Real Hope: Women in the BiblePrøve

## The Unknown Woman There’s a wonderful story of faith in the Bible about a woman who for twelve years had suffered haemorrhaging. The Bible doesn’t mention her name, and yet her story of faith and courage lives on some two thousand years later. Because of the constant bleeding, under the Jewish law this woman lived in a continual state of uncleanness that would have brought upon her social and religious isolation. But then she heard about Jesus and all the mighty works He was doing. She said to herself, ‘If only I touch His garment, I shall be made well’. It took great courage to push through a crowd that had rejected her for years. Her method was so unorthodox. But if she had conformed to and accepted the rules, traditions or restrictions being placed upon her, she would never have been healed. This woman and Jesus’ response to her courage and faith show that God is not attached to a particular way of doing things. To the curious crowd pressing about Jesus, there was no power imparted. But this suffering woman who touched Him in faith received healing – physically, socially and spiritually. There is never a situation or condition too hopeless for Jesus. He is alive, He heals the sick, cleanses the leper, opens the eyes of the blind. Allow that spark of hope to flood your heart and fill you with a faith to step out, to touch Him, to encounter Him afresh. The good news is that Jesus always engages those who are determined to encounter Him. #### Written by HEIDI WYSMAN