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Let us look at examples of virtuous women in the bible and women throughout history! The virtuous or woman of valor NEVER fails. She doesn't play for four quarters or nine innings, she plays until she wins! This is an open book test. You can play in "God mode" every single time. Do what He does, act like He acts and you will have the results He has! New! Mary or Martha syndrome? Here's a freeing page dedicated to the woman who just isn't sure where she belongs in God's scheme of things. Sarah (Supernatural faith): In the book of Hebrews we hear the stories of the righteous ones who walk by faith and thereby please God. Sarah was a very old woman when she had Isaac. In the beginning she didn't believe that she would be able to conceive and bare a son. After a visit from God she realized she was walking in unbelief and repented. She had to receive spiritual strength; first to believe, secondly to conceive. Sarah would also have to follow her husband who had a plan from God. He would leave their home, their family and follow the instructions of God. Women today are required to do the same. By studying Sarah's life we can obtain faith to do as she did. Sarah had a normal husband. He did silly things, he did stupid things, he did mean things, but in his heart he loved God. Sarah's faith was in God so she was able to withstand the mistakes her husband made and continue to walk in love and faith towards her man of God. She didn't try to sidestep his authority or his position. She wasn't afraid to allow him to lead. She understood the power of submission and walked in it. Sarah made her mistakes too, but ultimately it was her trust in God that saw her through it all. Hebrews 11:11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Rachel (Patience and love at work): This woman was loved by a man. She was so loved by a man that both of them were willing to bear some things which seemed unbearable in order to be together. Rachel makes me think of patient trust. She was patient and trusted God while she waited for what her heart desired. You can read about her in Genesis 29. I will relate her story to you in my own words.
Ruth (Faithfulness and loyalty): Ruth was a virtuous woman who would face some really hard times. She would lose her husband and face poverty, but her willingness to forsake her pagan ways and faithfully follow her mother-in-law Naomi would pay off. Ruth would listen to the instructions of an older virtuous woman and in so doing was able to marry a relative of Naomi's, Boaz. Boaz was a wealthy farmer and he became Ruth's kinsman redeemer. (Boaz is a picture of Yeshua.) Ruth has an entire book written about her. Esther (Sacrificial giving): Esther was born into slavery. Her faith was practiced in secrecy and she would have to suffer many things at the hands of her owners. Her life is a picture that even in the midst of pure hell, God is faithful to protect and provide for his children. She too has an entire book written about her. If you have access to the apocrypha you can read more about her. Mary, the mother of Yeshua (Obedience): Mary was willing to sacrifice her reputation and her very life to submit to God's will. In her day a woman who became pregnant while betrothed could be stoned. Her betrothed, Joseph knew she hadn't been with him so the baby was "illegitimate". He was a "tsaddik" a righteous man, so in his compassion he would quietly divorce her. Mary would become a pariah. Mary surely had to have faith in God to go through with His will. Sometimes we are called to do things that are dangerous to life and limb for the gospel's sake. Mary is a good example of what obedience will yield. Luke 1:26-38 Mary & Martha (Grace & Works): These sisters are in the newer covenant and are a picture of choices women can make. Mary sat at the feet of Yeshua while Martha toiled doing works. There is a place for works, but hearing God's voice to do what he says is the more profitable choice. While we walk by grace, we are told in James that without works our faith is dead. Our walk as virtuous women should be a combination of grace (God's unmerited favor) and mitvot (good works). When we're told to love our neighbors that means when we know they are hungry, we feed them. Martha just allowed her works to be tainted by worry and troubling thoughts. The L-rd was able to provide food by multiplying the tiniest lunch. He could surely feed the "few" in Martha's home. She should have rested in God and enjoyed the time with the L-rd. Luke 10:38-42 Deborah (Righteous judgment and submission to God): Like Esther, Deborah was called to do a special job at a special time. I believe her doing the job of a man was a judgment of the people at the time. They wouldn't submit to the Father so he insulted them by putting them under the authority of a woman and was called a mother in Israel. Deborah was a prophetess who would declare the vision and voice of God. She was surrounded by frightened men, even Barak (a fellow judge) cowered and would only go out to battle if Deborah lead the way. Her judgment was one that brought shame, perhaps the men would rise up and be men and not mice? Deborah is a great picture of submission. She never went beyond her job at the time. Her goal was to stir the men to be men. Yeshua was submitted to the Father. He didn't go around telling men what to do, but directing them to God. The only time you see him act out as judge was in the temple. He cleared the tables of money and chased the moneychangers out of the temple. He encouraged men to repent, to turn back to God, to forsake sin, but he didn't spend his time trying to take over the world or usurp the authority of those in charge. Judges 4:4-10 The song of Deborah and Barak: 5:1 Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying: 2 "When leaders lead in Israel, When the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the LORD! 3 "Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I, even I, will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel. 4 "LORD, when You went out from Seir, When You marched from the field of Edom, The earth trembled and the heavens poured, The clouds also poured water; 5 The mountains gushed before the LORD, This Sinai, before the LORD God of Israel. 6 "In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, In the days of Jael, The highways were deserted, And the travelers walked along the byways. 7 Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, Arose a mother in Israel. 8 They chose new Gods; Then there was war in the gates; Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel. 9 My heart is with the rulers of Israel Who offered themselves willingly with the people. Bless the LORD! 10 "Speak, you who ride on white donkeys, Who sit in judges' attire, And who walk along the road. 11 Far from the noise of the archers, among the watering places, There they shall recount the righteous acts of the LORD, The righteous acts for His villagers in Israel; Then the people of the LORD shall go down to the gates. 12 "Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and lead your captives away, O son of Abinoam! 13 "Then the survivors came down, the people against the nobles; The LORD came down for me against the mighty. 14 From Ephraim were those whose roots were in Amalek. After you, Benjamin, with your peoples, From Machir rulers came down, And from Zebulun those who bear the recruiter's staff. 15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As Issachar, so was Barak Sent into the valley under his command; Among the divisions of Reuben There were great resolves of heart. 16 Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? The divisions of Reuben have great searchings of heart. 17 Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan, And why did Dan remain on ships? Asher continued at the seashore, And stayed by his inlets. 18 Zebulun is a people who jeopardized their lives to the point of death, Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield. 19 "The kings came and fought, Then the kings of Canaan fought In Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; They took no spoils of silver. 20 They fought from the heavens; The stars from their courses fought against Sisera. 21 The torrent of Kishon swept them away, That ancient torrent, the torrent of Kishon. O my soul, march on in strength! 22 Then the horses' hooves pounded, The galloping, galloping of his steeds. 23'Curse Meroz,' said the angel of the LORD, 'Curse its inhabitants bitterly, Because they did not come to the help of the LORD, To the help of the LORD against the mighty.' 24 "Most blessed among women is Jael, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Blessed is she among women in tents. 25 He asked for water, she gave milk; She brought out cream in a lordly bowl. 26 She stretched her hand to the tent peg, Her right hand to the workmen's hammer; She pounded Sisera, she pierced his head, She split and struck through his temple. 27 At her feet he sank, he fell, he lay still; At her feet he sank, he fell; Where he sank, there he fell dead. 28 "The mother of Sisera looked through the window, And cried out through the lattice, 'Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarries the clatter of his chariots?' 29 Her wisest ladies answered her, Yes, she answered herself, 30'Are they not finding and dividing the spoil: To every man a girl or two; For Sisera, plunder of dyed garments, Plunder of garments embroidered and dyed, Two pieces of dyed embroidery for the neck of the looter?' 31 "Thus let all Your enemies perish, O LORD! But let those who love Him be like the sun When it comes out in full strength."
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