Interesting facts when God spoke directly to women
I noticed a trend when God spoke to women in the bible…
So far, I have noted 4 women that God spoke to directly: Eve, Sarah, Hagar, and Rebecca.
When God spoke to Eve after asking her why she disobeyed his order to not eat from the tree, God responded by telling her what will happen to her in childbirth. Thereafter, Eve had Cain and Abel.
Sarah spoke directly to God, and in their first conversation, when God asked her why she laughed when He told her she would have children in her old age, she lied to God, saying she didn’t laugh. As we know, Sarah had a child years after that conversation with God. His name was Isaac.
Hagar, maidservant for Sarah, who Sarah convinced to sleep with Abraham (Sarah’s husband) to give him a child because God was taking too long to keep his promise. Once she gets pregnant for Abraham, Sarah mistreated Hagar, and she fled. God speaks to Hagar and tells her to go back to Sarah, and she will bear a child that she should name Ishmael. After bearing the child and seeing Sarah also bear a child, Hagar was told to leave the camp. This time, God heard the cries of Hagar’s son, Ishmael, but he responded to Hagar. So twice God spoke to Hagar.
Rebekah, the wife of Isaac (son of Abraham and Sarah), could not have a child. Isaac pleaded to God on her behalf, and He answered their prayer. When she was pregnant with twins, the babies were giving so much trouble that she inquired of God what was happening. The Lord answered her and told her the future of her two sons, Esau and Jacob.
Reflection
Four interesting things that come to mind with all of these women:
- They were not perfect: Eve disobeyed a direct order from God, Sarah lied to God’s face, Hagar was prideful, and Rebekah led her son into deception.
- They each birthed children who played leading roles in the lineage of the Israelite people.
- All of these women, whether after or because of, spoke to God concerning childbearing. All of which were male children.
- For each example, their conversations took place in the Old Testament.
Food for thought: Take some time out to fast and study the bible. Seek God‘s guidance in opening your eyes up to things you didn’t know. Is he calling you?
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Prayer: God of wonder and light. Thank you for the treasures of wisdom found in your Word. Open our eyes to see, ears to hear, hearts and minds to understand. Teach us things that we do not know. In Jesus name. Amen
May God’s grace, mercy and peace be with you.
Have you ever been disappointed in God?
If you include messages specifically directed at women through angels, then God also spoke Mary.
God also spoke to Miriam, Moses’s sister, in Numbers 12:4-8.
Hi Cindy, thanks so much for your addition.
Thanks for this post! Interesting insights into the contexts in which God spoke to women in the OT. You mention you found no NT references of God speaking directly to women, but of course the NT records many conversations Jesus had with women and women are prominent in the story of Jesus’ earthly ministry and in the building of the early church.
Hi Lisa,
Thanks so much for responding. Interestingly enough as I was doing a study recently I thought back to this post and how I should do a follow-up post highlighting Jesus Ministry and women. Thanks for bringing this to the forefront and putting some fire under me to get it done :).