Delilah: Bad to the Bone

Sadly, not all the women in the bible are heroines, some are just plain evil. However, that does not mean that women cannot learn from them. The name “Delilah” originates from Hebrew for the word “flirtatious”; this should have been a foreshadow for men to stay far, far, away from her. She is the poster-child for temptress for all women in the bible, in addition to future generations.

Deliah was a Philistine, who was a part of the tribe of Dan, and lived in the Valley of Sorek (the area now known as Gaza). Delilah was approached by several noble men who seduced her eleven hundred pieces of silver for her to find out what Sampson’s strength was. Sampson was at first not a total fool, he had an idea what Delilah was doing; he lied to her and told her that if that men bounded him by seven green stems that were never dried, then his strength would be like any other man. The Philistines tried this, but it did not work against Sampson, for this was not his secret hidden strength.

Delilah, really wanting that money, seduced Sampson and asked him lazily what his secret strength stemmed from. Once again, Sampson lied and told Delilah that if a group of men bounded him by a group of vines that had never been occupied, then he would have the strength of a normal man. Nope. Not that either. Delilah was starting to look really stupid in front of her extortionists. Delilah, getting really perturbed asked him again what his strength was, and Sampson told her that if his hair was braided, he would lose his strength. A group of men tried that, but it still did not work.

Likely Delilah was going to lose her life if she could not find out what Sampson’s secret strength was, she begged and begged Sampson to tell her what his secret strength was, and he told her the truth; that if his head was shaved, he would lose his strength. The story did not end well for Sampson, they captured him, gouged out his eyes, put him in jail, his hair grew back, and then Sampson went on a rampage killing everyone including himself.

Many say that there is a linkage between Delilah and Eve, that they were temptresses. Delilah was focused on her worldly goods and materials. When she was trying to purge the truth from Sampson, what was going through her mind? Perhaps she was thinking how much new clothes and jewels she could buy? How often do we sin, in order to gain worldly pleasures, while placing ourselves farther from God? Being consumed by our eating disorder is like Delilah being filled with delight over 1,100 pieces of silver she would receive; in both cases, women are being shallow and not focusing on the larger picture.

Bathsheba: A King's Mistress

"Bathsheba was naturally stunning, and King David had a weakness for beautiful women. One day, Bathsheba was bathing beside the King’s home, likely because she had just had her period, and was conducting the ceremonious cleansing with the bathing. 'It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking upon the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, 'Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" So David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her . And the woman conceived; and she sent and told David, 'I am with child.'" (2 Samuel 11:2-5)

Sadly, David’s momentary weakness had a significant impact on everyone those around him. King David found out that Bathsheba was pregnant, but since her husband Uriah was off at war, he knew that he had to figure a way to cover his misdeeds. King David called Uriah back to the kingdom and told him that he needed to take a break, to go home and sleep with his wife; this would trick him in to thinking that the unborn child was his. However, Uriah being the brave soldier that he was, refused to go home while his men were in the trenches so he slept on the front steps of the palace.

King David was getting really mad and knew that he will not be able to pull a past one over Uriah. When Uriah was to return to the front line, David gave Uriah a letter addressed to Joab which told him to send Uriah to the front line, and ordered for the troops to withdraw from Uriah to let him to be killed. Sadly, Uriah was killed and Bathsheba was made a widow, and King David took Bathsheba as his wife.

However, King David could not hide from God, and God was saddened by the path that David was heading down. "Thus says The Lord, the God of Israel, 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul; and I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. Why have you despised the word of The Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have smitten Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.'" (2 Samuel 12:7-10 RSV)

David did repent, and he knew that he messed up big. God forgave him, but the child that was born out of the adulterous relationship died. David and Bathsheba did have another child, a son named Solomon, who replaced King David as king instead of Adonijah, who was an older son that he had with another wife.

Jezebel: The Dark Queen

Jezebel, whose name means “The Prince Ba’al” exists, was a woman who was a Baalist. When the name “Jezebel” is translated into Hebrew, it means “there is no nobility”. Ba’al is a generic term for idols or people who were worshipped. Jezebel was the daughter of Ethball, who was the King of Israel, and who married to the weak-willed King Ahab. Queen Jezebel has been a classic example of a truly evil person, who not only worshiped idols and people, but also practiced witchcraft.

Queen Jezebel was a brazen woman who controlled her husband quite easily, and directed King Ahab to catch all the Jews and to kill them. King Ahab had also built Queen Jezebel a pagan temple in the capital city of Samaria. The King also pleased his Queen by allowing 450 prophets of Ba’al, and 400 prophets of Asherah to eat at the grand royal table. Additionally, Queen Jezebel personally ensured that all her fellow Baalists were given direct access to positions of power. Queen Jezebel was so corrupt that she was personally responsible for God’s chosen people turning to Ba’al and other idol worshiping.

However, God did not turn his back on the Israelites; he caused a great feminine to effect the entire nation by causing a drought. God was upset at His people because they were defiantly sinning against Him by breaking the first and second commandments; “I am the Lord your God” and “You shall have no other gods before me”. Interestingly, Jezebel was humiliated by this since Ba’al was also in charge of the whether; seemingly, no God was happy with the Queen.

Queen Jezebel could not be accused of being an aggressive. King Ahab was fond of vineyard that was close to his villa located in Jezreel, and wanted to buy it from Naboth. Howerver, Naboth did not want to sell it to the king, and politely decline. Queen Jezebel heard of Naboth’s refusal and became angry and so she arranged the execution of Naboth. After Naboth’s death, she ensured that her husband would be the new owner of the vineyard.

Elijah did not miss the opportunity to prove the Queen wrong by her worship of Ba’al. ‘Then Elijah said to the people “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets number four hundred and fifty. Let two bulls be given to us. Let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire is indeed God.” All the people answered “Well spoken!”’ (Read 1 Kings 18:17-40).

God really showed his muscles and destroyed Ba’al by causing a large fire explosion from the sky. The 450 people who were rooting for Ba’al were slaughterered. When Jezebel heard this she became angry “Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying “So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life…..”

King Ahab was mortally wounded in combat, by a man in his own battalion who struck him with a sword between the scal armor and the breast plate. King Ahab told the chariot driver to go back to the his home so he could be treated, but he did not survive. When the chariot arrived back at the King Ahab’s home, the King’s body was unloaded and his dogs began to lick

An Army officer of Elisha, Jehu, planned to slaughter the dynasty of Ahab, and now that the new King Joram was also wounded in battle when he was fighting the Arameans. Jehu was able to trick the king to come out of the house he was staying at and killed him. Jehu continued on to villa where Jezebel and her family were staying at. Queen Jezebel was dressed in the full regalia of a high priestess of Ba’al as well as the full face make-up, and confronted Jehu and shouted and called him “Zimri”, which is the name of a person who murders the king.

"As Jehu entered the gate, she said ‘Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?’ He looked up to the window and said ‘Who is on my side? Who?’ Two or three eunuchs looked out at him. He said “Throw her down.” So they threw her down. Some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, which trampled on her. Then Jehu went in and ate and drank. He said ‘See to that cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king’s daughter.’ But when they came to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and palms of her hands.”

Potiphar’s Wife: A Woman Who Cried Rape

"…and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, 'Come to bed with me!' But he refused. 'With me in charge,' he told her, 'my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?' And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, 'Come to bed with me!' But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house." -Genesis 39:7-12

Potiphar was a rich Egyptian businessman who traveled a lot for his work, leaving his wife alone to her own devices back at home. Potiphar’s wife was not named in Genesis, and for working purposes, let us call her Mrs. Potiphar. At this point in the Bible, (which many scholars believe it is around 1550 BC) Joseph had already been sold in to slavery by his jealous older brothers, and he had been bought by Potiphar.

Potiphar had promoted Joseph to be the household slave. When Potiphar was not in the house, Mrs. Potiphar would try to seduce him, but he refused her. Time after time, she continue to come on to him, but he still held his ground, and refused her. One time when she came on to him, she grabbed him by his garment, but pushed her away and tried to escape. Mrs. Potiphar called upon other men in the house and told them that Joseph had raped her.

Interestingly, Egyptian law said that a woman had to show physical evidence that she was raped to prove that she was not guilty of fornication. Mrs. Potiphar probably got scared after Joseph had fled, she likely realized that she finally crossed that line, and was frightened that Joseph would tell her husband on her, and Mrs. Potiphar likely thought that he life was on the line.

When Joseph had fled, there was likely no one in the immediate area, so she might have went around the room and started to knock bowls, plates, and other things around, to make it seem like there was a struggle. She had Joseph’s garment, so she perhaps shredded it up a little to seem that she was grabbed it during the struggle.

Additionally, Mrs. Potiphar waited until there was a servant within earshot, because she began to scream for help, to show that she was refusing Joseph’s seduction.
If she would go fourth and claim that she was raped and did not have physical evidence, she was playing Russian roulette to persuade others that she was not guilty. Mrs. Potiphar was taking a big chance, but she likely thought it was worth it, and seemingly, she made a good show of it. Mrs. Potiphar would have been good at football, because she knew that a good defense was a good offense. Mrs. Potiphar had confronted Mr. Potiphar and kept referring to Joseph as “that Hebrew”, and told Mr. Potiphar that he had brought her in to “mock us”.

Mr. Potiphar made an interesting move after he had heard his wife’s performance. Mr. Potiphar had sent Joseph to prison which suggests that Mr. Potiphar did not fully believe his wife, possibly because she had pulled some other mischief before. Back then, the punishment for even attempted rape was to kill the perpetrator and to throw the body to the dogs. Interestingly, if the husband believed that the wife was lying, and had some evidence, they could extend the same courtesy to her.

Dorcas (Tabitha): Raised From the Dead

In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, 'Please come at once!' Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, 'Tabitha, get up.' She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive." -Acts 9:36-41

During the time of Christ, where the old era and new one collide, the Jewish people would be blessed with two names, one Greek or Latin and one Hebrew. Many scholars believe that Jews were starting to go by two names to show the world that they were assimilating, being able to show them that they live in the world, but also hold their Jewish culture.

During the first century, Peter (also known as Simon) was going from town-to-town preaching the gospel and he came upon the village Joppa. Joppa, whose name means “beautiful” in Hebrew, is located on the coast of modern day Israel, and is one of the oldest ports in all of Israel. Living there was a righteous woman name Dorcas. Dorcas was a woman who lived a life serving others, she was loved fiercely by her community, and they did not accept her death as final.

People had heard that the Apostle Peter was in a neighboring town, and they sent out two young men to hurry and fetch him. Dorca’s friends still prepared her body, cleaning her and preparing her for the burial in a room upstairs. Peter was brought upstairs and her friends were telling him about her charitable deeds; she was a skilled seamstress who had made countless garments for the underprivileged and unfortunate in her local community. Her friends pleaded that Peter bring her back from the dead, they knew he had extraordinary talents which were God-given.

Peter, being moved by all the love that people had for Dorcas, and all the good works that she had performed, he laid his healing hands on her said a prayer to God, and she awoke from the dead. Peter then took her out to the rest of the community and showed them that Dorcas was then alive, and many people dedicated their lives to God.


When Dorcas became sick and eventually died, her friends mourned profoundly. They loved her for who she was, what she stood up for, and what she did. They loved her so much, they sent two men to fetch a prophet to come and possible revive her. They were desperate to have her back. When Peter came, her family and friends spoke about what kind of selfless woman she was and showed him all her good works; her life in a summary.

If you were to die today, would family and friends be devastated? What would they say summarized your life; do you live for others or only for temporary things that will eventually fade? Do you think her friends would have been so mournful if Dorcas was a woman who did not serve others but she was really attractive? If you are not proud of how your life can be summarized, go and change it. As long as you are breathing, you are able to change and make your life mean something, to live for others.

Just as the early Christian people assimilated to fit in to the world, to be able to preach to them, they still held fast to their faith and values. This can be a good lesson for modern Christian; to live in the world but not to be consumed by the world. Most Christian women color their hair, wear make-up, go to the gym, diet, get their nails done and so on, but good Christian women make it a point not to let these luxuries rule their life.

Gomer: Given An Unconditional Love

"The LORD said to me, 'Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her ...'" -Hosea 3:1

Who says there isn’t a true love story in bible? There is much that we can learn from Gomer, an adulterous woman, who was written about in the bible in the book Hosea, Gomer’s husband. The year is 722 BC; in Israel, they have had six kings in the past 25-years. One King was killed in battle, but five of the kings were killed by their murdering predecessors.

God gave Hosea a startling commandment, because Hosea was a good and humble prophet, who preached in the Northern Territory of Israel. Next, God tell Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of harlotry, and have children of harlotry; for the land commits flagrant harlotry, forsaking the Lord” Hosea 1:2.

Soon after Hosea and Gomer were married, Gomer got pregnant and gave birth to her son Jezreel. Jezreel means “God scatters”, which could have been a foreshadowing of how God scatters the Israelites.

However, becoming a wife and mother did not stop Gomer from committing adultery and cheating on a husband who honestly loved her back in a time when people did not get married for love. Gomer conceived two more children after Jezreel, a daughter named Lo-Ruhamah, which means “without mercy, or no compassion”.

God could have told Hosea to name his child this to tell the His chosen people that he was not going to have any more compassion on them since they turned their back on God. Then the not-so-happy couple had a son named Lo-Ammi, which means “not my people”, possible a foreshadowing of how God was washing His hand of them. Theologists believe that Hosea did not believe that his last two children were his own, and the names of his last two children show the deep depression and misery he was suffering due to his wife’s infidelity.

So, why did God command Hosea, a righteous man to marry a harlot, someone a peg or two down on the social and moral ladder? Because Israel was not faithful God; they were worshipping false idols. Gomer mocked Hosea’s tenderness and love that he had for her, she took advantage of his kindness and took it as weakness. Hosea was also mocked by his followers because he could not manage his wife and household. After much pain, Gomer left Hosea and ran off with another man, who deserted her soon after, which word eventually got back to Hosea.

God then spoke to Hosea, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods” Hosea 3:1. Hosea then went and sought out to find Gomer who had sold herself into slavery in order to survive. Hosea found Gomer who was chained, sick, dirty, in a disheveled slave market. He told her that he loved her, and that he wanted to be the only man in her life, and asked her to go back with him so they could live happily ever after. Hosea once again made Gomer to the status of wife in his household.

How many times do we act like Gomer and turn our back on God even though he tender, caring, and always there for us? Even when we focus on ourselves, our bodies, and not give our time and attention to God, he still waits for us to come back home to Him.

Even though Gomer failed at her relationship even compared to today’s standards, Hosea could have had her stoned, or at the very least divorced for what she did to him, but he forgave her, as God wants to do for you. Gomer was focused on feeling good and living for the moment instead of carrying about the people who really cared for her. When you focus on your weight and food, who do you neglect? Are you busy counting calories instead of spending time with your family or friends?

Queen Vashti: A Modest Woman

"On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carcas- to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. But when the attendants delivered the king's command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger". -Esther 1:10-12

Queen Vashtti was the daughter of King Belshazzar of the great city of Babylon, and was also the great-granddaughter of King Nebuchadnezzar (the King who destroyed Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem). Queen Vashti was also the young wife of the prideful King Ahasuerus, written about in the book of Esther in the Old Testament.

After King Ahasuerus had defeated the Jewish people and reigned over 127 providences, he wanted a grand feast to celebrate his triumphancy. The first feast had lasted for exactly six months, and had included all the local royalty and nobles. The second feast however, was much intimate and included the King’s closer allies, lasting for only seven days.

During the feast, the king got drunk with wine and wanted to show off his trophy wife to all his close friends. He ordered seven eunuchs (go look it up in a dictionary) to go get Queen Vashanti and to tell her to dance for him and all of his friends in her royal crown, and only her royal crown. That’s right, butt naked. In ancient times, this would have not been an uncommon request for a courtesan, which is a fancy name for a high class prostitute, but this was certainly not behavior of a queen.

When the eunuchs came back and told the King that Queen Vashti said “no”, the King got angry. He consulted his friends, and asked what he should do with such an insolent wife. The King’s friends warned him that if she would say “no” to him, then all the wives in the kingdom may say no their husbands, and this was not something that could go unpunished. There have been a wide debate on the fate of Queen Vashti, but one thing is known: her position as Queen was forfeited. Many scholars believe that the Queen was executed for her blatant refusal to obey the king, this would send a clear message to all the message of the kingdom. Others believe that she was simply dismissed and exiled from the kingdom, not allowed to corrupt the other women in the kingdom.

The Prophetess Anna

"There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem". -Luke 2:36-38

If there was ever an enigma of a woman in the bible, it would be Anna. Not much is said about her in words, but back when women were not acknowledged about much, this revelation about her in Luke, speaks volumes about her character. She was one of the 13 prophetess who are named in the Bible, and the only one that saw the baby Jesus.

Anna’s father Phanuel was a member of the tribe of Asher, which was a prestigious subsection of the Jewish people. There was no government for the people of Asher; they were led by elders who served as judges. Anna had most likely married at the age of 14, which was the social norm during the time of Christ, to a man who was not named. Anna was married to her husband for 7 years, so she likely became a widow around the age of 21. In Luke, it says that Anna was a widow for 84 years, so when this saga took place, she was 105-years old.

Luke describes Anna as being “old” and being 105-years old, this would be an accurate description. Luke states that Anna was a woman who superbly devoted to God, that she did not leave the temple, but rather prayed and fasted day and night. Luke said that the first thing that Anna did in the morning was thank God, and spoke about the future messiah who will redeem Jerusalem.

Even though one of the most devastating things that can happen to a woman in ancient Middle Easter times is to lose a husband since they are a woman’s life support. She would have been encouraged by her friends and family to hurry and get married again so she could have children and ensure herself a spot in a marriage. A woman who is a widow would have been most likely a second wife because she would not have been a virgin.

However, instead of being bitter, cursing God for her poor fortune, she devoted her life to Him. God did not care that Anna was a woman, but that she had faith in Him, and that is why he blessed her with the gift of prophecy. Anna was also a patient woman who had a lot of determination. She was prophesying the coming of the Christ for over 84-years, there were likely people around who were getting tired to the same old show and dance. However, she remained determined and stayed the course. How often do we throw in the towel things get hard?

Elizabeth: A Lesson In Patience

In modern society, a woman without a child may or may not be looked down upon; it may be seen as being unnatural, as a woman who seeks to defy Mother Nature to pursue her own ambitions. During the time of Christ, society saw that a woman was primarily to be a vessel to supply children for her husband, a woman without children was seen as being sub-woman, not being able to carry out her only mission in life.

Elizabeth was happily married to her true love Zacharia. They both loved the Lord, and Luke writes that they were seen as being blameless. However, Elizabeth and Zacharia did not have any children, but prayed desperately for at least one child to bless their lives. They probably felt miserable when friends and family were having more children, but month after month, no children. Their friends and family members probably thought they were cursed by God.

However, Elizabeth and Zachariah had faith in God, and did not let their childless marriage rip them apart, like it does to many couples back then and now. They knew that God’s will would be done, even though Elizabeth’s biological clock was ticking. Elizabeth was around the age of 60 when she finally got pregnant with a special little boy.

Since Elizabeth was around 60, and far from childbearing years, God needed to get Zacharias attention to show him that his wife was pregnant. God sent Archangel Gabriel to make the announcement that his wife womb was no longer empty. Even though an angel was right in front of him, Zachariah still had his doubts, and this did not get past the angel. To Zachariah’s consequence, he was stuck down dumb and mute and would stay in that condition until his wife gave birth. Elizabeth fulfilled the prophecy by giving birth to John the Baptist, a man who would pave the way for Jesus Christ. What an honor.

People who suffer from an eating disorder may become inpatient and think that their eating disorder is something that can be “cured” overnight. God shows us through these parables that miracles can happen overnight, they may take years, decades, or even generations to occur. However, they do occur. God does not go by your timeline, but by His. He wants people to know that he is the one that is at the helm, and He does take drastic measures to show His children this, because His children sometime require these measures.

Princess Michal: Keeping Up Appearances

He dances like a clown, and you have to hide your face. Your friends are watching him, and judging you. When you are in private with him you scold him for making him and you look like a fool. He shrugs and says that he is praising God the only way he knows how. How embarrassing.

Princess Michal was very much like her father was very much like her father King Saul; they both had their tempers, and acted hastily. Princess Michal had a deep and passionate love for David. David, the boy that played his harp to sooth the anxious King Saul. David, the boy who slained the giant Goliath.

King Saul allowed David to marry his daughter so he could keep him at arm’s length. When the tides turned and the king wanted David dead, Princess Michal risked her life to help David flee. Then, more than nine years had passed and no sign of David.

To punish his daughter, King Saul had married Princess Michal to another man. After King Saul died in battle with the Philistines, David demanded her back. Sadly, Michal grew to become a bitter woman. Carrying much about appearances. There was little doubt that she was a victim of her father’s wrath, but she let him have a negative influence upon her.

When David came back in to the village with the Ark of the Covenant, he was a dancing fool. He couldn’t certain himself. Princess Michal couldn’t have been more embarrassed. What kind of King is he? Her father wouldn’t have acted like this. Princess Michal Scholded David, and David replied that it was God who chose him King not her father. Burn.

Leah: Finding Joy During Sorrow

Sorrow can encompass our lives if we let it. It can blind us so we do not see the joyful events that surround us. However, we should be thankful for the periods of our lives in which we experience sorrow, it makes our blessings that much more precious. Would a blooming flower be more appreciated in a forest or in middle of the dessert?

Leah, whose name means “wild cow” was not as beautiful as her lovely sister Rachel. Jacob has fallen head over heals in love with Rachel from the monment he laid eyes upon her. However, being young and from a distant land, he could not afford the price to pay the bride’s family. Jacob had to work for Leah and Rachel’s father for seven long and hard years before he was allowed permission to marry Rachel.

The day that Jacob would marry Rachel was finally upon him. Laban, Rachel and Leah’s father through a grand celebration with much wine and beer. Laban had gotten Jacob quite drunk. This would explain why he was not suspicious of his wife-to-be wearing a long, thick veil which covered her face very well. Jacob did also not notice that the woman’s virginity he took that night was not his beloved Rachel, but her unattractive sister Leah. Jacob was very upset. He went to Laban furious that he would trick him so. Laban told Jacob that if he wanted to marry Rachel, he would have to work another long and hard seven years to pay the bride price once again.

Jacob did not love Leah, even though Leah was manipulated by her father to trick to Jacob in thinking that she was her sister Rachel. Leah tried to make her husband happy by providing him with many children; she bore him six sons and one daughter. Rachel on the other hand had difficulty in getting pregnant, and ultimately died during childbirth to her son, Benjamin.

Even after Rachel’s death Jacob did not love Leah. God noticed Leah’s misery and bless her. God gave Leah many strong, beautiful children who formed the line of Judah, ultimately the lineage of Jesus Christ. While you may be in the mist of misery and sorrow, God will still bless you. These blessings may come in various forms such as a good job, supportive friend, a loving husband, or the comfort of a close-knit church. Be thankful that are going through hard times, because it will be easier to see how God is working through your life.

Miriam: Leading by Example

"Yes, go," she answered. And the girl went and got the baby's mother. Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you." So the woman took the baby and nursed him. When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh's daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, "I drew him out of the water." – Exodus 2:-10

Females who suffer from an eating disorder often have a family member or friends who have an eating disorder as well. This is not too surprising since humans often model the people they are surrounded by. This is why it is a good idea to make sure that you are surrounded by people who have good values and strong morals. However, it is important to remember that people are looking to you to be a good role model as well.

Miriam loved to sing, dance, tell stories, and loved to provoke thoughtful intellectual conversations. When Miriam was just a child the Pharaoh had declared an order for all Hebrew infants to be killed. Miriam’s mother told her to hide her brother in the riverweed’s to hide from the Pharaoh’s guard. The Pharaoh’s daughter found Moses and decided to adopt him. Since Miriam was right there, she told the princess she should hire her mother to be the nurse-maid for the baby. This was very brave for a Hebrew child to approach the Egyptian princess.

Miriam was a powerful prophetess, which at that time, was very much like a minister. She was also the oldest child in her family, and Moses and Aaron being her little brother would have valued her opinion. She was a leader for the women of her time as well as ours.

Take a look around and see who watches you. You may be surprised to see who all is watching you and value’s your opinion. If you partake in negative eating behaviors, someone close to you might as well. God doesn’t want us to be the hindering block for others. It is important to value yourself and the people close to you.

Martha and Mary: What Matters Most

But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her".
-Luke 10:39-42

Did I really eat that muffin this morning? I can’t believe that I gained .75 pounds since yesterday, maybe its water weight. Why did my boyfriend order French fries, I am just going to eat them all! There are many things that people with eating disorders worry about, many of which people who do not have it would never understand.

Martha and Mary were close as sisters could be, but they had two completely unique personalities. Martha was a traditionalist; she believed that woman’s work was in the kitchen and with the family. Mary however, was a free-thinker; she was thirsty for knowledge and loved new ideas. Martha and Mary had invited Jesus when he was traveling from town to town likely for a meal and a place to stay.

Mary was at Jesus’ feet, listening to all the wonderful lessons he was teaching, she was all ears. Martha on the other hand, was likely trying to cook a meal, handle the children, clean the house, and was getting flustered that her sister was just sitting around listening to Jesus. Martha scolded Jesus asking if he did not care that she was doing all the work. Jesus responded back to Martha saying that she was worrying about things that were temporary, not as important as eternal life. He encouraged Mary to listen and learn.

In your life are you constantly worrying about your weight, food, and body-image, and don’t have time to learn and meditate on the word of God. There is so much time during the day, and if you are focusing all your time and attention on temporary things, the loss is yours. You will be able to receive such a peace if you focus on things that will last for an eternity. Next time you start to worry about your body, ask yourself if you have something else better to do. There is no need to focus on things that will fade and not matter in the long run.

The Crippled Woman: Having Hope

“On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, ‘Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’ Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” - Luke 13:10-13


How long have you suffered from your eating disorder? Weeks? Months? Years? After enduring your eating disorder for such a long time you may feel like you are doomed to suffer from it for the rest of your life, as if there is no hope. However, there certainly is hope! As long as you are breathing, God is giving you the chance to free yourself from your illness.

There was a crippled woman who had a spinal deformity and likely acute arthritis who was doing her best to follow Jesus through the temple. Imagine this woman, who was not named, and the immense agony that she must have felt day in and day out. Being in the physical state that she was in, she must have in chronic pain, and likely was depressed not being able to do anything get relief.

Jesus was not one to be shy; He called her out in to the center of the synagogue from where she was huddled near the wall. Women were not allowed to be in the center of the synagogue, and Jesus likely led her in the middle so everyone could witness the miracle he was going to perform.

Even though it was the Sabbath a very holy day where no work of any kind should be completed, Jesus laid his hand upon her and healed her body and soul immediately. The woman’s first response was to glorify God. How awesome it must have been to be healed immediately. Praise God!

While you may have been suffering from your eating disorder for years, God still wants to heal you; you just need to use the tools that he places in your life. Perhaps God has placed the perfect friend for you to lean on during the hard times. Perhaps God has provided an excellent counselor who is showing you the steps to achieve a successful recovery. Use all the resources that God has placed before you, he wants to heal you!

Ruth and Naomi: Best Friends Forever

"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 anything but death separates you and me'. When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her".
- Ruth 1:16-18

Fair-weather friends come and go. She may be the kind of friend who wants to be close when everything is going great in your life, but at the first sign of trouble, or when you ask her to help you move, she splits. Then when you are doing better, or after you have moved, she returns and acts like nothing ever happened. We have all met these kind of people, they are called fair whether friends.

If you look in the book of Ruth you will find a terrific story of the love two women had for one another. Ruth was married to Elimelech and they had two wonderful sons, and lived a great life. Her sons were both married, and her daughter-in-laws were Orpah and Ruth. Tragically, Naomi husband and sons died, and in her misery decided to move back to her homeland of Bethlehem.
Look at Ruth 1: 8-18, and see the powerful relationship they had between each other.

“Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, ‘Go back, each of you, to your mother's home. May the LORD show kindness to you, as you have shown to your dead and to me. May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.’ Then she kissed them and they wept aloud and said to her, ‘we will go back with you to your people.’ But Naomi said, ‘Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husband’s? Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons- would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD's hand has gone out against me!’ At this they wept again.”

“Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth clung to her. ‘Look,’ said Naomi, ‘your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.’ 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 anything but death separates you and me.’ When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.”

Namomi wanted to do right by Ruth and send her home because Naomi wouldn’t have much money after the men in her family had died. Ruth could go home where she would be taken care of by her father, brothers, and other extended family. However, Ruth was committed to their friendship and wasn’t going to take no for an answer, even if that meant that she would live a harder life that she had planned for herself.

Think about the friends that surround you. Are your friends supporting you through your eating disorder, or did they take the first bus out of town? If the ones that stayed around even though you are in a difficult point in your life, encouraging you through your recovery, cling on them. God puts these kinds of people in your life for a reason. Today, thank that friend and tell her that you appreciate her commitment to the friendship.

Rebekah: A Life Changing in a Moment

"And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived". -Genesis 25:21

God can change a person’s life in a heartbeat. How excited Rebekah must have felt when she encountered Isaac’s servant and offered him water for him and his camels when he states that she would be a perfect wife Isaac. Rebekah was not able to get pregnant for the first 20 years of her and Isaacs marriage. However, when she got pregnant, she had two sons. Esau the oldest, and Jacob the youngest. Esau was his father’s pride and joy, while Jacob was much favorite by his mother.

When Isaac was old and blind, and sensed the his end was near, he called for Esau to go into the wilderness to catch him his favorite meal, and then he would lay his blessing upon him. Rebekah overheard this, and instructed Jacob to deceive his father into thinking that he was Esau, and it worked. The benediction could not be reversed, and Esau was furious, threatening Jacob that he would murder him. The two brothers never made up, and both started two powerful nations who were at war for years and years.

Don’t we sometimes act like Hagar (and Sarah) and intervene so we can make sure that God follows on His word? Sadly, yes. God tells us he will take our worries and anxiety and give us peace, but we go and try to find our own peace in a way that we think is right. I use to think that I would find peace if I just lost five more pounds. Sometimes I thought I really was happy, then a few days more, I would think I am not happy, but I would be really, really happy if I lost one more pant size. The happiness never really came until I gave my anxieties and fears to God.

Rahab: The Prodigal Daughter

"I am the Lord God who heals you". -Exodus 15:26

Can people change? Most Christians know the story of the prodigal son; the one who comes back from spending his early inheritance later to be welcomed back by his father, however, he is not the only example of a person’s life being completely altered by God. Rahab was a prostitute who lived in Jericho. Rahab had heard about all the miracles God was performing for his chosen people from the hustle of the city, and many likely from her customers. When two spies were sent by Joshua into Jericho, Rahab hid.

Later on in the day, the King of Jericho sent a messenger to Rahab asking her if she had seen the spies. She lied to the messenger saying that they had already left and they should hurry if they want to catch them. When the messengers left, she told the spies that she had saved their lives and in return she wanted her household to be spared when the Israelites raided and killed the city. They agreed and handed a scarlet cord for her to hang outside of her house during their raid and their lives would be spared. Then, seven days later, the entire city was destroyed except for this single household. Her family then became part of the Chosen People, the ancestors of Jesus Christ.

Even though Rahab was living in sin, God still used her the way she was, at that second. God didn’t wait until Rahab cleaned up her act to use her. God can use you right now, even if you are at the worst part of your eating disorder. Think about this; Rahab was desperate and wanted to be saved, don’t you.

Hannah: Barren and Misunderstood

“And Hannah prayed and said, ‘My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is
exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.”-1 Samuel 2:1

Do you feel that you and not understood? That people do not fully comprehend the troubles that you are going through? When this happens, we can feel unloved and abandoned. We may feel that we have been deserted by our friends, family, and even God himself. Yet, God understand you the best, He created you uniquely!

Hannah was miserable. She saw all of her friends and family have baby after baby, but her womb was closed. She was taunted by her husband’s second wife, who was able to bear Elkanah many children. However, he did not under the pain that Hannah was experiencing.

Elkanah saw Hannah crying and said “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you down-hearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons? Yes, she has given me children, but it’s you I love. Ignore her taunts.” While Elkanah was trying to be the good supportive husband, he did not understand what his wife was going through. How could he?

When Hannah and her family went to a village called Shiloh for the annual festival, Hannah went to the temple to pray instead of rejoicing with everyone else. The priest Eli saw Hannah act peculiar, moving her mouth without any sounds coming out. Eli thought that Hannah was drunk, and scolded her harshly. Hannah stood up for herself and told the priest that she was not drunk but miserable, and she was busy praying. Eli apologized and wished her that he prayers would come true.

Hannah left the temple that day comforted by the Lord. Then next day when she went home, she and her Elkanah conceived her son Samuel. When Hannah was in the temple that day, Hannah dedicated the child he would provide her to God. She promised him that he would live for God everyday and that a razor would never touch his head.

God heard Hannah’s cries and comforts her. In this situation, God answered Hannah’s prayers with a “yes”, which God does not always go. God does not always give us what we want, but he does always give us what we need, which is comfort and love. While you battle your eating disorder, ask God to give you comfort and guidance to make the right decisions.

God did not tell Hannah at the temple that day that she would conceive a child, which was he desire. God did comfort her though, and He lifted her spirits. She knew that God had a plan for her, as He has for you.

The Story of Hagar

“The angel of the LORD also said to her: ‘You are now with child and you will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard of your misery”
-Genesis 16:11

Eating disorders (ED) are commonly associated with a lack of control that a person has in their own life. They are usually formed after a stressful event or time period in a person’s life such as adolescence, after a divorce or break-up, getting laid off, or having a new baby. By controlling food intake, an individual may feel that they have gained some sort of power over their life. However, the high of control is only followed by an abrupt crash plagued by feelings of guilt and low self-esteem.

The Bible gives us a good example of a virtuous woman named Hagar who had little power over her life, but yet she still obeyed God even though it made her life difficult. Hagar was an Egyptian slave who Abraham had bought while in Egypt for his wife Sarah. The relationship between Sarah and Hagar was originally a pleasant one. However, once it was obvious that Sarah was baron and unable to produce an heir for her husband, Sarah told Abraham to take Hagar as his wife so he could have children through her and continue his bloodline. This was a common practice back in ancient times, but still would have been an honor for Hagar.

However, conceiving a child with Abraham did not bring Sarah the joy that she had expected. Sarah became moody and jealous of Hagar and consequently begun to treat her cruelly. When Hagar was great with child, she became frightened of Sarah and ran out into the dessert. Running as fast as she could, Hagar heard a voice of an angel saying “Hagar, servant of Sarah, where have you come from, and where are you going? Go back to your mistress and submit to her. You will have a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery.” The name that the angel told Hagar to give her unborn child means “God hears”, an appropriate name under the nerve-racking circumstances. God heard Hagar’s prayers, and granted her the miracle of a messenger to comfort her and reassure her during her time of anguish.

Fourteen years after Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, Sarah became pregnant with her own son. Once Sarah had produced an heir for Abraham, she spitefully evicted Hagar and Ishmael out of the household and back into the dessert. Days without water and dying from dehydration, Hagar could not bear to see her only precious child die before her eyes, so she placed him gently under a bush. Unexpectedly, Hagar heard the voice of an angel who told her not to be afraid, that God had great plans for her son. The angel opened Hagar’s eyes so she could find a well to save her son’s life. Hagar’s son grew up to fulfill God’s promise to His chosen people.

God sent Hagar a messenger to both comfort and save her. While God might not send an angel to give a message or comfort you, he does place special individuals into people’s lives. Perhaps God has given you a caring friend or counselor who has suffered from an eating disorder in the past, who can help you find solace. Consider about all the encouraging people that God has positioned in your life whom you can rely on while you are recovering from your ED. Pray that God will give you the strength to manage your ED, and thank Him for the love and support that he has for you.

Tamar: Living in a Dysfunctional Family

“‘Don't, my brother!’ she said to him. ‘Don't force me. Such a thing should not be done in Israel! Don't do this wicked thing. What about me? Where could I get rid of my disgrace? And what about you? You would be like one of the wicked fools in Israel. Please speak to the king; he will not keep me from being married to you.’ But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.”
-2 Samuel 13:12-14

Christians live in an imperfect world where sometimes dreadful things happen to good folks. While God didn’t promise us an easy and simple life, He did say that He would never leave us or forsake us. When tragedy hits, He wants us to turn to Him for strength and guidance. Some individual’s eating disorders are sometimes developed after a person experiences a crisis such as rape or incest. God gives us an illustration of how a person can internalize their pain after a disaster occurs, especially if the individual does not trust in God to gain strength.

In 2 Samuel Chapter 13 we learn about the heartache that King David’s daughter Princess Tamar sustained. Princess Tamar was a knock-out of a girl who lived in quite the dysfunctional family. Tamar’s half-brother Amnon had yearned sexually for his sister for quite some time. He had conspired with a close friend to lure her into his room so he could take advantage of the naïve princess. Amnon had told King David that he was feeling ill and wanted to go to his bed chamber and have his sister mend him back to good health. King David was concerned and ordered Tamar to take care of Amnon, and because she was an obedient daughter and subject, she obliged.

Soon after Tamar arrived, Amnon begged her to go to bed with him. Shocked and trying to escape, Tamar tried to reason with him stating that having sex with him would disgrace her and make him a fool. However, Amnon still forced himself upon her, taking her virginity and any real chance for a bright future for her.

After the rape, Tamar needed her family the most, but they turned their back on her. Amnon kicked Tamar out the household, and her brother Absalom told her not to take it personally, but he housed and fed her. Even King David who became angry when he heard about the rape did nothing.

With time, Absalom developed a fierce hatred for Amnon. Absalom invited Tamar to live in his houses because she was unprotected in King David’s palace. Two years after the rape, Absalom murdered Amnon in revenge for his sister’s rape. Tamar grew to become a desolate woman.

There is much to be learned from Princess Tamar. While Tamar went through a horrific event, she let it overcome her and ruin the rest of her life. Consider whether or not you are letting your eating disorder was ruin your life like Tamar’s rape did to her. Tamar internalized the rape, and she never found peace she was looking for. Reflect on whether or not if your grief and sadness is hanging on to you, and how you plan on turning it over to God.

Phoebe: A Church Leader

"I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus." -Romans 16:1-3

After you recover from your eating disorder, you may feel the call to go in to ministry. You may feel that the Lord wants you to teach and preach to others the dangers or eating disorders, and ways to get help. By doing this, the Holy Spirit can lead you to minster the woman to the Lord. As Christians, we know that the only way to truly be recovered from an eating disorder is to ask Christ in to our hearts and have him to take over. The guilt and sin of an eating disorder only holds us down when people have not accepted the Lord, making true recovery impossibly.
Sadly, there are many individuals in the Church who do not believe that women should be leaders or ministers in the church. However, the Apostle Paul commends his “fellow workers in Christ Jesus” in Romans 16, which he praises 27 individuals, 10 of which were women. In Romans 16, Paul does not address the letter to Phoebe, but instead requests that his brothers greet her, and it seems as if he is recommending Phoebe for a position in the church there.

Interestingly, in the whole New Testament, the only deacon who is named specifically is Phoebe. Researchers have discovered that women filled the role of deaconess in the Greek and Roman society. There has been historical evidence that female deacons baptized other females in the third-century. Paul states the Phoebe the minister of the assembly in Cenchrea. This would have been a great honor for anyone, male or female, since Cenchrea was a large bustling commercial city. Many believe that Paul had sent Phoebe to Women can serve in leadership roles in the church, especially being a deacon.

Mary of Magdalene: Who Was She?

"And also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out". -Luke 8:2

If any one woman has even been gossiped and prematurely judged it is without a doubt Mary of Magdalene. While once believed to be a prostitute this is simply not what the Bible says, it was mistakenly taken for fact after Pope Gregory the Great in 591 said in a sermon that when Luke referred to a woman who was a sinner and caught in adultery and interpreted as it being Mary of Magdalene and that she was a prostitute.

Even though Mary of Magdalene is mentioned fourteen times in the Bible, there is still a lot of things we know for sure that we However, Mary of Magdalene was a troubled soul. The bible says she was possessed by seven demons and many theologians believe she likely suffered from a mental disorder. Mary wasn’t living a productive life she was depressed, hearing and seeing things but she knew that Jesus could see the real her.

After Jesus healed her Mary of Magdalene followed him everywhere, giving him both financial and personal support. She was with him through the good times and bad, even being one of the last individuals seeing him on the cross, likely at the moment he died. She stayed by him even though it put herself in danger.

Even death did not stop the love that she had for Jesus; she visited his tomb every day. She went to his tomb to add spices and herbs to anoint the body to make the smell less foul, but was astonished when Jesus’ body was not there. She saw a man, thinking that perhaps he was the one who took Jesus’ body, she asked him where he had hid his body, that she would go and retrieve it. However, it was not a thief, or a gardener, but Jesus himself. Jesus then told Mary to go tell his disciples that he had risen from the grave, and she went about joyously conveying the message of the good news.

Mary of Magdalene is relatable to individuals who suffer from an eating disorder. Mary had a restless soul, being plagued by her own personal demons, someone who wanted a better life for herself. When she saw a way to get healed, she clung to it, she did not allow Jesus out of her sight.

The Menstruating Woman: Having Faith

"Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. 'Take heart, daughter'. he said, 'your faith has healed you'. And the woman was healed from that moment". -Matthew 9:20-22

Your favorite skinny jeans are uncomfortably tight; you’re on your period and miserable. Your boss was a jerk and the only thing you want to do is go to your favorite boutique and buy a pair of sling back high heels. A man would never understand this.

To prove that God has such great love for women and he is compassionate to them, look at Matthew chapter 9 in the Bible. At this time Jesus was in the middle of his ministry preaching from town-to-town. News got out of Jesus, and woman who had been bleeding, the original Hebrew said “hemorrhaging” for 12-years, and she was desperate to find Jesus.

This woman, who was not named in Matthew, could have been suffering from a hormone deficiency, extreme stress, or a miscarriage gone wrong. Whatever the reason, this woman was focused solely to touch the hem of his garment because she knew that he was able to heal her. When Jesus turned around he saw the woman and told her that she was healed because she had faith.

This story in the Bible is important for women to read because it shows that Jesus cares about women and the wonderful things that come along with being a woman. In addition, Jesus goes even more out of the way to show his love and compassion to this woman because during this time in history, women who were menstruating were considered dirty and were supposed to be away from everyone else, usually in their own tent. That didn’t stop Jesus from caring about her and ultimately healing her.

Queen Esther: A Tenacious Woman

"Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master's Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work". -James 5:7

In the bible, there are many courageous and dedicated women, those who were revolutionary even for our time. One of these revolutionary women was married to the crooked King Ahasuerus. Queen Esther’s cousin, Mordecai, the man who raised the Queen (she was an orphan), came before the king but refused to bow down to King Ahasuerus. The king was deeply offended by this serious violation, even though it wasn’t strictly prohibited in Jewish law, and subsequently ordered for all the Jewish people to be killed within his kingdom.

During this period (around 508 BCE), no one went before the king unless he demanded their presence, even the Queen. However, the Queen, who had favor with the king, risked her life to go before the king and asked if she should be slaughtered with all the Jews, because she was a Jewess. Queen Esther was not afraid to stand up for something she believed in, even though she must have been frightened to break the social norms of her day.

Society may encourage women to be underweight and unhealthy, but Christian women shouldn’t be timid, stand up for what they believe in, like Queen Esther. In the Middle Eastern culture, social rules, whether written or unwritten, can mean life or death. What would you done if you were Queen Esther. Western Society may not be as intense as Queen Esther’s culture, but it can be just as influential. Western society reinforces the notion that a woman being stick thing to be considered attractive. When many women are a healthy weight, they are still criticized as being fat and unhealthy.

Eve: Second Chances

The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman', for she was taken out of man." Genesis 2:23

No one knows exactly how long ago when Adam and Eve were created by God. Using the genealogical records in the Old Testament, scholars believe that it was likely six to seven thousand years ago. The exact nature of when they lived is not what makes the parable important, but that it did happen. Eve will be forever known as the first sinner, the one to mess up the whole heaven-on-earth thing up. Eve had a really good thing going on, and the only thing that God asked out of the two of them was to not eat from The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

When God confronted Adam and Eve (they were hiding because they realized they were naked), He didn’t go to them angry. He went to them like a good father would when he knows his children messed up. He didn’t go get his lightning bolts charged eager to replace them with Adam and Eve part II.

God loved Adam and Eve but He couldn’t allow them to live in Eden since they disobeyed his only commandment for them. God also discipline Eve by having all women subsequent women to suffer when they go through is in pain during childbirth, and man by making him, and all other men being the ones to work hard days in the field.

Does your eating disorder make you think you won’t get a second chance at leading happy life? Don’t let it. While there are going to be consequences for you actions. Such as a hurt family or health problems you can still make things right with God and be forgiven.

God isn’t the God you may have heard of; the one perched on a cloud, waiting for humans to mess up go, he could let his great wrath upon. God is a just authority, but also a loving and compassionate one. When you get caught up with the syptomotology, ask that God give you a second chance (or a third, fourth… two-thousand thirty-third…), and try to live a healthier, life, physically, and mentally.