Hannah continues

 Women of Courage- May 4, 2013

Hannah continues

Question 3- Based on what scripture says, describe the outset of Hannah’s life?

She was not in the genealogy of Christ, but she was in the Levitical line and she understood and longed for the savior.  She had an unhappy life for a part of her life.  She lived in a troubled time in Israel’s history, one of the worst. Samuel brought the country from the worst to Israel’s best.  She had an intimate relationship with the Lord, understanding her help came from him.  She considered herself a servant of the Lord.  She left her burdens at God’s feet; she took her eyes away from the world and depended upon God to take her through.  It isn’t an easy walk.

The Lord of Hosts- It is all the warrior bands of the Lord, God’s sovereignty over it all.  It isn’t about being meek or mild; Hannah understood the power of the Lord.  She placed her entire trust in Him.   Very much like Deborah, being called to help Israel through the battles.  We as Christians realize that nothing happens by chance.  If we walk in the spirit we realize that everything in our lives is there for a purpose.  When we realize this, we stay in constant communication with our Lord. 

Then we had several examples of times when the Lord has supplied needs when we haven’t even prayed about certain things.  This then brought to mind Robert Muller, the man who prayed. He had a ministry in which he had to depend upon the Lord daily.  His orphanage was provide

Psalm 141

141 O Lord, I call upon You; hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to You!
² May my prayer be counted as incense before You;
The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.
³ Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.

Revelation 5:8 ⁸ When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Her human side seems unbearable, but her spiritual life gives her strength. 

Question 4- What were the three great loves of Hannah’s life:

The Lord, her husband and then her son, and her nation were her love.  She put her trust in God foremost.  Her husband didn’t correct the tension in the home, so Hannah learned to trust more and more in the Lord.  Her deepest desire to have a son, she would sacrifice back to the Lord.  These things in her life and our lives are planned by God.  She needed to go through all the heartache in order to draw closer to God.  When we go through things it is for God’s purpose and His glory.  Praise God that all things work for the good.  It is difficult for us to look at the good and not retaliate against those that wrong us.  We have to trust God and God will supply strength to us.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

Eli was not focused on God; he was not in communion with God and focused on the wrath of God.  It is easy to focus on the world and get caught up in the things of the world.  Think about our own life and realize your walk.  We are expected to follow God. We need to be in prayer, fellowship with the saints, and reading his word daily.  We praise God for his mercy and faithfulness in all things.

Hannah continues

Women of Courage-  April 20, 2013

Hannah-

Nancy had made a statement, how did she get her knowledge of the Lord?  How did she know how to pray? Did the Lord reveal that to her?

Ferguson Sinclair “Prayer is an expression of what we know of God and ourselves”

Think about his statement in relation to Hannah.  She definitely knew God and had a tremendous amount of heart for the Lord.  She was going through so much in her life and we all tend to grow closer to the Lord because of her turmoil. 

God has total control over all situations, Hannah trusted this.

Question#1 in what ways did Hannah fit the meaning of her name, “grace”?

That we can read in scripture, Hannah did not lash out at her husband, Peninnah, or God for the fact that she was childless.  Grace definition: Elegance and beauty of movement or expression. We know what she may have looked like in her deep grief, so how does that fit the definition? But in the Biblical definition of grace:  Undeserved, unmerited favor, a gracious manner, the divine influence upon the heart and we act upon that influence.  All of our gifts are a reflection of God’s grace.  Coming to an end of ourselves, where we learn to put ourselves aside and leaning totally on God. What graces are we giving back because of the grace that God has given to me?

Referring to chp. 16, in Disciplines of a Godly woman, and the giving we share.  If we don’t do anything with what God has given us then we are meaningless in our walk.  God resists the proud. If we humble ourselves and are obedient, then God grows the fruit.  We become fertile ground.  

Question #2 In what ways was Hannah like both Sarah and Mary the mother of Jesus?

She was childless for many years and relied on God’s promise to provide her a son.  She was faithful. Like Sarah she had problems with the other woman that lasted for many years, and shared the same husband. They were taunted by the fact that Sarah and Hannah were childless.  They were much loved, precious, all of them.   She stayed before the Lord, even with a broken heart, pouring out tearful prayers.   Hannah was raised on the law and understood that her husband could have stopped the vow, but as we know, God was in control and understood the situation.  They dedicated their first born to the Lord.  Hannah was given the opportunity to see her son stay strong in the Lord and grow to worship and serve God.

Compared to Mary the mother of Jesus:

Both mothered a true gift from God and trained them up in every way for the Lord.  Always talking about and serving God.  Mary knew Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and Hannah knew that God had given her a son too.  Their hearts were both familiar with God they were consumed with the grace of God, and surrender to God’s will… which cost them both.  Both women let nothing interfere with their unwavering faith. Both understood prayer as others may not know.  We should look at their lives and follow their examples. 

2 Tim 4:3 - 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Hannah was living at a time when the priests and people were corrupt and doing what they wanted to do. There was a multitude of sin and yet she remained faithful.   Ruth and Hannah lived in the same era.

Women of Courage Bible Study Apr. 6

Today we had a special speaker come to our Bible study, it was Pastor Jon.  He was asked to speak on the subject of submission, since it has been a subject that has appeared in our discussions more than once.  After opening with prayer, we invited him to speak. This was his message, plus a little more at the end. 

Submission

The subject of submission has been corrupted like everything else God created.

If you think about it, we all, male AND female submit to different authorities and really have no problem in it.

   Posted speed limits, the price of a dozen eggs, people in crosswalks, etc., we all

   submit to the authority of someone else, and it really doesn’t bother us.

So why is there this adversity to the authority of a husband? Again, corruption.

Eve submitting to Adam was not something that occurred after the fall, in fact,

Gen 2:18 Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him."

   There was no problem in this. It wasn’t one sided, it wasn’t some dictatorship.

   The way God set it up it worked perfectly for both because they were “one flesh”.

      But this obviously is a paradox: “one flesh” but two different people.

One of the truths of the Bible that escapes us is what the full impact of the fall did to mankind.

It not only effected the relationship between God and man,

                                            but between man and woman.

God gave Adam the responsibility to take care of the garden (Gen 2:15), that was not a curse, and now, after the fall, his responsibility hasn’t changed- God’s pre-established plan for Adam was his responsibility to take care of the ground (not Eden), but now it will be hard work.

Gen 3:16 To the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you will bring forth children; yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."

Again, there was a pre-established God initiated design for the family that started like this: “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. 25  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her” 

                                                                                                                          Eph 5:22-25

And again, there was no problem in this initially in Eden because there was no sin.

   Adam did not “use” his wife, and Eve never challenged her husband.

But Satan corrupted this plan and the result was this “desire” or coveting of the position of authority and responsibility God gave to man.

   She literally desired to have the responsibility and authority God gave to Adam- in

   fact, the same structure of the sentence and Hebrew word is found again in the

   next chapter when Cain’s offering wasn’t accepted by God:

      Gen 4:6-7 Then the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your

      countenance fallen? 7 "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?

      And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you,

      but you must master it."

So Satan perverted God’s plan but he did not replace it. Satan does not have that power.

   That authority and responsibility of God’s original plan is STILL placed on man

   (whether he wants it or not), but now he’s in competition for it- because both man

   AND woman have strayed away from God’s original intent.

1 Peter 2:25, 3:1-2 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

3:1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.

This “chaste and respectful behavior” is commonly misunderstood to be referring to the husband.

   Although it includes the husband, it is primarily referring to God Himself.

   1 Peter 2:9 clearly tells us, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a

  holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him

  who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light”.

   Did you see it? We are to “proclaim the praises of Him” not the husband, and that

   is done by submitting to God’s order.

The isolated objective is the conversion of the husband,

   1.) If the husband does not know the Lord, or

   2.) The husband knows the Lord, but is walking outside of God’s will.

      The key is bring him to the Lord.

You’re not alone, the husband actually has the same responsibility!

   Eph 6:4  Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the

  discipline and instruction of the Lord.

      A wife who instigates trouble in the marriage relationship by attitudes and

      actions outside the “instruction of the Lord” is the same as a father who

      discourages his children by the same attitudes and actions.

      In fact, Col 3:21 says it this way, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so

     that they will not lose heart.”               

      Wives, your objective is not to allow your husbands to “lose heart”.

         By “not exasperat[ing]” them, you actually encourage them toward the Lord.

The conversion of your husband initially to the Lord or back to the Lord  does not come from you- that is not your responsibility nor are you capable of it.

   But you can work either compliment these efforts or work against the Lord’s

   efforts by not following His pre-established initiated design.

Warren Wiersbe gives a great illustration: He said, “the receptionist at our church office has a list of names prepared by me, and these people could get to me at any time, no matter what I was doing. Even if I was in a staff meeting, or in a counseling session, if any of these people phoned, she was to call me immediately. At the top of this list was my family. Even if the matter seems to me inconsequential, I want my family to know that I am available. After the service, one of the students said to me, "Would you adopt me? I can never get through to my father”.

   If your husband does not understand- be approachable, after all, it was by the

   grace of God YOU understand.

   If you want your circumstances to change in your relationship with your husband,

   don’t attempt to thwart God’s movements in the answering of that prayer,

   harmonize with His movements by doing it God’s way.

A question was asked concerning violating a command of God when a husband expects his wife to follow him in an ungodly decision.

   Basically there are essentials and non-essentials as with the Scriptures.

   All Scripture is important, but as we should not become angry and fight over the

     identity of the two witnesses in Revelation, we should not divide over, say, 

     whether he can buy a beer or not.

     Practically, what if your husband asks why you can’t stay home every once in a

        while instead of going to Church all the time? Stay home.

     But what about, “… not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of

      some …”? (Heb 10:25)

          Two words to pay attention to: “forsaking” To leave or desert.

                                                          “habit”     Custom.

          This is a far cry from staying home every once in a while for the sake of family

           unity.

Those who have unsaved loved ones or those who have grown cold in the Lord need to learn to be proactive instead of reactive.

   Anticipate problem areas and discuss them at an appropriate time when the

   atmosphere is conducive.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(this is the bonus section)

First, when I ask why someone wants to get married, the answer is always the same:

I love him/her.

That’s good, but that’s not all.

Without the next two things, the marriage is headed for a fall:

Freedom and Responsibility

I’m not speaking about him, I’m talking about both of you.

    If unbalanced, one spouse resents too much responsibility the other controls

       because of a lack of it.

    Freedom works the same way, one spouse has more freedom, the other is being

       controlled.

What balances out the scales? Love. Real love, not just emotional love.

Practical Advice:

*Stop assuming what the other would do and talk about things that are in conflict

      with their values.

*Isolate and deal with your spouses deficiency, set up a plan or explain that things

      will only get worse.

         They may not know how to communicate, deal with a past problem that didn’t

            include you, lack self-discipline, manage money, etc.

      Remember, it’s not his problem or her shortcoming, but a mutual problem. One

          flesh remember?

*Make a pact based on love that “silent treatments” are illegal.

      If something (s)he said or did bothered you wait until an appropriate moment

      (not too long of a wait) and casually mention it only once.

      Refuse to place blame or insist on someone’s wrong, just mention it- once.

*“Realize that although you’re “one flesh”, you’re two different people with two

    different preferences. Don’t forget, you used to find this attractive- what

    happened?

   Phil 2:3-4 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of

   mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look

   out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

      Give the other their way first (agape love) and have a good time!

*Lastly, is this disagreement worth the win?

      Isolate your objective- do you want your way or your relationship?

We pray that this message speaks to hearts and helps each of us to learn to walk in submission.  We thank God for allowing us to hear his words and pray for strength to walk in them. 

Hannah Begins

March 16, 2013

Women of Courage – the study of Hannah

We began by reading 1 Samuel 1-2: The story of how Hannah came before Eli and prayed to the Lord; How Eli’s sons were corrupt and the state of the priests that were serving at the time.  We also looked at the map locating the areas we were discussing and how we have journeyed with all the different women we have studied.

There was a brief discussion on why the two sons wanted fresh uncooked meat. Was it because of the condition of the cooking? Or was it greed, since the meat would fall off the fork if it was tender?  Did they want more than the Lord was permitting? We don’t know what the reasons, but we do know that they were sinning against God.

A little history- Elkanah was from the family Kohath, they received the responsibility to tear down the Holy of Holies when the tabernacle was traveling.  When David was king, he established them as some of the chief musicians. The grandson of Samuel was the chief musician.  Hannah understood the ways of the Lord and most likely was raised in a very Godly home and she married a very good man. 

Eli’s sons walked far from the Lord, but they were raised knowing all about the Lord. But, remembering that parents can raise their children for the Lord, but sometimes they stray and we have to remember not to judge families where the children stray.

Nancy mentioned how she was so impressed by Hannah’s prayer, how she knew how to pray. She was raised understanding how to pray, but our personality is also a part of how we pray. She understood the law.  It is obvious that the Lord was with her prayer, he gave her prophecy within her prayer. 

We discussed how Peninnah vexed Hannah with the fact that she had children and Hannah had none.  But God listed Hannah’s prayer and her story into His word.  God truly loves and honors women. Hannah let all of her passion and concern pour out to her Lord.  Even though she was confronted as being drunk, Hannah didn’t fear Eli, but clearly explained her prayer.  She was confident; she did not shrink from the confrontation. 

Peninnah was not listed as being loved, so she may have,  in her flesh, brought up the fact that she had children to give herself the worth she desired.  But God had a provision in His law for her.

Deut. 21:15-17

15 “If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him sons, if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, 16 then it shall be in the day he wills what he has to his sons, he cannot make the son of the loved the firstborn before the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn. 17 But he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn.

God loved even Peninnah, the unloved. And even in our study of Hannah, we remember her.

We were then introduced to the companion book we will be using:

Disciplines of a Godly Woman, by Barbara Hughes

this book will help us to go a little deeper in our understanding, we look forward to God's revealing through our study.

Ruth concludes

Women of Courage – the study of Ruth – March 2, 2013

Question #3 (page 51) Matthew 1:5.  In what ways did Boaz’ familiarity with the life story of Rahab make him more prone to extend special care to a foreign woman like Ruth?  The Jews (Joshua) took care of Rahab, just like Boaz took care of Ruth.   This was something that happened in the family before.  Situations in our own lives show that when there are times of alcoholism or other abuses, we can have compassion towards other people who stumble under the same temptations.  A difference between looking at the true God and the not-true God.

In what ways was Ruth’s faith reminiscent of Rahab’s?  Just knowing God was there.  When there is a change in heart you have more courage because God is with you, you can’t go back to living in the flesh.  However, in the new life, just having the knowledge did not make the experience right(eous).   Neither one had a passive faith.   It took courage for them to believe in the foreign God.  Without the spirit of God no one can understand the Word and when interacting with non-believers it can present many challenges.  Romans 10:10 “for with the heart one believes in righteousness, with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  Once you are made God’s child you are always God’s child. Ruth or Rahab knew very little of the law of Jehovah. Their actions were guided by their desire to to be faithful to God.

Shera’s first email on beginning bible study.  Established on Wednesday evenings, but the collective group realized that Saturday’s would be better.  What a blessing the bible study has been on the group.   

Mat. 5:6 Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for the Lord.  Righteousness and actions are compared to a holy standard.  I’m going to do a Godly thing rather than a human thing.  The laws of the kinsman redeemer were not known to Ruth when she went with Naomi back to Israel. 

Question #4   Read Leviticus 19:9-10; 23:22; and Deuteronomy 24; 19-21.  What is the balance in Scripture between requiring work from the poor and providing opportunity to the poor?  James 1:7.  For the aliens, orphans and the widows.  How do we provide for the needy during our time.  We need to take the subjectivity out of the decisions we make on who deserves our money or food.  We should give what we can and let God decide how the money is spent.  There are food banks that work with stores to redistribute left over food.  Adelanto has a system that takes in gently used clothes. Classify homeless as people who live in an extra bedroom, have seen 8 people in one room. 

Alfred Edersheim, excerpt from The Bible History, Old Testament.  Social and Religious Life in Bethlehem in the Days of Judges – The Story of Ruth – King David’s Ancestors. Hand out from Shera.

Lasting Implications (page 52) “Desperate times call for desperate measures”?  If a women finds herself in an ungodly environment life or death situation how does she respond?  Ultimately you want to cling to God and let God provide.  Without knowing circumstances it is hard to assess how a person would or should perform in a challenging situation.  Naomi went to a land of idolatry for ten years but she must have kept God in her life during those years enough to teach or show her daughter’s in law some of the ways of the Isrealites.  1 Peter chapter 3.  

Ruth Feb. 16

Women of Courage:  The Study of Ruth – Feb. 16

Beginning with question #7

Summarize the way that Ruth proposed marriage to Boaz.

Was it scandalous for her to lay at his feet?  From our research we didn’t find answers, but she did place his covering over her.  That may have represented his care for her.  

The women understood the law that they had a right to the protector, the kinsman redeemer.  Tamar forced the issue, and in a sense Ruth did the same.  This kinsman redeemer was an ancient custom that they all understood.

Sometimes we get so shy in our submission, but God has given us rights.  God will honor what we may have to do, as long as we are walking in his will and following.

The story of Tamar is found in Genesis 38 and follows at the end of this blog

Both women (Tamar and Ruth) in their circumstances stepped up to the need, trusting God to lead them.  They did what they needed to do, in submission.  Husbands need to know that they are needed and we as wives need to be submissive to follow them.

Naomi is a good example of what a mother-in-law should be.  Can you imagine setting up your daughter-in-law with a new husband; it is a self-less act.  In the end she would not only have a grandson, but an heir. 

Bible Connections

Question 1

Ruth 1:15- In what way might Naomi have been testing the faith of Ruth pointing out how Orpah had returned to her Moabite gods? 

There was a difference in their reactions, Ruth clung to her mother-in-law, but Orpah kissed her and returned to her family.  Naomi was at a point that she knew she could not return to her people with a Moabite girl, and a girl that might bring her gods with her.   She wanted to be sure that Ruth would surrender her life fully to God, like Naomi.  As Shera stated, “What sack full of stumbling blocks was she bringing along with her?”

Naomi wanted Ruth to think about all that was ahead of her.  There may not be enough food for them, being that they were both widowed and without provision. There may have been adversity against them because of Ruth’s heritage.  There would be rough roads ahead.

Naomi has been where Ruth would be, the craziness of being in it and not a part of it.  Naomi wanted her to make a full commitment.  The confession was what they all needed to hear Naomi and Ruth. God saw the surrendered heart.

God tells us to leave the idols behind, he asked Abraham to leave them too.  We need to do the same, surrendering our own “gods” to the Almighty God, that we must rid our lives of the idols we carry with us.  Through the women’s actions they were doing what Josiah had done, destroying the idols in their lives.  It is so important for us to be obedient to following God and his commandments, being courageous in their steps of faith.

God directs us in our choices for him.  Psalm 125:5

Psalm 125:5

⁵ But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways,
The Lord will lead them away with the doers of iniquity.
Peace be upon Israel.

Naomi would have been accountable for the actions of Ruth and she was aware that Ruth would be a part of her household.

Question #2 

Ruth 1:20-21 – Naomi was not suggesting that she was a bitter person, but instead of complaining she was admitting to God’s sovereignty and that he was taking her through a hard time in her life.  It is ok to ask God to help you to understand and to lead us in the ways he wants.  Sometimes God takes us through difficult times, trials and suffering.   Like Job and what he went through.   But we need to praise God for all our circumstances.

James 1:2

2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

His plan is bigger than our scars.

Providence of God includes not only the sun but the rain, the fruit and the drought.

We looked at the names of God in Ruth

The Almighty, the Lord

We need to walk away recognizing the name of God, all the way through Ruth the Lord is used – Jehovah

When you use the word Jehovah, it means you have a close personal relationship with your God. It is a personal thing.  When people just use the word god, it can mean many different things to different people. It can be capitalized to mean the God almighty, or lower case, the god of anything.  But Lord, is very personal.

Almighty God is also the God of judgment and control.  Shera suggested that we go home this week and think about the words of Naomi and her profession of her belief in God.  As God inspired the words of Ruth to be written, no one from her town called her bitter, they knew that her faith was strong and she was honored for her faith.   The first time the name of Almighty God was used was when God came to Abraham and made his promises to him.

In Exodus 6:2

2 God spoke further to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord; 3 and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, Lord, I did not make Myself known to them. 4 I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they sojourned.

When so many do what is right in their own eyes, we see Naomi in realization and submission to God.  She is turning back to him.  When do we see God as the Almighty and when do we finally meet him as our Lord.

Hebrews 12 speaks about our trials in line with this question.

In chapter 4 of Ruth, Naomi is being congratulated for her new grandson. In verse 14-15 they speak of God’s provision and blessing upon her life, how he has worked out his plan in her life.

************************************************************************

Judah and Tamar Genesis 38

38 At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to stay with a man of Adullam named Hirah. 2 There Judah met the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. He married her and made love to her; 3 she became pregnant and gave birth to a son, who was named Er. 4 She conceived again and gave birth to a son and named him Onan. 5 She gave birth to still another son and named him Shelah. It was at Kezib that she gave birth to him.

6 Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death.

8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. 10 What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also.

11 Judah then said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s household until my son Shelah grows up.” For he thought, “He may die too, just like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s household.

12 After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had recovered from his grief, he went up to Timnah, to the men who were shearing his sheep, and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went with him.

13 When Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep,” 14 she took off her widow’s clothes, covered herself with a veil to disguise herself, and then sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that, though Shelah had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife.

15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. 16 Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her by the roadside and said, “Come now, let me sleep with you.”

“And what will you give me to sleep with you?” she asked

17 “I’ll send you a young goat from my flock,” he said.

“Will you give me something as a pledge until you send it?” she asked.

18 He said,“What pledge should I give you?”

“Your seal and its cord, and the staff in your hand,” she answered. So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him. 19 After she left, she took off her veil and put on her widow’s clothes again.

20 Meanwhile Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite in order to get his pledge back from the woman, but he did not find her. 21 He asked the men who lived there, “Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at Enaim?”

“There hasn’t been any shrine prostitute here,” they said.

22 So he went back to Judah and said, “I didn’t find her. Besides, the men who lived there said, ‘There hasn’t been any shrine prostitute here.’”

23 Then Judah said, “Let her keep what she has, or we will become a laughingstock. After all, I did send her this young goat, but you didn’t find her.”

24 About three months later Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant.

Judah said,“Bring her out and have her burned to death!”

25 As she was being brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law. “I am pregnant by the man who owns these,” she said. And she added, “See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are.”

26 Judah recognized them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not sleep with her again.

27 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 28 As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, “This one came out first.” 29 But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, “So this is how you have broken out!” And he was named Perez. 30 Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist, came out. And he was named Zerah.

Ruth- Feb. 2

Women of Courage:  The Study of Ruth – Feb. 2

In Exodus God provides manna for the people of Egypt on a daily basis.  People are very poor.

Law of building the tabernacle, in Leviticus 19:1.  Leave gleanings for needy and strangers.  There is a trust in the Lord to provide on the 7^th day.  Duet. 24, remember you were a slave in Egypt, leave the remainings for the alien, orphan and widow.  Duet. 15, lend money to the poor and forgive their debts in the 7^th year.  Remember what God has done and always and give generously.  (Thank you Tricia for this commentary)

Question #5 –In what ways did Boaz show special kindness to Ruth as she gleaned.  Boaz blessed Naomi, may God reward you for your hard work. 

In what ways did Ruth gain even greater affection and assistance from Boaz.  He let her eat with the reapers.   Boaz gave her protection from other people so that she may gather food.

In what ways is Boaz like the Lord in His provision for us as we work in His fields.  Ruth became his bride, we are Christ’s bride.  He is Ruth’s protector and exclusive protection, and her redeemer.  

Why have you found favor in me a stranger in the land?  I have heard of your kindness to your mother-in-law. 

Goel  translated to “one of our close relatives.”   A person that has the right, the power and the will to redeem.  Someone who redeems when there is no other possibility