missio

Another week, another study in the women of Genesis. Here’s the quick rundown, with some articles and resources.

Notes

• Should/can women work outside of the home? Absolutely. Rachel does it here. The Proverbs 31 woman does it as well.  But ladies should also have the option to stay at home if they wish. And homemaking/childrearing should be their first priority.
• What are some of the Leahs of our culture: things that we have to marry along with our lovely bride. Some off the top of my head: previous debt, in-laws, bad characteristics of one another.
• Even though Leah is outcast because of her appearance, God still loves her. And to make Jacob love her as well, the Lord gives her children, and not Rachel. God is not showing favorites here by doing this, He is showing justice.
• Rachel and Leah, because of a battle of pride, not of children, bring their husband and indeed themselves deep into sin, just as their forefathers have done.
• Rachel and Leah follow their inheritance. We should too: our spiritual inheritance. Ephesians 1:11-14.

Resources

• Dirty Dish Online
• Should Women Work Outside the Home?
• The Seven Priorities of a Godly Woman by John MacArthur

Next Week?

• The Rape of Dinah. It should be interesting, to say the least.

Today we discussed Rebekah and the lessons of her life that we can glean and learn from. Here’s some notes, and at the end, resources leading you into being a woman both like Rebekah, and not like her. Take what is good from her life, redeem what is bad. She makes mistakes, like all of us: the key is to learn from them and not make the same ones she did.

Notes

• Dating is a very important process for Christians: it helps you find the person with whom you are to show the world Christ.
• Dating is a very intense process: requiring the man treating the woman right (duh), proving he can provide for her, and lavishing her family with gifts .
• Rebekah has a priest that can intercede for her to the Father: Isaac. We have a priest that intercedes for us: Christ.
• Rebekah does not treat her children equally, but shows favoritism. This bites her later on.
• Rebekah does not love her neighbor, but despises them, leading her deeper into sin.
• When we deceive the priest, it is not a good thing at all: it only results from a love of self, not a selfless love.
• Rebekah’s treatment of her priest, Isaac, is the same treatment we give to our priest, Jesus. Not cool.

Resources

Women’s Resources: Women of Genesis: Eve

Commentary on Genesis: Calvin’s Commentary on Genesis

The Bible on Women Today: Is the Biblical View on Women Applicable In Today’s Culture?

Getting Serious: Being in a Committed Relationship

Books on Dating (*Recommended)

• *Dating and Waiting
• Boundaries in Dating
• How to Get A Date Worth Keeping
• *God’s Design for Dating
• *I Gave Dating a Chance

Today we discussed Sarah and her role in the foundation of God’s people, through whom would come Christ. Here’s some notes, and at the end, resources leading you into being a woman both like Sarah, and not like her. Take what is good from her life, redeem what is bad. She makes mistakes, like all of us: the key is to learn from them and not make the same ones she did.

Notes

• Leaving Ur was no small feat for Sarai and Abraham: they left family, property, comfort, financial stability, and friends all because Abram had “heard from God”. Did Sarai have faith? Yep.
• When Abram whored Sarai out,  Sarai had a responsibility: first to Christ/God. Yes, women, you should submit to your husbands, but at the same time, you have to keep them in submission to Christ. Guys: don’t whore your wives out. Not a good idea.
• After Sarai has waited for a while (20+years), she decides to take matters into her own hands.  How often do we do this? We try to save ourselves via success in the business world, being “good a Christian”, etc. But the bottom line is this: our attempts at salvation only make things worse. It’s a good thing that our Christ is gracious.
• When the visitors show up, Abraham and Sarah are very hospitable: killing a cow on the spot. That’s hospitality: being gracious and polite to people not like you. How many relationships do you have with people not like you? How many sinners that are still deep in their sin do you know? How close is your relationship with the holy God of the universe, Jesus Christ?
• When Sarah laughs at Jesus, it’s a much deeper problem than simply laughing at the idea of having a kid at 90. It’s laughing at the very Word of God, and indeed at God Himself. She has been hearing for 25 years that God will come through, but she still doesn’t believe it/like it/accept it. How many times do we do this? How many times do we laugh at the Word of God, even after we’ve ‘accepted it as true’? How many times do we laugh in God’s face, daring Him to do something about it? Not cool. Not cool at all.
  
• All in all, Abraham’s role in Genesis 21-22 is a shadow of the Father’s role in the story of redemption. Sarah’s role is the shadow of the virgin Mary. And Isaac’s role is, of course, the shadow of Christ. All Scripture shadows Christ. Period.

Resources

Check out the list of resources specifically for women here: Women of Genesis: Eve

Check out the commentary I primarily use for Genesis here: John Calvin’s Commentary on Genesis 

If you have any questions, comments, etc, please feel free to comment on this post!