The Women of the Bible at a Glance

Women Bible THE

OF THE

AT A GLANCE

A quick guide to the women of the Bible

From

Charm Beauty IS DECEPTIVE,

AND

Fears the Lord IS FLEETING; BUT A WOMAN WHO

IS TO BE PRAISED.

PROVERBS 31:30

INTRODUCTION Some defied evil kings, saved nations, clung to God’s promises, led out armies and changed history with their prayers. Others survived abuse, raised families alone, had unloving husbands or suffered a bad reputation. And some simply used their beauty and brains to take whatever they wanted from this world—to their ruin. The women of the Bible may have lived thousands of years ago, but when we take a moment to consider their stories, we discover just how relevant and relatable they are. Whether they offer us wisdom or a warning, they are all worth getting to know. These short introductions to the key women in Scripture are like little launch pads into their stories. They’ll help you know where to find them in the Bible, what to expect, what to look for and why they are so important. With this handy guide, these women will become more than names—they’ll become living, breathing life-lessons. Your friends at Our Daily Bread Ministries

Scriptures taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries®. All rights reserved. Printed in the UK. For information on our resources, visit odb.org

CONTENTS OLD TESTAMENT

Eve ��4 Sarah ��5 Hagar ��6 Rebekah ��7 Leah ��8

Tamar #2 �� 23 Jezebel �� 24 Vashti �� 25 Esther �� 26 Zeresh �� 27 Gomer �� 28

Rachel ��9 Tamar #1 �� 10

NEW TESTAMENT

Shiprah and Puah �� 11

Mary �� 29

Jochebed �� 12

Elizabeth �� 30

Miriam �� 13

Anna �� 31

Rahab �� 14

Martha �� 32

Deborah �� 15

Mary #2 �� 33

Delilah �� 16

Herodias �� 34

Ruth �� 17

Salome �� 35

Naomi �� 18

Mary Magdalene �� 36

Hannah �� 19

Sapphira �� 37

Abigail �� 20

Dorcas (aka Tabitha) �� 38

Michal �� 21

Lydia �� 39

Bathsheba �� 22

Priscilla �� 40

Eve

The first woman on earth, who’s famous for something completely different

There are good reasons to be famous—and there are bad ones. Instead of being known simply as the first woman on earth, created in perfect beauty and innocence, poor Eve has gone down in history as the world’s first sinner. But let’s be careful before we judge her too harshly! Her story is more relatable than we might think. We meet Eve in Genesis 2-3. The serpent made her doubt both God’s goodness and sin’s badness. He told her that obeying God would make her miss out on something really good. She believed him and so began the pattern of sin we see again and again in the Bible, and even in our lives today: she saw, she wanted, she took—and she hid. Eve shows how easy it is to be tricked into grabbing what looks good so that we let go of what is actually good. But in her journey to sin, we also see the unshakable faithfulness of God. When we stray, He calls us back. When we are ashamed, He covers us. When we feel hopeless, He promises a rescue. When sin feels like it has the upper hand, Eve’s story reminds us that God still loves us and offers us real hope.

Genesis 2-3

Sarah

The mother of the nation of Israel who thought God needed a hand

Have you ever faced an impossible situation? Did you trust God or did you try to fix it yourself? God promised Sarah, Abraham’s wife, that she would have a son. But there was a problem . . . Sarah couldn’t have kids. And even if she hadn’t been barren, she was 90 years old! As far as Sarah was concerned, there was simply no way God could do it. So, she decided to help Him out . . . In those days, a barren woman could use her servant as a surrogate to have a baby for her. So the scheming Sarah hooked up Abraham with her servant Hagar in the hopes of having a baby through her. And it worked . . . sort of. Hagar did have a son, but the situation caused nothing but trouble and ruined their relationships. God didn’t need or want help. He promised that Sarah herself would have a son. And that’s exactly what happened—ten years later! Waiting on God is always hard. It tests our patience. But if Sarah’s story teaches us anything, it’s that God doesn’t need us to help Him do the impossible. He just wants us to trust and wait.

Genesis 11-23, 16:1-6, 21:1-7

Hagar

Sarah’s maidservant who was forced into motherhood and then sent away

A single mother with a baby; alone, afraid, with no income and no plan. It may have happened thousands of years ago, but the story of Hagar is something many of us can empathise with today. Sarah should never have made her servant Hagar have a baby with her husband. But she did—and Hagar paid a high price for Sarah’s scheming. In her anger and jealousy, Sarah kicked Hagar and her son Ishmael out into the desert. When their water ran out, Hagar left Ishmael under a tree so she wouldn’t have to watch him die. Friendless, hopeless, penniless and facing death, Hagar was utterly broken. How insignificant and invisible she felt as she listened helplessly to the cries of her son. But God saw. God spoke to Hagar, reassuring her of His presence, His provision and His promises. He would not only protect Ishmael’s life, but make him the father of a mighty nation. Hagar suffered for someone else’s mistakes; but God knew, God saw, God cared and God stepped in. Next time you’re facing injustice, or you feel alone in the world, remember Hagar and know that God sees you too. You’re never alone or outnumbered when you turn to Him. 6

Genesis 16, 21

Rebekah

Isaac’s wife who used tricks and lies to get her own way

Family tensions are pretty normal. Resolving them? Now that’s where things get tricky. Rebekah’s methods certainly leave a lot to be desired . . . We’re not exactly sure why Rebekah tricked her husband Isaac into giving the family headship to Jacob, their youngest son, rather than Esau, their eldest. Perhaps it was a reaction to Isaac’s apparent favouritism towards Esau. Maybe Esau’s rebellious nature had worn away her patience with him. Or it could have been because Rebekah seemed to live a little vicariously through Jacob, and so wanted to ensure just the right future for him. Whatever the reason, there’s no hint that she prayerfully placed her sons’ lives into God’s hands. Instead she chose manipulation and deception to try and shape her family’s future according to what made sense to her. Her scam tore the family apart. Rebekah may have got her own way, but she had to send her beloved Jacob running for his life. Family tensions are a given. Peaceful, united resolutions are not. Rebekah shows us the tragedy of trying to force our own agendas—it can end up destroying the very thing we’re trying to save. Genesis 24-27

Leah

Jacob’s unloved wife who chose to praise the Lord

Some people have it all . . . and then there’s Leah. Leah got a rotten deal. She wasn’t pretty or charming like her sister Rachel. Her sneaky dad tricked Jacob into marrying her; but Jacob only had eyes for beautiful Rachel. Nothing Leah ever did could make him love her. She hoped providing Jacob with a son would win her his heart; but it didn’t work. It didn’t work with the second son either. Or the third. And then something in Leah changed. She changed her focus from her uncaring husband to her loving, faithful God. Instead of becoming bitter at her sad and unfair situation, she recognised that she was beautiful and precious in God’s eyes. When her fourth son was born, Leah called him Judah, which means, “This time I will praise the Lord!” Judah went on to be the father of the kingly tribe from which Jesus was born. Leah may not have won Jacob’s heart, but she had God’s! Do you feel like you’ve been dealt a poor hand in life? Leah models the vibrancy, purpose and hope which is found in a life spent praising the God who is especially close to the broken-hearted and unloved.

Genesis 29

Rachel

Jacob’s beloved wife who put contentment before character

Rachel was the sort of woman women want to be and men want to be with. Jacob, captivated by her charm and beauty, fell immediately in love with her. But Rachel seemed to always want more. When she couldn’t have children, she took it out on her husband: “Give me children or I’ll die!” Then, when she finally did have a son, she still didn’t feel satisfied: “May the Lord add to me another son.” And she was fiercely competitive with Jacob’s other wife—who happened to be her sister! There’s no doubt their marital situation was tense. But what if Rachel’s focus had been more on her character, rather than competing? What if her contentment had been based on what God had already given her, rather than what she still wanted? We’ll never know . . . the Rachel we meet in the Bible seems more caught up in getting the best out of this life, rather than in trusting God to meet her needs His way. And that’s the question left hanging in the air for us as we read her story: what type of person are we going to be? Are we going to give our attention firstly to our circumstances or to our character?

Genesis 28-35

Tamar #1

The serial-widow who got landed with a bad reputation

When the sugar and salt pots are accidently mislabelled, you know that somebody is in for a nasty surprise! Mislabelling is inconvenient at best; it’s devastating when it comes to people . . . Tamar was a magnet for bad men. Her first husband, Er, was so bad God actually killed him off! God put her second husband (Er’s made-in-the-same-mould brother) in the ground pretty quickly too . . . Tamar’s Father-in-Law, Judah, saw her as the common factor in these deaths. Blaming her, he refused to let her marry his youngest son too. But Judah learned the hard way that you don’t mess with Tamar. Disguising herself as a prostitute, she tricked him into getting her pregnant. When Judah found out that his widowed daughter-in-law was pregnant, he was disgusted at her immorality. But when she revealed he was the father, he realised he was also immoral. “Husband-killer”; “immoral”; “reckless”. We get mislabelled by others too; maybe because of past mistakes or difficult choices. Tamar reminds us that no one is actually better than anyone else; and that God can fulfil His plans for us even when it looks impossible. 10

Genesis 38:6-30; Ruth 4:12; Matthew 1:3

Shiprah & Puah

Two midwives who refused to kill babies

Have you ever worked for an angry, irrational, threatening kind of boss? Shiprah and Puah knew that feeling well. Pharaoh was getting nervous. He had enslaved God’s people, but their population was booming. He worried they would join Egypt’s enemies and fight against him. So he took drastic action. Pharaoh commanded Shiprah and Puah to attend the births of the Israelite women and discreetly kill every baby boy that was born. They had a choice to make: disobey the most powerful man in the world, or start a fight with Almighty God! They made the right call! They disobeyed Pharaoh’s evil command and saved all the babies. It’s never easy to have to choose to disobey a powerful authority; but sometimes we must. Pharaoh’s command was immoral; and Shiprah and Puah knew it. They are a shining example of remembering that obeying God is safer and better—even when it means disobeying a king!

Exodus 1:15-21

Jochebed

The mum who taught her child truths he never forgot

How do you raise great kids in a world whose morality is upside-down? Sometimes it feels like the challenge has never been harder for God’s people. Jochebed would disagree. Her son Moses was sentenced to death the moment he was born. Pharoah had hatched an evil scheme to kill all the Israelite boys at birth. Jochebed knew she couldn’t throw her baby into the Nile. When she could no longer hide him, she made a little floating cradle—the original Moses basket—and put him in the river. Pharaoh’s daughter found little Moses and hired Jochebed to nurse him. It seems clear from the rest of Moses’ story that Jochebed took this opportunity to carefully teach young Moses all about God. When he was still only a little boy, her time was up. Jochebed handed Moses back to Pharaoh’s daugher. He was immersed in Egyptian royal life: the gods, beliefs, education, rituals and culture. But Moses never forgot where he really belonged. It’s hard to raise a child for God when the world around them opposes us. Yet Jochebed shows we can build lasting faith-based resilience in our children. Even the luxurious Egyptian palace couldn’t undo the truth Moses learned from his mum. 12

Exodus 1:1-2:11

Miriam

The sister of Moses who thought she would make a better leader

How do you react when you feel like your abilities are being overlooked? Do you commit your frustrations to the Lord? Start giving subtle hints? Or, like Miriam, do you try to take control? Miriam was a go-getter. As a child, she’d been vital in preparing her brother Moses to rescue Israel from slavery. As an adult, she was a prophetess, singer and leader amongst the Israelites. She led the women of Israel in worship after Moses brought the people through the Red Sea and into freedom. Clearly Miriam was a wise, intelligent and capable woman with an important role amongst God’s people. So, how did it go so wrong? Miriam didn’t always agree with Moses. In fact, she was pretty sure she would be a far better leader. After all, God had used her powerfully too; surely she deserved to have more authority, right? One very painful lesson from God later and Miriam was presented with a truth we all need to remember: there is only one Judge—and it isn’t us. Sometimes it may look like God’s dropped the ball; the lesson from Miriam’s life is that we can be absolutely certain He hasn’t. Even when we don’t ‘get it’, our role is still to trust Him. Exodus 2:4-8, 15:20-21; Numbers 12:1-15; Micah 6:4

Rahab

A prostitute from Jericho who knew how to make a smart alliance

How do you win an impossible fight? Join the winning side! That’s what Rahab, the Canaanite prostitute, did as God’s people marched towards her hometown of Jericho. The Canaanites were very wicked and God had commanded Israel to drive them out. When two Israelite spies snuck into Jericho, Rahab hid them. Now she had a choice: should she kill them and try to stop God’s people? Instead, she humbly told them: “Everyone in Jericho is terrified. We’ve heard all about how your God destroyed all your enemies. He is the God of heaven and earth! Everyone here hopes the city walls will hold; but I know God will destroy Jericho. Promise me that you will let me and my family live!” Rahab had not loved or obeyed God before; she’d lived a totally immoral life. But when she learned about Him, she knew she needed to join His side! We are all a bit like Rahab; enemies of God in a world that hopes its ‘walls’ will keep Him out so we can live for ourselves. Like us, Jericho was headed for God’s judgement. But Rahab tells a story of faith, forgiveness and restoration. She assures us that it is never too late to join God and find salvation. 14

Joshua 2; 6:22-25; Matthew 1:5

Deborah

Ruler, warrior and prophetess of Israel

Amongst a sea of male Bible heroes, Deborah stands out as an exceptional figure; a wise and fearless woman of faith who led God’s people to victory. Gifted with wisdom, insight and an unwavering commitment to God and His people, Deborah acted as a judge and ruler at a time when Israel did whatever was “right in their own eyes.” One day, God gave her a message for a guy called Barak. He was commanded to gather 10,000 warriors and go conquer an enemy king. Barak said he would only go if he could bring Deborah. She agreed but warned him that the honour would go to a woman, not him. Barak didn’t mind; as long as they won! And they did. At a time in history when women were often marginalised, Deborah broke the mould. Her agenda was not to destroy patriarchy, but to glorify God by liberating His people from their enemies. Whatever leadership responsibilities we have today, or whoever may be looking up to us, Deborah gives us a wise and inspirational example to follow. If she was trying to prove anything, it’s that Israel’s hope should not be in men—or women—but in the Lord!

Judges 4-5; Hebrews 11:32-34

Delilah

A woman who knew how to work it and get what she wanted

Delilah was the kind of girl mothers warn their sons about. She was attractive and intelligent; and she used what she had to get what she wanted. She caught the eye of Samson, the ruler of Israel. He was strong, handsome and easy to manipulate. Delilah saw huge potential in the relationship . . . for her. He also had many enemies who would pay generously if he could be taken out of the picture. Cue Delilah’s masterclass of seduction, manipulation, guilt-tripping and scheming. She worked it, worked it, worked it and worked it until . . . she finally trapped her man and handed him over to his enemies. She got a huge cash reward and favour with the Philistine nation. She was set for life. But it cost Samson his eyes, his freedom and then, finally, his life as he brought down a building on 3,000 Philistines and himself. Delilah worked what she had and made her own way in life. The question her story leaves us with is: was it worth it? Her selfishness led to a huge disaster for her people. Just because the world says we should use what we have to get ahead, doesn’t mean it’s actually wise.

Judges 16:4-31

Ruth

A foreign widow who gave up everything and found even more

Have you ever faced a difficult decision where every option involved giving something up? Ruth knew that feeling. Her Israelite husband died young, leaving her to decide between returning to her parents in Moab (a nation of false gods), or following her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Israel. If she stayed in Moab, she would have family, friends and security. If she went with Naomi, she was choosing a life of poverty in a foreign land; but she could follow the true God! Ruth chose Naomi—and Naomi’s God. She gave up everything to follow Him: her family, her country and her security. But for her, God was worth it. And God more than made up for what she lost; He provided for her beyond her wildest dreams. Choosing God comes with costs today as well, but He is still worth it. The greatest blessing Ruth received was becoming part of Jesus’ family tree. By putting God first, she helped bring Jesus into the world! And, in a way, we can do that too! We may not get the kind of fairy tale life Ruth ended up with, but her story reminds us that knowing God and making Him known is worth more than anything else on earth.

Ruth 1-4; Matthew 1:5

Naomi

The woman who hit rock bottom and didn’t think she’d ever get up again

Have you ever hit rock bottom? Not just a bad day, but a bad day that becomes a bad week—which turns into a bad month, a bad year and then just a seemingly dead-end life. That was probably what it felt like for Naomi. Her husband had moved the family to Moab, a strange country with weird gods. Then he died. Then both her sons died. She was left alone with her daughter-in-law, in a foreign land, completely penniless and lost in hopelessness. “Don’t bother calling me Naomi,” she said, “Call me Bitter from now on.” Naomi genuinely hit rock bottom and felt she had nothing left to live for. But hers is a story of hope to encourage those of us who have experienced the same thing. She discovered we can lose everything in life, but we can’t lose God. He’s always ready to help us make little baby steps from the darkness towards His light. For Naomi, it started with turning her feet back to Israel. As she saw God’s hand at work, her faith began to flicker back into life. A new day dawned for her. When we hit the bottom, Naomi reminds us to look for God—He’ll be right there with us.

Ruth 1-4

Hannah

A barren woman whose desperate prayer changed a nation

Do you ever feel like the church routine and the Christian life generally can feel more religion than real? That’s what it had become like in ancient Israel. They were ‘spiritually barren’. The people were going through the motions of religion, but then just living however they pleased. The priests (who were meant to represent God) were totally corrupt. Israel needed a prophet; someone who God could use to draw them back to Him. Enter Hannah. Hannah was also barren—literally. Every childless year brought more anguish until finally, in absolute desperation, she poured her heart out to God. “If you give me a son, I will give him back to you.” God answered! Hannah had her son—and God had His prophet! Samuel loved and obeyed God; and grew to be one of the most outstanding leaders Israel ever had. Sometimes the griefs and losses in our lives are there for a reason. Our prayers of desperation just might be part of God’s plan to do something greater and more far-reaching than we can possibly imagine. Just ask Hannah.

1 Samuel 1-2

Abigail

The smart wife of a stupid husband who knew wisdom is better than foolishness

Revenge is a dish best served cold—or, failing that, by four hundred angry soldiers. David had protected Nabal, and now he was hoping Nabal would return the favour and provide some supplies for him and his weary men. Nabal’s name literally means “fool”— which was no coincidence: “Who’s David? What? Nope, never heard of him.” David was furious: “Men, grab your swords! Everyone in Nabal’s home is dead. Let’s go!” Thankfully, Nabal’s wife Abigail was wise. No doubt groaning at her husband’s latest act of stupidity, she knew it was up to her to make things right before it was too late. But how was she going to hold off a small army? Her approach was brilliant. She didn’t lie, cheat, manipulate or try to strike a deal. She simply appealed to David honestly, reminding him of the truth of who God is: His justice, His character and His faithfulness. Being a peacemaker or confronting angry, hurting people is never easy; but we can be sure God will give us the wisdom we need if we will ask—just like He did for Abigail.

1 Samuel 25

Michal

The snobby princess who was embarrassed by her husband’s worship

If ancient Israel had influencers, Michal was one. As King Saul’s daughter, her life needed to be perfect. So when David—the handsome, poetic, musical, giant-slaying heartthrob—burst onto the scene; she knew she had to have him. She dreamt of how glamorous and romantic life would be as his wife; and one day, her dream came true! But it wasn’t what she imagined. There was someone David loved more than Michal: God. His most beautiful songs and poems were not about her— they were prayers and psalms of worship. But Michal wanted the world to see the new king was devoted to her! One day Michal was waiting for his return from an important mission—and her stomach dropped. Surely the man at the front—dad-dancing in his underwear in front of the entire nation—couldn’t be her husband? Oh yes it was . . . As she watched his exhilarated worship, shame and disgust filled her heart. Doesn’t he care how silly he looks? When she confronted him, David asked her the question we all need to answer: whose opinion matters most? Your friends? Your family? Strangers on social media? Or the living God who delights in our praise?

1 Samuel 18:20-26, 19:11-17; 2 Samuel 6:16-23

Bathsheba

The woman who should be known for more than just her famous affair

The name “Bathsheba” stirs up images of a seductive beauty luring King David into an infamous scandal; but that’s not exactly fair. David should have been at war, but he wasn’t. He shouldn’t have been peeping at another man’s wife as she bathed in her own home, but he was. He definitely shouldn’t have abused his royal position to bring Bathsheba into his bed—but he did. And he certainly should not have ordered her husband’s death to cover up her pregnancy; but he did that too. Bathsheba paid a high price for the sin of David; whether she enjoyed his attentions or not. Her husband was killed, then her baby son died; and her reputation is still tarnished thousands of years later. But thankfully, that’s not the whole story. Bathsheba became the mother of the wise and successful King Solomon; and is even featured in the genealogy of Jesus. God recorded her suffering—and her role in continuing and protecting the family line of Jesus—so we can all learn from it. We all suffer because of sin—our own and other people’s—but that’s not what defines us. God can use our situation to build His kingdom; and even to help bring Jesus into the world! 22

2 Samuel 11; 1 Kings 1-2

Tamar #2

An abuse survivor and a daughter of King David

Being a beautiful princess can be dangerous. Amnon, the crown prince, was consumed with lust for his half-sister Tamar. Instead of accepting that he couldn’t have whatever he wanted—Amnon took it by force. Amnon robbed Tamar of the life she had imagined for herself. And nobody seemed to understand. Her father, the king, did nothing to punish her attacker. Her brother just told her to get over it. Overwhelmed with grief and shame, Tamar shrinks away from the story and we are left hoping that someone somewhere showed this broken-hearted girl some genuine kindness. Tamar’s story rightly makes us angry. Living with shame and humiliation is bad enough, but the injustice makes it almost unbearable. We may well ask: does God care about the Tamars in this world? Tamar’s innocence is recorded in the Bible for all to read; and so is Amnon’s guilt. Nothing is hidden from God’s eyes; no pain is missed by Him. Scripture assures us that one day God will bring complete justice; just as Amnon’s guilt caught up with him, no abuser will escape. Not one. Until that day, every burden and broken heart can be shared with the One who knows. He will carry all our pain, grief and shame with us, drawing us deeper into His love, grace and healing. 2 Samuel 13

Jezebel

The evil, she-devil baddy of the Bible

There are few out-and-out baddies in history. Many are normal people who just made bad choices which snowballed into a bad life. Not Jezebel. She was just pure evil. Gifted with natural boldness, confidence and a commanding personality, Jezebel sank to unparalleled levels of wickedness. A foreign idol-worshipping princess, Jezebel married the weak (but equally corrupt) King Ahab of Israel. She pulled the stings and he made the laws; soon Israel was filled with places to worship Jezebel’s false gods. Those loyal to the true God were outlawed and hunted down. Jezebel stamped the land with her gods and her power. She even had one guy killed because he wouldn’t give her husband his garden! Her life was one long fight against God. And, although that may seem to work for a while, it never ends well. Jezebel was ultimately defeated, thrown off a tower and eaten by wild dogs; a warning for anyone who chooses a life of evil. Her name reappears in the book of Revelation where she becomes the representative of all who lure people away from the one true God. The message of her story is loud and clear: watch out for people like this, and don’t be tempted to join them!

1 Kings 16:31, 18:4-19, 19:2, 21-5-25; 2 Kings 9

Vashti

Persian queen who defied the king to keep her dignity

When is it okay to disobey a king? King Xerxes hosted the ultimate party; seven days of eating, drinking, extravagance and showing off the splendours of his kingdom. To cap off his entertainments, Xerxes called for his extraordinarily beautiful queen to come display herself for all the men to enjoy. But Queen Vashti, disgusted by his command, point-blank refused. She was not about to parade herself for the pleasure of a bunch of leering, drunken men; king’s guests or not. Xerxes was outraged at her defiance. He and his officials feared that other wives might start thinking for themselves because of her example! So, he stripped her of her royal position and divorced her with immediate effect. Vashti lost her royal title and her life of luxury, but not her dignity. God even used Vashti’s actions to engineer a mighty rescue for His people! And her costly decision is an example to women throughout the ages; she shows that nobody has the right to make women do degrading and shameful things. Not even a king.

Esther 1; 2:1; 4:17

Esther

A queen who knew how to work it . . . for God

Esther was another woman in God’s Word who had it all: she was beautiful, intelligent, kind and . . . queen! But, things weren’t as great as they seemed. The king was an unpredictable drunk. And his best friend (and chief advisor) was hell-bent on exterminating all of God’s people (which included our Esther). So what would she do? Use her beauty and charm to save herself? Hide behind her royal privileges and protection while her friends and family were executed? Or would she work everything she had for God? She determined to speak out against the coming genocide. She wouldn’t trust in her beauty, her position or her cleverness to solve the situation. But she would give those things to God and leave the results in His hands. “And if I die, I die,” she told God’s people. God gives each of us different talents, abilities, positions and responsibilities. If we trust them to God’s purposes, He will do far more with them than we could ever imagine. Just take a look at what He did through Esther!

Esther 1-10

Zeresh

The wife who fed her husband’s fire and ended up getting burnt

How do you console your angry partner after they’ve had a frustrating day? Listen? Sympathise? Soothe and comfort them? Zeresh did none of those things when Haman came home in a rage. She did exactly what we shouldn’t do: she added fuel to his fire. Haman was the king’s advisor; the second most powerful man in the Persian Empire. Yet Mordecai the Jew would not bow down to him and give him the reverence he felt he deserved. “How dare he!” Haman raged. Zeresh could have put out the fire in Haman’s heart— offering a wider perspective on why Mordecai may want to place his reverence elsewhere, and reassuring her husband of his value to her. Instead she fanned the flames into something quite deadly: “You know what you should do— kill him . . .” Zeresh only realised her mistake when it was too late and she had lost everything through her husband’s disastrous actions. The tragic downfall of her entire family warns us that if we only ever allow our and our loved ones’ emotions to guide us, rash decisions and disastrous short-term advice will often be what follows.

Esther 5:10-14; 6:13-14

Gomer

A prostitute who rejected a loving husband in favour of her work

If I just find the right man, I’ll be truly happy. Gomer had a desperate longing to be wanted and desired by men. As a prostitute, she was used to being approached by them—but Hosea was different. He said something she wasn’t expecting: “Marry me.” Suddenly she had a devoted husband who cared for her, provided for her, loved her and would always protect her. But we’re left to assume his love just wasn’t enough; she had to get that feeling again. So she went back to selling her body; getting into debt and into trouble. Poor Gomer failed to realise that everything she was looking for was already at home. And that’s the point: Gomer is a picture of God’s people, and by extension, all of humanity. Just like Gomer, we spend our lives searching for peace, happiness, excitement and meaning; when it can already be found right where we are— with the God who loves us beyond measure. The good news is that Gomer’s husband is a picture of God—he sought her out again, paid her debts and brought her home. Can happiness really be found in one place? It can if that place is in the arms of God.

Hosea 1:1-9, 3:1-5

Mary

The mother of Jesus

What sort of woman does God use to bring Jesus into the world? “I am the Lord’s servant.” That was Mary’s response to the incredible news that she—a virgin—would give birth to the Messiah; the highest honour ever afforded to a human being. But consider what it meant for Mary. It meant losing her reputation. Who would believe her story? She would be thought of as immoral and dishonest by just about everyone she knew. It meant losing control. A long journey to Bethlehem, giving birth in a stable, fleeing to Egypt in fear for her child’s life—this was not the life Mary imagined for herself. It wasn’t comfortable or easy. It meant confusion and pain. Jesus’ ministry was completely different from Mary’s expectations. Imagine her distress as she watched His torturous death, unable to understand or to rescue Him from those horrors. As was predicted soon after His birth, a “sword pierced her own soul.” What an honour! And what a cost. In a way, we can all bring Jesus into our world by living as the Lord’s servants, just as Mary did. But, like Mary, it may not be what we expected, and it will come at a cost.

Matthew 1-2, 12:46-50; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 1-2, 8:19-21; John 2:1-12, 19:25-27

Elizabeth

The woman who received an impossible rescue from an impossible situation

Have you ever felt like it’s impossible for God to use you? Elizabeth knew the feeling. She had been unable to have children with her husband; and now they were just too old. Not only was their childlessness a stigma—a supposed sign that God was displeased with them—it also meant she couldn’t possibly contribute to God’s kingdom the way so many faithful mothers have: by raising children God could use. Barren, incredibly old, shamed and disappointed; the situation could hardly have been any more impossible for Elizabeth. But God loves to show up in impossible situations! When she became pregnant with John the Baptist, she declared with absolute confidence, “The Lord has done this for me!” God loves providing a rescue where there’s clearly no way out. Impossible rescues are His hallmark. They are the kind of deliverance only He can provide, so that His people will respond with awe and certainty: “The Lord has done this for me!” Elizabeth’s story gives us confidence to entrust our own impossible situations to the God of impossible rescues.

Luke 1:5-80

Anna

The prophetess who grew old waiting for God

Have you ever waited for something for a month? A year? What about a lifetime? Anna the prophetess was an old lady by the time her wait paid off. As her days on earth were drawing to an end, Jesus, the Saviour she had been waiting for, was born. But hers was not a wasted life; she spent all her days in service to God. Anna was overjoyed that her final days could be spent telling others that God’s salvation had arrived. For her, God was worth the wait. What was the key to Anna’s many, many years of patience? She wasn’t just waiting. Her life wasn’t on hold until it happened. Her waiting wasn’t empty but purposeful, vibrant and active. It was filled with expectancy as she worshipped and served God. Her reaction to the baby Saviour summed up the joy she felt towards the Lord she’d been drawing closer to during her wait. When we’re following God, even our waiting will be used. Nothing is wasted.

Luke 2:36-37

Martha

The server who became a disciple

Washing, cleaning, cooking, disciplining children, organising, planning . . . Sometimes it feels like the to-do list only ever gets longer. Martha was busy serving all the time— and she was good at it. She knew how to run a home and a family well. In fact, when Jesus came to her home, she did what she did best: took care of all the practical things. But . . . Jesus invited Martha to something even better. Her serving was undoubtedly a good thing, no doubt; but it wasn’t the best thing. Jesus wanted to elevate her from simply being a server to becoming a disciple. It was wonderful that she had such a servant’s heart; but by focusing on all that needed to be done, she was neglecting her own relationship with Jesus. We live in a busy, task-orientated world. We know what it is to find value and identity in the work we do and serving we provide. So Jesus wants to do the same for us as He did for Martha: to elevate us, to make us more than the sum of what we do. He longs to make us His disciples; people with servant hearts who find rest and love in His refreshing presence.

Luke 10:38-42; John 11

Mary #2

The woman who knew how to worship

The two sisters couldn’t have been more different. Martha was led by her hands; Mary was led by her heart. And Jesus loved them both deeply. And He delighted in Mary’s worship. Sometimes it was quiet and contemplative as she simply sat at his feet and listened. Other times it was full of extravagance and abandon, as she poured a whole jar of perfume over Jesus’ feet—to the shock of everyone watching. Yet in whatever manner it came, Jesus pointed to Mary’s worship as an example for all His disciples to follow. Just imagine as Mary poured out that jar of perfume— worth a year’s wages—in costly worship. Hear the angry buzz from the crowd. Feel their oppressive stares. Yet see the love and affirmation in Jesus’ eyes as the smell of the perfume, poured onto Him, spreads out and covers Mary too. When we worship Jesus from our hearts, in whatever manner, the blessing we give God flows back onto us, filling us with joy upon joy. If you want to enjoy fragrant worship that impacts your friends and family, then do just as Jesus said: follow Mary’s example.

Luke 10:38-42; John 11, 12:1-8

Herodias

The woman who sent heads rolling when her sin was called out

She divorced her husband to marry King Herod. It might not sound like a huge deal to us; but Herodias was not only walking out on her marriage, she was also breaking the law. But she felt that her life—sinful or not—was nobody else’s business. John the Baptist disagreed. God used him to confront sin; and that’s what he did. He knew the marriage between Herodias and Herod wasn’t right or lawful—and he called them out on it. Being confronted with our sin is always deeply uncomfortable, and it leaves us with a choice: try to justify ourselves, or repent. Herodias sought to justify her sinful choices, and so her sin spread. Soon Herodias’ daughter was sucked into protecting her mother’s new marriage . . . and John the Baptist’s head was being served on a platter. None of us are perfect; our failings and poor choices will be called out. It’s what we do next that really matters—do we deal with sin before God and seek to grow? Or do we protect and justify it? Herodias shows that when we choose that road, sin will be the only thing that grows in our lives.

Matthew 14:3-12; Mark 6:14-24

Salome

The disciple who learned what greatness really means

The world honours the great people of history with titles, statues and tales of legend. When Jesus invited her two sons to become His disciples, Salome knew greatness lay in their future too. And, as a good mother, she sought to help them get the very best out of their new position in Jesus’ service. But Salome had the same view of greatness as the world around her; she asked Jesus, “Grant that my sons can sit on thrones either side of You in Your kingdom.” “You don’t know what you’re asking,” was Jesus’ unsettling reply. Salome needed to learn what it really means to be great in the kingdom of God. She saw the Saviour serving the sick and poor; she saw the King humbly riding into Jerusalem on a donkey; and she saw Him rebuking rather than recruiting the powerful (but hypocritical) religious leaders. Yet when her King was hung naked upon a cross, she was one of the few who stayed with Him. She had discovered that true greatness—the humble, serving greatness of God’s kingdom—is rarely recognised or valued in this world. If you want to become great, walk the road to the cross next to Salome and experience with her what real greatness actually is. Matthew 20:20-28; Mark 15:40, 16:1

Mary Magdalene The demon-possessed woman who became a devoted disciple

As long as I’ve got you, I’ve got everything I need. Have you ever felt that way about someone? Mary Magdalene did—Jesus Christ, the Son of God who freed her from demon possession and changed the whole trajectory of her life. From that moment, where Jesus walked, Mary walked. She never turned away, even when His bloodied body was nailed to the cross; even when His corpse was laid in a tomb. As the stone rolled over the doorway, she simply sat by His grave with nowhere else to go. It’s not just that Mary loved Jesus; He was her whole life—her whole existence. If He wasn’t the Saviour He claimed to be, then Mary was completely sunk—for her, it was Jesus or nothing. The grief-stricken figure of Mary Magdalene, sat amongst the tombs, forces us to ask questions about our own love for Jesus. Is He just a visitor in our lives? Is He simply a part? Or is He the whole? Mary shows us what wholehearted devotion looks like. A devotion that was most richly rewarded three days later when she was the first to see the Son rise and usher in the bright new era of God’s kingdom.

36 Matthew 27:45-61, 28:1-8; Mark 15:33-16:9; Luke 8:1-3, 24:1-11; John 19:25, 20:1-18

Sapphira

The woman who made the deadly mistake of thinking church is just a game

Hypocrisy might seem like a little sin—but not to God. Sapphira and her husband learnt that the hard way. In the first days of the church in Jerusalem, Christians were selling property to support the church financially. Sapphira and Ananias also made a sale, but only gave a portion of the money, despite claiming they had given it all to the church. They wanted to have their cake and eat it—to look very generous yet keep lots of the money for themselves. Sapphira and her husband could have donated however much they wanted; what they couldn’t do was lie about it. Not to God. God actually struck them both dead—on the spot! That’s how seriously He takes hypocrisy in His church. It’s easy just to put on a ‘Sunday face’ and go through the motions of church; but God is passionately invested in the growth of the body of Christ. So if church becomes boring, just a routine, or even something to use for our advantage, the alarming story of Sapphira will make us realise how far we’ve drifted from God’s real purpose and passion for His people.

Acts 5:1-14

Dorcas (aka Tabitha) The much loved disciple who was raised from the dead

Dorcas wasn’t one of those impressively talented people who do ‘important things’ for the Lord. She really wanted to serve Jesus, but she was just so ordinary . . . how could God use her? Dorcas did have one useful skill; she could sew. So, she started making clothes for the poor. It wasn’t glamorous, but she did it faithfully. In fact, she became well known for “always doing good and helping the poor.” But then tragedy struck. The apostle Peter was summoned with a message, “Come quickly! Dorcas has died!” The town’s widows, whom Dorcas had regularly helped, gathered and wept for their beloved friend. But Peter prayed to God, then turned to the dead body and said, “Get up!” And Dorcas arose! As you can imagine, news of this amazing miracle spread like wildfire; and it inspired many people to put their trust in Jesus. And it all started with sewing. You may think you don’t have much to offer the Lord, but if you do whatever you do for Him, He will use you in ways you never imagined!

Acts 9:36-43

Lydia

The first convert to Christianity in Europe

What was the most important event in the history of Europe? The Treat of Versailles? The end of WWII? The formation of NATO? Or how about the day the first person in Europe put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Saviour? As the Apostle Paul was speaking in Philippi, the gospel broke into Lydia’s heart and into a new part of the world. That first European church was tiny: a slave girl, a jailor and his family, and Lydia—who opened her home to them in the turmoil that was being created by this new religion. Like a tender shoot in a desert, the odds of this tiny church surviving didn’t look good. Yet years later, Paul wrote to them, “I am confident God will finish what He has begun.” God didn’t ask Lydia to protect the church and grow it on her own; He would do those things. She just had to be resilient in the face of opposition. When we simply stand firm in our faith, refusing to back down when under pressure, God will do amazing things with us as well.

Acts 16

Priscilla

Behind-the-scenes tentmaker who made a big impact from the background

It’s often the people up on stage who get noticed for how they serve God—but what about the behind-the-scenes kind of people? In the book of Acts we meet a background-type couple: Priscilla and Aquila. They worked together as tentmakers whilst serving and teaching their fellow Christians. But just because they worked in the background doesn’t mean their ministry wasn’t dynamic or important. Priscilla and Aquila had a very special place in the heart of the Apostle Paul; he often mentioned them in his letters. They also played a vital role in the ministry of Paul’s friend and fellow missionary, Apollos. They invited him to their home and taught him about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which he hadn’t heard about before. Apollos went on to be a powerful minister of the gospel all over Europe. Priscilla wasn’t on the frontline of the action like Paul and Apollos. Hers wasn’t the name on everyone’s lips. Priscilla and her husband were just ordinary ‘background’ Christians. Yet they strengthened some of the most powerful ministries the world has ever known. And their names have been given a prominent place in God’s Word to encourage all of us in background ministries—ours is vital work that God sees and uses. 40

Acts 18; Romans 16:3-4, 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19

If you need to get in touch, please contact the office nearest to you from the list below, or go to ourdailybread.org/locations for the complete list of offices. Germany: Our Daily Bread Ministries e.V., Schulstraße 42, 79540 Lörrach deutsch@odb.org Ireland: Our Daily Bread Ministries, 64 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2, D02 XC62 ireland@odb.org ~ +3531 (01) 676 7315 UK & Europe: Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 1, Millhead, Carnforth, LA5 9ES europe@odb.org ~ +44 (0) 15395 64149 Many people, making even the smallest of donations, enable Our Daily Bread Ministries to reach others with the life-changing wisdom of the Bible. We are not funded or endowed by any group or denomination.

The women of the Bible may have lived thousands of years ago, but when we take a moment to consider their stories, we discover just how relevant and relatable they are. Whether they offer us wisdom or a warning, they are all worth getting to know. This booklet includes short introductions to the key women in Scripture; like little launch pads into their stories. They’ll help you know where to find these women in the Bible, what to expect, what to look for and why they are so important. With this handy guide, these women will become more than names—they’ll become living, breathing life-lessons.

ourdailybread.org

FZ644