Women of the Bible Part 19

Her Joy: That her husband continued to love her despite her unfaithfulness.

Key Scripture: Hosea 1 - 3 Monday HER STORY.

The man stood at the door, craning his neck and peering through the half-light. His limbs felt stiff and cold, despite the desert heat that still warmed the narrow street. Other than a stray dog curled in a knot against the wall of a neighboring house, he saw nothing. It was too late for a woman to be walking the streets alone. But, then, she wouldn't be alone, would she?

He didn't want to go inside yet, to listen to the absence of her chatter, to lie down on the empty bed. By noon tomorrow, the news of her betrayal would fill every gossip-hungry soul in town like swill in a pig's belly. Hosea, the man who would steer the nation with his prophecies, couldn't even control his own wife.

He felt grief and fury like a storm breaking inside him. He had meant to guard his heart; he had never intended to give himself so completely. His pain was the worse for loving her so well. For Gomer had squandered his gifts, mocked his tenderness, and allowed herself to be seduced by other lovers.

Hadn't G.o.d warned him and instructed him to "go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the Lord"? He had named his children "Jezreel" (G.o.d Scatters), "Lo-Ruhamah" (Not Loved), and "Lo-Ammi" (Not My People). Each successive child measured the growing rift between husband and wife. Hosea wondered whether he had even fathered the last two.

The word of the Lord that had filled Hosea's mouth now troubled his soul, rus.h.i.+ng back with appalling force. So this was how G.o.d felt about his own people-bitterly betrayed, cut to the heart, disgusted, outraged. His tender love, his every gift meant nothing to a people enamored with Canaanite G.o.ds. Israel's leading men were the worst wh.o.r.es of all-virtuosos when it came to playing the harlot, cheating the poor and imploring idols to bless them with peace and riches.

But peace was elusive. Six kings had ruled the northern kingdom during a period of just twenty-five years. Four were murdered by their successors and one was captured in battle. All the while, a.s.syria perched like a vulture at its borders.

If only Israel would learn its lesson and turn back to the Lord before it was too late - i f only Gomer would turn back. Hosea wanted to shout in her face, shake her awake to her sin. Enough of patience. Enough of tenderness. She had ignored his threats, shrugging them off as so many flies on a donkey. What choice had he now? He would strip and shame her, punis.h.i.+ng her unfaithfulness.

In the midst of his bitter grief, he heard the voice of G.o.d, strong and clear: "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other G.o.ds."

So Hosea took back the wife he couldn't stop loving. And the word of the Lord transformed Lo-Ruhamah into Ruhamah (Loved) and Lo-Ammi into Ammi (My People).

The story of Gomer and Hosea portrays G.o.d's jealousy for his people. For the first time, a prophet dared to speak of G.o.d as husband and Israel as his bride. But this is a tangled love story, one in which G.o.d's heart is repeatedly broken. Despite his pleas, regardless of his threats, Israel would not turn back to him until after the northern kingdom was destroyed by a.s.syria a few years later.

Still, the knit-together lives of Hosea and Gomer were a living reminder to the Israelites of both G.o.d's judgment and his love. Hosea's beautiful words still move us as we think about the church today, about our own unfaithfulness and G.o.d's forgiveness: "I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compa.s.sion. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."

No longer Lo-Ruhamah, we are Ruhamah (Loved), and no longer Lo-Ammi but Ammi (My People). For our Maker has become our Husband, the one who hates our sin but loves us still.

Tuesday HER LIFE AND TIMES.

PROPHETS.

Gomer's husband, Hosea, appeared on the scene as the last of the prophets who spoke the "word of the Lord" (Hosea 1:1) to the doomed northern kingdom of Israel. Before long, the a.s.syrians would conquer the capital of Samaria and take thousands of Israelites captive. When the book of Hosea begins with "the word of the Lord," it a.s.serts Hosea's authority as a prophet, that G.o.d has spoken to him, and that he must relay the message to the people.

The Israelites in Palestine had the law G.o.d had given to Moses and the people at Sinai. This consisted of the Ten Commandments as well as the other rules for living included in the books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy). However, those laws didn't cover many of life's situations and decisions. G.o.d inst.i.tuted the office of the prophet for the many times when a specific revelation of G.o.d was needed for the people to know what direction they should follow.

We don't always know how prophets received their messages from G.o.d. At times they had visions and dreams. Ezekiel and Daniel both record visions that contained a definite message from G.o.d. Other times, as in Hosea, the prophets simply declared that their words were from the Lord. The emphasis of G.o.d's prophets was never on the method of receiving his word-whether mysterious or obvious-but on the message itself and on the people's need to follow. G.o.d made it clear that if the people would only listen and obediently follow the words of the prophets, he would give them all they needed to face an unknown future.

Just as G.o.d provided for his people in the Promised Land, he has provided for us. He may not miraculously reveal the path or supernaturally tell us his will, as he did with the Israelites, but he has revealed himself and his plans for us through the Bible, and his messengers today underscore and explain what Scripture tells us. We can be a.s.sured that G.o.d will go with us, just as he went with the Israelites, holding our hands as we face whatever our futures hold.

Wednesday HER LEGACY IN SCRIPTURE.

Read Hosea 1:2 - 2:7; 3:1 - 5.

1. In what ways does Hosea 2:2-7 reflect Hosea's feelings about Gomer? In what ways do these verses reflect G.o.d's feelings about his people?

2. Why is adultery a fitting symbol for the way humans treat G.o.d?

3. Put G.o.d's promises for his people in Hosea 1:10-2:1 into your own words.

4. In Hosea 3:2, Hosea has to pay money and goods to buy Gomer back from whatever situation she's landed herself in. She has apparently run off and ended up selling herself into prost.i.tution to survive. What would it take for a man to do what Hosea does in 3:1 - 3?

5. How are you like Gomer? How has G.o.d pursued you and bought you back?

Thursday HER PROMISE.

A tempestuous marriage. A wife who will not remain faithful to the husband who loves her. A husband who not only remains faithful, but loving. Children whose paternity is in doubt. All these are the elements not of a soap opera but of a wonderful picture of G.o.d's love and faithfulness to his often unloving and unfaithful people. The promises portrayed in the life of Gomer apply not only to the people of Israel but to the people of today. G.o.d loves us and remains faithful to us. Even when we abandon him and turn away, he waits with arms open. He only asks our repentance and his blessings will again overflow.

Promises in Scripture I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their G.o.d, for they will return to me with all their heart.

-Jeremiah 24:7 Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him.

As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.

-Hosea 6:3 Repent, then, and turn to G.o.d, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refres.h.i.+ng may come from the Lord.

-Acts 3:19 Friday HER LEGACY OF PRAYER.

"In that day," declares the Lord, "you will call me 'my husband'; you will no longer call me 'my master.' "

- Hosea 2:16 Reflect On: Hosea 1 - 3.

Praise G.o.d: For his mercy.

Offer Thanks: That G.o.d loved you before you ever thought of loving him.

Confess: Any tendency to love money, pleasure, children, husband, or career more than you love him.

Ask G.o.d: To increase your hunger to know him more intimately.

Lift Your Heart Sometimes couples grow apart not because either have been unfaithful, but because of sheer busyness. If your relations.h.i.+p with G.o.d is bogging down in life's details, why not plan an intimate evening or weekend with him? Let it be a time of quieting your soul in his presence, of hus.h.i.+ng life's everyday demands. Spend the day walking a solitary beach, or hidden away at a retreat center or a friend's cottage or cabin. Take your Bible and a book of poetry by Christina Rossetti, or Mark Buchanan's The Rest of G.o.d, or C. S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, or Kathleen Norris's The Cloister Walk.

If you're artistic, bring paint and art paper and commune with G.o.d through the pictures you create. Let it be a time of praising him, of telling him how much you love him, of thanking him for all the ways he has loved you. Don't try to have a great spiritual experience, just relax and let G.o.d know you want to be with him.

Lord, how can I begin to understand how faithfully you've loved me? Draw me into your presence and hold me close. Quiet my noisy heart and speak to me.

Elizabeth.

HER NAME MEANS.

"G.o.d Is My Oath"

Her Character: A descendant of Aaron, Elizabeth was a woman the Bible calls "upright in the sight of G.o.d." Like few others, male or female, she is praised for observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations without blame. She is the first to acknowledge Jesus as Lord.

Her Sorrow: To be barren for most of her life.

Her Joy: To give birth to John, later known as John the Baptist, the Messiah's forerunner. His name, divinely a.s.signed, means, "The Lord Is Gracious."

Key Scripture: Luke 1:5 - 80 Monday HER STORY.

Her eyes were a golden brown. Like currants set in pastry, they winked out at the world from cheeks that had baked too long in the sun. Snowy strands of hair straggled from beneath a woolen shawl, tickling her wrinkled face. Small hands rested tenderly on her rounded belly, softly probing for any hint of movement. But all was still. From her vantage point on the roof of the house, she noticed a figure walking up the pathway and wondered who her visitor might be.

She and Zechariah had been content enough in their quiet house these last few months, secluded in their joy. Each morning she had opened her eyes as though waking to a fantastic dream. Sometimes she shook with laughter as she thought about how G.o.d had rearranged her life, planting a child in her shriveled-up, old-woman's womb.

Six months ago, Zechariah had been chosen by lot to burn incense before the Most Holy Place, a once-in-a-lifetime privilege. But during his week of priestly service in the temple, he had been frightened half to death by a figure who appeared suddenly next to the altar of incense. "Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son," the angel told him, "and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord." It was Sarah and Abraham all over, Rebekah and Isaac, Rachel and Jacob. G.o.d was once again kindling a fire with two dry sticks.

For the life of her, Elizabeth couldn't understand her husband's response to the messenger that had so terrified him. Once you'd laid eyes on an angel, how could you fail to believe that anything was possible? But Zechariah had blurted out his skepticism and suffered the consequences. His voice had been s.n.a.t.c.hed away and would not be given back until the angel's words came to pa.s.s. These days he communicated by scribbling on a wax tablet.

Elizabeth looked down again at the figure advancing up the path, a green sprig of a girl. The older woman stepped carefully down the stairs and into the house to welcome her guest. But with the young woman's words of greeting came something that felt like a gale force wind, shaking the beams and rafters of the house. Steadying herself, the older woman felt suddenly invigorated. Her unborn baby leapt inside her as she shouted out a welcoming response: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

Mary had made the journey all the way from Nazareth to visit her relative Elizabeth. The same angel who had spoken to Zechariah in the temple had whispered the secret of the older woman's pregnancy to the virgin, who was also with child. The magnificent song of praise that burst from Mary's lips during their meeting may have taken shape during the course of her sixty-mile journey south, to the hill country of Judea where Elizabeth lived: My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in G.o.d my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.

Luke 1:46 - 55 The two women held each other, their bonds of kins.h.i.+p now stronger than what mere flesh and blood could forge. For Israel's G.o.d - the G.o.d of Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah, Miriam, Deborah, Naomi, Ruth, Abigail, and Hannah-was on the move again, bringing the long-ago promise to fulfillment. And blessed was she who did not doubt that what the Lord had said to her would be accomplished.

Tuesday HER LIFE AND TIMES.

INCENSE.

Elizabeth's husband, Zechariah, had been given a special, serious privilege. When it was his priestly division's turn to serve in the temple, he was chosen by lot-which was G.o.d's way of making the choice-to burn incense in the temple. Each morning and evening he took fire from the altar of burnt offering and placed it on the golden altar of incense that stood before the curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. He then poured the dusty incense from a golden urn onto the fire. While Zechariah performed this duty, all the wors.h.i.+pers who were at the temple that day stood outside and prayed. The smoke and aroma of the incense symbolized their prayers rising up to G.o.d. The fragrance also served to fumigate air tainted with the odor of the blood of animals killed for the sacrifices.

The earliest historical records about wors.h.i.+p include information on the burning of incense. All the nations surrounding Palestine appreciated the sweet smell of incense permeating not only their places of wors.h.i.+p but also their homes. The incense Zechariah burned in the temple was made according to a special "recipe" (Exodus 30:34-38) of spices and salt that had been ground to a powder. This holy incense could be used only in the temple in wors.h.i.+p, never for ordinary, everyday purposes.

The prophet Jeremiah often condemned the Israelites for burning incense to false G.o.ds. But he could be even more scathing in his denunciation when they burned incense when their hearts weren't in their wors.h.i.+p (Jeremiah 6:20). G.o.d made it clear that the mere burning of incense didn't please him; it was only a symbol. He was looking for hearts that were turned toward him with faithfulness and trust.

Isn't that application obvious for us today as well? In all our forms of wors.h.i.+p - our hymns and praise songs, our liturgies and dramas and readings-what is important to G.o.d is our hearts. Are they turned toward him in faithfulness and trust?

Wednesday HER LEGACY IN SCRIPTURE.

Read Luke 1:5 - 25, 39 - 45.

1. What do you learn about Elizabeth and Zechariah from Luke 1:5 - 7? Does Luke 1:6 imply that they were perfect? If not, what do these words mean?

2. Imagine an angel coming to you with some unexpected and unbelievable announcement. How do you think you would react?

3. When Elizabeth saw Mary, she was filled with the Holy Spirit and loudly exclaimed a blessing (Luke 1:42 - 44). Have you ever been moved to praise G.o.d like that? If so, when? If not, what would have to happen to move you to do that?

4. Elizabeth was going to be the mother of a prophet, yet she praised G.o.d for what he was doing in Mary's life. What does this say about Elizabeth?

5. Reread Luke 1:45. What does the Lord want you to believe?

Thursday HER PROMISE.

G.o.d always keeps his promises! For hundreds of years, G.o.d had been telling the people of Israel that he would send a Messiah. One who would provide a direct bridge to G.o.d himself. One whose sacrifice would provide redemption for all time. The events in this first chapter of Luke are just the beginning of the fulfillment of G.o.d's greatest promise to his people. With Mary we can say: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in G.o.d my Savior!"

Promises in Scripture But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.

-Malachi 4:2 John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of G.o.d, who takes away the sin of the world!"

-John 1:29 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

- i Timothy 1:15 HER LEGACY OF PRAYER.

Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!

-Luke 1:45 Reflect On: Luke 1:5-80.

Praise G.o.d: That he is the Creator who shapes every child in the womb.

Offer Thanks: For the gift of children.

Confess: Any tendency to cheapen the value of human life, including unborn life.

Ask G.o.d: To restore our appreciation for the miracle of human life.

Lift Your Heart A person's a person, no matter how small!

- From Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss Mary's visit to Elizabeth probably occurred when Elizabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy. The younger woman may have stayed long enough to help the older one with her delivery. In any case, Mary would have been in the first trimester of her pregnancy and Elizabeth in her third. Here's what would have been happening to the children growing in their wombs: Jesus: 18 days - his nervous system appeared.

4 weeks - his heart began beating.

30 days - most of his major organ systems had begun to form.

7 weeks - his facial features would have been visible.

8th week - all his major body structures and organs were present.

10th week-tiny teeth were forming in his gums.

12th week-his brain was fully formed and he could feel pain. He may have even sucked his thumb.

John: 6th month - he could grasp his hands, kick, do somersaults, and hear voices and sounds outside the womb.