Women of Courage: God did some serious business with these women - Leader Guide

Grow in your faith through examining fascinating and unusual biblical stories and events. Book 5 in The OBSCURE Bible Study Series features seven amazing women that display admiral character traits. The eighth woman is Gomer, whose adulterous character was used to try to capture the attention of Israel because the Jews were treating God just like Gomer treated her husband Hosea. The first lesson in the book describes the courage of Jael, Heber's wife. The story is a tale of allies, friends, traitors, and mixed loyalties. The story climaxes when Jael drove a tent peg into the skull of Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army. is the promiscuous wife of the prophet Hosea. God uses the relationship of Hosea and Gomer to illustrate the nature of the relationship between God and Israel. The Israelites had forsaken their God and were worshipping pagan deities - spiritual adultery. . The story of Rizpah is almost as strange as the story of Jael is exciting. Rizpah was the mother of two sons who were executed in retaliation for past bloodshed by Saul against the Gibeonites. Rizpah watched over her son's bodies to protect them from scavengers. This was a 24/7 commitment that may have lasted as long as five months. was recruited to go to King David with a fabricated story in order for David to realize how his treatment of his son Absalom was impacting all those around him as well as the kingdom. The lesson examines the trickery of those involved with the charade as well as David's discernment. (Tabitha). The book then investigates the miracle of Dorcas' (Tabitha) restoration to life and asks the question, "Do you need a miracle in your life?" This is followed by the story of "the other Mary." The primary focus of this study is the Sabbath and how the rules surrounding the Sabbath should impact us in our walk with the Lord today. are another example of the bravery and courage of women choosing to fear God rather than obey man. These two women were in charge of the midwives who refused to kill Israel's baby boys. This provided the opportunity for Moses to be floated in the Nile, rescued, and to become the adopted son of the Pharaoh's daughter. He ultimately led his people out of Egypt. Lastly we have the story of Lydia who was a dealer in purple cloth. Lydia was discovered at a "place of prayer" by Paul and Silas. She was a follower of the Jewish religion, but God stirred Lydia to understand the truth as her "heart was opened." She was baptized and she brought her whole household to Paul for conversion. Lydia's house became home base for Paul, Silas, and his traveling group when they were in Philippi.