Did you know that March is Women’s History Month? It was instituted by the proclamation of President Jimmy Carter. And did you know that March 8th was International Women’s Day? That “holiday” commemorates women’s fight for equality and liberation along with the women’s rights movement. President Carter noted that the “achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” I thought since this is the month to honor women of history, we should take a look at some notable women of the Old Testament. How do the women in modern history fare in comparison to some of these women who lived before civilization advances took place? These stories will show women who walked through difficult situations with a strong resolve. They performed acts of courage that women today can take as an example when faced with trying times.
These women of the Bible had no modern conveniences. They were not the head of their homes. They were their husband’s helpmate. And yet their willingness to stand up when things got tough are a lesson for today’s modern women who are trying to live biblically in a culture that goes directly against God’s word.
Shiphrah & Puah. Talk about two mighty warriors of God. Meet Shiphrah and Puah. They were the Hebrew midwives who delivered all the Israelite babies. The Israelites were slaves in the land of Egypt, and because of God’s blessing on them, they multiplied in great numbers while in Egypt. The new king of Egypt didn’t know the Israelite history and how they were God’s favored nation, so he was afraid of their population explosion. He demanded that these two midwives kill all the newborn baby boys but leave the girls alive. These two women were more afraid of God than of this king, so they stood their ground and let all the baby boys live. In all actuality, they prevented a genocide of the Israelite males. God blessed their faithfulness and gave them families of their own.
Today’s modern woman thinks she’s being brave by killing her unborn child. She thinks she’s doing the right thing. And she calls it healthcare. After all, who wants a cumbersome child stifling their career and happiness? Oh. How the tides have turned since the days of Shiphrah and Puah. These women who end a human life before it’s fully formed are not heroes. They are being used by Satan to advance a very evil cause all in the name of convenience. Let’s take a stand for the unborn and save a life.
Read the story of Shiphrah and Puah in Exodus 1.
Rahab. The Israelites were fresh off their escape from Egypt when they began conquering enemy territory. Other nations were fearful of the Israelites, because they knew the Israelite’s God helped them defeat all their enemies. Some Israelite spies were searching neighboring towns when they came across Rahab in the city of Jericho. She was a local prostitute, and she invited them to stay at her house. That’s all they did. Stay at her house. Nothing more. The king of Jericho knew where the men had spent the night, so he ordered Rahab to release them to him. She told him that the two spies had stopped by, but they had gone on their way. What she didn’t say was that the men were hidden on her roof. Rahab knew that the men of Jericho were deathly afraid of the Israelites, because she had heard these types of stories from the men who visited her. Because she saved the lives of these two courageous spies, they told her that Jericho was set to be destroyed. She was to hang a red cord in her window, so that she and her family would be saved on that fateful day. And she was to tell no one.
Because of Rahab’s courageous act to protect these two spies, she and her family were saved during the destruction of Jericho. If you read the lineage of Jesus Christ, you will find her listed. She was the mother of Boaz, the man who married Ruth. They had a son named Obed who had a son named Jesse who had a son named David. Yes, King David. Much later, Jesus was born in the family line. Who would have ever thought that the Savior of the world would be born in the direct lineage of a known prostitute. Faith in God can turn anyone living in sin into a new creation. That’s the purpose of salvation, and Rahab experienced it to the fullest.
Read Rahab’s story in Joshua 2 and 6.
The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm. Exodus 14:14
Deborah & Jael. Boy. These two women fought the battle of a lifetime, and I’m not even sure they knew each other. Deborah was a prophet who judged Israel at a time when the Israelites were disobeying God. They were living under the rule of a Canaanite king named Jabin because they had turned from God. Deborah advised the commander of the Israelite army to gather men from two of the Israelite tribes and prepare for battle. While he summoned his men, Deborah told King Jabin to summon his troops. She let Barak, the leader of the Israelite warriors, know that his men would triumph in victory but a woman would be credited with the win. She didn’t explain who or what or how or why. And then she accompanied him into battle. Barak brought ten thousand troops with him, while King Jabin brought nine hundred men. When Barak’s men attacked, Jabin’s men ran for cover. All of King Jabin’s men were killed except for Sisera, the army commander. In the chaos of battle, Sisera ran to a nearby tent of someone he knew to be on good terms with the king. He asked to be given a drink of water so he could rest for a minute. The woman, Jael, served him a cup of milk. After he had quenched his thirst, he lay down for a quick nap. Once he fell into a deep, exhausted sleep, Jael quietly picked up a tent peg and hammered it through his temple. The battle was finished. Jabin’s army had fallen at the hands of a woman, just as Deborah had said.
I’m not suggesting that we kill someone who is fighting us, but we must put on the armor of God and defend our faith. We can’t be sideline warriors. We are in the fight for our eternal lives.
Read the story of Deborah and Jael in Judges 4.
Abigail. Abigail was married to Nabal, who was a wealthy property owner. Nabal and Abigail were opposites; he was a harsh man and she was kind. King David and his men were being hunted by King Saul, so they were running for their lives. They found themselves near Nabal’s men who were shearing sheep. David asked if they would share their food and supplies, since he and his men were running low. When Nabal heard the request, he scoffed and refused the request. Perhaps Nabal had forgotten or ignored the fact that David and his men had treated Nabal’s men kindly at an earlier date. When David heard that his request had been denied, he told his men to prepare for battle. Nabal’s men ran to tell Abigail that her husband had refused to help David. They were fearful for their lives. Abigail hurriedly prepared a large supply of food and provisions and packed them on donkeys. Behind her husband’s back, she and her servants headed out to deliver these supplies to the future kind of Israel. Her act of courage and defiance saved her and her servants. She interceded for her husband’s foolish act and David promised not to kill her husband.
When Abigail returned home, she saw that Nabal had thrown a drunken party so she didn’t tell him what she had done. However, the next morning, she spilled the story of how she had saved him from certain death. Nabal suddenly fell ill from a stroke and died several days later. Abigail’s reward? She eventually married King David.
Now. I can’t say that women these days will be rewarded with marriage to a king or anyone of fame or fortune after stopping a bloody battle. But I do know that kindness goes much farther than bad attitudes, anger and drunkenness. Abigail saved the day with her bravery and intervention. Dare to be an Abigail when you’re faced with a situation that has unnecessarily gotten out of hand. Do the right thing and be kind and thoughtful to someone in need.
Read Abigail’s story in 1 Samuel 25.
Esther. Esther was a young Jewish woman living in the heathen land of Persia. Her people, the Israelites, had been taken into exile years earlier when the Babylonians conquered the city of Jerusalem. Some of the Jews had been exiled to Persia. After seventy years of captivity, the Israelites were free to return to their homeland but not everyone returned. Some families chose to stay in Persia, because it was the only life they had known. Esther’s family fit into that category.
The king of Persia was a ruthless man who enjoyed celebrating his wealth and opulence in a raucous manner. On one occasion, he commanded his wife, Queen Vashti, to present herself to him and his partying friends. King Xerxes had a beautiful wife and he wanted to show off her beauty to his friends. She refused. In anger and humiliation, he banished her from his presence for the remainder of her life.
The king’s personal attendants urged him to seek a new queen from among the many virgins in the land. Many young women seeking a better life lined up in droves. Their audition was simple. After enduring endless beauty treatments, each young woman was required to relinquish her virginity to the king. Whichever young woman pleased him the most became the new queen. All of the other defrocked women entered his harem, some never to be called for again. And no other man in the land would willingly accept a blemished woman as his wife.
Enter Esther. She had been orphaned at a young age and was then raised by her cousin Mordecai. He suggested she audition for the role of Queen of Persia. She did so and kept her Jewish heritage quiet, because not everyone was friendly with the Jewish remnant in their midst. Long story short. Esther was crowned queen. After she learned of a plot to kill the Jews in the land, she approached the king. Unbeknownst to the king, she invited the man who planned to kill the Jews to dinner at the palace. Once she revealed her nationality and the plot to end hers and every other Jewish life, King Xerxes had the traitor killed. Esther saved the Jewish remnant who had remained in the land of Persia. Not a small feat for an orphaned girl who rose to the throne in a less than desirable manner.
Imagine what we too can do today if we are called on to risk our safety for the lives of others. Esther spoke up when it wasn’t the safe or polite thing to do. Her act of bravery saved many lives, including her own. Perhaps we too should ask ourselves if we would willingly display that level of courage if circumstances called for it. Would we put faith and heritage over self protection and a comfortable life?
Read Esther’s story in the book of Esther.
It isn’t only modern day women who are heroes. It isn’t only modern day women who risk it all in the name of liberty and justice for all. Women of biblical times lived on the edge. They showed resilience and courage. They lived out their faith. Women don’t need to have it all together to be successful. It’s ok to live life in the trenches and still be notable to someone. Your name doesn’t have to be in lights or on billboards. You don’t need to have wealth beyond measure or excessive and expensive material possessions. The fact that you’re faithful to God and your family is notable to those who love you. Stepping out in faith and courage. Doing the right thing even when it’s hard. Speaking up for biblical truth. Persevering through the hard times. Perhaps that’s what counts more than anything.
And no one gets it right one hundred percent of the time. Repentance and accountability go a long way in righting wrongs. There will be consequences, sometimes of vast proportion. That can’t be helped. But righting wrongs and moving forward in the right direction are the key to peace and forgiveness. Push aside the grudges and ill feelings and learn to live with the unknown. Resilience is an essential strength learned through the difficulties of life. Women can do hard things and strengthen their faith in God. Biblical history is proof.
God used ordinary women to do extraordinary things. Women of unexpected backgrounds. Women in unusual situations. Women who went against their customs. And he used them in spite of their imperfections and circumstances. Our lives don’t have to be perfect in order for God to use us. He uses us in our frailties and flaws. And our obedience will at times change the course of history. God’s plan never fails, and he will use unexpected people in unexpected ways to work his plan. He asks for our willingness to be used.
Our names may never be written in history books, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t heroes of faithfulness. I read this week that it’s good to be forgotten in a line of other faithful workers for God. Over time, others may not remember our good deeds, and that’s OK. God is the one we will stand before to give an account of our lives. Anyone else who’s keeping score on this earth is doing it for ulterior motives. We must keep our eyes on God.
Mercy for the Day 