Life Lessons.

Thursday evenings are a popular night to have Bible studies for the simple reason it is the first available night in the week that a church-related function isn't taking place! Ever since I began attending a Bible study with Chinese students from a local college I haven't been able to attend the single girls' Bible study our pastor's wife does every three weeks. So back in November I had asked her if the time could be switched from 7 to 6:30 so that there would be time to do both studies (the Chinese one starts at 8). She agreed, but said there would be a break during the month of December since things get so hectic (that's putting it mildly;). So last night was the first study on a new topic: women of the Bible. Mrs. Hammett started us off with (who else!?!) Eve and asked us to study her life and draw some life lessons from Eve. The following is a hodge-podge of facts, truths, and lessons from all the girls and Mrs. Hammett:

• Eve was the only woman to live in a perfect world, but went from perfection in the Garden to a sin-cursed world.
• She is never described physically, but was perfectly formed so she must have been beautiful.
• The serpent used that which was pleasing to Eve to deceive her. Eve was looking at the fruit and longing after it and the serpent knew her weakness and used it against her.
• Eve put herself in the position to be deceived and willingly made a choice.
• Eve was walking close with God, but then she blame shifted to the devil without thinking the sin could really be her fault.
• Eve taught her son Cain how to blame shift and turn away from God and she lived with that guilt her whole life.
• We cannot blame others for our sin; we need to own the guilt of our own sin.
• Adam and Eve used excuses but none of the excuses could cover up their sin and guilt.
• Even in punishment, God gives grace and hope, because after her sin Eve was still allowed to be married to Adam rather than be an outcast.

But of course this being a single girls study, the subject of marriage was brought up and along with it, some interesting points...

• God said it was not good for man to be alone, so He made a help meet for the man. (Gen. 2:18)
• God made Eve from Adam and brought her unto the man (Gen. 2:22) and not the other way around:o).
• This morning as I was reading a little more about it, I found this interesting verse: (Genesis 5:2) "Male and female created he them; and blessed the, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created." So if their name collectively was called "Adam", then perhaps that's just one more reason why the woman takes the man's last name in marriage and not the other way around. Just some musings;o).

It was such a good study, filled with laughter and questions. That's what I've really appreciated in the few years we've been doing this study. It's a time for us girls to set apart an evening and come with questions to ask, little gems from God's Word to share, and to praise our God.

The Chinese Bible Study was good too. Right now we're at Joseph and how he was sold by his brothers into slavery when he was 17 years old. The young man teaching the lesson drew a chart of all the ups and downs in Joseph's life, but it wasn't until his was 30 years old that things really worked out. For 13 years, Joseph dealt with being sold into slavery, being falsely accused of forcing a woman, and then being put in jail, yet he didn't complain. Pastor Hammett did a series several years ago entitled, "Joseph in the school of _______ (bitterness, disappointment, etc). The life lessons we can learn from Joseph are absolutely amazing... I'm glad God included this "hero" in the Bible;o).