I've been thinking through what I know about the women of the Bible, and though I've studied them in depth, I always seem to study the same ones over and over again. I feel like I know the main ones really well. We know Eve (that silly little apple eater), and then there's Mary and Martha (work-a-holic who I relate so well to). In a new challenge to myself, I am taking more time to dig deeper into the women of the Bible we know so well, and I am going to begin checking into the women mentioned but not studied in depth. I'm not pretending like I know all of the answers; my strategy is to merely explore more deeply and answer questions as practically to my life as I can. Also know that I am not avoiding any of the difficult topics. Even though I didn't go to seminary, I still feel like I need to wrestle with these things. So I am going to look through these women and struggle through what God means. I will not allow myself to skip major passages. If you are curious about the women of the Bible, feel free to join me!
You can scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a study you could do with questions attached and a structure for each week. Feel free to use the bottom with questions for a study with your own group. OR you can just read my responses for each day, and you can decide to look into the women through my eyes. Each week is broken up into a study focused on one specific woman of the Bible. Each week is broken down into 5 days with a few verses each day.
If we are going to take on the women of the Bible, we have to begin with Eve. She is the mother of all women, and she set the pattern for us to follow (good and bad). This also helps us to look at God's original intention for women before sin came into the world. I'd like for us to examine what we think about God's original plan for women, what her initial sin was, and how that sin had implications for the sin all women struggle with as a result.
Day 1: Read Genesis 1:26-28, 2: 15-25.
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
My first reaction to this is to notice that God made us in His image, and he made us male AND female. It was perfect for us to be different and to have different roles. We weren't required to be complete equals and be the exact same. There was no sin, and there still was a difference in the way we were created.
My second reaction is that God commands us to be fruitful and multiply. I do think we are called to reproduce (although I totally want to say that this is not what it actually means because I don't know if I want kids), but I also think this means more. In each old testament story, we can see a glimpse of the future gospel. I believe God is also calling us to multiply ourselves for Christ. Multiply ourselves with disciples. This could be in the classroom, in church, in the business place, or in the office. This also could mean to meet with younger women in the church.
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 19 Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,
“This at last is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.”
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.”
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
When God created the world, the man was left alone. God saw that this was the only thing about the world he made that wasn't good. There are many times when I feel not needed. But the truth is that the world with just men would NOT be good. We have such a great value, and God saw that the world NEEDED us. This should helps us feel loved and valued by our maker.
We also notice that God made Eve as a helper for Adam. I think this is key for women. Many times we think that being a helper is not valuable or that it makes us the "lesser" being. However, that just isn't true. The world wasn't complete without us, and we are professional helpers. Jesus came as a helper. He came as a servant. He is the most valued of all humans. This means that it does not make us "lesser" to be a helper. We can help children, we can help neighbors, we can help our husbands in love. What a fantastic calling!
I also think that God making Eve out of Adam's flesh has to mean something significant. Because woman was made from man, when they are joined together in marriage, they are complete again. This also shows us the design for marriage before sin. Before sin a man was called to leave his parents and join to the woman (who had been formed from the man).
The other thing I realized and that was absolutely life changing is that when Eve was without sin she did not feel ashamed of her nakedness. WOW! How crazy is it to think about not picking apart every piece of your body in front of the mirror. Or just fantasizing about how you will look after that diet or after that workout. It is amazing to me that we are called to not be ashamed of our bodies (not to say we just get fat because we certainly aren't called to that either). But, the point is that we are called to embrace us the way we were made--in God's image. So praise God for the body you have been given!
So, today I will remember that God made me as a helper and that he made me to not be ashamed of my nakedness (but I won't try to scare the neighbors with that)!
Day 2: Read Genesis 3: 1-13.
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 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.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool[c] of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Do you notice how the serpent uses God's words and twists them to make Eve not believe God? He moves Eve to unbelief. What a battle we have set before us when the serpent tempts us daily to not believe the truth of God's Word. Instead, he tempts her and reveals to her how pleasing it is to the eyes! Isn't that interesting? When I think about these things, I think about how I truly do struggle with things that are pleasing to my eyes. A new dress? Yes, please! New pillows? Yes! They are pleasing to the eyes! Sometimes, it is I who want to be pleasing to the eyes. Sometimes I allow myself to become the apple for others!
Eve gave the fruit to Adam. This shows that Eve does not want to be alone in her sin. She wants to pull in other people who are closest to her. When you are feeling jealous, do you try to get others gossip with you? When you are sinning by analyzing your body fat, do you share your insecurities with others in hopes that they will share their insecurities with you? This is like Eve. We don't need to try to get others to join us in our sin. We need to try to conquer it and protect others. (This does not mean don't tell people about your sin. There is a difference in confession and dragging others into your struggles.)
When Adam and Eve realized that they were caught in a bad situation, what was their reaction? They hid from God! Again, this has a great practical application for us today. When we sin, don't we try to hide it from godly people or from God? How much better would it have been for them to have just come out and said, "I ATE THE APPLE!" ? Don't you think they would have at least saved themselves some of the extra sin that came from hiding?
Then, after God calls them out on their sin, they try to excuse it! They blame one another. Adam says, "The woman WHOM YOU GAVE TO BE WITH ME, she gave me fruit..." It is partially God's fault because He made the girl for him. It is the girl's fault because she gave him the apple. Then, the woman blames the serpent. How we love to blame God and blame others. We need to remember to take ownership of our sin. It is OUR fault when we sin, and we need to come straight to the LORD with it.
What is the Biblical reaction we should have after we have sinned? (Read 1 John 1:9-10.)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
We need to remember that biblical response to sin is to confess. We should not say WE have not sinned.
Are there any sins that you need to confess to God today? React to Him without hiding or blame. Reveal your sin to Him, and ask for forgiveness.
Day 3: Read Genesis 3: 16, 20-24.
We are going to skip Adam's punishment because we are trying to focus on Eve. This is her punishment:
16 To the woman he said,
“I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;
in pain you shall bring forth children.
Your desire shall be for your husband,
and he shall rule over you.”
in pain you shall bring forth children.
Your desire shall be for your husband,
and he shall rule over you.”
There are two things here, and people usually overlook the second. First, childbearing is obviously a consequence of sin. Imagine this: before sin nobody had to worry about the pain of having a baby! That's how it will be in heaven! Second, the desire a woman has for a man and his rule over her is a consequence of sin. Remember: this is a result of sin. This means that the conflict between man and woman is a result of sin. It is a consequence. This is not a model for marriage. This reveals that men in sin desire to exploit and rule over women. "And sin distorted the woman's support and honor into manipulation or defiance or helplessness or some other distortion of true biblical submission" (John Piper). Before sin, the woman and the man had different roles. She was clearly made as a helper. However, this did not put her husband OVER her. That was a consequence of sin. *Note: there are entire books about this, and it is really complicated. Much of it I think we can't fully grasp until heaven. But we can try, and this controversial topic is an effort I made to tackle the issue!
20 The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. 21 And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.
22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” 23 therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.
Also, I think a key part of the passage is that God clothed them. They were ashamed of being naked, and he clothed them. In their sin, and in the ruin of his perfect world, he gave them love. He wrapped them up in clothing. Even though the consequence of their sin would be the separation of every human being from him (unless they believed in His son), he clothed them. Even though their sin meant his son would have to die and suffer for all of the sin to come, he clothed them.
Adam and Eve lose their close fellowship with God. They also lose their innocence. They now have more complications because of their sin. This reminds me that their are still consequences on earth of the sin we commit today. It does not just disappear. We do see consequences in this world.
What can we do to fight temptation so that we don't have these consequences that Eve faces as a result of her sin? (Read 1 Corinthians 10:13 and Hebrews 4:15-16)
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
God is faithful to allow us an opportunity to escape EACH and EVERY temptation we encounter. We don't have the excuse to say, "Nope! I'm stuck here!" God has given us an escape so that we can remove ourselves from the temptation.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
We also need to remember that we have a high priest (Jesus) who knows the weaknesses we encounter. He has been tempted in EVERY way we have EVER been tempted, but he didn't fall into temptation. This should give us hope that we, too, can follow his example. Then, it tells us to draw close to the "throne of grace" (pray) so that we can find mercy.
When we feel tempted, we need to know that there will be consequences. We need to know that God will provide a way out, and that he will hear our prayers. We also need to pray for God to help us through. Follow the example of Christ who has never sinned.
What are your biggest temptations right now? It could be a temptation to disbelief, a temptation to do a tangible sin, a temptation to think of yourself a certain way, or to think of others a certain way. How can you fight this sin?
Day 4: Read Genesis 4: 1-2, 25-26.
4 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.
Even though God cursed childbirth for Eve, she is still able to fulfill her call to multiply. Although her calling is more difficult to achieve, she is able to fulfill God's purpose for her life. Also, notice that she shows that she is only able to do this with God's help.
25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed[g] for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.”26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.
At the end of Eve's life, even though it was a life of sin, she was able to start a generation who called upon the name of the LORD. She multiplied the population, but she also multiplied her life and her love for God in others. Even though many remember her for her sin, she should also be known as the woman who passed on the desire to "call upon the name of the LORD."
After reflecting on the life of Eve, we know that major sin has major consequences. One major sin affected generations to come. However, she was not cursed forever because of her sin. She was given mercy. God gave her a place to live, he gave her a purpose to live out, and she was able to begin generations who were able to love the LORD.
In the end, I think about what we can take away from Eve's story. What have we learned? I think we learned that a perfect world would have us as helpers but not subordinates. We saw that Eve was not ashamed of her body when she was living in a perfect world. Also, we learned not to excuse, hide, or blame sin. We learned that sin has great consequences, but that trust in Jesus allows us the mercy we need to allow us forgiveness for our sins. He paid the ultimate price in his death, so that we can be with God again in perfect union. No longer are we cast off away from Eden. We have a hope to see God and fellowship with him without shame in our nakedness!
Day 5: Let's look at how Paul perceives Eve thousands of years later. Read 2 Corinthians 11: 2-6.
2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 5 Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. 6 Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.
First, I wonder what he means by "divine jealousy." I think because we can look further in the verse, we can see that he wants them to only love their one God. They have been lead away from that pure belief, and he wants to keep them based on the God they know.
Just as Eve was deceived by CUNNING, we need to be sure that we are not lead away from Christ. How was Eve lead away? She was lead away by looking at things that seemed pleasing, and the serpent twisted God's word and made Eve not trust God and his Word. This is what was happening to the Corinthians. They were being lead away because someone was preaching a different gospel. There is only one gospel: we were separated from God through our sin (thanks, Eve). Then, Jesus came to live a perfect life and suffer the consequences of sin. Because people don't live perfectly but then get consequences, he was able to basically pay our sentence. We can now be in communion and fellowship with God again.
What might be leading you away from Christ? Think on this for a minute. Does money look pleasing? Do you spend your time making excuses for your sin? Do you just simply not make time--is your busy schedule leading you away?
How can we discover a false prophet like Paul is talking about? Read Matt 7:15-23.
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
A false prophet can be told by their fruit. If someone is telling you to believe the gospel in one way, but they are living a life without any righteous fruit, they can't be trusted. The serpent and Eve are great metaphors for false prophets because they are people who twist the gospel and twist God's word. They try to make it look pleasing, but the trees bear the fruit. The serpents don't bear the fruit themselves. And belief in a gospel other than the one God presents to us has GREAT consequences.
What do you think the serpent is trying to use his cunning to get you to do? I know mine--he tries to make things look pleasing to my eye. I can pray through this. He also tries to twist God's words and make me feel not good enough for his kingdom, but I can fight that by reading and studying his word. What is the serpent trying to get you to do? Pray against it, and try to find some scripture to support God's side.
Think back of what we have learned from Eve:
I think we learned that a perfect world would have us as helpers but not subordinates. We saw that Eve was not ashamed of her body when she was living in a perfect world. Also, we learned not to excuse, hide, or blame sin. We learned that sin has great consequences, but that trust in Jesus allows us the mercy we need to allow us forgiveness for our sins. He paid the ultimate price in his death, so that we can be with God again in perfect union. No longer are we cast off away from Eden. We have a hope to see God and fellowship with him without shame in our nakedness!
BIBLE STUDY WITHOUT ANSWERS:
Day 1: Read Genesis1:26-28, 2: 15-25. As you read, write down any questions you have about the text.
How has God made male and female? Why is it important that we are made in His image?
What is the first commandment God gives us?
Do you think being fruitful and multiplying means only having children?
Why do you think Moses (the author of Genesis) pays special attention to the fact that God created them male and female? Is one said to be better or to Lord over the other?
Note also that God created male and female differently in a perfect world. There was no sin, and there still was difference.
After God formed all of His creation, what was missing?
What is the purpose for which God made Eve?
Why do you think God made Eve out of Adam's flesh? What are the implications that this has on the man being joined with the woman in marriage?
Why is it important that a man and a woman become one flesh? Why do they both have to eventually leave their families to join together?
Why do you think they tell us that man and wife were naked and felt no shame? What does that tell us about the perfect design for a woman? How is that different than women today?
What practical application can you take forward today about how God originally designed us to be and what we have become? Remember your purpose for which God made you.
Day 2: Read Genesis 3: 1-13. As you read, write down any questions you have about the text.
How does the serpent use his cunning to get the woman to eat the fruit? How is he lying to her?
What was tempting about the fruit to Eve? Is this similar to something you struggle with today?
What is the major implication that Eve gives the apple to Adam?
Have you recently realized that you didn't want to sin alone too?
What did Adam and Eve do when they became aware of God's presence in the garden after they had sinned? What does this reveal about what our reaction is to God when we sin?
What are Adam and Eve's reactions when they are called out on their sin? This is the first time we see jealousy and blame in the Bible.
What is the Biblical reaction we should have after we have sinned? (Read 1 John 1:9-10.)
Are there any sins that you need to confess to God today? React to Him without hiding or blame. Reveal your sin to Him, and ask for forgiveness.
Day 3: Read Genesis 3: 16, 20-24. Write down any questions you have while you read.
What is the woman's punishment? There are two things here, and people usually overlook the second.
What do you think God meant that the woman's desire will be for her husband, but he will rule over her? How is that a punishment? Remember: this is a result of sin. This means that the conflict between man and woman is a result of sin. It is a consequence. This is not a model for marriage. This reveals that men in sin desire to exploit and rule over women. "And sin distorted the woman's support and honor into manipulation or defiance or helplessness or some other distortion of true biblical submission" (John Piper).
What did God do for them even though they had sinned against Him?
Adam and Eve lose their close fellowship with God. They also lose their innocence. They now have more complications because of their sin. What do you think are the consequences of sinning today?
What can we do to fight temptation so that we don't have these consequences that Eve faces as a result of her sin? (Read 1 Corinthians 10:13 and Hebrews 4:15-16)
What are your biggest temptations right now? It could be a temptation to disbelief, a temptation to do a tangible sin, a temptation to think of yourself a certain way, or to think of others a certain way. How can you fight this sin?
Day 4: Read Genesis 4: 1-2, 25-26.
Even though God cursed childbirth for Eve, what is she able to do?
How does Eve's life end? What has she done to be remembered?
Do you think this one major sin has produced major consequences for Eve? What does that tell us?
However, what comes from Eve other than the story of The Fall?
What can we take away from Eve's story? What can we learn from her?
Day 5: Let's look at how Paul perceives Eve thousands of years later. Read 2 Corinthians 11: 2-6.
What makes something a "godly jealousy"? What does he mean?
What is Paul talking about when he says that just as Eve was lead away, we might be led away from Christ?
What is leading the Corinthians away from Christ?
What might be leading you away from Christ?
How can we discover a false prophet? Read Matt 7:15-23.
How is a false prophet a good metaphor for Eve and the serpent?
What do you think the serpent is trying to use his cunning to get you to do? Pray against it, and try to find some scripture to support God's side.
Great study! A lot of stuff to think about here on Genesis and Eve.
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