A LifeGuide® Bible Study

WOMEN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT

12 STUDIES FOR INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS

Gladys Hunt

With Notes for Leaders

An imprint of InterVarsity Press

Downers Grove, Illinois

InterVarsity Press

P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426

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©1990, 2002 by Gladys Hunt

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Cover image: Kirsten Pott

ISBN 978-0-8308-6315-0

Contents

Getting the Most Out of Women of the Old Testament

1 The First Woman

A Far-Reaching Choice

Genesis 3:1–13

2 Sarah & Hagar

Waiting for God to Act

Genesis 16; 18:1–15

3 Miriam

A Critical Spirit

Numbers 12

4 Rahab

An Unlikely Ally

Joshua 2; 6:15–25

5 Ruth

The Cost of Loyalty

Ruth 1–2

6 Naomi

Sadness Swallowed Up by Joy

Ruth 3–4

7 Hannah

From Misery to Praise

1 Samuel 1:1–2:11

8 Abigail

A Level-Headed Woman

1 Samuel 25:2–44

9 The Shunammite Woman

Taking the Initiative

2 Kings 4:8–37

10 Esther

Captive in a Strange Land

Esther 2–4

11 Esther

Courage to Act

Esther 5:1–8; 7–8

12 The Model Wife

A Portrait of Excellence

Proverbs 31:10–31

Leader’s Notes

Getting the Most Out of Women of the Old Testament

Why study women of the Old Testament? If that question went through your mind when you first picked up this guide, I can sympathize. I had similar thoughts when I was asked to write it. I hope you will be in for the same pleasant surprise I got when I began to look at the women in this guide more closely. Remote as they may seem, their lives are amazingly relevant.

One of the basic lessons seen in each woman’s life is the consistency of cause and effect. Simple faith results in God’s care. Living life apart from what you know to be true about God brings disaster. The right action in a crisis exhibits the kind of courage God honors. Believing God against all odds proves his faithfulness. The real stuff of life that makes our character strong or weak is the same today as it was then.

A second observation is that these women had amazing freedom to act. We tend to think that women in the Old ...