It’s hard to relate to women whose culture is so different from today. So how do we make a connection to bridge the time gap? By looking at their character.
We can also relate to who they were, regular women walking this earth with problems to deal with. How did they do it? Through their faithfulness they became remarkable women of God.
We talk about faith, but what is faithfulness?
According to Merriam-Webster, it means steadfast in affection or allegiance : loyal.
These women had faithfulness to God in common. We can have the same attribute and stand together with them even with a 2,000 year or more spread.
We will be talking about these 3 women and how their faithfulness to God made them remarkable.
- Sarah
- Ruth
- Martha
Sarah–Faithfulness in Discouragement
Who is Sarah?
Genesis 11:29 NIV “Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milkah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milkah and Iskah.”
Sarah’s name orginally was Sarai and Abraham’s was Abram. God changed their names later.
God made a covenant with Abraham and promise him to become a nation. Part of the plan was for Abraham and Sarah to have a son.
Sarah’s Problem
Even though God had promised a son, Sarah did not become pregnant. As the years passed, she became anxious to have a child. At this time, that was the highlight of a woman’s life and considered a sign of disfavor from God if you didn’t have child.
Sarah’s Joy
Genesis 21:1-7 NIV “Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”
Wow, what an answer to prayer! Look closely, Abraham was 100 years old. How old was Sarah? 90 years old!! Because of Sarah’s faithfulness, a miracle happened in her life. God gave her a son in His time not theirs.
Sarah’s Faithfulness
When we look at the life of Sarah, there were times she was impatient with the Lord but this is what God says about her in Hebrews 11:11 ESV “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.”
We learn from Sarah to continue to be faithful to God even when we become discouraged. She overcame her feelings and trusted God because she knew He was faithful to His promises.
Ruth- Faithful to God Through Serving
Who is Ruth?
Ruth 1:1-5 NIV “In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.
Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.”
Ruth was the daughter-in-law of Naomi. When Naomi decided to go back to Bethlehem, she told Ruth and Orpah to go back home to their families because it would be too hard on them without husbands in Bethlehem. Ruth refused and Orpah eventually decided to go back home.
Ruth’s Choice
Ruth and Orpah both loved Naomi, but we see a key to Ruth’s heart in Ruth 1:16-18 NIV ” But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.
Ruth not only loved Naomi, but chose her God. Her path in following Naomi, was to follow God. Throughout her life, she was faithful. How does she refer to Naomi’s God? Lord.
Ruth’s Help and Encouragement
Naomi was very depressed because of her circumstances. Ruth was there to encourage and help her. Without husbands they didn’t have any means of support in Bethlehem. Ruth suggested to Naomi that she would find a field to glean(follow after harvesters to gather left over grain) so they would have something to eat.
The field she found belonged to Boaz, a relative in line for their guardian-redeemer, one who could act on their behalf. Through the course of time, Ruth and Boaz married.
Ruth’s Faithfulness
Through Ruth’s faithfulness to God, both she and Naomi were taken care of. Boaz and Ruth had a baby boy named Obed who became the grandfather of David. Ruth is one of 4 women included in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
Looking at Ruth’s life, we can see a true servants heart. One faithful in following God in obedience even when it meant leaving everything behind.
Martha-Faithful in Time of Sorrow
Who is Martha?
John 11:1-3 NIV “Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “’Lord, the one you love is sick.’”
Martha is the sister of Mary and Lazarus. They were very close friends of Jesus. The sisters referred to Lazarus as one whom the Lord loved.
Martha’s Problem
Lazarus became very ill and they notified Jesus. They expected Him to come as soon as possible but instead, He delayed coming.
When He did arrive, the sisters were upset because Lazarus had died in the meantime.
Martha’s Faithfulness
John 11:17-22 NIV “On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
“’Lord,’” Martha said to Jesus, “’if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.’”
Martha did not understand the Lord’s timing. In spite of her sorrow, Martha had faith that Jesus would take care of the situation. She faithfully waited for the Lord to help.
Martha’s Answer
John 11:43-44 NIV “ When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “’Lazarus, come out!’” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “’Take off the grave clothes and let him go.’”
Martha and Mary were blessed with having their brother back again. Martha was remarkable. She had faith that the Lord would take care of Lazarus. How many of us would have had that kind of faith in the time of our sorrow?
Conclusion
What can we learn from these 3 women?
Their faithfulness to God in spite of their circumstances. We need to remember this is possible because they drew their strength from God. They experienced the same trials that we do and we can handle it in the same way they did-faithfulness in every circumstance.
Our faithfulness becomes stronger the more we depend on Jesus. Spending time in prayer, the Bible and communing with other Christians help your faithfulness grow. If you don’t have a regular time with the Lord, try to keep it going every day for a week.
- Pray – ask for His strength to be faithful
- Read God’s Word- Look up verses about faithfulness
- Listen to God’s Voice
- Apply what you have learned
If you have questions, please comment. Jackie
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