Women in the Old testament

Starting today and for the next 40 days for Lent I will post only those things dear to my soul as I study the scriptures or listen to conference talks and devotionals. 

 

Impressions from what I read about women in the Old Testament 

 

(The backstory) Abraham is kind to his nephew Lot and his family and wants to get them out of Sodom but they insisted in living there. Lot finally could get his wife and daughters out however; lot’s wife wanted to go back and some scholars suggest that she went back

In some Jewish tradition, Lot’s wife was named Edith. She was a native of Sodom and that is where she wanted to remain. Was she really turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back? That is debatable because it could have been interpreted as a metaphor of turning back to Sodom only to be destroyed to become a pillar of salt. 

 

One thing that I love about Joseph Smith Translation is how he explains some troubling things found in the Bible like Genesis 19:8 What it should have said was If you take these men is the same as if you took my two daughters who have not known man.” He was being sarcastic! 

 

Sarah: Abraham's wife is an example of how God keeps his promises: After telling Abraham she would bear a son, despite being barren, Sarah gave birth to Isaac at 90 years old.

Hagar: was an Egyptian woman and handmade to Sarah and when Sarah could not have children she gave Hagar to her husband. Hagar did conceive and bore a son, Ismael. Pride got the best of Hagar making Sarah feel bad she was infertile. Finally, Sarah had Isaac and Hagar’s son Ismael bullied Isaac. When Sarah saw that, is when she asked them both to leave. In the end, though, an angel of the Lord met Hagar in the desert and blessed her and her son Ishmael.” I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.”  Hagar is the classic example that God will listen to your pleas and knows your name, no matter how insignificant you think you are. 

 

Kuturah, Abraham’s third wife gave him six additional sons but not much is known about her. 

 

(Backstory) Abraham sent his eldest servant to find a wife for Isaac. Just outside the city of Nahor, this servant stopped at a well with his 10 camels and prayed that the woman he was meant to find would fetch him and his camels water. Before he finished praying, Rebekah came to the well. The servant asked her for water, “And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink” She then ran back to the well to draw water for his camels. 

Rebekah: what I love about Rebekah is that she was beautiful from the inside as well as the outside. She was kind. Camels drink like 30 gallons of water and she gave all 10 camels to drink. That was a lot of water!  She was a hard worker too. That is how I picture Rebekah. A hard worker and kind woman who was willing to go be Isaac’s wife. She was also a wise woman, and knew the from a revelation she received that her son Jacob should be blessed with the birthright and not his oldest twin brother Esau. She had that women’s intuition and Isaac knew in his heart she was right. I love that! 

I love getting to know those covenant- keeping strong amazing women! 

Con amor,

Vero