Jean E. Syswerda - Women of the Bible: 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups

Look at the women in Scripture and you will see more than just some women who lived thousands of years ago. Youll see yourself. As you study their stories and immerse yourself in their lives, youll see more and more places where your life intersects with theirs.

Women of the Bible: 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups presents 52 women of Scripture. Beginning with a short description of the woman, then continuing with her story from Scripture and something about her life and times, each womans story ends with a study that asks the hard questions. How does her life mirror yours? What did she learn or experience that you as a God-follower yet need to learn or experience? What event or relationship or crisis in her life reveals something about your life? Even more than that, each study will help you discover how God is revealing himself to you through that womans story. We encourage you as an individual or group not to pass over the questions that are hard or make you uncomfortable. The women of Gods Word have much to offer you, but only if you face them openly and honestly.

Charts that will provide depth and meaning to your reflections accompany a number of the studies. From a chart of the Herod family (see ), Women of the Bible: 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups will furnish the background information that makes a Bible study not just titillating but stimulating as well.

Women of the Bible: 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups is an abridgment of a much larger work, the best-selling book Women of the Bible, coauthored by Jean Syswerda and Ann Spangler. This study edition of that book is designed specifically so individuals and groups can delve more deeply into the lives of these biblical women. Without hesitation or compromise, Women of the Bible: 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups will lead you on a journey of discovery... discovering things about the women of the Bible, about your God, and about yourself.

In addition to the debt I owe to Ann for her work on the original book, Ann and I both owe a special debt of gratitude to our editors, Sandy Vander Zicht, for her insight, encouragement, and advocacy, Rachel Boers, for her skilled and painstaking work on the manuscript of the original book, and Lori VandenBosch and Dirk Buursma, for their diligent attention to the details of this study edition. We are also grateful to our agent, Robert Wolgemuth, and to Sue Brower and her creative marketing team, for catching the vision for this book. Thanks also goes to Leanne Van Dyk, for her insightful theological review and comments. Few books succeed without champions, and we are grateful that these are some of ours.

It is my hope and prayer that Women of the Bible: 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups will lead you as an individual or group into a deeper love for Gods Word and its truth in your life. May the example set by these women so many years ago shine the light of Gods presence on the pathway of your life today.

Jean Syswerda, April 2002

1
E VE

Her Name Means Life-giving or Mother of All Who Have Life

H ER C HARACTER : She came into the world perfectly at peace with her God and with her husband, the only other person on the planet. She lived in Paradise, possessing every pleasure imaginable. She never knew the meaning of embarrassment, misunderstanding, hurt, estrangement, envy, bitterness, grief, or guilt until she listened to her enemy and began to doubt God.

K EY S CRIPTURES : Genesis 1:2631; Genesis 24

The man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.

But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the L ORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the mans ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the L ORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.