When you Stand by Your Man - Chapter 8 - North Richmod Bible Class - 11.14.24

A fascinating discussion exploring two contrasting Biblical accounts of wives' responses to their husbands. The class examines Sarah, who stood by Abraham even when he falsely claimed she was his sister (twice!), and Queen Vashti, who famously refused King Xerxes' command.
The study delves into how Sarah's compliance with Abraham's deception led to divine intervention and complex diplomatic situations with both Pharaoh and King Abimelech. The class then analyzes the dramatic fallout from Vashti's refusal to appear before the drunken king and his nobles - a "refusal heard around the world" that led to sweeping legal changes across the Persian Empire.
Key themes include:
• Divine intervention and protection
• The consequences of deception vs. defiance
• Ancient cultural attitudes toward women
• How individual choices can have kingdom-wide impact
• God's larger purposes working through human decisions