GOD’S GRACE IN THE LIVES OF WOMEN IN THE BIBLE

NORTH CHRISTIAN CHURCH WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY
GOD’S GRACE IN THE LIVES OF WOMEN IN THE BIBLE

The Holy Spirit has been communicating from the pulpit that man does not have the right to dictate the boundaries of God's grace in Salvation, or in any aspects of life. God is sovereign. God chooses. In this study, we will look at the “failures” of different women recorded in The Bible through the lens of God’s grace. We will dig into Holy Scripture and see the many ways God reveals His grace and furthers His plan. We will also let the scriptures guide our discussion as we find applications to our own lives, as women of faith, for His glory and for our edification.

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them? For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen” (Rom 11:33-36).

“The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, assign reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 5:20).


Part 1: God’s Grace in Response to Eve

Read: Genesis 2 and 3; 2 Corinthians 11:3 & 1 Timothy 2:13

Genesis Chapter 2

• V2:18 - What is the first “title” we see for Eve? What is God’s purpose in creating the first woman? Consider all the ways God’s grace is revealed in his creation of Eve, and in giving her a specific purpose. What are the dangers in forgetting His purpose for us?
• V2:22-25 – What is significant about Eve being called by Adam “bone of my bones”? Contrast the God-made woman, Eve, in this verse to the “self-made” woman of the world (consider concepts of dependence vs. independence).
• V2:25 – Before the Fall, we read of Adam and Eve being naked and unashamed. What does this reveal about God’s original and perfect design? How can we, as believers with sin natures, simultaneously experience shamelessness and nakedness (Psa 139:14, 1Co 6:19-20, 2Co 5:21, Heb 10:14; 12:2)?
  

• V3:1 – Satan begins his conversation with Eve by insinuating doubt as to her understanding of God’s will. What are some examples of how Satan continues to do this today in our lives (2Co 11:3; 14)? When are we most vulnerable to satanic deception (Pro 16:18-28, Rom 12:2, Gal 5:16-26, Eph 6:10-18)?
• V3:2-3 – How does Eve misrepresent God’s Word in this verse (Cp Gen 2:16-17)? What are the dangers of adding or subtracting to God’s Word (Cp Deu 4:2, Rev 22:19)?
• V3:4-5 – What happens when Eve listens to the serpent? How does Satan introduce the temptation of the sin of arrogance (Isa 14:13-14)? How does Satan continue to do this today? As humans with sin natures, how do we avoid listening to the temptations of our enemies (flesh, world, Satan) (Psa 32:8-9, Pro 2:1-5, Jer 33:3, Luk 11:28)?
• V3:6 – Eve is drawn by her temptation. To what desire does she give in (Jam 1:13-15)? How can we guard our souls from evil desires (Rom 12:12, 1Jo 2:16)? What is noteworthy about Eve being the one to offer her husband fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? What can we learn from this (Rom 14:13-23)?
• V3:7 – How is Eve’s newly attained knowledge after eating the fruit vastly different from that of her desired wisdom in Genesis 3:6? How do our fleshly lusts follow this similar pattern (Pro 27:20, Rom 13:14, Gal 5:16-26, 1Pe 1:14-16, 1Jo 2:15-17)?
• V3:8-11 – Contrast Adams and Eve’s hiding and making coverings for themselves to their being “naked and unafraid” in Genesis 2:25. As believers, we now have the ability to be “naked and unafraid” in Christ, yet we still, at times, resort to “hiding” or “covering” ourselves from our Lord. Why do we do this? What is God’s perfect solution (Psa 139:14, Jam 4:10, 1Pe 5:6,)? How does God’s encounter with Adam and Eve reveal His grace?
• V3:13 – This is the first time we read of Eve acknowledging that she has been deceived, but we do not read of her mentioning that she failed to obey God. We have learned from recent pulpit teachings about the sin of omission vs. the sin of commission. Why can enticing the sin of omission in a believer’s life be a great weapon of Satan’s? Can you think of examples of this in today’s world?
• V3:14-19 – How do these verses reveal God’s love? What can be said about the accommodation of His grace and the importance of fearing Him (Psa 33:8, Pro 1:7, 9:10)?
• V3:20 – Eve once called Ishah (woman) emphasizing her role as his wife, is now given the name Evah (life), emphasizing her role as the “mother of all the living.” In Eve’s life, how does God use both punishment and blessing for His purpose and glory (1Ti 2: 13-15)? What about in our lives?
  

• V11:3 – In his writing to the Corinthians, Paul does not want them to be deceived as Eve was deceived. What were the blessings for Eve before the fall (Gen 2:25)? What are our blessings when we live in “sincere and pure devotion to Christ?”

• V2:13 — What is the significance of Paul including the order of creation - man, then woman? What type of guidance does the Bible give women as it relates to being suitable helpers (1Ti 2:8-12)? How is “American Dating” a direct attack on God’s design and women’s virtue (cp 4/21/17, The Bible Says to Run Away!!! Pastor Ed Collins)?
• V2:15 — This verse states that there is a condition to being “persevered through the bearing of children”. Perseverance comes to women who continue in “faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint”. What is the significance of sanctity (1Co 6:11; 1Th 4:3; 5:23; 2Ti 2:21)? How are faith and love intertwined with sanctity?
  

• V1:3-7 –The death of Elimelech and his sons prepared the way for Naomi and Ruth to return to Bethlehem (CP 16-22). God is acting on behalf of His grace and providence. We see that, “The Lord visited His people” providing rain to break the famine in Judah. We may not understand what God is doing in the middle of certain trials. In fact, this seems to be the case most often. Can you think of examples of how God has revealed His purpose to you after enduring certain trials or how He used these trials to push you in a specific direction? How does this increase our faith? How might we be able to encourage one another with this knowledge (Rom 5:3-5; 8:28)?
• V1:13 – Naomi states, “…the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me.” How do we know that Naomi is misunderstanding God’s “hand” in her current circumstance?
• When something is going wrong in our lives, what causes us to jump to conclusions about God’s plan? During painful and trying times, how can we avoid this (Job 13:15-16, Psa 37:5-9, Prov 3:5, Jer 29:11)? What else does the Word of God have to say about this topic?
• V1:14-18 – This section speaks of Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi. However, something much greater is in view: we see Ruth turning from her prior life (gods, land, people, etc.) to a new life serving Jehovah of Israel, the one true God. How do Ruth’s actions show that she has a heart that is like the fertile soil spoken of in Mathew 13:23? What else do you see in Ruth that reflects the type of heart that is changed by God and necessary to be open to The Gospel (1Th 1:9-10)?

• V2:3-4 – “… (Ruth) happened to come to the portion of field belonging to Boaz…” Once again we see Divine Providence. A seemingly short time passes from when Ruth begins working in the field to when Boaz arrives from Bethlehem and greets the harvesters by stating, “The Lord be with you!” What type of confirmation must this have been for Ruth’s soul (CP 1:16)? How do Ruth’s decisions demonstrate the link between humility, a servant’s heart, and blessing?
• V2:8-10 – Ruth, a foreigner, is blessed with Boaz’s protection. Boaz speaks of the refuge of The Lord. How does Boaz exemplify Godly protection (Lev 19:33-34, 1Ki 8:41-43, Psa 5:11; 20:1; 46:1; 57:1; 140:4, Mat 23:37)?
• V2:10-12 –What similarities do you see between Ruth and the Samaritan woman in John 4:7-26? What is significant about Boaz’s response to Ruth’s question? Of what does her kinsman-redeemer take notice? What does our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ require of His children (Mat 16:24-26, Luk 17:18, Jam 4:10)?
• V2:4-17- Boaz goes beyond what Mosaic legislation required by feeding Ruth (2:14), letting her glean among the sheaves (2:15), and leaving extra grain for her to glean (2:16). What does this reveal about Boaz’s heart? How is this reflective of God’s grace towards mankind (Lev 23:22; Deu 24:19-22)?
• V2:20 – How does God give Naomi confidence in His sovereignty, loyalty to His covenant, and loving-kindness? Consider the customs of the kinsman-redeemer (Deu 25:5-10). By grace, God gave the Israelites earthly customs which pointed to the Cross. How do we know that the Old Testament believers understood that Jehovah God was their Redeemer (Psa 19:14; 78:35, Isa 43:14)?
• V2:22-23 – Why does Naomi instruct Ruth to stay close to Boaz? As a Moabite, what type of treatment might she receive outside of the family? How can believers relate to Ruth being a foreigner and the need to stay close to our Redeemer? What warnings does the Word of God give us about the world (Joh 17:14-16, Rom 12:1-2, 1Jo 4:4; 5:19)?

• V3:1-3 – Naomi instructs Ruth in the way she should go to ensure a brighter future. What does the Bible have to say about the older teaching the younger (Tit 2:3-5)?
• V3: 9 – Ruth makes her request boldly to Boaz, using the words from his prayer in 2:2. How are both Ruth and Boaz’s faith in and knowledge of their Lord revealed in their prayer and petition? How are we instructed to come to His throne of Grace (Luk 11:9, Joh 14:13-14, Heb 4:16)?
• V3:18 – What is the significance of “waiting” in this verse? How does God grow patience in us? What is the value of being patient (Rom 5:4-6; 8:24-30)?

• V4:5-8 – Here we see that Naomi’s closest relative is not willing to redeem the land because of Ruth. How is this an example of God’s plan being unaltered by man’s free will (Eph 2:10, Phi 2:13, Heb 13:21)?
• V4:14 - The Lord does not leave Naomi without a redeemer. Contrast this tremendous blessing to the hardships Naomi faces. What perspective should we have when we go through trials in this life (Rut 1:20-21, 2Co 4:17)?
• V4:15-18 – The women pray that Naomi be blessed by the “restorer of life” and “sustainer of old age.” Ruth’s son, Obed, whose name means “servant,” restores the family line of Naomi’s deceased son, Mahlon. What parallels can be drawn between Obed and Jesus Christ (Psa 30:2-3, Mat 20:26-28, 1Ti 6:13)?