While my husband and I were at the house of the man who comes to do Bible studies with us, his wife kindly gave me a book entitled Daughters of Eve by Lottie Beth Hobbs. On the cover it aptly says, "Strength for today from women of yesterday." It is an older book but it was on a topic that I had been wanting to do a study of for some time - all the women in the Bible. As a woman, it is important for me to discover my true role as a Christian woman, a Christian wife, and a Christian mother. So much of the Bible seems to be primarily focused on men that we can overlook the very important lessons that we can learn from the women of the Bible as well. This is why I have fallen in love with this book. Yes, it is an older book, I don't know when the first editions came out but I know that I found a copy of one online dating back to 1963, but that doesn't mean that it's not still applicable to the Christian women of today's world.
From the Preface - It is hard to over-estimate the power and influence of women, either for good or evil.
As women, it is so important for us to realize the power that we have to influence those around us, whether it be our spouses, our children, our family, or our friends. We often don't think about the ripple effect that our actions and behavior can cause. Even casual words spoken without thought can cause a great wave if we are not careful. Right in the preface of this book we delve into the huge responibility we have as women to lead in the ways of righteousness. We need to think about the kind of influence we want to have on people.
I am not a perfect person and I have made a mountain of mistakes in my life. I think back on some of my actions and I cannot believe that I was ever capable of them. I had become such a negative type of individual living as a bad example and negative influence to others. It's not that I wanted to be such a bad influence, it's just that I didn't think about those who might look up to me before I acted out. Having a little sister who had made me to be her role-model, it is devastating to me that I didn't live my life in a manner that set a good example for her. Since renewing my faith, I can already see and feel a great change in myself as I become the positive influence that I want to be, the one that God requires me to be. I am glad to have another chance on being a good example for those around me, especially to my two small children who look up to me and depend on me to show them the way in righteousness.
Here is another excerpt: In the downfall of nations, moral decay has always preceded political decay; and political decay has always preceded national destruction. A nation can maintain a moral strength no greater than the homes which constitute it, and the home usually rises no higher than the ideals of the woman in it. This being true, a heavy responsibility rests upon older women to lead in ways of righteousness and also upon younger women who will help to mold moral and spiritual stature of the next generation.
The Bible is the only tool we need as Christians to know the life that we are supposed to lead. It is complete and sufficient to be our moral compass and spiritual guide.
2 Tim 3:16-17 - "All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness."
The Bible is all that we need, period. It shows us every example we need to live our lives in the ways of righteousness. And just as it portrays every kind of man, the Bible also portrays every kind of woman who exists today. We can look to them to find the answers as we face our own decisions. We can learn from their successes and failures and we need not repeat their mistakes.
However, our most urgent and vital task is to prepare our immortal souls for that inevitable day when each shall stand before the throne of judgment: "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:12)
Here is the list of women whose lives we can take lessons from in the Bible. This list is straight from the Daughters of Eve contents page:
EVE - Our Wayward Mother
SARAH- Wife of the World's Most Honored Man
LOT'S WIFE - A Warning Against Disobedience
REBEKAH - Who Lost What She Loved Most
RACHEL AND LEAH - Entangled in Unhappy Circumstances
MIRIAM - A Woman to Remember
DEBORAH - A Wise and Courageous Mother
DELIAH - Who Had to Have Her Way
RUTH - Who Was Loved Because She Was Loveable
NAOMI - The Pleasant Mother-In-Law
HANNAH - Whose Prayer Will Live Forever
ABIGAIL - Queen of the Art of Persuasion
THE QUEEN OF SHEBA - Wisdom-Seeker Commended by Christ
JEROBOAM'S WIFE - Who Wanted Blessings the Easy Way
JEZEBEL - Who Had Heart Trouble
VASHTI- Whose Conviction Cost a Crown
ESTHER - Who Helped God Save A Nation
MRS. JOB - Who Became Satan's Helper
MARY - Who Taught Obedience to Christ
MARY AND MARTHA - Who Learned About the Good Part
THE POOR WIDOW - Who Was Rich
THE STORY OF THE BAD SAMARITAN
DORCAS - Who Interrupted Her Own Funeral
PRISCILLA - A Teacher of God's Word
EUODIAS AND SYNTYCHE - Mentioned Together But Far Apart
I have only read halfway through this insightful book which pin-points the practical lessons that we can learn from the women of God's Word and how to apply them to our own lives, yet I already highly recommend it to all Christian women. You do not need this book to study the women of the Bible, but, as a baby Christian, I find it to be a very useful tool when doing so. Whether you do it on your own or with the help of a book like this one, I hope that you will take the time to study the "women of the yesterday" to find the strength to become a better woman of today.
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