficult experiences of our Christian walk. Give 4 examples of promises in Scripture about wait.

#14. God's promises are revealed and fulfilled in his timing, which is often on a calendar far different from our own.
Promises in Scripture(4)
1) Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
2) Psalm 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.
3) Isaiah 30:18Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
4) Micah 7:7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear me.
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#15. What did Sarah say from emotion when she gave birth to Isaac?

#15. God has brought me laughter
Gen 21:5-7 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
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."
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#16. Why did Sarah name her son, Isaac?

#16. In Bible-times, names had a significance. The names give us a glimpse into their personal experience or reflect their emotional response to a situation. Sarah was surprised to hear the angel that she will have a child in one year. She did take a stock of herself. Gen 18:12 "So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?". When her son was born, Sarah named him Isaac, which means "he laughs".
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#17. Throughout Scripture, God gives to his people names that offer a picture of their significance and worth to Him. Can you give 5 examples of names for this?

#17. 1)We are his "treasured possessions".
a)Gen 19:5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."
b) Malachi 3:17 "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

2) the "people of his inheritance"
Deut 4:20 But as for you, the LORD took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of his inheritance, as you now are.

3) "sons of the living God"
Hose 1:10 "Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'sons of the living God.'

4) We are his friends
John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

5) No matter what your given name is, God knows it. In love, he calls you to him by your name and you belong to him.
Isai 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
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Eve

For the List of the "Women of the Bible", click Blog Archive, 2008 December

23 Questions
Scripture Reference: Gen 1:26-31; Gen 2-4

#1. When you hear the name Eve,(Gen 2,3) what are the characteristics you define about her?

#1. The first woman created, wife of Adam, who was deceived by Satan and disobeyed God by eating from the tree of knowledge, mother of Cain, Abel, Seth, and other sons and daughters(Gen 5:4), Original ancestor of all people and thus her Fall made all people inherit Sin.
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#2. Who named the woman, Eve- God or Adam?

#2. Adam
Gen 3:20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.
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#3. Who designated the first woman as "suitable helper" and as "woman"?
#3. Suitable helper by God, and Woman by Adam.
Gen 2:20-23 But for Adam no "suitable helper" was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, for she was taken out of man."
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#4. Where else in the scripture you see God himself is called the believer's "help"?

#4. a)Psalm 46:1 b)Psalm 33:20
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Psalm 33:20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
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#5. Eve is the prototype woman. In the story of the creation of Adam and Eve, does Eve's identification as a "suitable helper" for Adam imply woman any subordination or inferiority?

#5. Certainly not. Each is created in the image of God. Together they share dominion over earth.
Gen 1:27,28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
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#6. Why Paul doesn't allow women authoritative teaching roles in the church?
(1 Tim 2:14)

#6. 1 Tim 2:11 woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

While Eve knew that it was wrong to eat the forbidden fruit, she was all too easily convinced to question God's motives and doubt the consequences of disobedience
(Gen 3:1-5).
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#7. How many years Eve lived?

#7. Gen 5:4 After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. (No special mention about Eve)
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#8. What did Adam do when he was enamored of his wife?
(enamored = inspired by foolish or unreasoning fondness/love)

#8. Adam's willful act of disobedience chose to leave God for the one he had given him.
2 Cor 11:3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
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#9. God banished Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden. Is there any possibility of regaining our lost estate?

#9. with the long, slow process of redemption by the Savior.
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#10. True or false. The creation of Woman story helps us define the relationship between husbands and wives.

#10. True.
It is stated that man was created male and female.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
Gen 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Here at the start of the human race we find the divine origin and sanctity of marriage: one man, one woman, one flesh.
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#11. What is "the Seed of the Woman" according to the Scripture?

#11. It is a figurative expression. Here seed means descendant.

Gal 3:16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ.

Physiological: A man's seed or emission of semen is a frequent expression in Hebrew laws.

The NT speaks of Christians as having been begotten by God.
1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."
This seems that God is determined, and the Messiah is promised to Eve, in spite of Adam and Eve's sin, to bring His creation of mankind to a successful end. As the Fall was set in motion through Eve, so will redemption come through woman. It will be the "seed of the woman", that is born of woman without the agency of man. It is the hint of the virgin birth of Christ, for there has been only one descendant of Eve who was born of woman without being begotten by man.
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#12. Who made dresses for Adam and Eve?

#12. First by them and then by God.
Gen 3:7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Gen 3:21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
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#13. What is God's judgement to Eve?

#13. God denounced curse against Eve.
Gen 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."
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#14. What are the names of the children of Eve?

#14. Cain, Abel, Seth and other sons and daughters.
Gen 4:1-2, Gen 4:25,
Gen 5:3-4 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. 4 After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters.
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#15. Christ, the messiah was born through which son of Eve?

#15. Seth
Luke 3:38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
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#16. What is an appropriate title for 'One of the saddest' passages in scripture mentioned in Gen 3:1-4?

#16. The Fall of Man
Gen 3:1-5 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "
4 "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
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#17. Just like we rationalize many sorts of reasons, what are the 3 reasons Eve figured for eating the fruit and rationalized her sin?

#17. Gen 3:6-7 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.
7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
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#18. Did Eve get her eyes opened, when she ate the fruit first?

#18. No. Nothing happened. When Adam ate the fruit both of their eyes were opened. Ref the Answer 17 above.
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#19. Whom does Eve acknowledge as the source of life?

#19. Eve recognized life was in God's control. See, at Cain's birth what she exclaimed.
Gen 4:1-2 Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man." 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel.
Gen 4:25 Adam lay with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, "God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him."
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#20. Among the 3 participants who is to blame of the Fall and got punishment of the fault?

#20. Adam and Eve produce a classic scene of passing the blame- Adam blames Eve. Eve blames the serpent. Look at what the Scripture say.

Gen 3:11-19; 22-24 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" 12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it." 13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." 14 So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." 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." 17 To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. 18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."
.........22 And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." 23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
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#21. What does the term "labor" mean with respect to childbirth?

#21. Seven dictionary meanings are given below, last 3 are related to childbirth.

a. of or pertaining to workers, their associations, or working conditions: labor reforms etc.
b. the body of persons engaged in such activity, esp. those working for wages.
c. physical or mental work, esp. of a hard or fatiguing kind; toil.
d. to burden or tire: to labor the reader with unnecessary detail.

e. the physical effort and periodic uterine contractions of childbirth.
f. the interval from the onset of these contractions to childbirth.
g. to be in the actual process of giving birth.
(British spelling: labour)

Eve was the first woman to conceive a child, the first to harbor a fertilized egg in her womb. This miracle must have been a wonder for her. Because of her sin they lost the paradise. That led to God's judgement on Eve, "with pain you will give birth to children". Eve must have experienced exactly what was ordered in birthing even her first child, probably with the only help of Adam. Later Hebrew women had the help of experienced midwives, who knew remedies for common delivery difficulties. Their responsibilities after the birth include: cutting the umbilical cord, washing the newborn, rubbing it with salt for cleansing, and wrapping it in swaddling cloths.

Exod 1:16 The birth-stool referred in here was probably a low stool on which the mother-to-be squatted, allowing the force of gravity to aid in the birth process. The midwife and others held the mother's hands to give comfort as well as stability as the mother bore down with pains, panting, the mess and the disorder connected with the birth of a child. Thus the child birth process is appropriately termed as labor.
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#22. All the 3 participants got punishment. What is the order of judgement?
#22. Curses fell first to serpent, second to Eve. and third to Adam.
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#23. God's grace and mercy are marvelously evident, even when God was pronouncing his judgement. Give 4 promises related to grace in the Scripture.

#23. a)John 1:16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
b) Romans 5:20-21 But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
c) 1 Cor 2:9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him".
d) Rom 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

(Few other related promises are given below: Phil 4:23; Col 1:19; 1 Thes 5:28; Ephe 2:4-5;
John 1:14; Acts 11:23; 20:32; 2 Cor 9:14; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5; 1 Cor 10:30;
1 Tim 1:1-2).

Women of the Bible - Introduction & List of Women

Category
Let us look at the lives of 54 out of 197 women of the Scripture, some are prominent and some are not so prominent. All these women offer a fresh perspective on the story of salvation. The cast of characters include prostitutes, evil queens, prophetesses, wealthy women, abused women, single and married women, and widows-young and old. Their stories reveal so much about God's love, his relentless jealousy, and his creative ability to bring good out of the most desperate circumstances.

We are going to look into the stories of 37 women from the Old testament, and 17 women from the New Testament. In this discussion the Scripture doesn't say the names of 10 women of OT and 5 women of NT. Though we are familiar with many names of Bible women, many of us fail to recognize many women of the Bible.

I am going to give below all the 54 names alphabetically but the Topics are published in somewhat order of admirable and prominent characters among the Bible women.

Try to identify,
a)their location in the Bible
b)a brief account of the story.

Then you can go through the Questions & Answers on each woman, Topic by Topic.

1. Abigail, 2. Anna, 3. Athaliah, 4. Bathsheba,

5. Deborah, 6. Delilah, 7. Dorcas, 8. Elizabeth,

9. Esther, 10. Eve, 11. Gomer, 12. Hagar,

13. Hannah, 14. Herodias, 15. Huldah, 16. Jael,

17. Jehosheba, 18. Jezebel, 19. Joanna, 20. Jochebed,

21. Leah, 22. Lot's wife, 23. Lydia, 24. Martha,

25. Mary of Bethany, 26. Mary of Magdalene, 27. Mary, the Mother of Jesus,

28. Michal, 29. Miriam, 30. Naomi, 31. Pharaoh's Daughter,

32. Potifar's wife, 33. Priscilla, 34. Queen of Sheba,

35. Rachel, 36. Rahab, 37. Rebekah 38. Rizpah,

39. Ruth, 40. Salome, Mother of the Zebedees, 41. Sarah,

42. Shulamite Woman, 43. Shunamite Woman, 44. Syrophoenician Woman,

45. Tamar, Daughter of David, 46. Tamar, Daughter-in-Law of Judah,

47. Widow with the Two Coins, 48. Widow of Zarephath

49. Wise Woman of Abel, 50. Woman of Endor,

51. Woman of Proverbs, 52. Woman of Samaria,

53. Woman with the issue of Blood, 54. Woman who lived a Sinful Life.