Women of the Bible Part 14

Praise G.o.d: For giving mothers the power to love their children so fiercely.

Offer Thanks: For the way other women have stood by you in times of difficulty.

Confess: Any tendency to back off rather than confront important moral issues with love and courage.

Ask G.o.d: To stretch your love beyond your own family circle so that it becomes a force that shapes the world around you.

Lift Your Heart Mothers are often their children's first line of defense. How tragic when children never experience the power of a mother's protecting love. So many abused children shuffle through our social system with devastating results. So many unborn children perish quietly, with no one to mourn their pa.s.sing. We cannot save all the motherless children, but we can reach out one at a time. Pray about whether you could become a "big sister" to a young girl in need. Go out of your way to make a neglected child feel welcome in your home. Speak out against the forces in our culture that devalue human life. Lend your voices to those that clamor for peace in our world. Do what you can where you can. Let your love be fierce and strong. Don't back off.

Father, thank you for my mother's protecting, persistent love. I know your own love better because of how she loved me. Help me become a spiritual mother to those you bring into my life.

The Queen of Sheba.

Her Character: Though a pagan queen like Jezebel, she prized wisdom above power. She appears to have been intellectually gifted, with a good head for business and diplomacy.

Her Joy: That her quest for wisdom was rewarded beyond her expectations.

Key Scriptures: 1 Kings 10:1 - 13; Matthew 12:42 Monday HER STORY.

Sheba was a fragrant land, famous for its perfumes and spices. Located on the southwestern tip of Arabia, bordering the Red Sea, it traded precious commodities like gold, frankincense, and myrrh to kingdoms in Africa, India, and the Mediterranean. Little wonder that pa.s.sing caravans brought news of the wide world to Sheba's queen.

Lately, the queen had heard marvelous stories of Solomon, the son of Bathsheba and David, now Israel's third king. At his birth, a prophet had named him "Beloved of the Lord." Some said he was the wisest man alive.

The queen smiled as she recalled the tale of the two prost.i.tutes. Both had claimed to be mother to the same infant. How could the king possibly know who was telling the truth and who a lie? But Solomon merely ordered the baby cut in half, to be divided equally between the two women. He knew the real mother would relinquish her rights rather than let her child perish. Indeed, the king's cleverness had quickly revealed the truth, reuniting the heartbroken mother and her child.

The queen had also heard of the fabulous temple and palace Solomon had built in Jerusalem. Such a ruler, she realized, would have little trouble controlling the international trade routes crisscrossing his kingdom.

Though Jerusalem lay fifteen hundred miles to the north, the queen was determined to see for herself whether Solomon measured up to even half the tales told of him. Hoping to establish a trade agreement with Israel, she a.s.sembled a caravan of camels and loaded them with precious spices, gems, and four and a half tons of gold. Her entrance into Jerusalem would have created an unforgettable spectacle, adding to Solomon's growing fame.

Day after day, the queen pounded Solomon with hard questions. But nothing was too difficult for the king to explain. Overawed, the queen exclaimed: "The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Praise be to the Lord your G.o.d, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord's eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness."

Then the queen gave Solomon all the gold and spices she had brought with her, perhaps foreshadowing the Magi's gift of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ child nearly a thousand years later. In fact, Jesus himself referred to the Queen of Sheba when he replied to the Pharisees who had demanded from him a miraculous sign: "The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here" (Matthew 12:42).

Though ruler of a pagan nation, the Queen of Sheba was so drawn to the wisdom of G.o.d that she made an arduous and dangerous journey, traveling three thousand miles round-trip in order to meet the world's wisest man.

Tuesday HER LIFE AND TIMES.

GIFT GIVING.

Four and a half tons of gold-and that was just part of the gift the Queen of Sheba gave to Solomon when she visited him in Jerusalem. She had probably heard of his riches as well as his wisdom and knew that no puny gift would do; something magnificent was in order. Imagine a caravan of camel after camel entering Jerusalem, bearing gifts for Solomon. A camel could carry about two hundred pounds when traveling through the desert (a staggering four hundred pounds plus its rider on shorter, less strenuous journeys). That means forty-five camels were required to carry just the gold!

Most personal meetings in ancient cultures included gift giving. A visit to someone's home required bringing along a gift for the host or hostess. Even chance encounters in the desert included gift exchanges (Genesis 14:18 - 20). Gift giving in ancient cultures was also a way of expressing submission to someone who was in a superior position, whether in government, in the military, or in religious life. At times, a gift might be given to gain favor or even to bribe someone.

Some of the gifts mentioned in the Old Testament are staggering in scope. Check out the gifts of gold, silver, and clothing that Abraham's servant gave to Rebekah and her family (Genesis 24:53). These sorts of gifts - the bride price, or the dowry-given by the groom's family to the bride's family formed a significant part of the traditions surrounding marriage. One of Solomon's wives received an entire town from her father as a wedding gift (1 Kings 9:16). Jacob's reconciliation gift to Esau consisted of a herd of 550 animals (Genesis 32:13 - 15). Besides the thousands of animals the Israelites gave as gifts to G.o.d after their victory over the Midianites, they gave gold and silver jewelry, which weighed a total of 420 pounds (Numbers 31:51 - 52).

The Queen of Sheba wasn't the only one who brought gifts to Solomon; so many brought gifts of "silver and gold, robes, weapons and spices, and horses and mules" that in Solomon's time silver was "as common in Jerusalem as stones" (1 Kings 10:23-27). But the most famous gifts in the Bible were those given by the Magi to the child Jesus (Matthew 2:11).

The New Testament writers often talked about the gifts we give not to each other but to G.o.d. No gift, no matter how small, is displeasing to G.o.d if it is given with a generous and cheerful heart. In fact, Jesus praised the widow who gave only two small coins because she gave all she had out of a heart of love for G.o.d, contrasting her with others who gave a small amount of their wealth, often grudgingly (Luke 21:1-4). More important to G.o.d than the size of our gifts is the condition of our hearts when we give (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Greater and finer and more thrilling than any gift we can give to each other or to G.o.d are the gifts he gives to us. Solomon, in the midst of all his wealth and wisdom, thanked G.o.d for the gift of a good and simple life: satisfying work to do, peaceful rest at night, a bit of happiness (Ecclesiastes 3:13; 5:19). Matthew quotes Jesus telling his followers of G.o.d's wonderful care of us and his willingness to give us good things: "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:11).

But the crowning touch, the gift worth more than all the gold in the world, is the gift G.o.d so lovingly and willingly gave us of eternal life through his Son (Romans 6:23). No thank-you note required; just a life of grat.i.tude to G.o.d. In the words of Paul, "Thanks be to G.o.d for his indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15).

Wednesday HER LEGACY IN SCRIPTURE.

Read 1 Kings 10:1 - 13.

1. What do you think it meant that Solomon was famous because of "his relation to the name of the Lord"?

2. What questions do you think the Queen of Sheba might have asked him?

3. From everything you observe in this pa.s.sage, how would you describe the queen?

4. What is wisdom? Describe someone who is truly wise. Do you know anyone who you think is truly wise? Name that person.

5. How important is wisdom to you? Why is that?

Thursday HER PROMISE.

The Queen of Sheba was a wealthy and influential ruler whose nation dominated commercial trading in the Middle East at that time. She must have had a certain measure of wisdom, or at least intelligence, to rule such a country. Still, she had questions, many of them, and she sought out the region's famed King Solomon, depending on his wisdom for answers. Solomon didn't disappoint her; she went away satisfied.

Do you have any questions that need answers? Questions about yourself? About things that have happened in your life? About the will of G.o.d? About G.o.d's love for you? If you do, go to the source of all wisdom, G.o.d himself, for answers. When you diligently seek him, he doesn't always give clear answers, but he will give peace. And you will go away satisfied. He promises.

Promises in Scripture And I- in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

-Psalm 17:15 O G.o.d, you are my G.o.d, earnestly I seek you. . . .

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

-Psalm 63:1, 8 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom....

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

-Psalm 90:12,14 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; those who seek find; and to those who knock, the door will be opened.

-Matthew 7:7 - 8 Friday HER LEGACY OF PRAYER.

How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Praise be to the Lord your G.o.d, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel! Because of the Lord's eternal love for Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness.

- i Kings io:8 - 9 Reflect On: 1 Kings 10:1 - 13.

Praise G.o.d: For his generosity.

Offer Thanks: For G.o.d's wisdom working through others.

Confess: Any tendency to trust too much in your own wisdom without seeking G.o.dly counsel.

Ask G.o.d: To pour out wisdom on leaders in the church and in the government so that his ways are honored in your family, community, and nation.

Lift Your Heart Think about the gifts the Queen of Sheba lavished on Sol-vri/ omon-the perfume, spices, precious stones, and gold-as tangible acknowledgments of his greatness. Yet Solomon was only a man. What can you lavish on the One who is far greater than he?You can be generous with your praise, telling G.o.d everything you love about him. You can be generous with your time, going out of your way to help those in need. You can be generous with your trust, acting and praying in a way that shows your confidence in G.o.d's goodness and power. You can be generous with your money, giving what you can from your small h.o.a.rd. This week, don't be stingy. Think of at least one extravagant way to express your awe and your affection for G.o.d.

Jesus, everything I've heard about you is true, but I didn't believe it until you showed yourself to me. Then I realized I hadn't been told the half of it. Your wisdom, mercy, power, and kindness exceed everything I've ever heard. How happy are the women who belong to you! I praise the Father for delighting in you and placing you above everything and everyone. Because of the Lord's eternal love, he has made you our King.

Jezebel.

HER NAME MEANS.

'Where Is the Prince?'

Her Character: A religious woman, she spread idolatry throughout Israel. Powerful, cunning, and arrogant, she actively opposed G.o.d, even in the face of indisputable proofs of his sovereignty.

Her Triumph: To have enhanced her own power at the expense of others.

Her Tragedy: Her arrogance led to a shameless death.

Key Scriptures: 1 Kings 16:29 - 33; 18:1 - 19:2; 21:1- 25; 2 Kings 9 Monday HER STORY.

Jezebel was a Phoenician princess, daughter of the priest-king of Sidon. Married to King Ahab, she reigned as queen in northern Israel one hundred years after David's death and sixty years after Israel split into northern and southern kingdoms just after Solomon's death.

A woman of great conviction and unwavering devotion, Jezebel's ardent worship was directed not to the G.o.d of Israel but to the pagan fertility G.o.d Baal, thought to control the rain and hence the harvest. So determined was she to convert Israel to her own religion that she hunted down and killed all the prophets she could lay hands on, replacing them with 850 of her own.

Despite Jezebel's efforts, one prophet had escaped her, and he was the most annoying of all. His name was Elijah, which meant "My G.o.d Is Yahweh." By contrast, Jezebel meant "Where Is the Prince (Baal)?" or "The Prince (Baal) Exists." Inevitably, the two squared off.

By pushing Baal worship, Jezebel was spreading idolatry across Israel, but her brand of worship wasn't producing the desired results for the fields remained barren. The fertility G.o.ds, it seemed, had gone AWOL or else they were impotent.

Elijah, meanwhile, warned King Ahab: "As the Lord, the G.o.d of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word."

After three-and-a-half years of drought and famine, Elijah challenged the king to a.s.semble the prophets of Baal and Asherah to compete in a lopsided contest-850 to 1. Two bulls were prepared for sacrifice, but the fire for sacrifice was not lit. Instead, the true G.o.d would prove himself by sending fire from heaven.

From morning until noon Baal's prophets danced and shouted, "O Baal, answer us!" But the G.o.d of the storm was silent.

Relishing the spectacle, Elijah couldn't resist a few well-aimed taunts: "Shout louder! Surely he is a G.o.d! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." Elijah's sarcasm spurred the prophets of Baal to more frenzied efforts, but that day Baal, the G.o.d of fire, couldn't even light a match.

Then Elijah's turn came. To dramatize the difficulty of his task, he drenched the sacrifice with water not once but three times, praying: "O Lord, G.o.d of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today that you are G.o.d in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command."

Immediately, fire burned up the sacrifice. Rallying the people, Elijah then slaughtered Jezebel's 850 prophets.

Enraged at the news, the queen sent a messenger to Elijah, vowing to kill him. But he fled south, beyond her grasp.

Still, Jezebel kept busy, managing to find other targets for her schemes. One day she discovered her husband, Ahab, in a childish rage. Pouting, Ahab confided his troubles to her. Naboth, his near neighbor, had a lovely vineyard that the king desired. It would make such a nice vegetable garden. Yet his stingy subject refused to sell it.

"Is this how you act as king over Israel?" Jezebel challenged. "Get up and eat! Cheer up. I'll get you the vineyard."

Jezebel wrote a letter in Ahab's name and sent it to the elders of the town instructing them to produce witnesses to testify falsely that Naboth had cursed both G.o.d and the king, offenses punishable by death.

Ahab felt better when he heard the news that Naboth had been stoned to death as a traitor. Now his table would be laden with delicious vegetables straight from the garden. But then who should show up but Elijah, interrupting the king's leisurely stroll through his new garden.

"So you have found me, my enemy," the king greeted him.

"I have found you," Elijah replied, "because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel-slave or free. And also, concerning Jezebel, the Lord says: 'Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.' "

Elijah's words came true. Ahab eventually died in battle, the dogs licking the blood from his chariot. Jezebel, however, survived him by at least ten years. Then one day, a man called Jehu came riding into Jezreel to carry out the last half of Elijah's prophecy.

Tough as nails, Jezebel stood proudly at the window of her palace. Never one to back away from a challenge, Jezebel seized the initiative, shouting at Jehu: "Have you come in peace, Zimri (the name of a traitor), you murderer of your master?"

But Jehu simply ignored her, challenging those who stood near her. "Who is on my side? Throw her down!" Quickly, Jezebel's servants shoved her through the window. The palace walls were splattered a b.l.o.o.d.y red as horses trampled her body and the palace dogs finished the job. A powerful figure while she lived, hardly anything of her remained just shortly after her death.

Paired with Israel's worst king, Jezebel was the nation's worst queen and one of the Bible's most infamous women. How different her story would have been had she harnessed her power, her drive, and her devotion. A strong character, Jezebel could have been a female apostle Paul, whose misguided zeal was redirected toward the kingdom of G.o.d. Instead, unlike many biblical figures who are depicted with a mixture of good and bad traits, she stands out as someone purely evil, whose moral character is one-dimensional. Totally devoted to her G.o.ds, she reflected their image completely. Despite obvious miracles and repeated warnings, she was a woman who chose to harden her heart and suffer the consequences.

Tuesday HER LIFE AND TIMES.

BAAL WORSHIP.

Jezebel. Her name is synonymous with wickedness. Of all the beautiful biblical names used for children today, you won't find one Jezebel.

The daughter of Ethbaal, king of Sidon, Jezebel was raised and trained in Baal worship. She spent the years of her reign not only worshiping Baal but forcing Baal worship on her subjects. Statues of Baal showed him standing straight and tall wearing a helmet topped with bull's horns, a sign of power and fertility. In one hand he held a spear entwined with leaves, possibly symbolizing lightning and plant growth. His other hand held a club, which may have symbolized strength or thunder.

Baal worship involved the use of incense and sacrifice so common in the forms of worship of that day. The sacrifice at times involved innocent humans (Jeremiah 19:5). Also, since the main function of the G.o.d Baal was to make the land and animals and people fertile, fertility rites formed the chief part of Baal worship. Male and female attendants performed s.e.xual acts in order to induce Baal to lavish fertility on the land.

When the Israelites wandered from their faith in the one true G.o.d, they often became attracted to worshiping the false G.o.d Baal. They worshiped this G.o.d during the time of Barak and Balaam (Numbers 22:41) as well as during the time of the judges (Judges 2:13; 6:28 - 32). Even after Elijah's triumph over Baal on Mount Carmel and the death of450 priests...o...b..al that day (1 Kings 18:16 - 40),Baal worship continued off and on all during the reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah.

The worship of any false G.o.d is, of course, hateful to the true G.o.d. We know that. To us, Baal worship seems like a disgusting and foolish practice. We are far too sophisticated to understand its appeal. But aren't false G.o.ds just as prevalent today as in Jezebel's day? Consider the way we worship sports heroes, movie stars, and multimillionaires. Ours is a society that often bows to G.o.ds of money, s.e.x, and power. We would do well to remember that anything, no matter how good, that supplants G.o.d's place in our lives can become an idol if we let it.

Wednesday HER LEGACY IN SCRIPTURE.

Read 1 Kings 21:1 - 29 and 2 Kings 9:30 - 37.

1. How did Jezebel relate to her husband?

2. How did she relate to other people?

3. What is significant about the fact that Jezebel "painted her eyes" and "arranged her hair" (2 Kings 9:30)? Why did she do this? What does it say about her?

4. How do you feel about the fact that Jezebel got what she deserved? In general, do you like to see people get what they deserve? Why or why not?

5. Take a minute to imagine yourself as strong and evil as Jezebel. Then imagine yourself as strong as Jezebel but good. Let your mind go with the picture. What would you do if you were that strong but good?