Every Woman's Bible Genesis sampler - Flipbook - Page 6
66
WH AT T HE BI BLE SAYS A BO U T
We Work and Rest
Following God’s
Rhythms
Get Skilled
God blessed the seventh
day and declared it holy,
because it was the day when
he rested from all his work of
creation. G E N E S I S 2 : 3
You have expert goldsmiths
and silversmiths and workers
of bronze and iron. Now
begin the work, and may the
LORD be with you!
You have six days each week
for your ordinary work, but
the seventh day must be a
Sabbath day of complete rest,
a holy day dedicated to the
LORD. E X O D U S 3 5 : 2
We Work for the Real Boss
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were
working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that
the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that
the Master you are serving is Christ. C O L O S S I A N S 3 : 2 3 - 2 4
67
She is energetic
and strong
Work
1 CHRONICLES 22:16
Do you see any truly
competent workers? They
will serve kings rather than
working for ordinary people.
For all who have entered into
God’s rest have rested from
their labors, just as God did
after creating the world.
PROVERBS 22:29
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT . . .
Sometimes it helps to look at the big picture. This feature
illuminates key themes throughout the Bible, especially
themes of interest to women, by gathering key verses all in
one place. Consider these pages to be a starting place for
your study of each topic.
Our First “Job Description”
God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the
earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in
the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
GENESIS 1:28
The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend
and watch over it. G E N E S I S 2 : 1 5
HEBREWS 4:10
A Prayer for
Our Work
Work Hard
May the Lord our God show
us his approval and make our
efforts successful. Yes, make
our efforts successful!
PROVERBS 10:4
Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich.
Work Justly
Do not make your hired workers wait until the next day to receive their pay. L E V I T I C U S 1 9 : 1 3
PSALM 90:17
As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit, so workers who protect their employer’s
interests will be rewarded. P R O V E R B S 2 7 : 1 8
A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the
hands to rest—then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;
scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.
PROVERBS 24:33-34
She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. P R O V E R B S 3 1 : 1 7
How We Work Matters More Than Where We Work
Work willingly
at whatever
you do...
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather
than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your
reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. C O L O S S I A N S 3 : 2 3 -2 4
Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with
your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will
respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.
1 THESSALONIANS 4:11-12
GENESIS 14
22
Insight
Hattusha
GENESIS 2
Empty
(Genesis 1:14-19)
Sun, Moon, Stars
Sea
Aleppo
CHAOS
HEAVENS
Nineveh
Hamath
Asshur
r ra
ed
i te
DAY 4
M
DAY 1
(Genesis 1:3-5)
Light, Dark
0
DAY 2
(Genesis 1:6-8)
Water, Sky
WATER
AND SKY
DAY 6
DAY 3
EARTH
(Genesis 1:9-13)
Sea, Land
Formed
0
DAY 5
(Genesis 1:20-23)
Birds, Fish
COSMOS
(Genesis 1:24-31)
Animals, Humans
Filled
DAY 7
(Genesis 2:2-3)
Rest
28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be
fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern
it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the
sky, and all the animals that scurry along the
ground.”
29 Then God said, “Look! I have given you
every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth
and all the fruit trees for your food. 30And I
have given every green plant as food for all
the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the
small animals that scurry along the ground—
everything that has life.” And that is what
happened.
31 Then God looked over all he had made, and
he saw that it was very good!
And evening passed and morning
G ecame,
neSIS 38
marking the sixth day.
So the creation of the heavens and the earth
and everything in them was completed. 2 On
the seventh day God had finished his work of
creation, so he rested* from all his work. 3And
God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy,
because it was the day when he rested from all
his work of creation.
2
This is the account of the creation of the heavens
and the earth.
4
The Man and Woman in Eden
CANA
AN
ne
an
Formless
)
(northern Ur)
Haran
DAYS O F C R E AT I O N
Damascus
ARABIAN
DESERT
37:36 Hebrew the Medanites. The relationship between the Midianites and Medanites is unclear; compare 37:28. See also 25:2.
37:26 Hebrew cover his blood. 37:28 Hebrew 20 [shekels], about 8 ounces or 228 grams in weight. 37:35 Hebrew go down to Sheol.
37:36 Hebrew the Medanites. The relationship between the Midianites and Medanites is unclear; compare 37:28. See also 25:2.
37:25 The Ishmaelite traders carried spices to Egypt for embalming. From Jacob’s perspective, his son had already died. Ironically,
37:25 The Ishmaelite traders carried spices to Egypt for embalmGenesis ends with Joseph embalmed in a coffin in Egypt (50:26),
ing. From Jacob’s perspective, his son had already died. Ironically,
but his sojourn there gave life. Through it, God preserved Joseph’s
Genesis ends with Joseph embalmed in a coffin in Egypt (50:26),
life and the lives of his brothers and their families.
but his sojourn there gave life. Through it, God preserved Joseph’s
38:1-30 This story may seem like a random interruption to the
life and the lives of his brothers and their families.
Joseph saga, but it provides a crucial piece of the story—Judah’s
38:1-30 This story may seem like a random interruption to the
Joseph saga, but it provides a crucial piece of the story—Judah’s
14:14
Susa
Ur
(southern Ur)
steps
per day
660
days
far as you can see, to you and your descendants* as a
permanent possession. 16And I will give you so many
descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! 17 Go and walk through the land in
every direction, for I am giving it to you.”
18 So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled
near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he
built another altar to the LORD.
Abram Rescues Lot
About this time war broke out in the region.
King Amraphel of Babylonia,* King Arioch of
Ellasar, King Kedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of
Goiim 2fought against King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar).
3 This second group of kings joined forces in Siddim
Valley (that is, the valley of the Dead Sea*). 4For twelve
years they had been subject to King Kedorlaomer, but
in the thirteenth year they rebelled against him.
5 One year later Kedorlaomer and his allies arrived
and defeated the Rephaites at Ashteroth-karnaim,
the Zuzites at Ham, the Emites at Shaveh-kiriathaim,
6 and the Horites at Mount Seir, as far as El-paran at
the edge of the wilderness. 7 Then they turned back
and came to En-mishpat (now called Kadesh) and
conquered all the territory of the Amalekites, and
also the Amorites living in Hazazon-tamar.
8 Then the rebel kings of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela (also called Zoar) prepared
for battle in the valley of the Dead Sea.* 9 They fought
14
14:1 Hebrew Shinar; also in 14:9. 14:3 Hebrew Salt Sea. 14:8 Hebrew Siddim Valley (see 14:3);
GENESIS 38
38
38
EXODUS
400 Mi
600 Km
Abram had built the altar, and there he worshiped
the LORD again.
5 Lot, who was traveling with Abram, had also become very wealthy with flocks of sheep and goats,
herds of cattle, and many tents. 6But the land could not
support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and
herds living so close together. 7So disputes broke out
between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. (At that time
Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land.)
8 Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all,
we are close relatives! 9The whole countryside is open
to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you
want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the
left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the
land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.”
10 Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was
well watered everywhere, like the garden of the LORD
or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the
LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11Lot chose
for himself the whole Jordan Valley to the east of
them. He went there with his flocks and servants and
parted company with his uncle Abram. 12So Abram
settled in the land of Canaan, and Lot moved his tents
to a place near Sodom and settled among the cities of
the plain. 13But the people of this area were extremely
wicked and constantly sinned against the LORD.
14After Lot had gone, the LORD said to Abram,
“Look as far as you can see in every direction—north
and south, east and west. 15I am giving all this land, as
“Anybody who
“Anybody
who
has
survived
has
[her]survived
childhood
[her]
childhood
has enough
has
enough about
information
information
life to last . . .about
the
life
. . . days.
the ”
resttooflast
[her]
rest of [her] days.”
The
himself w ill
ig t
Just
stay calm.
Babylon
5,000
200
300
13:15 Hebrew seed; also in 13:16.
When the LORD God made the earth and the heavalso in 14:10.
ens, 5 neither wild plants nor grains were growing
on the earth. For the LORD God had not yet sent rain
to water the earth, and there were no
58people to cultivate the soil. 6 Instead, springs* came up from the
58 26Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain by
killing
our brother? We’d have to cover up the crime.*
26 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain by
27 Instead
of hurting him, let’s sell him to those Ishour
brother?
We’d
cover
up the our
crime.*
model for us to emulate. None of us can work killing
nonstop.
We
need
2:2 God did not rest because he was tired. He rested because
maelite
traders.
After
all,have
he isto
our
brother—
own
Instead
hurting
him,
sell him
to those
Ishto pattern
our
his creative work was finished. He rested the way a king rests on regular periods of rest. Genesis 1:1–2:3 invites27us
28 So when
flesh
andof
blood!”
And
his let’s
brothers
agreed.
ma
ite traders.
he isMid
ourian
brother—
our came
own
work week after God’s.
his throne when his dominion is at peace. The creation week is a
theelIsh
maelites,After
whoall,
were
ite traders,
28 So when
flesh
blood!”
Andpulled
his brothers
agreed.
by, Joand
seph’s
brothers
him out
of the cistern
and
the
mato
elites,
were Mid
ianiteoftraders,
came
soldIsh
him
themwho
for twenty
pieces*
silver. And
the
by,
Joseph’s
brothers
traders
took
him to pulled
Egypt. him out of the cistern and
sold29him
totime
them
for Reu
twenty
oftosilver.
Some
later,
benpieces*
returned
get JoAnd
sephthe
out
traders
took him
to Egypt.
of29the cistern.
When
he discovered that Joseph was
Some time
later,
ben returned
Joseph
out
missing,
he tore
hisReu
clothes
in grief.to30get
Then
he went
of
the to
cistern.
When he
Jo
seph
was
back
his brothers
anddiscovered
lamented, that
“The
boy
is gone!
30
missing,
heI do
tore
his clothes in grief. Then he went
What will
now?”
back
to histhe
brothers
and
lamented,
“The
boy
isdipped
gone!
31 Then
brothers
killed
a young
goat
and
What
will robe
I do now?”
Jo31seph’s
in its blood. 32 They sent the beautiful
Then
the brothers
killed
a young
goat
and dipped
robe
to their
father with
this
message:
“Look
at what
32
sent
beautiful
Jo
seph’s
robe
in its this
blood.
we
found.
Doesn’t
robeThey
belong
to the
your
son?”
robe
to their
father
with this message:
“Look “Yes,”
at what
33 Their
father
recognized
it immediately.
he
FLANNERY O’CONNOR
we
found.
this
robeAbelong
to yourmust
son?”have
said,
“it isDoesn’t
my son’s
robe.
wild animal
33 Their father recognized it immediately. “Yes,” he
novelist
eaten
him. Joseph has clearly been torn to pieces!”
F(1925–1964)
L A N N E RY American
O’CO N N O
R
said,
“it Jacob
is my tore
son’shis
robe.
A wild
havein
34 Then
clothes
andanimal
dressedmust
himself
and Christian
(1925–1964)
American novelist
eaten
him.
Joseph has
clearly
torn
pieces!”
burlap.
He mourned
deeply
forbeen
his son
forto
a long
time.
34 Then Jacob tore his clothes and dressed himself in
and Christian
35 His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to
burlap.
He mourned
forgrave*
his sonmourning
for a longfor
time.
be comforted.
“I willdeeply
go to my
my
35 His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to
son,” he would say, and then he would weep.
Joseph Sold into Slavery
be comforted.
“I will
goMid
to my
mourning
for myin
36 Meanwhile,
the
iangrave*
ite traders*
arrived
18 When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recson,”
hewhere
wouldthey
say, and
he would
weep.an officer
Joseph
Sold into Slavery
Egypt,
soldthen
Joseph
to Potiphar,
36 Meanwhile, the Midianite traders* arrived in
ognized him in the distance. As he approached, they
18 When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recof Pha
raoh, the king of Egypt. Potiphar was captain
made plans to kill him. 19“Here comes the dreamer!” Egypt, where they sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer
of the palace guard.
ognized
him
in theon,
distance.
heand
approached,
20 “Come
they said.
let’s
killAs
him
throw himthey
into of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Potiphar was captain
19 “Here comes the dreamer!”
made
tocisterns.
kill him.We
one ofplans
these
can tell our father, ‘A wild of the palace guard.
20 “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into
they
said.has
animal
eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes Judah and Tamar
one
of dreams!”
these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild
About
this time, Judah left home and moved to
of his
Judah
and
Tamar
animal
eaten
Then we’ll
seescheme,
what behe
comes
21 Buthas
Adullam, where he stayed with a man named
when
Reuhim.’
ben heard
of their
came
About this time, Judah left home and moved to
of
his
dreams!”
There he saw a Canaanite woman, the daughto21
Joseph’s
rescue. “Let’s not kill him,” he said. 22“Why Hirah. 2Adul
lam, where he stayed with a man named
But when
Reuany
benblood?
heard of
their
scheme,
came
ter of 2Shua, and he married her. When he slept with
should
we shed
Let’s
just
throwhe
him
into Hi
22 “Why
rah. There he saw a Canaanite woman, the daughto
Joseph’s
killwilderness.
him,” he said.
her, 3she became pregnant and gave birth to a son,
this
emptyrescue.
cistern“Let’s
herenot
in the
Then
he’ll ter
of Shua, and he married her. When he slept with
should
we shed
blood?
Let’son
just
throw
and3he named the boy Er. 4Then she became pregnant
die without
ourany
laying
a hand
him.”
Reuhim
beninto
was her,
she became pregnant and gave birth to a son,
this
empty
cistern here
in theJo
wilderness.
Then he’ll
again and gave birth to another
son, and she named
secretly
planning
to rescue
seph and return
him and
he named the boy Er. 4Then she became pregnant
die
without
to his
father.our laying a hand on him.” Reuben was him Onan. 5And when she gave birth to a third son, she
and gave birth to another son, and she named
secretly
planning to rescue Joseph and return him again
23 So when
Shelah. At the time of Shelah’s birth, they
Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped named him
him Onan. 5And when she gave birth to a third son, she
to his father.
off23 the beautiful robe he was wearing. 24 Then they were living at Kezib.
him Shelah. At the time of Shelah’s birth, they
So when Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped named
6 In the course of time, Judah arranged for his firstgrabbed him and threw him into the cistern.
Now the
24
off the beautiful robe he was wearing. Then25 they were living at Kezib.
cistern was empty; there was no water in it. Then, born son, Er, to marry a young woman named Tamar.
grabbed him and threw him into the cistern. Now the 7 6 In the course of time, Judah arranged for his firstjust as they were sitting down to eat, they looked
up But Er was a wicked man in the Lord’s sight, so the
25
a young woman named Tamar.
cistern was empty; there was no water in it. Then, born son, Er, to marry
and saw a caravan of camels in the distance coming Lord took his life. 8 Then Judah said to Er’s brother
just as they were sitting down to eat, they looked up 7 But Er was a wicked man in the LORD’s sight, so the
toward them. It was a group of Ishmaelite traders Onan, “Go and marry Tamar, as our law requires of
and saw a caravan of camels in the distance coming LORD took his life. 8 Then Judah said to Er’s brother
taking a load of gum, balm, and aromatic resin from the brother of a man who has died. You must protoward them. It was a group of Ishmaelite traders Onan, “Go and marry Tamar, as our law requires of
duce an heir for your brother.”
Gilead down to Egypt.
taking a load of gum, balm, and aromatic resin from the brother of a man who has died. You must pro37:26
his blood. 37:28 Hebrew 20 [shekels], about 8 ounces
or 228
in weight.
37:35 Hebrew go down to Sheol.
duce an
heirgrams
for your
brother.”
Gil
eadHebrew
downcover
to Egypt.
2:2 Or ceased; also in 2:3. 2:6 Or mist.
These charts,
maps, graphs, and illustrations help
us understand the Bible beyond
what words alone may offer. You’ll
find these where an illustration,
more information, or a cultural
insight can help you see beyond
the pages themselves to the real
world of the Bible.
Abram, Sarai, their extended
family, and their servants walked
from Ur to Haran (600 miles),
on to Canaan (400 miles), then
down to Egypt (325 miles), and
back to Canaan again. How
many steps do you walk a day?
Women worldwide walk 5,000
steps daily. If Sarai had done
that, it would have taken her
660 days to complete this route.
URARTU (AR
AR
AT
6
Insight
I NSIGHT
SA R A I A N D A BR A M ’ S T R AV E L S
character transformation. It had been Judah’s idea to sell his
brother Joseph into slavery, a move to profit from his disapcharacter transformation. It had been Judah’s idea to sell his
pearance (37:26-27). His claim to care about his brother in
brother Joseph into slavery, a move to profit from his disap37:27 rings hollow. However, by the end of the saga, Judah
pearance (37:26-27). His claim to care about his brother in
had offered himself to be enslaved in place of his brother
37:27 rings hollow. However, by the end of the saga, Judah
Benjamin (44:30-34).
had offered himself to be enslaved in place of his brother
38:8-10 This custom is known as levirate marriage (from the
Benjamin (44:30-34).
38:8-10 This custom is known as levirate marriage (from the
SH E SAYS
Throughout the Bible, you’ll find powerful
quotes that capture the voices of Christian women across history. These quotes show us how they lived out their faith across
many cultures and places. We gain inspiration from their words
as we hear from leaders of movements and church denominations, singers and writers and artists, and missionaries and theologians. We find strength from the variety of voices, reminding
us that women throughout history and from many walks of life
have much to say about how God is with us today, where we are.
S C RI P T U R E PAU SE
WORD S TO REMEMBER
Throughout this Bible, you’ll find
full-page script lettering of Bible
verses that inspire us. We hope
these pages give you space to
take a breath, spend a moment
reflecting on a brief Bible verse,
and experience the peace God’s
Word gives.
You will find highlighted portions of Scripture
throughout the Bible. We’ve spotlighted these
frequently cited passages so you can see what
verses draw the most interest from other readers.
And you may want to take some of these with you
into your days by committing them to memory.
plants and trees from which they came.”
livestock, kinds
allofthe
wild animals onsawthe
earth,*
and
that it was
good.
And that is what happened. The land produced
Then God said, “Let us make human beings*
vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants,
in our image,
like us. They will reign over
the small animals
scurry
theto beground.”
and trees with seed-that
bearing fruit.
Their seeds along
the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the
produced plants and trees of the same kind. And
12
26
27
God saw that it was good.
13And evening passed and morning came,
marking the third day.
livestock, all the wild animals on the earth,* and
the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
So God created human beings* SoinGodhis
o
created human beings* in his own
image.
Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to
image.
In the image of God he created them;
separate the day from the night. Let them be
male and female he created them.
signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. Let
In the image of God he crea
male and female he crea
27
14
15
1:1 Or In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, . . . Or When God began to create the heavens and the earth, . . .
1:26a Or man; Hebrew reads adam. 1:26b As in Syriac version; Hebrew reads all the earth. 1:27 Or the man; Hebrew reads ha-adam.
1:1 Some Christians read Genesis as a description of how God
made the world. Other Christians see it as a poetic celebration
A4
of creation that unveils God’s intentions without revealing his
d the earth, . . . Or When Godmethods.
began
to create the hea
Whatever you conclude about the way God made the
Genesis leaves no room to see our world as an accident.
brew reads all theworld,
earth.
1:27
Oragree
the
man;
Other
biblical accounts
of creation
(for example,
Job 38;
Psalm 104).
1:11-12 The focus of the creation week is fertility. God told the
residents of creation to “be fruitful and multiply” and to “fill
the earth” (1:22, 28). He repeatedly emphasized the fruitfulness of plants (1:11-12, 29-30) and made each living thing
1:22 In the context of his creative work, God blessed a few
specific things: fish and birds (1:21-22), animals and humans
(1:25-28), and the seventh day (2:3)—later called the Sabbath.
This trilogy of blessings highlights the Creator’s plan: God made
humankind in his image to exercise stewardship over the creatures of the earth and to participate in God’s Sabbath rest.
1:26-27 Humans are not divine, but we share kinship with
our creator as the only creature made in his image. “Image of
God” is our human identity, expressed through the loving rule
of creation on God’s behalf (see Psalm 8:5-8). Men and women
share this role. Together we participate in the human task of
