Sandra presented these three lectures at a women’s retreat in
In spite of our disobedience and sin, God’s purposes will be accomplished for his glory. This principle is evident in the story of Rachel and Leah, found in Genesis 29:30—30:24. The passage explains the beginnings of Israel’s twelve tribes through the births of Jacob’s twelve sons. Despite the bitter bickering of sisters Rachel and Leah, God’s plan was not thwarted. His purpose to build the house of Israel was accomplished—and specifically, it was through the lineage of Leah and Jacob’s son, Judah, that Jesus Christ was born.
The Book of Esther describes how the Jewish holiday of Purim came to be. There was a plot to commit genocide against Jews living in Persia. God sovereignly used an orphaned, timid foreigner, Esther, to thwart the heinous plan through her presence in the right place at the right time with the right face. Purim is still celebrated (2500 years later) in celebration of God’s remarkable faithfulness to save the Jewish people in Esther’s time. God can take sin and turn it around to show his grace and glory.
Sandra begins her lecture with an overview of the elements of lament psalms--teaching how hurting psalmists talked with God, and spotlighting Psalms 6 and 12. She moves into the story of a woman who had endured a menstrual flow for twelve years (Mark 5:25-34). As a last resort, she approached Jesus for healing. Jesus pressed her to testify of her healing, and then spoke a blessing of wholeness to her. If God has rescued us from a disastrous circumstance or from sin, we also should testify for the benefit of others. Our lives are the only “Bible” that some of our friends and family will ever read.