Today's Passage: Genesis 25, NIV
What ladies can learn: A lot happens in this passage. Abraham takes a new wife, and they have lots of kids. We see Hagar mentioned again, and hear about Ishmael's kids. Issac prays for Rebekah and she has kids.
I want you to notice two things in this chapter. First, notice that God sees childbearing as a blessing. God rules the world. God wants us to take care of the world. And He still sees childbearing as a blessing! Our culture gives us so many reasons to limit the number of kids in every family, but that's not something that's really our decision--it's God's. So, if/when you get married, don't see having kids as a burden--see it as a blessing.
The other thing I want you to notice is that Issac prayed for Rebekah to have children. No doubt they were both discouraged while Rebekah was barren, but I would guess that Rebekah was the more discouraged. Nevertheless, Issac didn't say "Women are the ones who get pregnant, so it's your job to pray and un-barren yourself." No! Issac prayed for Rebekah. They shared the trial, and they shared the blessings.
Highlighted characteristic of God: God knows everyone's name. That may seem trivial, but think about it: the Creator of the universe, who created galaxies and worlds with little effort, and who has billions of people in His care, takes the time to know your name and care about you. Wow! That makes me think of Psalms 8:3-4, NCV: "I look at your heavens, which you made with your fingers. I see the moon and stars, which you created. But why are people even important to you? Why do you take care of human beings?"
In two words: God cares.
Highlighted characteristic for us: Have faith! God answers prayer. Issac and Rebekah prayed for God to give them a child, and He gave them two. What has God placed on your heart to pray for?
In three words: Pray and believe.
Showing posts with label childbearing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label childbearing. Show all posts
Friday, May 14, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
READY: April 20, 2010
Today's Passage: Genesis 1, NIV, courtesy of BibleGateway.com
What ladies can learn: Okay, I know--we read Genesis 2 first and then Genesis 1. There's a reason that we read the chapters out of order: Genesis 2 details the creation of woman, while Genesis 1 tells about God's first command for Eve (and ladies in general). So, technically, we're going in chronological order.
So, what is the first command recorded in the Bible? Verse 28: "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'" (emphasis mine)
This is a command given to both man and woman. As we learned yesterday, woman's job is to help man. Now we know specifically what man needs help with: increasing in number, filling the earth, subduing the earth, and ruling over the creatures of the earth.
There's a lot of ground to cover here, but I'm going to try to do it simply and briefly.
First, God gave this command to both man and woman. Eve's role in filling this command was just as important and necessary as Adam's role. As we saw before, however, Adam was to be the leader in deciding how to carry out this command, while Eve might help with anything from suggesting things to helping carry out the plan.
Second, God gave the task of "filling the earth" to both man and woman. It's not the woman's job to raise a child--it's both parents' jobs. In fact, the husband, as the head of the family, once again, has the important position of "leader" in this area.
Third, women help men rule. Men can't "subdue the earth" by themselves. They need their wives' help. The role of the wife, remember, is that of a necessary, indispensable helper, but not a primary conqueror.
Finally, let me clarify that in all these areas, men are to be as involved as women. It's not man's job to sit around on the couch planning things as a leader, and it's not woman's job to slave around doing whatever her husband tells her to. The best leaders are active! The best leaders participate in carrying out their plans just as much as the followers participate in carrying out the plans.
Highlighted characteristic of God: God has awesome, amazing power beyond our comprehension.
In two words: God created.
Highlighted characteristic for us: We are living in a beautiful world that God shaped with His own hands. Let's savor every minute of our time here.
In three words: Notice God's creation.
What ladies can learn: Okay, I know--we read Genesis 2 first and then Genesis 1. There's a reason that we read the chapters out of order: Genesis 2 details the creation of woman, while Genesis 1 tells about God's first command for Eve (and ladies in general). So, technically, we're going in chronological order.
So, what is the first command recorded in the Bible? Verse 28: "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'" (emphasis mine)
This is a command given to both man and woman. As we learned yesterday, woman's job is to help man. Now we know specifically what man needs help with: increasing in number, filling the earth, subduing the earth, and ruling over the creatures of the earth.
There's a lot of ground to cover here, but I'm going to try to do it simply and briefly.
First, God gave this command to both man and woman. Eve's role in filling this command was just as important and necessary as Adam's role. As we saw before, however, Adam was to be the leader in deciding how to carry out this command, while Eve might help with anything from suggesting things to helping carry out the plan.
Second, God gave the task of "filling the earth" to both man and woman. It's not the woman's job to raise a child--it's both parents' jobs. In fact, the husband, as the head of the family, once again, has the important position of "leader" in this area.
Third, women help men rule. Men can't "subdue the earth" by themselves. They need their wives' help. The role of the wife, remember, is that of a necessary, indispensable helper, but not a primary conqueror.
Finally, let me clarify that in all these areas, men are to be as involved as women. It's not man's job to sit around on the couch planning things as a leader, and it's not woman's job to slave around doing whatever her husband tells her to. The best leaders are active! The best leaders participate in carrying out their plans just as much as the followers participate in carrying out the plans.
Highlighted characteristic of God: God has awesome, amazing power beyond our comprehension.
In two words: God created.
Highlighted characteristic for us: We are living in a beautiful world that God shaped with His own hands. Let's savor every minute of our time here.
In three words: Notice God's creation.
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