Speak The Word Only

 The promise God made to Abram, the Mosaic Covenant, and the New Covenant in Christ are connected, but they are not the same covenant. Each was established at a different time, with different participants, signs, purposes, and obligations. 1. God’s covenant promise to Abram God first called Abram in Genesis 12, long before the Law of Moses was given. “I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great… and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” —Genesis 12:2–3, KJV God’s promises to Abram included: A promised land A multiplied seed or descendants The formation of a great nation Kings coming from his lineage A covenant relationship with his descendants Blessing reaching all the families and nations of the earth In Genesis 15, God formally confirmed the covenant. Abram divided the animals, but God alone—represented by the smoking furnace and burning lamp—passed between the pieces. “In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram.” —G...

Women Who Shared the Good News After Pentecost After the Holy Spirit was poured out, Peter declared that God’s “sons and daughters shall prophesy” and that His “handmaidens” would prophesy (Acts 2:17–18, KJV). The New Testament records women taking part in the church’s witness: Priscilla , with Aquila, explained the way of God more fully to Apollos; Philip’s four daughters prophesied; and Paul spoke of women who “laboured with me in the gospel.” Scripture does not tell us the words of every message they gave, but it plainly includes women in Spirit empowered speech and gospel work. 

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 2:29 Reference clarification: Numbers 3:35 names a different Abihail—the father of Zuriel , a leader among the Merarites. For a Women of the Bible study, the passage that clearly names a woman called Abihail is 1 Chronicles 2:29 .  What does Abihail’s name mean? Abihail is a Hebrew name commonly understood as “my father is strength” or “father of might.” The element ḥayil can convey strength or valor. The name’s meaning gives us a thought to reflect on, but Scripture does not say why this woman received it or describe her character through it. What does Scripture tell us about her? The KJV says, “And the name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail, and she bare him Ahban, and Molid” (1 Chronicles 2:29). She is named as Abishur’s wife and the mother of Ahban and Molid. No speech, decision, or further event from her life is recorded.  What can we as women learn? A brief record is still worth reading carefully. Abihail’s name is preserved in a family l...

Scripture: 2 Samuel 17:25; 1 Chronicles 2:13–17 This Abigail is not the Abigail who married Nabal and later David . In 2 Samuel 17:25, she is named as the mother of Amasa and the sister of Zeruiah, Joab’s mother. The verse calls her “the daughter of Nahash.” The family list in 1 Chronicles 2:13–17 names Abigail and Zeruiah as sisters among David’s family. Scripture gives us her family connections, but records none of her words or decisions.  What does Abigail’s name mean? Abigail comes from Hebrew words associated with “father” and “joy.” It is commonly understood as “my father is joy” or “my father rejoices.” The meaning is worth learning, but this passage does not connect her name to a particular event in her life.  Her place in the account When Absalom rebelled against David, he appointed Amasa commander of his army in place of Joab (2 Samuel 17:25). Abigail and Zeruiah were sisters, making their sons Amasa and Joab relatives on opposing sides of the conflict. The v...

Scripture: Acts 8:26–39, especially verse 27 In Acts 8, Philip meets a man from Ethiopia who holds “great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians” and has charge of her treasure (Acts 8:27, KJV). The official has traveled to Jerusalem to worship. On his return journey, he reads Isaiah, hears Philip preach Jesus, and is baptized. Candace does not appear in the encounter herself, but her position tells us something about the world from which the official came.  What does Candace’s name mean? Candace is the form used in the KJV for Kandake , a royal title associated with the queens of ancient Kush, in the region of present-day Sudan. It was used by more than one woman. Acts identifies the queen by her title; it does not give us her personal name. The title is often understood as referring to a queen mother or royal woman , though its precise use could vary.  What can we as women learn? A woman’s authority is visible in this account. Acts names Candace as queen and says...

Scripture: Genesis 38; Matthew 1:3 This study concerns Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law . Scripture also names other women Tamar, so identifying her by Genesis 38 matters. Her name Tamar is a Hebrew name meaning “date palm” or “palm tree.” A palm can offer an image of endurance for personal reflection, but Genesis does not say that her name was given to describe her character. We learn about Tamar from the account itself.  Her story Tamar married Judah’s son Er, who died. According to the family arrangement described in Genesis 38, Judah then gave her to his son Onan, who also died. Judah told Tamar to remain a widow in her father’s house until his younger son Shelah grew up. Yet when Shelah was grown, Judah did not give him to her. Tamar was left waiting on a promise Judah withheld.  Tamar then concealed her identity and met Judah on the road. She kept his signet, bracelets, and staff as a pledge. When Judah later heard that she was pregnant, he called for her punishment. T...

Scripture: Numbers 25:6–18 Cozbi appears in one of the most difficult accounts in Numbers. An Israelite man brought a Midianite woman into the camp while the congregation was mourning before the tabernacle. Phinehas killed them both, and the plague among Israel stopped. The passage later names the man as Zimri , a leader among the Simeonites, and the woman as Cozbi , daughter of Zur, a leader in Midian. The account says 24,000 died in the plague.  To understand this event, we must also read the beginning of Numbers 25. Israel had become involved in the worship of Baal-peor. Cozbi’s story is set within that wider account of covenant unfaithfulness; it should not be reduced to a warning about a woman’s nationality, nor should Zimri’s responsibility be placed on her alone. What does Cozbi’s name mean? Cozbi is commonly linked to a Hebrew word meaning “false” or “deceptive.” Numbers 25:18 also speaks of the Midianites’ “wiles” in the matter of Peor. Still, the meaning of a name doe...