Everything in the bible, was written for a purpose. I like to read about the women of the bible, but do the lives of those women have anything to do with me? They lived countless centuries before I was born and in very different cultures. Let's see how different or similar they are. How am I like Eve and Sarah?

EVE
Eve was the first woman. She was created by God to be the perfect helper for the first man, Adam. She lived in a garden. She and Adam had jobs to do but work in the garden was easy. Eve didn't have to worry about putting food on the table. There were many trees and plants in the garden and only one tree from which she was not to pick the fruit. She didn't have to worry about what she would wear - they were naked and were not ashamed. (Genesis 2:25)

Even in her perfect life, Eve became discontent. She listened to the serpent, Satan, and she began to doubt.

"That forbidden fruit looks good to eat."
"Is that what God really said? Is that what God really meant?"
"You can make your life better if you do this one little disobedient thing."
"God must not want your life to be better if he made that rule."

Eve ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband.

Repercussions: Sin and death entered the world. Shame, blame, painful child birth, and hard work became a part of life. No more perfect garden life.
Grace - God performed the first sacrifice to cover her sin. He gave her the first promise of the Savior.

SARAH

Sarah's life was more difficult but God had blessed her. Her husband was a man of great faith. He was a good provider. They had plenty of livestock and she had servants to help her.

Sarah had been faithful for her entire life. Now she was very old and had no children. This was an embarrassing state to be in as well as heart-breaking. God had promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. Where were these children?

In her disheartened state, Sarah blamed God for keeping her from having children. Instead of continuing to wait for God to fulfill the promise, she decided to take matters into her own hands by encouraging her husband to conceive a child with her maid servant. (Genesis 16:1-6)

In her human understanding, Sarah believed that it was impossible for God to give her a natural child at her advanced age. She thought she had to do something to cause God's promise to be fulfilled.

Repercussions - The pregnant maid servant caused trouble in Sarah's home. The child of the maid servant, Ishmael, fathered a nation that began a perpetual war with Israel.
Grace - Sarah gave birth to her own child, Isaac, when she was ninety years old.

How am I like Eve and Sarah?


• They were both unhappy with their place in life.
  Am I content with the life in which God placed me and with what he has given me?
  
  
• They questioned God's word.
  Do I believe that God's word, every word, is true?
  
  
• They took matters into their own hands.
  Do I make judgment calls about which laws to obey?
  
  
• They trusted their human perspective.
  Do I believe that God can do what seems impossible?
  
  
• In every circumstance, do I trust that God always has my best interests in mind?
  
  
• Do I trust that God's timing is perfect - even when it takes a long time?
  
  
• They encouraged their husbands to sin.
  The hardest question:
  I am put here to be my husband's helper and encourager - my child's - my friend's - my neighbor's.
  Do I encourage them to be faithful to God's word or do I invite them to join me in my rebellion when I sin?

A few bible verses for encouragement:
1 Corinthians 10:13
2 Corinthians 9:8
Romans 8:28
Proverbs 30:5

A Walk With the Women of the Bible EBook by Lynne Chapman Join me in getting to know many of the other amazing women of the Bible while we extract valuable insights and lessons from their lives. Now available for Kindle under new title A Walk With EVE Also available in paperback from Cafe Press.

Names of God Ebook Almighty God. The Creator of heaven and earth. Our God is given names in Scripture that describe the characteristics of His personality. Experience God through the names given Him in Scripture.