Her name means “rebellious.” She was the responsible older sister who had guarded a helpless little brother and later had to learn an important lesson about complaining about God’s way of working.

Her story: Exodus 2:1-10, 15:1-21; Numbers 12:1-15, 20:1, 26:59; Deuteronomy 24:9; 1 Chronicles 6:3; Micah 6:4 

Miriam was Aaron and Moses’ older sister. When Moses was born, she guarded him after their mother put him in a reed basket and into the river for safety. Miriam courageously intervened when Pharaoh’s daughter found the baby and asked if she could get someone to care for the child. Then, she ran and got their mother. Over forty years later, when the children of Israel escaped through the Red Sea, Moses led the men of Israel in a victory song praising God and Miriam led the women in a corresponding victory dance. At one point during Israel’s wandering in the wilderness, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses primarily because God communicated with Moses directly and they felt slighted. God called all three siblings into the Tent of the Meeting and stood in the doorway to speak to them. God told them that He revealed Himself to prophets, to them, in visions and dreams, but He spoke face-to-face with Moses. When God was done talking to them and moved out of the doorway, Miriam had leprosy. Aaron repented to Moses and Moses cried out to God to heal her. God told Moses to isolate Miriam for seven days. The entire nation of Israel waited for Miriam to be healed and to come back into the camp. Miriam died in the wilderness and was buried there. 

When God speaks through the prophet Micah, He says, “Indeed, I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from that place of slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron and Miriam ahead of you.” Miriam was acknowledged as a leader like her brothers.

Her legacy for us: Miriam was a responsible leader in her own right. However, she became disgruntled and murmured to Aaron, she tempted him to grumble too. God met her face-to-face to correct the situation and taught an important lesson. Miriam became a living reminder of the power of words and consequences of grumbling against what God is doing. 

Our response to Him: When do I forget the power of words and grumble against Your plan? When I don’t understand Your plan, teach me to come to You and ask for clarification and instructions. Please help me sift my words so I speak words of life.

Her name means “ewe.” Raised in a culture where sheep and shepherding were predominant, ewes were prized as the heart and life of the flock.

Her story: Genesis 29:6-21, 29:34, 33:1-7, 35:16-25, 46:19-25, 48:7

Rachel was a shepherdess who met Jacob when he first arrived at the well where she watered her sheep. It was possibly 

love at first sight, because Jacob agreed to work seven years for her hand. Her father gave her sister as the bride instead. Jacob spent a week with Leah and then agreed to work seven more years for Rachel. When Leah began having children and Rachel could not conceive, she gave her maid to Jacob to have children for her. Eleven children were born before Rachel finally had a son. Joseph quickly became the favorite son of the favorite wife. When Jacob’s brother-in-laws became jealous, he decided to return home to Canaan with everything he had earned. When they left, Rachel stole a household idol and her father came after them. Laban searched the camp but couldn’t find the idol. To maintain peace, he and Jacob agreed to stay away from each other. Before the family reached Canaan, word arrived that Esau was coming to meet them. Jacob feared Esau would kill him, so he divided his family into little groups to go ahead of him. Because Rachel was so loved, she and her son were the last group. After the family was in Canaan, Rachel had a second son. She named him Ben-oni, “son of my sorrow,” and died in childbirth. Jacob named the boyBenjamin, “son of my right hand” (another reference honor and strength). Rachel was buried near Bethlehem. She is considered the fourth of the fore-mothers of Israel.

Her legacy for us: Rachel’s name describes how others saw her. She was the beautiful, beloved wife of a rich man. However, instead of working to make her family peaceful, she fought and complained about things that were beyond her control and what she didn’t have. She failed to recognize the blessings around her.

Our response to Him: What in me needs to change so I act and speak in a manner consistent with what You say about me? What would help me be grateful for Your blessings to me?

Her name comes from the Hebrew verb meaning “to tire or make exhausted.” It literally means “She wears me out.” Figuratively, Leah means “to be or make disgusted, be slow, with difficulty.” Her life reflects the goodness of a God who hears the cry for those who feel used and unloved.

Her story: Genesis 29:16-21, 29:33-33:7, 49:31

Leah was the oldest daughter of Laban, Rebekah’s brother. She was not the first of Laban’s two daughters Jacob saw when he arrived at the home of his mother’s family. She was not the one he fell in love with. Jacob worked seven years because he loved Leah’s younger, more beautiful sister. But Laban switched brides at the wedding and Jacob unknowingly married Leah. She was his wife for only one week and then Laban gave Jacob the woman he loved. The relation between these two sisters was competitive and contentious. God saw that Leah was unloved and He gave her four sons. The names of her four sons (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah) reflect her journey from feeling unloved by Jacob to recognizing God deserved her praise. Then, the sister-fight over who could produce the most children started. After Rachel gave her slave to Jacob to bear children, Leah did the same. God opened Leah’s womb later and gave her two more sons (Issachar and Zebulun) and a daughter, Dinah. She forever remained the unloved wife, but she gave birth to tribes who became priests (Levi) and kings (Judah). She was buried in the family graves of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Jacob.

Her legacy for us: Leah had a hard life. She was married off under pretense perpetrated by her brother, forever unloved by her husband, always competing with her sister. But Leah had tenacity and she learned to trust in God rather than those around her. Even in all the deception and hardships, even with all her flaws, Leah was one of the fore-mothers of Israel – a builder of a nation.

Our response to Him: How much do I persevere in the places where You put me? How much do I trust You above my feelings and the rocky relationships I might find myself in?

Her name means “ensnarer” and the Arabic meaning of the same word is “a rope with a noose.” It suggests that Rebekah’s beauty ensnared men, but it was her servant’s heart and kindness that won the hearts of Abraham’s servant and Isaac, her husband-to-be.

Her story: Genesis 24:1 – 28:5

Rebekah’s story began before she came into the picture. Sarah died and Abraham was old. Isaac needed a wife. Abraham sent his oldest servant to get a wife for Isaac. When the servant arrived after his long journey, he prayed a very specific prayer and then waited. When he asked for a drink of water at the well, the first woman he asked was the one he was looking for. Rebekah gave him and his ten camels water. The servant made arrangements to bring Rebekah back to Isaac and Isaac loved her. Isaac had no other wives. Isaac and Rebekah had twins, Esau and Jacob. The boys were very different and their parents had favorite sons, creating a divided family. When the boys were grown, Jacob traded a bowl of soup for Esau’s birthright and when it was time for Isaac to give the Father’s Blessing, Rebekah helped Jacob deceive his father and he stole the blessing as well. The division in the family then became hatred and Rebekah’s actions tore the family apart. She lost both sons. Esau took revenge by marrying several Canaanite women and eventually moved to live with Ishmael (Hagar’s son). Jacob was sent back to Rebekah’s family.

Her legacy for us: Rebekah was fearless. She went to a place she didn’t know to marry a man she didn’t know. But, Rebekah came from a family filled with deceptive practices. She herself helped with the deceit and tore her family apart. God wants us to trust Him and His plan rather than using the enemy’s strategies to get what God has promised.

Our response to Him: When You look at me, where do you see deception? What would help me trust Your timing and Your plan and be completely honest and blameless in Your sight?

She had two names: Sarai means “princess, nobility.” After Isaac was born, her name was changed to Sarah, a noble lady or “wife of a king.” She became the mother of the nation of Israel.

Her story: Genesis 17:15-21, 18:6-15, 20:2-18, 21:1-12, 23:1-2; Hebrews 11:11 

Sarah’s life was filled with decisions made by her husband. Some put them in dangerous places, but God always protected Sarah. She had an important role to play in God’s covenant and promise with Abraham. Sarah and Abraham must have loved each other very much. In a time when it was common for men to have more than one wife, Abraham only had Sarah. They shared God’s promise to make Abraham a great nation. But, when the waiting seemed to go on forever, Sarah became impatient and convinced Abraham to make the promise reality in a human way. We previously talked about Hagar and the problems with Sarah’s “short-cut.” When God told Sarah that the promise would be fulfilled within the coming year, she laughed. Scripture doesn’t tell us exactly what caused her to laugh, but when her baby was born, she named him “Isaac” – laughter. Sarah made hard decisions to protect the promise God had given to her and Abraham.

Her legacy for us: Waiting patiently for the fulfillment of God’s promises can be hard and we are often tempted to help Him out. When we do, we create problems with consequences for many people. A better plan is to trust The One who promises, because He can be trusted.

Our response to Him: How often do I get impatient with You and try to help You keep Your promises? What can I do to more fully rest in Your plan even when it feels like You have forgotten me?

Her name means “a source of joy.” She intervened when tempers were flaring and brought about peace, and ultimately joy-filled futures.

Her story: 1 Samuel 25:3-42

Abigail was beautiful, intelligent and resourceful and the wife of a rich, arrogant, drunken, harsh business man named Nabal. She met not-yet-King David as he and his men were evading King Saul. David’s men camped and protected Nabal’s shepherds and sheep during the shearing time, a dangerous time full of hard labor for shepherds. David sent word to Nabal asking for needed provisions for his men as reimbursement for the safety they had provided. Nabal rudely refused to send anything to them. David’s messengers went back to David and reported what had happened. David’s first response was to take up swords against Nabal’s household. At the same time, one of Nabal’s servants went and described the conversation to Abigail and the truth about what David and his men had done for them. Abigail packed up bread, meat, grain, and fruit and sent them ahead of her to David’s men. When she met David and his men on the road to their home, she apologized and took the guilt that was truly Nabal’s. She spoke plainly to David and asked David not harm Nabal’s household. She explained that needless bloodshed or revenge would be something he would carry the rest of his life. David relented and granted her request. When she returned home, she waited for Nabal to sober up and told him how she had intervened. Within two weeks, the Lord struck Nabal dead and David to Abigail as his own wife.

Her legacy for us: Abigail stood between two men who were tempted to allow the worst of themselves to create a bloody situation. Abigail was wise in her actions, providing what was needed, and wise with her words, reminding others of the plans God has for their lives.

Our response to Him: How can I become a woman You can use to courageously and lovingly speak truth into situations that are going awry?

Her name means “palm-tree.” Palms and palm trees symbolize victory.

Her story: Genesis 38:6-24; Ruth 4:12; 1 Chronicles 2:9; Matthew 1:3

Tamar was chosen by Judah as a wife for his firstborn, but Er was wicked and God took his life. According to birthright law, Judah’s second son was to provide a child for Tamar. Onan also did evil in God’s sight and God took his life. Judah sent Tamar back to her father’s home and promised to send for her when his youngest son, Shelah, was old enough to have a wife. Tamar lived as a widow well past the time when Shelah could fulfill his duty as a brother. It seemed Judah never intended to bring Tamar back. After Judah’s wife died, Tamar received word that Judah planned a trip. She removed her widow’s garments, covered her face and went to a place where Judah would be. Judah didn’t recognize her and thought she was a prostitute. He offered to give her a goat for services, but she negotiated for more personal collateral. Judah gave her his signet ring, his cords and his staff. About three months later, Judah learned Tamar was pregnant. He became angry and threatened to carry out the punishment for prostitution. She sent the signet ring, cords and staff to him and told him she was pregnant by the owner of those things. He recognized them and understood clearly that he hadn’t fulfilled his duty to her and he let her live. Tamar gave birth to twin sons but not without a battle in the birth canal.

Judah himself had a history filled with bad choices and bad friends. He was the brother who suggested selling Joseph to the slave traders going to Egypt. He left his family and married a Cannannite and his sons were wild. After this incident with Rahab, Scripture reflects a wiser, more righteous man. He took care of his family and became a son his father, Jacob, could trust to do the right thing. While we have no Scriptural evidence, perhaps Tamar had a positive influence on Judah himself.

Her legacy for us: Her actions (although ones we would not take) not only corrected a wrong, but they seem to have influenced a man who had forsaken his family and God.

Our response to Him: When You direct me, how often do I act to correct wrongs according to Your plan? Am I setting a godly example and encouraging others to follow You?

She was first called “woman” because she was built from Adam’s rib. Later, Adam named her Eve, “living, life-giver, the mother of all living.”

Her story: Genesis 2:22-23, 3:1-16, 3:20, 4:1; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 2:13

Eve was created by God’s own hands after Adam realized that there wasn’t another creature like him. She was created to be his helper, equal and different, and a resource of great help. Together, they had the capacity to fill the earth with all kinds of goodness. One ordinary day, Eve had a conversation with the enemy about the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and God’s instructions. Eve made a decision that changed everything. Adam followed her example and shame, blame, deception and death entered the world. Eve and her husband tried to make things right, but they couldn’t. When God came for His daily visit with them, they hid. The loving and healthy respect they had for God has been tainted and became overwhelming fear because they knew His power. But, God loved them so much He gave them what they needed to cover their shame. He moved them from Paradise into the wild part of the earth, creating space so they wouldn’t make matters worse. Then, He placed a boundary at the Garden gate as extra precaution. From that day forward, what had been easy became hard. Her relationship with her husband was now strained. She had been created as a helper to co-labor with him, but there was a leadership problem in this family. When her first son was born, she remembered God’s promise of a man to correct things. She later suffered as this son killed another, knowing the root cause of these actions.

When asked by God what happened, Eve was truthful when she said, “The serpent deceived me and I ate.” Truthful communication with God reflects a heart that recognized her error and leaned into His lovingkindness, even when it was scary.

Her legacy for us: Those who can bring great help can also bring great ruin. Best choices align with God’s warnings and rest in His provisions. And, truthful and faith-filled responses to His correction are His desire. Eve’s decision to listen to and act the enemy’s voice and his deceptive promises unleashed things she could not imagine.

Our response to Him: How do I keep You and Your Word center in my life so I give life and nurture the things You want? How can I walk with You daily so that I am not deceived by the voice of the enemy?

Her name means “flight,” to run away. She ran away and met God.

Her story: Genesis 16:1-16, 21:9-17, 25:12; Galatians 4:24-25

Hagar was an Egyptian servant/slave Sarah gained while she and Abraham were in Egypt. At that time, women could claim children that their female slaves conceived, carried and birthed as their own children. So, Sarah talked Abraham into using Hagar to help gain her a son, fulfilling God’s promise of children to Abraham. During the pregnancy, a problem arose between Sarah and Hagar and Hagar ran away. She was visited by an angel of the Lord by a spring where she was resting and he asked two questions: Where did you come from? Where are you going? When she explained her situation, the angel told her to go back and submit to Sarah’s authority. He then shared God’s promise for her and her own son. God promised to make him a great nation. She was told what to name him and what kind of man he would be. Hagar responds by acknowledging that God is a God who sees. She returned to Sarah and Abraham. About 14 years later, Hagar is in the desert again. This time her son is with her and they are out of water. She puts him under a bush to die. An angel visited her again and asked, “What is the matter with you, Hagar?” She explains and he tells her not to be afraid. The God who sees also keeps His promises. Scripture records that she found a wife for Ismael and that the Lord indeed kept His promise to her, because Ismael has many sons!

Her legacy for us: Even though Hagar was far from her own home, powerless in the family where she lived, a single mom betrayed by her son’s father and his wife, she received her own promises and miracles from God’s hand. She reminds us that God sees our pain and hardships and He provides what we need. The One who sees is the One keeps His word.

Our response to Him: Even when I am betrayed and feel alone, do I listen for Your voice and talk to You about my situation? What will help me remember You see and You have a plan and You keep Your word?

Ruth means “friend.”

Her story: Ruth 1:1-4:22 and Matthew 1:5

Ruth’s beautiful story starts with Naomi, her mother-in-law. Naomi, her husband, and their sons moved from Bethlehem to Moab during a terrible famine. Ruth, a Moabite woman, married one of Naomi’s sons. Then Naomi’s husband and the sons died, leaving three widows. When Naomi decided to move back to Judah, Ruth insisted on going with her. In Bethlehem, Ruth worked the fields and Naomi realized Ruth had been working in fields owned by a distant relative, Boaz. When it was evident Boaz was aware of their situation, Naomi explained to Ruth how to ask for protection and sent her to Boaz. Boaz responded by invoking Jewish law to “redeem” Ruth so he could marry her. They married and had a son (Obed). Naomi became a doting grandmother and Ruth, a Moabite, a foreigner, became an important part of the bloodline of Jesus Christ.

The most famous words in the Book of Ruth are often heard at weddings: “Don’t press me to leave you and stop following you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die; and there I will be buried. May the Lord bring terrible curses on me, and worse ones as well, if anything but death separates you and me.” When we find female friends like this, we find a friend who cares for us and intercedes for us and who will always point us to our Redeemer. (Ruth 1:16-17)

Her legacy for us: Ruth’s beautiful story reflects our own Christian walk. We start out like Ruth, outside the family of God. Someone tells us about Him and how to become part of His family. When we ask Him, He gladly redeems us and makes us one of His own.

Our response to Him: What would help me become a more helpful, merciful, compassionate friend – one who reflects You to others and encourages them to join Your family?