Some Formidable Gender Biblical Partnerships: The good, the bad, the evil and the in-between - Paperback

by Lisema Ralitsoele (Author)

This book is a presentation of thirteen episodes taken out of the Bible -King James Version - that show the tremendous influence gifted by God to women. Throughout this narration, women drive men, in formal/informal relationships, to a causal outcome, good, bad, evil or in-between, that would otherwise not have been. We hope that this work will instill a sense of interest in reading the Bible. The reader could have read the passages by her/himself straight out of the Bible. Here, we assist by focusing on the selected biblical passages by giving them a common gender thread that would not be deliberately highlighted in the Word of God. We believe that this makes for a more manageable and interesting Bible study.The selected passages are mostly from action packed books of the Bible: Genesis, which is full of heroes, scoundrels, victory tragedy, and defeat. The characters include: Adam, Eve, the Serpent, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, (the trickster) and the indomitable Joseph. Others are: 1 Kings, 2 Kings, Judges, Ruth and Esther. While reading the King James Version has some challenges, however, it being in the public domain enables Christians to contribute, without legal hindrance, to enacting the Great Commission.The arrangement of the episodes is such that each can be read independently and appreciated in its own right. This is one of the wonderful features of the Bible. You can pick any verse, and it will convey meaning and have relevance to life. All the same, an artery of obedience and humility runs through all the episodes.God is the Alpha and the Omega. Episode 1 is the beginning of mankind -Adam and Eve are created. The final episode is the beginning of God's salvation covenant through His Son Jesus: who is called Christ. In other words, the first episode marks Satan's deception of Eve resulting in the fall of man from grace, while the final episode signifies the beginning of the end for Satan wielding unbridled sin-power over man.Furthermore, in episode 1, God is the Sole Creator. However, He already declares His decision to delegate some power of creation to man and woman. In episode 2, the partnership of Abraham, his wife Sarah, and their bond-woman Hagar, God shows that He is still in control of the power of creation; He puts a brake on Sarah's creative system. Later on, much later on, He releases the brakes. Meanwhile, Sarah takes matters into her hand. She commands husband Abraham to use Hagar as proxy wife and she conceives.In episode 3, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the consequent partnership of Lot and his two daughters, we see a bad usage of the delegated power of creation when mingled with wine, but maybe the end justifies the means.In episode 4, the birth of Isaac the miracle son, God again shows us the good use of the power of creation.In episode 5, the partnership of Rebekah and her son Jacob, God divulges to Rebekah, His plans for what she is bearing, while husband Isaac is ignorant.Episode 6, the partnership of Jacob's sons: Reuben and his step-mother Bilhah; and, Judah and his daughter-in-law Tamar, we see the evil uses of the delegated power of creation by Reuben and Onan; whereas in the case of Judah and Tamar, Judah had a plausible excuse and his case can therefore be considered in-between.In episode 7 the partnership of King Ahab and his queen Jezebel and episode 8 the partnership of Elijah and the widow, we move from creation to the evil deeds and the good deeds in some gender biblical partnerships. The Ahab/Jezebel partnership is marked by the unforgivable sin of blasphemy. The partnership of Elijah and the widow, on the other hand, shows obedience that releases God's blessings.Episode 9, Elijah's message to Ahab, shows that punishment for evil deeds is inevitable.Episode 10, Samson and Delilah, God is still in control. Episode 11, Naomi, Ruth and Boaz, is a wonderful story of true love. Episode 12, and episode 13 deal with the physical and spiritual deliverance..