Table of Contents
Contents
Introduction....................9
What Is a Real Girl of the Bible?....................11
PART ONE Old Testament Girls 1. Eve's Too-Late Discovery....................15
2. Sarah's Big Surprise....................21
3. Hagar's Desert Revelation....................27
4. Leah's Rival....................33
5. A Royal Gift for Jochebed....................37
6. Miriam's Journey....................41
7. Rahab's Rooftop Hideaway....................47
8. Deborah, Leader of a Nation....................51
9. Jael's Big Win....................55
10. Naomi's Journey Home....................61
11. Ruth's Family Ties....................67
12. Hannah's Promise....................73
13. Abigail's Appeal....................79
14. Huldah's Message....................85
15. Vashti's Stand....................89
16. A Crown for Esther....................95
PART TWO New Testament Girls 17. Mary's Encounter....................101
18. Elizabeth's Visitor....................107
19. Anna's Call to Prayer....................113
20. A Cure for the Woman in the Crowd....................117
21. A Healer for Jairus's Daughter....................121
22. Mary of Bethany's Choice....................125
23. Martha's Sister Trouble....................129
24. A Widow's Offering....................133
25. A Forgiven Woman's Fragrant Faith....................139
26. Mary Magdalene's Deeper Healing....................145
27. Living Water for the Samaritan Woman....................149
28. A Miracle for Dorcas....................155
29. God's Gift to Eunice....................159
30. Lydia's Riverbank PrayerMeeting....................163
More Real Girl Talk....................167
Read a Sample Chapter
Real Girls of the Bible
A Devotional
By Mona Hodgson Zondervan
Copyright © 2008 Mona Hodgson
All right reserved. ISBN: 978-0-310-71338-8
Chapter One
Eve's Too-Late Discovery
Read Eve's story in Genesis 2:15-4:1.
Psalm 139:13-14 says, "You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." But it was different for Eve. God took a rib from Adam and made Eve, the first female on earth.
Right from the start God established that he had a special purpose for Eve. God formed Eve to be a friend, helper, and wife to the only other person on earth, Adam.
Talk about a great beginning! Eve lived in a garden full of flowering plants and tons of trees that produced yummy fruit. And Eve and Adam could pick fruit from any tree except the one in the middle of the garden. God had told them not to eat the fruit of that tree.
Red and blue and yellow birds flitted around the garden of Eden warbling songs of praise to the Creator. Animals of every kind roamed and romped all around Eve in her up-close and personal zoo. Adam and Eve enjoyed nature walks and long talks. All was well between Eve and God.
Until that day.
While Eve strolled the gorgeous garden, a serpent slithered out on a branch and spoke to her. "Did God really say you couldn't eat from every tree in the garden?"
"We may eat fruit from the trees," Eve said, "but God said not to eat fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden. He said if we touched it, we'd die."
"That's silly. You won't die," the serpent sneered. "God doesn't want you to eat it because when you do, your eyes will open and you'll be like him."
Eve stared at the smooth and shiny fruit on the tree in the middle of the garden. The fruit was so pretty to look at-ripe and ready to eat. Tempted, Eve picked the fruit and ate some. Then she gave it to her husband, Adam, who also bit into it.
Satan, the crafty con, had disguised himself as a serpent to tempt Eve. And his half-truth worked. He'd told Eve that when she ate of the fruit, her eyes would open. They did, and Eve saw that she and her husband were naked. According to Satan, Eve would be like God when she ate the fruit. She wasn't all-powerful like God, but she did learn the difference between good and evil. Because Eve felt guilty for disobeying God, she and Adam picked leaves from a fig tree and sewed them together.
Later when Adam and Eve heard the Lord strolling in the garden, they ducked behind a tree and hid from him.
Have you ever done something you knew was wrong and felt guilty about it? Have you ever tried to hide what you did from your parents or a teacher? Can you hide from God? Could Eve?
God knew what Eve and her husband had done and why they'd hidden from him. Because God loved them, he showed them grace and used animal skins to make better clothes for them. But Eve still suffered the consequences of her sin. No more strolls in the beautiful garden with God. She and her husband had to leave the garden, and life became hard. They had to work for their food. Her pain in having babies was increased, but God gave Eve the strength she needed.
If you were out milking the goats with Eve today, she'd probably warn you about your enemy Satan. She'd tell you Satan has an evil plan for everyone who knows and loves God. But she'd also tell you God has a good and perfect plan for your life.
Eve would tell you Satan had taken the form of a serpent and twisted what God had said into a lie. Because Eve didn't know about Satan's persuasive powers, she'd listened to him and reached for the forbidden fruit. She might wipe tears from her cheeks and tell you God is a good God. That he'll love you even when you mess up.
Eve had to live with the consequences of her disobedience, but God still provided for her needs.
The Bible says we've all sinned. We don't always do what's right. Like Eve, we're sometimes tempted to want things and relationships that aren't good for us.
Are you ever tempted to listen to the wrong people? Kids at school, friends in the neighborhood, or even a brother or sister can make bad things look pretty good to us.
When you're tempted, you can remember Eve's story. You can choose to listen to God and trust his love for you. When you do make a bad choice and mess up, you can go to God, confess your sin to him, and accept his gracious forgiveness.
From GOD'S Heart
Jesus said to [Satan], "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" -Matthew 4:10
* * *
I will turn away from Satan and his sneaky ways and follow God's holy ways.
Dear God ...
Father God, help me to recognize temptation for what it is and help me to refuse to go against you and your Word. In Jesus' name, amen.
Check THIS Out
Eve was the first woman and a woman of firsts. She was
the first woman to walk with God. the first wife. the first person to disobey God and sin. the first woman to receive God's grace. the first woman to sew a piece of clothing. the first woman to give birth to a child. the first mother to lose a child.
Mary the mother of Jesus came through Eve's third son, Seth, whose name means compensation, which is "payment." Jesus was the perfect one who could pay for our sins.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Real Girls of the Bible by Mona Hodgson Copyright © 2008 by Mona Hodgson. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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