| Women of the Bible-M |
2 Samuel 3:3: Maacah has David's third son while David was King of Judah, before David assumed the throne of Israel. Her relationship with David may have been a political alliance, as her father was a king. She like, Micah, had been raised in a royal family, with both the benefits and hazards. At this time, daughters were usually given in marriage from a stronger leader to a weaker leader. This would mean, Geshur was a more powerful kingdom. More, Maacah probably arrived in Hebron then Jeruselem accompanied by an extensive retinue of courtiers, craftspeople, architects and follower. They would have built and established Maacah's own palace. The Bible identifies three of Maacah's children: Absalom, Hanan and Tamar. Both of her children would experience turmoil resulting from their father's sin. When Absalom was temporarily expelled for killing his half brother, he sought refuge in Geshur, his mother's land. 1 Chronicles 3:1-2: 1 Chronicles 11:26-47: Maacah's son Hanah participated in the conflict, supporting his brother Absalom. 1 Chronicles 2:48-49: 1 Kings 15:1-2: Asa removed his mother Maacah from the position of "queen mother". The "queen mother" had a great deal of influence in Israel, thus removing her from that position limited her ability to lead Israel to other gods. 1 Chronicles 11:20-22: 2 Chronicles 13 gives a slightly different variation on Abijah's mother . 1 Chronicles 8:29: 1 Chronicles 9:35: 2 Chronicles 11:18-20: Rehoboam managed to marry several women near the line of succession. The wording "after her he took" gives us a hint just how Rehoboam felt about Mahalath. Numbers 26:33: In chapter 26, the Lord instructed Moses to portion out land according to the tribes. Because the land would be inherited by sons, it would stay with the tribe to which it had been granted. However, Zelophehad "had no sons" to inherit his portion. Numbers 27:1-4: These women had the courage to question not only Moses, but God. They realized that without a brother to inherit, their family would not receive a portion of land. They (not a male representative) went before Moses, the priest and the whole congregation to present their case. Their father had not been part of Korah's rebellion; he did not merit the punishment meeted out to the rebels. Numbers 27:5-11: Often we have been told "never question God", yet these women did question God and were rewarded. God modified His orginal instructions, to allow the women to inherit. More, no one questioned their right to ask. Moses acted on their request, taking their request before God. He did not tell them they had to be silent. However, this was a tribal society; land was owned by the tribe and portioned out to members. When sons inherited the land, the land remained with the tribe. If a woman inherited, then married, the land would leave the tribe. Numbers 36:1-4: The men of the tribe wanted the land to stay in their tribe and not become the inheritance of another. They approached Moses and the assembled congregration with a great deal more formality than when the women brought their case. Number 36:5-9: Again the Lord (through Moses) adjusted His command to meet the reality of Israelite society. To prevent the inheritance being shifted into another tribe, women inheritors would be required to marry within their clan. Most woman would have married within the clan anyway, as most marriages are endogamos. With this restriction, however, is the indication that women could marry whoever they choose. Number 36:10-12: 2 Samuel 17:18: "They" are Ahimaaz and Jonathon, who were meeting together secretly to pass information to King David. 2 Samuel 17:19 Here the man's wife has hidden the two men, then sent their pursuers in another direction. Her quick thinking protected David's men, and allowed David to escape once again. Judges 13:2-3: Many of us have been taught that when to speak to a couple, He goes through the husband. This concept usually involves calling the husband "priest" to the wife and family. In New Testament terms, we know that all believers, whether male or female, are priests-royal priests, no less. More we also know that Jesus is the only high priest we need--certainly no one could do better! Yet, even with the Old Testament, we find God deals directly though wives. God spoke directly to Deborah and not her husband; He guided Jael and not her husband. Now here we find an angel of the Lord appearing directly to Manoah's wife. She, the angel says, will bear a son, even though she has been barren. Judges 13:4-5: The angel goes on to instruct the woman on the care of her child, giving specific instruction on not only his physical care, but the child's spiritual care. Often we believe that God charges only fathers, or especially fathers, with the spiritual responsibility of children; yet the Bible itself lays that responsibility on both parents. In this particular story, the angel charges the mother with that responsibility. Judges 13:6-7: The woman goes home. She has discerned that one, this person who spoke to her in the field was a man of God (notice he hasn't introduced himself as such.) Two, he was like an angel of God. She hasn't asked this man any questions; apparently since she already discerned God sent him. Then she goes on to explain exactly what the man said would happen and what to do. How many of us today have this same experience. We know beyond a shadow of a doubt we've received a message from the Lord, complete with instructions on what to do? With that experience we can share this woman's excitement. However, someone doesn't quite accept this woman's account. Judges 13:8: I have the feeling Manoah's wife must have rolled her eyes. Manoah did the right thing in seeking the Lord, but he does it in the wrong way. His prayer has much in common with vainglorious prayers Jesus criticized. He asks God to send His messenger to "us" again, only God hadn't sent His messenger to "us" the first time. God in His Sovereignty had sent His messenger to Manoah's wife. Then Manoah asks for instructions on what "we" must do. Again, the instructions had already been given, and didn't involve "we" but Manoah's wife. Certainly it wouldn't have mattered what Manoah ate or drank. The Bible doesn't tell us Manoah's motives, yet we can reasonably guess (again guesses and assumptions shouldn't form doctrine) his motives fell into one of two categories. One, he simply could not accept the Lord going through a woman, particularly his wife, or two, he really and truly wanted to participate in the Lord's plan. Either way, we can learn something from him. We need to be wary of rejecting God's message because of our opinions of the source. Many times we like to proclaim that God is Sovereign, but only when He follows our rules. That's backwards. Next, we need to be very careful not to stifle someone else's gift in our excitement. How many times have we been so excited about a new ministry, so eager for it to prosper that we take it away from the person God not only gave it to, but gifted to succeed, and given it to someone more official--the person God "should" have given it too? Unfortunately, too many ministries with wonderful potential have failed because well intentioned people fired the person God hired. Judges 13:9 God heard what Manoah asked, but again acted by His own providence. Instead of answering what Manoah wanted, which was for God to send the messenger to both of them (though seemingly more importantly to Manoah), God again sends the messenger to the woman when she sits in the field. Many times we lay out a plan in our prayers--"Lord, do this, that, and then this", but God answers in ways that not only benefit us the most, but bring Him glory. Judges 13:10-14: Again, we can imagine Manoah's wife rolling her eyes...she tells her husband "this is guy" then he turns around and asks "are you the guy." Manoah seems to be determined to take charge in this situation. He wants to know exactly what is going to happen (apparently wanting to know what he should do. The KJ reads, "And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?) The angel of the tells Manoah that his wife should what he's already told her today and repeats the instructions he has already given--not adding any responsibilities for Manoah. One wonders how some of out teachers today would look at this situation. Twice the Lord's messenger has come to the wife, twice the Lord has by-passed the husband. Once the messenger speaks to the husband, he tells him the wife should do as she as been told. This biblical example of marriage, and God's relation with married partners seems to challenge many of our commonly held views. Yet, we can't ignore this example while uplifting other examples. Judges 13:15: "Detain" here may be slightly mild. In Hebrew the world used is "`atsar", which has the connotation of "restrain". Judges 13:16-18: The angel acknowledges that Manoah is holding him up--angels must have busy schedules, but agrees to stay. He does not, however, agree to eat with the small family. Instead he asks that an offering be made. Then Manoah errs. Unlike his wife, who discerned the nature of this visitor, and refrained from asking intrusive questions, Manoah asks for a name. The angel asks why Manoah would want to know, as the answer would be beyond is comprehension. Judges 13:19-21: I keep imagining: a man comes to Manoah's wife in a field. Tells her she will have a child even though she's barren. Returns when Manoah asks God to send him back. Repeat the promise and instructions. Then caps it off by ascending in a flame.....and Manoah only catches on that this is an angel after the angel doesn't come back for awhile. Yet, even then he misunderstands. Judges 13:22-23: The last passage in this section reminds us of his wife's discernment and understanding. When Manoah automatically re-acts with fear, his wife wisely corrects him. Just today I read an article from a respected Evangelical scholar who declared that since Eve was deceived all women are prone to error. Yet, using Eve's failure while omitting the stories of women like Manoah's wife, the queen of Sheba and Abigail distorts our understanding. Eve may have been deceived, and Adam not, but Manoah was deceived and his wife not. He was deceived by either his own prejudice or eagerness into believing he should play the dominant role in God's plan, when in fact, his wife had been told and understood the call was hers. He failed to discern the mission and person of an angel of the Lord, when his wife knew both. He deceived himself into believing God would kill him, when his wife knew that was not the case. Least we believe that Paul's writing in Timothy mean only women are deceived, we need to remember he said all of us could be deceived like Eve. We can't be like the Pharisee's and pick and choose which verses we want to use. All Scripture is God breathed--even the story of Manoah and his wife. Judges 13:24: Finally the Bible tells us why we should know this woman's story--she is Samson's mother. Samson proves to be both a blessing and a problem for his parents. Judges 14:2-3: Samson has found a Philistine woman he wants. However, Israelites had been told not to inter-marry with certain groups-including he Philistines. His parents try to discourage him. Interestingly, again we find Manoah's wife challenging current views. Often we're told the mother should differ these kinds of issues (even all issues) to the father for final decision. Within this family, however, both mother and father address issues. We might especially notice that Samson immediately goes to both mother and father--he does not follow some "chain of command". More we see Manoah's wife participates in this equal decision making even though her son is a grown man. Judges 14:4: This time, both Manoah and his lack discernment. In many ways this combination of gift and lack will echo in their son's life. Judges 14:5-6: Judges 14:9: We may wonder why the Holy Spirit had this story included, or more specifically why Samson's parents are mentioned. However, Samson has violated the law in eating the honey from a dead animal. He has eaten unclean food. Then he gives it to his parents without telling them it is unclean. Romans 16:6: This may be Jesus' mother. Whether it is the same Mary, this woman served the Gospel among the congregation at Rome. Matthew 27:55-56 Even as most of the male disciples abandoned Jesus, some of Jesus' women disciples followed him to the cross. Perhaps this is why women were the first to share in the knowledge of Christ's resurrection. They'd shared in His death, so they shared in His resurrection. All four Gospels and the Book of Acts offer insights into Mary, the mother of Jesus. She appears to travel from faith to doubt then back to faith again, as do many of us. Too often we miss the messages of Mary's life, as we either undervalue her as a Christmas story figure or over value her as a replacement for Christ. Luke opens a window into Mary's life. This is one of the most famous stories in the New Testament. Gabriel visits Mary to announce that she would bear a son named Jesus. The scene, however, gives us more information about Mary. First we learn that Mary has favor with God and that the Lord was already with her. Mary was a woman of faith even before Gabriel came to her. Yet, even as a woman of faith she asks, "How can this be?" Like most people, she expected the possible from a God would could do the impossible. Even while questioning she answers the Lord's call declaring, "I am the Lord's servant." Mary goes to Elizabeth's home. The Bible does not say why Mary hastened to Judean, but Mary was an unwed pregnant girl. Even today in a more "open minded" society, unwed mothers around the world face shame and isolation from their communities. Whatever reason she went to Judean, there Mary was welcomed by Elizabeth who rejoiced for Mary's unborn child. While celebrating the unborn child, Elizabeth also recognized Mary's own commitment to the Lord and her call. Elizabeth proclaims, "Blessed is she who believed that there would be fulfillment of what was spoke to her by the Lord." Mary had listened and believed that the Lord would do as He said. She had faith. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. Mary went to see Elizabeth as instructed. There she and Elizabeth rejoiced. Mary rejoiced even though obeying the Lord had put her in a sticky situation and Mary rejoiced not because she was to be the "mother of my Lord" and was "blessed" but because of *who* God is. He proclaims that she is blessed because " Matthew 1:16: and Jacob, the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of who Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. Matthew 1:18-25: Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Hoy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 'Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel.' which means, 'God with us.' When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and she named him Jesus. Mary would have been a very young woman at this point. Women were married young to older husbands, their betrothals often being arranged in childhood. Betrothal was not quite like our modern engagement, however. Engagements may be broken at any point, and both the law and society see the parties as "single" until the wedding. In betrothals, however, the parties were seen as a "couple". Having relations with someone else during this time was adultery. Joseph would have been completely in his rights to dismiss Mary for such adultery. I wouldn't wish to offend, however, I must add another point here. Joseph and Mary did not have sex before Jesus was born, this passages tells us so. However, notice, it says "had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son". Marital relations were the right of spouses (both man and wife); denying a spouse sex would have been deemed wrong. In fact, Paul makes much of this issue in 1 Corinthians. Not having sex with (an able) spouse was sinful. Mary could not have been both a lifetime virgin and a godly married woman. God established in Genesis that humans needed to join together, to become one. Luke 2:5-7: He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Matthew continues the account by introducing the wise men. Matthew 2:11: On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. The wise men came the house to honor Jesus who was with his mother. Luke adds the shepherds. Luke 2:16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. The shepherds came and shared what the angel's had told them. Luke 2:19: But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart Mary held everything she had been told in her heart. Matthew 2:13-15: Now after they [the wise men] had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.' Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, 'Out of Egypt I have called my son.' The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, advising him to flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt. Matthew 2:19-21: When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 'Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead.' Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph again, once it was safe for the family to return to Israel. Joseph took Mary and Jesus back to their homeland. Luke 2:34-35 And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed and a sword will pierce your own soul too." In accordance with the law, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to be presented at the temple. There they encounter both Simeon and Anna. Matthew 12:46-50: While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, 'Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.' But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, 'Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?' And pointing to his disciples, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.' Mark 3:31-35: Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you." And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother." Often the church has elevated the role of family to an almost sacred ideal. Jesus, however, did not share this idealization. The same Teacher who restated the command to honor our parents, denied his own mother. In the story, Mary and Jesus' brothers seek Jesus in order to chastise Him for this ministry. He's making a scene and causing trouble. Jesus does not conform to His family's (including His sister's ) ideals of family; instead He claims fellow believers as his family. Jesus did not venerate His mother; He venerated His Father in heaven, declaring His spiritual family took precedence over His physical family. Its comforting to know that Jesus, the High Priest really did live what He preached. He said in Matthew chapter 10 that He came to bring dissent in the family. He made that promise having experienced that dissent in His own family. Matthew 13:54-58: He came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?" And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house." And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.Mark 6:3-4: Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, "Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house." People identified Jesus by his mother and family. They identified him as part of the community...and used that to dismiss his work. Familiarity had certainly bred contempt of the mighty works of Christ, and that can even be true within our lives. Often we receive the least support among those who know us. Strangers can see the work of the Holy Spirit through us, but our community often continues to see us as the kid down the road. John 19:25-27: And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. Mary was with Jesus at the cross. There Jesus entrusted Mary to the "disciple who he loved." Mary appears again in Acts, where she is pictured awaiting the Holy Spirit with other church leaders. Acts 1:14: All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the oder of Jesus, as well as his brothers. Top 
Mary Magdalene, the name itself invokes images of the repentant prostitute, yet that isn't the Mary Magdalene of the Bible. Mary Magdalene wasn't even her name. "Magdalene" tells us from what region she came. It wasn't her job description or her last name. Far from being a fallen woman, the Mary Magdalene of the Bible was a strong and courageous disciple of Christ. Matthew 27:55-56: Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. Mark 15:40-41: There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem. Mary stayed with Jesus, watching "from a distance" as He endured the crucifixion. Her faithfulness is an example to every Christian. Also, notice that the passage indicates, "provided for him". Mary, like the other women around Jesus, weren't just hangers-on or dependents. They provided for Him, supported Him. Mark 15:47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid. Mary followed Jesus even after His death. She waited to see where His body would be placed. Matthew 28:1-2: After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it Mary Magdalene and the "other" Mary went to the tomb. They were steadfast. When others fled, they stayed. They even return to the tomb, even though soldiers guarded the entrance. On the way, the become witnesses to one of the momentous events in history. Matthew 28:3: His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.These two women an angel in all his glory. Matthew 28:4: Even the Roman guards trembled in fear before the awesome sight. (Consider the bravery of these women to even approach the tomb. They came to tomb of a convicted criminal, a convicted rebel. A tomb guarded by the soldiers of the very power that executed their leader. Yet the came to that tomb.) Matthew 28:5-6: But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Imagine the surprise these women experienced. They come to the tomb of their Lord, and an angel invites them in to see it is empty. Yet, the angel doesn't just want the women to see and experience the resurrection of Christ, he wants them to do something with that knowledge. Matthew 28:6: Then go quickly and tell his disciples, "He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you." So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Now that they know Christ is risen, they are to go tell the disciples. Again, these ladies don't just walk, they RUN to go tell the good news. Matthew 28:9: Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Notice that it after they obey, after they run to share the message that Jesus Himself comes to them. "Suddenly Jesus met them". Mary Magdalene and the other Mary become the first people to see the risen Lord. They are honored to be the first to worship the resurrected Christ. Matthew 28:9: Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." Again, Christ Himself commissions their witness. Perhaps Jesus didn't read the memo about women preachers!
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Acts 12:12-17: "As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying. When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. On recognizing Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, 'You are out of your mind!' But she insisted that it was so. They said, 'It is his angel.' Meanwhile Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the gate, they saw him and were amazed."
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John 19:25 And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
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John 19:25 And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. Mary was with Jesus at the cross. She was one of the disciples who stayed.
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Mark 15:47: Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.
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1 Samuel 28:7: Then Saul said to his servants, 'Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire of her.' His servants said to him, 'There is a medium at Endor.' At this point Saul is desperate to hear from the Lord. The Lord's Spirit has left him. Samuel died. No prophets or priests could give him the answers he needed. He turns to the occult for guidance. I've spend a great deal of time ministering with witches, satanists and "pagan". Every person I know involved in the occult has been turned away by the church at one time or other. They truly tried to seek the Lord, but could not hear His voice (particularly over the too human voices of His children.) From the perspective of women in the Bible two issues stand clear. First, many have suggested that women are more prone to turn to the occult than men due to spiritual weakness. This story demonstrates that men can turn, without a woman temptress. Saul sought out a woman, a woman did not lead him to seek out a medium. Second, that fact Saul specifically indicated a woman medium draws attention. Throughout various cultures men as well as women served as mediums, as spiritualists. Was this a specific order? Why the gender specification? 1 Samuel 28:8-9: So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes and went there, he and two men with him. They came to the woman by night. And he said, "Consult a spirit for me, and bring up for me the one whom I name to you.' The woman said to him, 'Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the wizards from the land. Why then are you laying a snare for my life to bring about my death? In verse 3 Saul expelled all the mediums and wizards from Israel. 1 Samuel 28:10-14: But Saul swore to her by the LORD, "As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.' Then the woman said, 'Whom shall I bring up for you?' He answered, 'Bring up Samuel for me.' When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman said to Saul, 'Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!' The king said to her, 'Have no fear; what do you see?' The woman said to Saul, 'I see a divine being coming up out of the ground.' He said to her, 'What is his appearance?' She said, 'An old man is coming up; he is wrapped in a robe.' So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance. Many commentators have indicated the woman did not truly "bring up" Samuel, due to the laws against necromancy. However, a law does not mean something CAN not be done, but SHOULD not be done. For instance a man CAN covet his neighbor's wife....but he SHOULD not. The Bible tells us that Samuel speaks to Saul during this session-it does not say he spoke to a "spirit", even a spirit impersonating Samuel. 1 Samuel 28:15-22: Then Samuel said to Saul, 'Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?' Saul answered, 'I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams; so I have summoned you to tell me what I should do.' Samuel said, 'Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy? The LORD has done to you just as he spoke by me; for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, David. Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD, and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you today. Moreover the LORD will give Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me; the LORD will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines. Whether the spirit was Samuel or not, this woman was involved in the occult. She had chosen a path of sin and disobedience. Yet, in this last passage, we see a woman act with compassion. 1 Samuel 28:23-25: He refused and said, 'I will not eat.' But his servants together with the woman, urged him; and he listened to their words. So he got up from the ground and sat on the bed. Now the had a fatted calf in the house. She quickly slaughtered it, and she took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened cakes. She put them before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night. Samuel's words come to pass, and Saul dies the next day. 1 Chronicles 10:13: So Saul died for his unfaithfulness; he was unfaithful to the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD; moreover, he had consulted a medium, seeking guidance. The next verse tells us Saul was punished for seeking the guidance of the medium. Top
Baal-hanan son of Achbor died, and Hadar succeeded him as king, the name of his city being Pau; his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, daughter of Mezahab.
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2 Samuel 4:4: Saul's son Jonathan had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled; and, in her haste to flee, it happened that he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth. We might wonder just from whom this woman was protecting Mephiboseth. The answer was David. Because David was called a man after God's own heart, we sometimes overlook or misunderstand just how far ambition motivated him to go. This woman knew, and she saved Mephibosheth. Had he not been hidden, he may have become yet another victim of court intrigue. She risked her life to save this child. As the child's nurse, she probably breast fed him and acted as his caretaker from birth.
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1 Samuel 14:49: Saul's sons included Jonathan, Ishbosheth, and Malkishua. He also had two daughters: Merab, who was older, and Michal . The Bible introduces Saul's family. He has three sons and two daughters. Of the two girls Merab is the oldest. 1 Samuel 18:17-19: Then Saul said to David, 'Here is my elder daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife; only be valiant for me and fight the Lord's battles.' For Saul thought, 'I will not raise a hand against him; let the Philistines deal with him.' David said to Saul, Who am I and who are my kinsfolk, my father's family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?' But at the time when Saul's daughter Merab should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife. This section introduces a practice that will become common in the Bible--the use of women as political pawns. In Judges, Caleb had awarded Achsah to Othiel because of his war prowess, but here, Saul wants to give his daughter in marriage not because David is a great warrior, not as a honor, but as a step in political intrigue. During the process, however, something changes and Merah is "redistributed" to Adriel. 1 Samuel 21:8: The king took the two sons of Rizpah daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Merab daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.(them=Gibeonites, see verse 2) Perhaps Merab found happiness with Adriel, the Bible doesn't say, but she did have five sons by him. Yet, once David becomes king of Israel, he takes those sons to hand them over to the Gibeonites. Her sons are impaled and for a time left to hang.
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The author of Hebrews reminds us that without knowledge we perish. During the times between judges and kings, Israel suffered just such a lack of knowledge. Judges 17:1-6: There was a man in the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Micah. He said to his mother, 'The eleven hundred pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you utter a curse, and even spoke it in my hearing, --that silver is in my possession; I took it; but now I will return it to you.' And his mother said, 'may my son be blessed by the LORD!' Then he returned the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother; and his mother said, 'I consecrate the silver to the LORD from my hand for my son, to make an idol of cast metal.' So when he returned the money to his mother, his mother took two hundred pieces of silver, and gave it to the silversmith, who made it into an idol of cast metal; and it was in the house of Micah. Before we look at the message of this story, we may want to consider the 1100 pieces of silver. In Judges 16:5 the Philistines paid Delilah this exact amount to learn Samson's secret. This may mean the amount is symbolic or even provide a link between the two women. Certainly this connections should help us look at these stories as related. While they story has been used to support the tendency of women towards false doctrines, I believe its message lies elsewhere. Micah's mother did not intend to disobey God, in fact, we see just the opposite. She believed creating an idol would be serving God. We learn in later verses that even others Israelites believed this idol to be godly. Today we rarely create actual idols, but we do make idols of things in our lives. Too often we believe we are serving the Lord, when we have really only created an idol that displeases the Lord. A few years ago I spoke with a young man suffering depression and battling occultism. He had only recently come to the Lord and still bore the tattoo reminders of his occult life. Seeking support and reassurance from Christians he visited a popular local church. Within minutes he was asked to leave because his tattoos had offended church members. Whether these people realized it or not, they had created a silver idol. Keeping the church service clean and presentable did not serve the God who died on a cross for this young man. Providing the final push to a suicide attempt certainly did not serve the God of Love. Yet, their silver idol-the church-remained pure and "consecrated to the Lord", and many outsiders would have been impressed with just how godly their idol seemed.
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2 Chronicles 13:1-2: In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah. He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Micaiah daughter of Uriel of Gibeath This passage gives a slightly different variation than the account in chapter 11 verse 22. Here, Abijah is the grandson of Uriel, not Absolam.
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Michal is one of the more interesting women of the Bible. In fact, after Leah she's my favorite biblical person. She has been criticized and reviled by commentators, readers and movie writers; yet the Bible itself withholds criticism. In fact the author of Samuel's refusal to judge may reveal some sympathy for Michal. 1 Samuel 14:50: Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was Merab , and the name of the younger, Michal. This simple verse gives us information that will prover very important: Michal is King Saul's daughter and Jonathan's sister. By 1 Samuel 18:17 Saul decides to give his (older) daughter Merab to David to be his wife. However, the Bible then says, But at the time when Saul's daughter Merab should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife(vs 19.) Obviously, Saul sees his daughters more as political pawns then people. However, he is unaware that part of David's motive in defeating Goliath in chapter 17 was marriage to the king's daughter . Saul may have believed the idea was his own, but in reality he merely followed David's plan. 1 Samuel 18:20: Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David. Saul was told, and the thing pleased him. Michal loved David and Saul decided to use that love to his advantage. As we'll learn, the Bible never tells us Michal's love was returned. 1 Samuel 18:21-23: Saul thought, 'Let me give her to him that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.' Therefore Saul said to David a second time, 'You shall be my son-in-law.' Saul commanded his servants, 'Speak to David in private and say, "See, the king is delighted with you, and all his servants love you; now then, become the king's son-in-law.'"' So Saul's servants reported these words to David in private. And David said, 'Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and of no repute?' The servants of Saul told him, 'This is what David said.' Notice the concerns of Saul, the servants and David. Repeatedly, their concerns revolve around being the king's son-in-law. Nothing about Michal. No words of concern about being her husband. The marriage itself play no role in the events, only the relationship between David and Saul. 1 Samuel 18:25-27: Then Saul said, 'Thus shall you say to David, "The king desires no marriage present except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged on the king's enemies."' Now Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. When his servants told David these words, David was well pleased to be the king's son-in-law. Before the time had expired, David rose and went, along with his men, and killed one hundred of the Philistines; and David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife. Everyone knows David got the hundred foreskins to marry Michal. Of course, as we've just read everyone is wrong. The Bible specifically states David killed those men "that he might become the king's son-in-law." The relationship David sought and that Saul sought involved two men, not a husband and wife. 1 Samuel 18:28-29: But when Saul realized that the LORD was with David, and that Saul's daughter Michal loved him, Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul was David's enemy from that time forward. Saul's fear of David increased for two reasons: first, God favored David and second, Michal loved David. Saul saw Michal's love for David as a threat. This fear leads Saul to move against David. 1 Samuel 19:11-12: Saul sent messengers to David's house to keep watch over him, planning to kill him in the morning. David's wife Michal told him, 'If you do not save you life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.' So Michal let David down through the window; he fled away and escaped. Most of us know this part of the story. Michal acted with bravery and courage to save her husband. Remember, Saul knows Michal loves her husband. The first person he is going to blame is Michal. But, knowing this, why didn't David take Michal with him? We might say, the travel was too dangerous; but he will travel with his other wives and children. 1 Samuel 19:13-17: Michal took and idol and laid it on the bed; she put a net of goats hair on its head, and covered it with clothes. When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, 'He is sick.' Then Saul sent the messengers to see David for themselves. He said, 'Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.' When the messengers came in, the idol was in the bed, with the covering of goats' hair on its head. Saul said to Michal, 'Why have you deceived me like this, and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?' Michal answered Saul, 'He said to me, 'Let me go; why should I kill you?' Again, Michal displays admirable traits. Unlike Lot and the Levite of Judges, she manages to turn away Saul's men. Quick thinking and fast talking on her part give David time to flee. I am not certain exactly what Saul's reference to bringing David to his bed is supposed to mean. David leaves Michal. Interestingly, while he makes arrangements for his parents safety, no provision is made for Michal. Too, while the Bible records David meeting with Jonathan, no meeting with Michal are recorded. Instead, David meets and marries many other women, has children and seems not to have considered his first wife during this period. 1 Samuel 25:4: Saul had given his daughter Michal, David's wife, to Paltiel son of Laish, who was from Gallim. 2 Samuel 3:12-13: Abner sent messengers to David at Hebron, saying, 'To whom does the land belong? Make you covenant with me, and I will give you my support to bring all Israel over to you.' He said, 'Good; I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: you shall never appear in my presence unless you bring Saul's daughter Michal when you come to see me.' If we look solely at these verses, we might believe David seeks Michal as soon as he returns. However, chapter 2 has made plain that this simply isn't the case. In fact, David had been king for well over seven years before beginning a "long war" with Saul's house. In fact, during this time he has acquired at least 6 children and four wives. Too we can look at what David calls Michal, "Saul's daughter". At this point he doesn't even acknowledge she is his wife. More importantly, David's request violates Hebrew law. Once a women took another husband, her first husband could not take her back. 2 Samuel 3:14: Then David sent messengers to Saul's son Ishbaal, saying, "Give me my wife Michal, to whom I became engaged at the price of one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.' Finally, David labels Michal wife, but he isn't quite truthful. The Bible stated he paid the foreskins to become Saul's son-in-law. Michal wasn't the objective, political power was. 2 Samuel 3:15-16: Ishbaal sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. But her husband went with her, weeping as he walked behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, 'Go back home!' So he went back. After decades, Michal found a man who appears to have cared about her, not her position. Unlike all the other men in her life, Michal's husband does not appear to have been one of the political players. Exactly how long she'd been with him the Bible does not specify, though she was married to Paltiel before David's seven year reign in Hebron. 2 Samuel 6:16: As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. I've often read that Michal problem was that she did worship the Lord properly. Only, its not the Lord Michal despises, its David. That bitterness consumed Michal there is no doubt, but is there more to this? Did she see David's worship as hypocrisy? Her next words suggest she did. 2 Samuel 6:20-22: David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, 'How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' maids, as any vulgar fellow might shamelessly uncover himself!' David said to Michal, 'It was before the LORD, who chose me in place of your father and his household, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD, that I have danced before the LORD. I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in my own eyes; but by the maids of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.' This passage speaks on several levels, not the least of which is the conflict between households. Notice than when David goes to bless "his household" Michal must come out to meet him. She isn't with his household. Instead she is linked with Saul's house. Also there is the matter of a kings behavior. Remember in Hebrew society, nakedness was shameful--thus Noah cursing Canaan. David danced before the Lord....But the Bible doesn't tell us how the Lord felt about David dancing naked in front of all those people. David himself seems to acknowledge his behavior had enticed women in the crowds. Does his worship balance that? I don't know. At first I would say, yes, of course, but then David's own words make me question. He will become more contemptible than this, and will be abased in his own eyes when he commits adultery and murder. 2 Samuel 6:23: And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death. Most often, I have read that this is God's punishment for her spurring David's worship. For three reasons I'm not convinced. First, when God does cause bareness, the Bible comes out and says it. "God closed her womb" being one of its expressions. Second, if we assume Micah was extremely young when she married, say 14, and add the estimated 22 year gap between David leaving and reclaiming her, she was 36 years old. That would be very old to start motherhood in the monarchal period. Finally, she didn't have children with Paltiel. God certainly would not have punished her before the act. Did she abandon David's bed? Did he abandon hers? Or was she just infertile? Or is this a way to abide by the letter of the Law--as long as David didn't have relations with Michal, he hadn't taken her back. No matter our interpretations, we can learn from Michal. We can see that no matter what life offers us, no matter how other Christians treat us, we decide how to respond. Perhaps Michal had a wonderful relationship with the Lord, the Bible doesn't say. If so, I wouldn't expect the bitterness and judgmental attitude she showed. But at the same time, I can learn that just because my heart seeks God, I must still strive to treat God's other children with love and compassion.
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Numbers 31:9: The Israelites took the women of Midian and their little ones captive; and they took all their cattle, their flocks, and all their goods as booty. At first this verse seems very much in keeping with a warrior society. Whether we like it or not, earlier civilizations went to war and took captives as slaves almost all the time. However this time, the Israelites made a mistake in taking captives. God Himself had set them out on this raid to destroy the Midianites because they had been using their women to lead the Israelites to false-gods. In essence, God sent them out to eliminate a source of temptation, so the Israelites brought that temptation home to live with them! Far too often we do the same thing today. How many of us charge into battle to against discord or legalism, only to bring those same things home to our families? Numbers 31:12: Then they brought the captives and the booty and the spoil to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the Israelites, at the camp on the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. Apparently, this warriors did not even realize what they had done. They don't bother to hide or minimize their actions, but boldly present the captives to Moses and the priests. Somehow, I imagine a number of pastors and ministers see the same kind of thing. Number 31:15-18: Moses said to them, 'Have you allowed all the women to live? These women here, on Balaam's advice, made the Israelites act treacherously against the Lord in the affair of Peor, so that the plague came among the congregation of the Lord. Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known a man by sleeping with him. But all the young girls who have not known a man by sleeping with him, keep alive for yourselves. I get the feeling Moses must have rolled his when he saw these men coming. He must have thought, "these women you've just brought home are the same ones who caused the problem. They are the ones who worked for Balaam to lead you away from the Lord. To get your attention the Lord sent a plague---now you bring them home" He goes on to tell them to kill all the children and only allow the young (virgin) women to live (remember the women had used sex to lure the men into idolatry.)
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Genesis 35:17: When she was in hard labor; the midwife said to her, "Do not be afraid; for now you will have another son."
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Genesis 11:29: Abram and Nahor took wives; the name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife was Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and Iscah. Milcah's name means queen, which would have symbolically put her over Sarai ("princess"). But she and her husband Nahbor were not given the promise, even though she presumably was not barren. However, God chose to use the "princess". Genesis 22:20-23: Now after these things it was told Abraham, "Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Uz the first-born, Buz his brother, Kemu'el the father of Aram, 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethu'el." 23 Bethu'el became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother. Genesis 24:15: Before he had finished speaking, there was Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, coming out with her water jar on her shoulder. The line of Milcah also played an important part in the lineage of Israel and of Christ.
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Numbers 26:33: Now Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah , Noah, Hoglah , Milcah, and Tizrah . In chapter 26, the Lord instructed Moses to portion out land according to the tribes. Because the land would be inherited by sons, it would stay with the tribe to which it had been granted. However, Zelophehad "had no sons" to inherit his portion. Numbers 27:1-4: Then the daughters of Zelophehad came forward. Zelophehad was son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh son of Joseph, a member of the Manassite clans. The names of his daughters were: Mahlah , Noah , Hoglah , Milcah, and Tirzah . They stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and all the congregation, a the entrance of the tent of meeting, and they said, 'Our father died in the wilderness; he was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah, but died for his own sin; and he had no sons. Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father's brothers.' These women had the courage to question not only Moses, but God. They realized that without a brother to inherit, their family would not receive a portion of land. They (not a male representative) went before Moses, the priest and the whole congregation to present their case. Their father had not been part of Korah's rebellion; he did not merit the punishment meeted out to the rebels. Numbers 27:5-11: Moses brought their case before the LORD. And the LORD spoke to Moses, say: 'The daughters of Zelophehad are right in what they are saying; you shall indeed let them possess an inheritance among their father's brothers and pass the inheritance of their father on to them. You shall also say to the Israelites, "If a man dies, and has no sons, then you shall pass his inheritance on to his daughters. If he has no daughters, then you shall give his inheritance to the nearest kinsman of his clan, and he shall possess it. It shall be for the Israelites a statute and ordinance, as the LORD commanded Moses."' Often we have been told "never question God", yet these women did question God and were rewarded. God modified His original instructions, to allow the women to inherit. More, no one questioned their right to ask. Moses acted on their request, taking their request before God. He did not tell them they had to be silent. However, this was a tribal society; land was owned by the tribe and portioned out to members. When sons inherited the land, the land remained with the tribe. If a woman inherited, then married, the land would leave the tribe. Numbers 36:1-4: The heads of the ancestral houses of the clans of the descendants of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh, of the Josephite clans, came forward and spoke in the presence of Moses and the leaders, the heads of the ancestral houses of the Israelites; they said, 'The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for inheritance by lot to the Israelites; and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters. But if they are married into another Israelite tribe, then the inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of our ancestors and added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry; so it will be taken away from the allotted portion of our inheritance. And when the jubilee of the Israelites comes, then their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they have married; and their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of our ancestral tribe.' The men of the tribe wanted the land to stay in their tribe and not become the inheritance of another. They approached Moses and the assembled congregation with a great deal more formality than when the women brought their case. Number 36:5-9: Then Moses commanded the Israelites according to the word of the LORD, saying, 'The descendants of the tribe of Joseph are right in what they are saying. This is what the LORD commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad. Let them marry whom they think best; only it must be into a clan of their father's tribe that they are married, so that no inheritance of the Israelites shall be transferred from one tribe to another; for all Israelites shall retain the inheritance of their ancestral tribes. Every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the Israelites shall marry one from the clan of her father's tribe, so that all Israelites may continue to possess their ancestral inheritance. No inheritance shall be transferred from one tribe to another; for each of the tribes of the Israelites shall retain its own inheritance. Again the Lord (through Moses) adjusted His command to meet the reality of Israelite society. To prevent the inheritance being shifted into another tribe, women inheritors would be required to marry within their clan. Most woman would have married within the clan anyway, as most marriages are endogamous. With this restriction, however, is the indication that women could marry whoever they choose. Number 36:10-12: The daughters of Zelophehad did as the LORD had commanded Moses. Mahlah , Tirzah , Hoglah , Milcah, and Noah , daughters of Zelophehad, married sons of their father's brothers. They were married into the clans of the descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of their father's clan.
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Miriam is first introduced by name in Exodus 15, however she may well be the sister mentioned in chapter 2. Exodus 15:20-21: Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. And Miriam sang to them: 'Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.' Often overlooked, praise is very important. When God acts in our lives we need to be quick to praise Him for what He had done...and we shouldn't wait for His work to be finished before we start. Miriam took up her tambourine before God finished delivering the children of Israel. They still had a desert to traverse and 40 long years to go before they reached the Promised land. We don't have to wait till we reached the promise before we start to praise, we can glorify the Lord each step of the way. That praise not only lifts up the Lord, but it reminds us that He is acting in our lives and edifies us, building our faith so that we can praise even more. Numbers 12:1-3: While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had indeed married a Cushite woman); and they said, 'Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?' And the Lord heard it. Now the man Moses was very humble, more so than anyone else on the face of the earth. Miriam and Aaron make a mistake here, that far too many of us make today in the church. They had truth, but missed the Truth. God had specifically told the Israelites to say away from the Midianites (Cush was part of the Midianite area), because of the Midianites might tempted the Israelites to false gods. And Moses was married not only to a Midianite, but a Midianite whose father was a priest of one of those other faiths. Miriam and Aaron spoke the truth, but they were not speaking the Truth. The Truth was God saw Moses as meek and as having His favor. Sadly, we do the same thing today. We look at other children of the Lord and speak against what we see in them. Sometimes we may have a Scripture or a teaching that proves just how wrong that person is. That minister is ungodly because, that sister doesn't know her place because, that church just isn't of God because, that denomination is wrong because.......each time we say such a thing, there may be truth in our words, but do we stop to ask God what He thinks? Sometimes He will have us offer correction and instruction, but that will always be done in love and compassion with the ultimate goal of elevating our brethren. When our goal is to elevate ourselves, we make the same mistake Miriam and Aaron made. This passage contains a few disputed translations. Imtraud Fischer has pointed out that the word translated "they" here in Hebrew is the third person feminine-"she". Fischer also pointed out that the clearest translation would have Miriam and Aaron speaking "to" Moses, not "against" or "about" him ("The Authority of Miriam: A Feminist Rereading of Numbers 12 Prompted by Jewish Interpretation" in Exodus to Deuteronomy: A Feminist Companion to the Bible edited by Athalya Brenner.) Numbers 12:4-9: Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, 'Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.' So the three of them came out. Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the entrance of the tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forward. And he said, 'Hear my words: When there are prophets among you, I the Lord make myself known to them in visions; I speak to them in dreams. Not so with my servant Moses; he is entrusted with all my house. With him I speak face to face clearly, not in riddles; and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?' And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed. The Lord knows when we criticize and snip at each other. No matter our position in the church, we have to remember that all of God's children are special to Him. In fact, today, we can be even closer to God than Moses was, the one who stood face to face with the Lord. Our God now lives inside of us, for we are the temple of the Holy Ghost. How then can we not be afraid to speak against another of God's servants, His child? If we do so, we may very anger the Lord and cause Him to depart from us. Numbers 12:10: When the cloud went away from over the tent, Miriam had become leprous, as white as snow. And Aaron turned towards Miriam and saw that she was leprous. Many times, I have read that God punished Miriam by making her leprous. But read the verse again. God was angry and left-the cloud went away, and Miriam was leprous. Now where are we told God make Miriam leprous or even that God punished Miriam with leprosy. God went away. There is protection under the shadow of the Lord's wing, but when we leave that protection or by our actions cause the Lord to withdraw we loose that protection. Anyone who may doubt exactly what the punishment was, might note what Aaron says next. Numbers 12:11: Then Aaron said to Moses, 'Oh, my lord, do not punish us for a sin that we have so foolishly committed.' The punishment given was on "us", both Aaron and Miriam. God had departed from them both, only the result of that departing did not manifest in Aaron as leprosy. Some have speculated that God protected Aaron from leprosy because he was a priest. Perhaps. Or perhaps outside of God's shadow Miriam would have naturally been susceptible to leprosy while Adam was not. Perhaps hat departing shadow would have affected him in another form. Numbers 12:12: 'Do not let her be like one stillborn, whose flesh is half consumed when it comes out of its mother's womb.'And Moses cried to the Lord, 'O God, please heal her.' Miriam's brothers ask that she be healed. They do not ask that God remove his punishment from her. If, in fact, it was God's leaving that was the punishment the next verse makes a great deal of sense. Numbers 12:13-15: But the Lord said to Moses, 'If her father had but spit in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days? Let her be shut out of the camp for seven days, and after that she may be brought in again.'So Miriam was shut out of the camp for seven days; and the people did not set out on the march until Miriam had been brought in again. Finally, this verse provides a good confirmation of God's punishment. We can either assume that God fibs, or we can accept that Miriam's punishment truly was light. God doesn't reject Miriam and Aaron completely. He hasn't left them forever. Her punishment lasts only seven days. For seven days she is outside the camp (lepers were confined to the outer-reaches). Now, go back and read these verses again. Notice exactly what the Bible tells us and what it does not. I have, unfortunately, read and heard lessons that indicated Miriam was punished for usurping male authority, that her sin was daring to act as a leader among the Israelites. When we read the Biblical story, such simply is not the case. First, the Bible tells us, God had spoken through Moses, Aaron AND Miriam-"Has he not spoken through us also?" One cannot "usurp" authority that one has been given. Second, God didn't get angry because a woman assumed authority, but because a man and a woman spoke against His special chosen one. "'Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?' And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed." Third, and finally, God didn't just punish the woman, but the man and he woman. "Oh, my lord, do not punish us for a sin that we have so foolishly committed." To decide Miriam rebelled against her place in the Lord's plan misses the point--Miriam and Aaron judged one of the Lord's children. Numbers 20:1: The Israelites, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died there, and was buried there. Numbers 26:59: The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and she bore to Amram: Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam. Deuteronomy 24:8-9: Guard against an outbreak of a leprous skin disease by being very careful; you shall carefully observe whatever the levitical priests instruct you, just as I have commanded them. Remember what the Lord your God did to Miriam on your journey out of Egypt. This verse can be read in two ways, depending on point of view. Now, we can either remember that Miriam got leprosy because she criticized Moses, or we can remember that God left when Miriam disobeyed and that God was merciful and restored Miriam after seven days. 1 Chronicles 6:3: The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Micah 6:4: For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. The Bible proudly proclaims that Miriam was a leader of the children of Israel. While we may look at Miriam's error in criticizing Moses, and decide her actions "prove" women shouldn't lead, the Holy Spirit inspired Micah to proclaim her leadership .This reminds us that God's people had three leaders: Moses, Aaron and Miriam. While we may have problems with women leaders, God didn't. Finally, in all of the verses about Miriam, one piece of information remains incomplete. Was she married or not? The Bible doesn't tell us, one way or another. For many of us, especially many of us single ladies, our marriage status tends to define who we are. When we're single we tend to "wait till we get married" to start really "living". The Holy Spirit didn't bother to tell us one way or the other--was Miriam married or not? Was she a mother or not? Instead, the Word describes a woman's life of mistakes, faith, and service; just as it describes the lives of the Lord's men.
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Numbers 25:1-2: While Israel was staying at Shittim, the people began to have sexual relations with the women of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.' The Israel slid down a slippery slope that faces many of us today, particularly those of us who are single. Many times we think to ourselves that sexual sin isn't really so bad--at least we think that when trying to convince what we're going to do is OK. But it is really that bad. Once we step on the path of sin we edge ourselves away from God, and begin accepting false gods in our lives.
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We meet Moses' sister in Exodus chapter 2. Most of us assume this sister is Miriam, who "leads" (Micah 6:4) Israel with Moses and Aaron. However, this is an assumption which the Bible does not specifically address. I like to be untraditional, so I"m going to assume she isn't the same sister. In the beginning of Exodus chapter 2 we read of a Levite women giving birth to a son. In Ex. 1:22 we learn that Pharaoh "commanded all his people, 'Every boy that is born to the Hebrew you shall throw into the Nile, but you shall let every girl live.'" The Levite woman puts the newborn in a reed basket and puts him adrift in the Nile. Exodus 2:4-8 begins: His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him. We don't know the girl's age, though we know she had not reached womanhood. Yet, we see a young person of courage and quick-thinking. From what the Word says, we see that this sister remained steadfast, watching to see what would happen to her brother. Far too many times, I have given up when faced with a problem. I've "done my part" then turned away. This sister waited to see what would happen, then grasped the opportunity presented to her. When she saw the Pharaoh's daughter with the baby, she took the initiative. She bravely approached Pharaoh's daughter , and offered a solution.
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Matthew 20:20-23: Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of Him. And he said to her, 'What do you want?' She said to Him, "Declare that these two sons of mine will be sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.' But Jesus answered, 'You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?' They said to him, 'We are able.' He said to them, 'You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.' This mother approached Jesus with a request. Apparently, Jesus treated women in a way that allowed such an approach. Often this story is seen as an inappropriate request, related to hubris and arrogance. Jesus, however, did not correct this mother. Instead, He asked if they would "drink the cup that I am about to drink". Interesting, Jesus did not ask, "will your sons drink". They answered that they are "able" to do so. Jesus affirmed that declaration, but explained that only the Father could make such a decision. Again, Jesus did not correct or chastise this mother for her request. In fact, this woman's faith was so strong she followed Jesus even to Calvary. Matthew 27:55-56: Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.    "The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A, and are used by permission. All rights reserved."  Cybergrace.com Christian Banner Exchange |
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