This post is about the Bible’s handling of, in the words of my friend, Donna Crow, “All the human things women everywhere struggle with.”
My best Bible women are those who are the most transformed.
MARY OF NAZARETH
(Whose story I happen to be writing.)
“Woman… my hour has not yet come.”
John 2:4
I think my support for Mary is my reaction against her dehumanizing in history, her unattainable ‘goodness’, her almost simpering embrace of suffering.
The real Mary was a gutsy girl who became an even gutsier woman as her son distanced himself from her. His ministry is bookended from Cana, (where she nudges him into starting), to the cross by addressing her as ‘woman’ rather than ‘imma’ (mother).
She never withdrew from him, much like many of us, who never withdraw from our children when the grow up to ‘reject’ or ‘forget’ us.
In the end, she embraced his transformation of her into disciple (Acts 1:14).
Donna Crow loves Mary, too, because, “she understands love and loss and joy and separation at such a deep level, all the human things women everywhere struggle with.”
NAOMI
“The Lord’s hand has turned against me.”
Ruth 1:13
In the Book of Ruth, Naomi is transformed from hopeless, grieving woman into, ‘a new mother’ who ‘suckles’ her new grandson, Obed, the child of her devoted daughter-in-law, Ruth and Boaz, her late husband’s relative, probably his brother.
Again, it is the transformation that pulls the storyteller in me. Ruth is always lovely, loving and loyal. In the end, this affects change in the life circumstances of the two— Naomi recognizes this is Ruth’s doing and loves her foreign-born daughter-in-law back.
RACHEL
“Give me children or I die.”
Gen 30:1
I love Rachel because she, too, is a real woman who, though beloved by husband, Jacob, is consumed by jealousy of her sister, Leah, his other wife, who is very fertile. Leah has every reason to be jealous of Rachel, who is loved by Jacob, but she does not seem to feel that way. Perhaps that is because she brings forth children with such apparent ease.
Rachel’s life is turned around when, finally, she gives birth to Joseph. It is as if her apparent barrenness, like that of the Matriarchs Sarah and Rebecca before her, marks this son out as special: pregnancy is an act of God.
Rachel’s life is cut short through the birthing of a second son, Benjamin, (‘Son of my right hand’), whom she, with her dying breath, wished to name, Ben Oni (‘Son of my pain’). Her death appears as a kind of punishment for stealing her father’s valuable ‘gods’.
Today, this initially barren woman is remembered as the tragic mother of Israel who mourns and grieves for all her lost children, (Jeremiah 31:15-21).
“A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Jeremiah 31:15
YOUR FAVE BIBLE BABE
Next time, I shall be featuring some of your fave Bible babes: Deborah and Yael, Noadiah (I had to look her up!), Abigail, the Daughters of Zelophehad…
I invite you to write me your most outstanding Bible woman and why, either in the comments below or via email. I will try to feature everyone’s choices.
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Ruth. How in her great sorrow as a Moabite woman, she chose to love and support her Jewish mother-in-law and make Naomi’s God her God. Off she went into strange territory. Although food was available there, this was not her motive. It was a genuine love for Naomi.
Yes, Mary. Ruth is a wonderful inspiration of loyalty to us. I had a strong bond with my own mother-in-law, though we never had to go through what Ruth and Naomi did. I think the two tend to be rivals rather than close, in many cases.
I like a lot of the Bible women, especially those around Jesus when He arrives. But my favorite is Esther. Not because she was young and beautiful, but because of her love for her uncle Mordecai and her courage. And her cleverness, when you see how she defeated her people’s enemy, Haman. She was a great example of a nobody whom God made into a somebody to fulfill His purpose. If Esther had fled her moment of influence, she wouldn’t have had a part in protecting her people or advancing her uncle to second in command! But she squared her shoulders, and almost seemed to ‘laugh in the face of danger’! I have yet to see a good movie made about this amazing young woman.
I love your reasoning for choosing Esther. You know that, when she appeared before the King without his having summoned her, he might have had her put to death! She was indeed very brave.
Deborah . She was wore many hats . Wife, warrior , judge and a poet . She was a woman who stood as an equal and a leader amongst men at a time in history that it was more than likely not welcome .
She was obedient to God, and was a woman of strong character that would have been respected. I admire her courage.
Her name also means “Bee” , which is similar to my own “honeybee” . 🙂
D’vorah – דבורה – is my daughter’s Hebrew name and she has given her own daughter Yaeli – יאלי – which is Joel in Hebrew. So, they are a warrior team.
Did you know that Deborah was the only one among the Judges whom we see actually judging?
Deborah . She was a woman who wore many hats . Wife, warrior , judge and a poet . She was a woman who stood as an equal and a leader amongst men at a time in history that it was more than likely not welcome .
She was obedient to God, and was a woman of strong character that would have been respected. I admire her courage.
Her name also means “Bee” , which is similar to my own “honeybee” . 🙂
Ruth is also my favourite woman. I think she was amazing to turn her back on her family and people, going into a strange land among a strange people. She was also not afraid of hard and menial work in order to support both herself and her mother in law. She was willing to obey Naomi and, in doing so, her name is in the genealogy of our Lord.
Lovely comment, Esther. She was a woman of great faith: Your God will be my God. And her declaration of faith was a lifelong commitment.
The Bible woman who first comes to mind is she who touched the hem/the fringe of Jesus’s robe and found herself instantly healed.
I love the lengths she goes to for healing, hoping that this young rabbi, who is becoming quite famous…maybe He will actually be able to help. She’s shy but desperate. The woman has spent all her money seeing many other physicians over twelve years. No one had stopped the constant flow of her blood…none could stop her pain and isolation.
Jesus inadvertently heals the woman when she pushes through the crowd behind Him to touch his tzit-tzit!
Feeling the power leaving, He asks, “Who touched Me?”…and she comes forward trembling.
So, she is exposed by Him, but the Lord has compassion. He doesn’t rebuke her for cringing fearfully, for hiding. Instead, Jesus speaks peace to her.
Luke 8:40ff. Also Matthew 9:18-22
I’ve been thinking of her recently since starting practice for a community chorus. Our practices will culminate in a performance for Good Friday. It’s called “Come, Touch the Robe; Encounters with the Healer, the Servant, the Lord of Easter” by Pepper Choplin…first song, “Come, Touch the Robe.”
How beautifully you retell her story, Dana. I am sure that Peter Choplin’s ‘Come Touch the Robe’ is a gorgeous song also. I’m sure you will sing your heart out .
I am fascinated by the sinful woman in Luke 7:36 -40 and 47 -50 who dried our Lord Jesus’ feet with her hair as her tears fell fast in torrents. She is the prostitute who finds salvation at the feet of Jesus at a party. She is beautiful, wealthy but did not know Jesus. What finally convinces her to meet with the Lord Jesus and be so brazenly bold to do what she did to Him before a gathering of guests? It beats my imagination! I have used Midrash to write her redemption story in The Captive’s Crown. I certainly admire her courage, boldness and bravery to seek what she considers the most important thing in the world. We are told that she poured a perfume on the Lord’s feet which was worth three year’s wages!! She points to me that Lord Jesus is our only hope, our escape route to freedom and love found in our Abba, Papa God!
Thank you, Sophia, for reminding us of this woman who had such a special role in Jesus’ life.
Thanks Bobbie.Our Lord says she will always be remembered 💖
I like Esther, she is brave yet humble and true. Loyal to her people and her uncle. During her preparation period she asks for nothing from the eunuch.
From a nobody to a somebody and when it came time to stand up, she did so even though it nearly cost her, her life. I too like how she defeated Haman in a clever way.
Yes, I’d like to see a correct version of a movie portraying this incredible and courageous young woman.
So, we definitely need to feature Esther in our Part 2 of THE BIBLE WOMEN WE LOVE THE MOST. I love her, too.
The woman caught in adultery. (How can you commit adultery on your own?!!) Everyone was accusing her, pointing at her, dragging her through the dirt. Until she falls at Jesus’ feet where she finds grace, mercy, compassion, and true love.
Jesus told her to go and sin no more. Did she? Didn’t she? We don’t know but I do feel for her…
Good choice, Julia – does look like a set up – maybe a prostitute they gathered in from the red light area? However, Jesus did say to her to go and sin no more – and he would have known.