Genesis 16:6
“But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.”
 
She.
She was the handmaid of Sarai.
 
Genesis 16:1
“Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.”
 
She fled from the face of Sarai, the wife of Abram the father of her son.
Sarai had told her husband to go in unto her, and then delivered her unto him.
 
Genesis 16:3-4
“And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.”
 
Hagar.
She obeyed the command of her mistress, and then afterwards was dealt hardly by her.
 
She fled, but was met by the angel of the Lord at a fountain in the wilderness. The angel persuaded her to return to Sarai for the birth of her son.
 
Genesis 16:11-12
“And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”
 
She returned to give birth to Ishmael.
 
Genesis 16:15-16
“And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael. And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.”
 
Hagar serves as an example that we cannot avoid the consequences of our sin. Sarai had been promised a son, yet because of her impatience and doubt, she took matters into her own hands, and went against what God had planned and promised. Later, we will see more of the results of her disobedience.
 
Galatians 6:7
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 47-48  |  Romans 13  |  Proverbs 30-31

Genesis 16:1
“Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.”
 
She.
She was considered barren because she had not conceived a child, yet she knew of the promise that the Lord had made unto her husband.
 
Why had she not gotten pregnant yet?
She was getting up in years, and time was short.  
 
Sarai.
She had an idea…”she had an handmaid”…she could carry the promised seed of Abram.
 
Genesis 16:2-4
“And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.”
 
She regretted her decision as soon as she saw the fruit of her deceitfulness.
 
Genesis 16:5
“And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.”
 
She knew that there would be consequences for her actions.
 
Sarai also serves as our example that it is not wise for us to manipulate situations to fit God’s plan for our lives. His thoughts are higher than ours, and His ways are always better.
 
Isaiah 55:8-9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 45-46  |  Romans 12  |  Proverbs 29

Genesis 11:30
“But Sarai was barren; she had no child.”
 
She.
She was Abram’s wife. 
 
Sarai.
Genesis 11:29
“And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.”
 
She and her husband went forth with a few relatives from Ur of the Chaldees toward the land of Canaan.
 
She followed her husband when God commanded that they get out of their country, away from their relatives, and into a land they had never seen.
 
Genesis 12:1
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:”
 
She must have had faith to follow the man she loved into a new land.
She and her husband were given a promise.
 
Genesis 12:2-3
“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
 
Her husband was promised a great nation of people, yet she had no child.
 
Genesis 12:7
“And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.”
 
She must have been confused before faith later set in.
She would have several difficult situations occur that proved God’s promise to be impossible.
 
Sarai serves as our example that when God makes a promise He keeps it. Through it may not make sense to us, or even seem possible at the time, if He says it, He will do it. 
 
 
Bible Reading: 
Isaiah 43-44  | Romans 11  |  Proverbs 28

Genesis 3:6
“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”
 
She.
She saw that the tree was good for good, and desired what it had to offer.
 
Sin will take you farther than you want to go, and cost you more than you want to pay.
 
Genesis 3:1
“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”
 
The serpent subtly convinced her that what God had said was not true.
He has been deceiving people against the Word of God since the beginning.
 
Genesis 2:16-17
“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
 
God had told Adam this, yet somehow the woman added to the Word of God by saying that He told not even to touch it. She was deceived.
 
Genesis 3:4-5
“And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
 
She not only ate, but she gave it to her husband, and he ate it too.
 
Romans 5:12
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
 
Eve.
She was not given her name until after she took of the fruit.
 
Genesis 3:20
“And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.”
 
She was the first mother.
She was the first to see her child die.
She was given another child after her great loss.
 
Eve serves as our example that even though we fall, God still has a purpose for us. He can use us despite our sin, and allow us to fulfill His through us if we will simply yield to Him.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 41-42  |  Romans 10 |  Proverbs 27

Our new series "She: delighting in the examples of the women of the Bible" begins today!

Genesis 2:23
“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”
 
She.
She was created in the image of God.
 
Genesis 1:27
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
 
Woman.
She was created with purpose.
 
Genesis 2:18
“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”
 
She was formed not out of the dust of the ground, but from the rib of her husband, the only woman never born.
 
Genesis 2:21-22
“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.”
 
She was the help meet of the man, for she was not taken from his feet, but his side.
 
Genesis 1:28
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth…”
 
The first woman serves as our example that God creates each woman with purpose and with a unique plan for her life.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 39-40  |  Romans 9 |  Proverbs 26

A Summary of the Book of Proverbs
It may be stating the obvious, but if there was one word for the Word found in the Book of Proverbs if would be Wisdom.
 
From the first chapter to the last, and all throughout, we see the importance of having Wisdom and the difference Wisdom makes.
 
Without Wisdom, we have nothing.
John 15:4-5
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
 
With Wisdom, we can do everything.
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
 
Wisdom begins when we fear Him.
Proverbs 1:7
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
 
Proverbs 9:10
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
 
Those that seek Wisdom are sure to find Him.
Proverbs 4:7
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
 
Wisdom is found within the Word of God.
Proverbs 2:1-6
“My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.”
 
Walk in Wisdom today, and every day.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 37-38  |  Romans 8  |  Proverbs 25

Proverbs 31:31
“Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”
 
Jesus Christ told His disciples that they were chosen for a purpose.
 
John 15:16
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
 
A virtuous woman knows that the fruit of her labour glorifies God.
The result of a virtuous woman’s labour is the fruit that is yielded by her testimony.
 
John 15:8
“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
 
She labours, lives, and serves with Him in mind.
 
Colossians 3:23-24
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
 
A virtuous woman does not labour for the applause of people, but rather the approval of her Saviour. If she receives any praise, she is sure to direct all honor to the One who has done the work through her.
 
Jesus established that Mary of Bethany would be remembered throughout the centuries for the labour of love she made for Him by anointing His feet with the precious oil from her alabaster box.
 
Mark 14:8-9
“She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.”
 
The legacy of a virtuous woman lasts far beyond her years.
Above all, a woman must be faithful to all that the Lord has given her and to that which He has called, for it is only then that she is truly walking in Wisdom.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 35-36  |  Romans 7  |  Proverbs 24

Proverbs 31:30
“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”
 
While the world around us pushes the idea that beauty is all about the appearance, the Word of God teaches the Truth on the matter.
 
“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain”
Simply put, a beautiful appearance often deceives others of what is really underneath. Being consumed by our looks shows the world how vain we truly are.
 
1 Peter 3:3-4
“Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
 
There is much more to beauty than what is on the outside.
“but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised”
 
A virtuous woman knows that one thing is needful.
Mary of Bethany is our example of what should be our top priority. While Martha was cumbered about with much serving, Mary chose to be at the feet of Jesus, hearing His Word.
 
Luke 10:42
“But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
 
Wisdom begins with fearing the Lord and then seeking Him through His Word. A woman that chooses to make Him her priority is promised to be praised.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 33-34  |  Romans 6  |  Proverbs 23

Proverbs 31:29
“Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.”
 
In the heart of the husband of a virtuous woman, no one compares to her.
She excels above all other women.
 
Proverbs 12:4
“A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.”
 
Only three times in the Scripture is the phrase “virtuous woman” found.
The first time it is found in reference to a woman who has one of the two Books of the Bible named after her.
 
Ruth 3:10-11
“And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.”
 
Ruth was a virtuous woman in the eyes of Boaz.
When she lay at his feet, she acknowledged that he was a near kinsman. That told Boaz exactly what he needed to know, and he was willing to do what she required, a Kinsman Redeemer.  What a picture of the way Christ is willing to redeem all who humbly come to Him for salvation!
 
Proverbs 31:10
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.”
 
A virtuous woman possesses Wisdom.
Earlier in Proverbs, we find that Wisdom is more precious that rubies; yet, here we also see that a virtuous woman is worth far above rubies.
 
She clearly has Wisdom within her and because of Him she excels above all those around her.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 31-32  |  Romans 5  |  Proverbs 22

Proverbs 31:28
“Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.”
 
A woman is best known by her children and husband; therefore, if anyone knows whether or not she is virtuous it is they.
 
The character of children often speaks of the mother who raised them.
When praising her is a priority, she has done well.
 
Lemuel, most likely Solomon, praised his mother by acknowledging that it was her who taught him the Truths of this chapter.
 
Proverbs 31:1
“The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.”
 
The children of a virtuous woman thank God for her.
They recognize that she has taught them the Word of God.
 
2 Timothy 3:14-15
“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
 
The husband of a virtuous woman praises her for the contribution she has made both to him and their home. The next verse shows his praise to her, for she excels above all other women in his mind.
 
The family of a virtuous woman cannot help but honor her for the difference she has made in their lives.
 
Proverbs 31:10
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.”
 
Proverbs 3:15
“She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.”
 
What could your family say about you?
 
 
Bible Reading:
Isaiah 29-30  |  Romans 4  |  Proverbs 21