As a Christian woman, I’ve always loved to read about the women in the Bible and try to glean from their lives. While I have several favorites, such as Deborah and Esther, I’ve often wondered what life might be like for all of them. My Mom has always said, “Until you walk a mile in my shoes, you are unable to understand the decisions I make.” Scripture gives us a glimpse into the lives of these women, but what about the rest of their stories?
I recently read Ann Spangler’s new book, Wicked Women of the Bible
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From the Publisher
What can Jezebel, the Bible’s wickedest queen, reveal about God’s holiness and power and even about his sense of humor? What about the Woman at the Well—the one with five husbands and a live-in lover? And what of the prostitute whose tears bathe the feet of Jesus in front of people who despise her?
There are also “wicked good” women like Deborah, Ruth, Hannah, Abigail, Esther, Mary, and more. What do their lives tell us about God’s invincible love and his determined plan to save us?
In Wicked Women of the Bible Ann Spangler tells the stories of twenty wicked and “wicked good” women in greater detail. At the end of each story, Ann provides a brief section including additional historical and cultural background as well as a brief Bible study in order to enhance the book’s appeal to both individuals and groups.
The stories of these women of the Bible reveal a God who is not above it all but who stoops down to meet us where we are in order to extend his love and mercy.
Combining Biblical text with research and literary flair, Splangler takes the reader on a journey through the life of the women of the mile, and allows the reader to walk a mile in her shoes. Wicked Women of the Bible is a fantastic blend of Bible study and Biblical fiction. Each story contains a narrative, a description of “The Times” and a set of questions called “The Takeaway.” Spangler included women that are remembered as “wicked bad” like Eve, Delilah, and Jezebel as well as women that are remembered as “wicked good” like Abigail and Esther. Also included are a few women that are often forgotten, such as Gomer, Jael, and Michal.
I would certainly recommend Wicked Women of the Bible to any woman, Christian or non-Christian, who wishes to learn more about the lives of the women in the Bible.
Wicked Women of the Bible is available on Amazon and at local retailers.
