Confessions from a “Bad” Bible Girl

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to criticize men and women in the Bible, especially when their sins are evident? I mean, how could Jonah run away from God? How could Rebekah play favoritism with her sons and deceive her husband? How could David commit adultery and murder Uriah? But we forget that we, too, can quickly fall into sin.

My Confession List

I am Eve, consciously deciding to sin against my Creator and Friend.

I am Job’s wife, condemning the decisions of the people I love.

I am Lot’s wife, foolishly doubting God’s plans and promises to me.

I am Sarah, desperately trying to control my circumstances.

I am Bathsheba, blindly leading others into lust and temptation.

I am Jezebel, craftily manipulating others to attain my desires.

I am Gomer, hastily running to whoever who will give me attention.

I am Herodias, recklessly ignoring the commands of God.

I am the Samaritan woman at the well, constantly rushing to people and things that’ll never satisfy me.

The Cure for the “Bad” Bible Girl

Honestly, I’m not Esther, Ruth, or Mary—and I‘m certainly not Christ-like. But that’s why He rescued me. That’s why He rescued us.

It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:15-16 NASB)

Though we often try to follow the example of “good” Bible characters, such as Joseph, Daniel, and Paul, we must first and foremost follow Christ’s example. Even “good” Bible characters sinned against God.

Eve’s disobedience, Gomer’s harlotry, and the Samaritan woman’s adultery were explicit and sinful. So were Noah’s drunkenness, Ahab’s rebellion, and Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. But my less-explicit worry, envy, and lust are also sins.

We’re all like the “bad” Bible characters because we’re all fallen. But we have a great Savior.