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Women in the Bible
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Lesson Forty-Seven: by turtle
This is going to be a short lesson. What about birth control, abortion, medical technology like Viagra
and so forth. What does the Bible say on these subject. To tell the truth, as a Christian I do not like
discussing these subjects. Why, simply because my opinion though Biblically back often seems harsh to
someone that is not a Christian or have Christian views on the subject and I rather them know of God’s
grace and mercy in all situations in their life, yet this subjects can not be sugar coated.
Today’s lesson and the weeks that follow we are going to be looking at Rachel’s life and her sister
Leah. Two woman because of culture of the day doomed to the marriage of sharing one man. Some
might say Jacob is a lucky fellow. Yet we must realize that in some cultures it was okay to have more
then one wife. Woman were thought to be property or tradable in some cultures. Two of the fathers of
the Jews and Christian faith were polygamist. Abraham being one, who took Sarah handmaiden, which
we discussed in earlier lessons and Jacob. Yet God was with each of these men that did not keep the
marriage law given in the garden.
Genesis 2:24-25 KJV
(24) Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they
shall be one flesh.
(25) And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Fact is God created man and woman for each other as husband and wife. Culturally speaking having
more then one wife meant wealth and prosperity. Yet in Jacob I do not think his plight was about
wealth but lust. So when did the first polygamy take place. Believe it or not in Genesis and from Cain
line. The line that did not worship God.
Genesis 4:19-26 KJV
(19) And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other
Zillah.
(20) And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
(21) And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
(22) And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister
of Tubalcain was Naamah.
(23) And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken
unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
(24) If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.
(25) And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she,
hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
(26) And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to
call upon the name of the LORD.
Not until Seth was bore after Abel died did men began to call on God or to seek His help. Abel and Cain
worshiped God and sacrificed to God, but not until Seth did men began to ask God for help. Man seen
a need to seek God out for help. Man seen a need for a relationship. Yet Lamech seen God has more
of avenger of sin and not a friend and someone to talk to. Lamech was not married to just one woman
but two and seem prosperous in man’s wife until he kills a man. After he kills he realizes he is in trouble
with God. Yet we see no repentance. Two sins starting off. Do not kill and do not commit adultery.
Yet man had his own way about things.
There are two groups of people Cain and Seth. Seth being the line of people that called on God and
Cain being those who did not. These two groups began to mix with each other in marriage. The world
was getting wicker by the moment and God became angry.
Genesis 6:1-5 KJV
(1) And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born
unto them,
(2) That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all
which they chose.
(3) And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his
days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
(4) There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in
unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were
of old, men of renown.
(5) And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the
thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Sin was always a problem for man and his relationship with God. It is a miracle that Noah found grace
in the sight of God. Yet we see men had learn to be industrious. The word giant here is a reference to
men being like many of our giants today in technology and industrial. Sin became a focal point in the
trouble with God. Jacob did what was normal to man. Based on traditions he knew. People growing up
Mormon or Islamic, see no problem with dual marriage. It is mainly because they stop and look at
Jacob and Abraham and say they did it. Fact is we all sin and all do not follow God. Yet some of us
choose to worship God and some of us do not. What is your choice. If you choose to follow God you
will be greatly blessed for doing so. To believe God is to take him at his word from being to end. The
question is do you believe God? If you do repent today and ask Jesus to be Lord and Savior of your life.
Next week we will start on the life of Jacob. This is just introductory lesson and one to realize all sin
and not one of us obey God completely. Jacob is human.
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