I am interested in leading studies on women of the Bible because it isn’t often that we hear about them in church. 

It’s not surprising since many of them are unnamed and have stories that are difficult to unpack in a sermon.

This is because they have complicated lives, and their stories aren’t always easy to understand in these modern times.  

So, I created this study myself, highlighting biblical women who are in some cases less well known, like Hagar, the Egyptian Slave girl,  God sees her and makes sure she and her son, Ishmael, are cared for. 

Then there’s Dinah – the only daughter of Leah and Jacob, who is one of Israel’s Patriarchs. You may recall that in one of the more complicated triangles of the Old Testament, Jacob did not love Dinah’s mother, Leah, but was madly infatuated with Leah’s sister, Rachel.

It was a big family mess, but we’ll deal more with poor Dinah, who suffers greatly for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 And then there is the Unnamed Woman Forgiven by Jesus-the phrase most associated with her is “let he who is without sin cast the first stone” (Jesus, John 8:1-11.) 

I’m also including Jezebel (got into a tiff with the Prophet Elijah and came to a very, very bad end), and Tamar, who needed to resort to trickery to get what was due her.

These largely marginalized women have much to say to us today, I believe. 

It would be a blessing to study them with you.