Women of the Bible: Abigail

1Sa 25:18  Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys. 

How a woman who was very beautiful and discerning came to be married to a man who was harsh and badly behaved, or as his name signifies a 'fool', magnificently escapes me. It is often true in love that there is more irrationality than sense. But a man with much money and power, even though a fool is at times providently blessed with a beautiful and discerning wife. Or we can say that such a union was perhaps due to family ties, namely wealth marrying into wealth, or the rich man having so much fortune was able to tempt her father into giving her away with him becoming rich in the transaction. Such was the sorry lot for Abigail, that the man to whom her father dispensed her too, was not one who was trained in the school of wisdom, nor in sobriety, although he owned much worldly shrewdness to make him the successful man that he was.

Abigail is introduced to us to contrast her with the bankrupt character of her husband. She was very beautiful and discerning. This is also to say that she was a woman of great principle, and God-fearing as we would later discover in her plea to David to forsake his anger towards her household. Abigail is the archetype that we are presented with in the book of proverbs on the happy wife. She is the excellent wife. The frame more precious than jewel and one who rises while it is yet night to provide food for her household. In Abigail's case, she provides delivery from death. What a godly woman, what a rarity, kind and sublime in every way, and as we shall later see, also full of humility as that to which we are all exalted to follow.

Proverbs 14:1 communicates that the wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. This almost became true with Abigail due to Nabal's foolishness, but Abigail's quick decisiveness remedied the situation. Her husband's own hands almost destroyed every living thing in their household by arousing David's anger when foolishly Nabal returned evil for good. He belittled David and railed at his messengers when they had only done good towards him. Thus, David strapped on his sword like every zealous man overtaken with anger and sought to utterly wipe out Nabal and all his household from the face of the earth.

Abigail caught wind of this coming disaster by being informed by one of the young men in their household. This young man told Abigail because he knew what we already knew, namely that Abigail was a wise and discerning wife. If anyone can salvage the situation, the young man must have thought then it must be Abigail. Circumstances always tug out the best and worst in a soul, or we can say that situations which happens upon us often serves to display what lies deep in our heart. And what lay deep in Abigail's soul was prudence, yes, wisdom which must have been cultivated during her years of marriage despite being married to a fool. Wealth had not injured her wisdom. She did not condescend to her husband's ways but maintain that vital principle of discipline in the areas of discernment and wisdom.

She at last constructed a plan of deliverance and the manner in which she executes it ought to cause us to arise and praise the God in whom all her faith depended. Notice that the text says that she took haste. This was no hour to linger and engage in womanly trifles or sit inactive waiting for man to deliver. Nay, she was a woman of substance and took the action of salvation into her own evely hands. She prepared an offering to appease David and the portion she commanded was that of great liberality. All these things she kept from her foolish husband. O this is another trait to be adored, let every woman who loves the Lord be generous in their given. Let them keep away wise decisions from foolish men for they will be scorned at last if revealed. Speak to them in parables if needs be like our Lord Jesus did to the stiffened of his generation that had no ears to ear.

After commanding her young men to go, she assured them that, after, she would come also and meet with David. And in meeting with David there is much caveat the women from this generation can peruse. She saw David and immediately fell at his feet and said words which were utterly destitute of any selfishness. Even though the guilt is entirely to be put upon the hard neck of her husband, yet she took it on herself and entreated David to grant her a listening ear. She rightly confesses that her husband was a fool. This is not to cast a mean eye upon her husband as to forsake that instruction for wives to respect their husbands, but it is to speak the plain truth, namely that her husband is a fool and that folly is with him. Perhaps some might say that she went too far in saying that her husband was a worthless fellow but I shall let you judge in the bosom of your own hearts. Christ often spoke the truth about the conditions of people's heart, he called the Pharisees a hypocrite, he denounced his generation as unable to discern the times, and was not afraid to label the evil man as being evil. Likewise we must not be afraid to speak clearly of the lazy man or of our times which has clearly exchanged the truth of God for the lie. And although many of us are worthless, especially me, when it comes to things pertaining to eternal life or holiness, yet we must not beat ourselves but exalt in the towering fact that Christ has made us worthy.

Were you a sinner, are you a Nabal, then there is heavenly grace for you.

Returning this pen back to Abigail, we must say that words alone cannot praise adequately her noble deeds and high character of heart. For David was entirely impressed with her plea and understood that she was an instrument used by the Lord to keep him from such a guilty act of murder. Abigail had affirmed that God will make a sure house for David. What a remarkable faith, namely that she was entirely sure that the promises of God made to David will come to pass. What a sweetened bright candle that flourishes in the darkness. What a woman found in Israel. What an Abigail and I pray that many women in our churches today may follow after her likeness.

A good woman knows that to plea with a godly man, one must include God in the conversation and remind him of the ways of God and that the man should act accordingly. Such a talk will persuade the godly man if he is in error to forsake his ways and so it was with David. David was clearly blinded in his rage and Abigail had been God's voice, yea God's beautiful hand and feet, or we can say here, mouth, to stop David in his blood thirsty tracks. Abigail ended her plea by asking David that he should remember her when God has dealt well with him. And David did. For when Nabal was instructed of this discourse had between David and Abigail, he was as the scriptures say, 'became as a stone and his heart died within him.' This I believe came about due to the awakening of his conscience to his wrong and more so, to the terror that would have collapsed upon him. And about ten days later he died because God struck him. Omnipotent hands finally rose to grant him his judgement. O how this is deserving of us all were it not for grace. O Lord, I do pray, lift your hands of mercy against the Nabal's of this world, rise not yet in judgement until they come unto repentance. But I say, that you are God of heaven and you do that which pleases your soul.

Abigail had secured peace for her household and through her wisdom and discernment she had spared the lives of many. She providentially had been the instrument to prevent the anointed of the Lord in committing a wicked act. God used her to stop the feet of David. And through this encounter with God's anointed she became his wife after David learnt of the demise of Nabal. He remembered her when God has dealt well with him.

And when she is approached to be the wife of the future King of Israel by David's servants, her mannerisms are to be exalted. She bowed with all humility and submission and uttered that she is merely a 'handmaid to wash the feet of the servants of my lord'. This was no easy utterance; for a woman of her status would have been accustomed to being looked after for she was the wife of a rich man, even though he was a fool. She did after all possessed five young women who were hers to be directed as she pleased. And to now wash the feet of the servants of David would have been a mean thing, but she cared not for position or status but was altogether ready to do the lowliest job.

O Abigail, what a woman to be celebrated. Would you be so humble ladies as to put yourself forward to wash the feet of your husband's friends or of your father's friends? Would you have such hearts to descend so low, leaving your heaven for earth?

Many woman today I say may benefit by taking on Abigail's characteristics by being discerning and full of humility. And although external beauty is a gift given by God that makes one appear aesthetically beautiful before all eyes, yet it was not external beauty that saved the day, no. It was those inward qualities, those fruits from heaven which can be the possession of all women if they would let the Spirit be their teacher and guidance.

K.Oni

Women of the Bible: Delilah

The life of Delilah as one Christian writer puts it indicates that for beauty, personal charm, mental ability, self-command, nerve, she was quite a wonderful woman, a woman to be admired for some qualities which she exhibits, even while she is to be utterly disapproved.

She is to be outright disapproved because she was a 'mistress of the art of feigning love in spite of being quite untouched at heart.' The words of Solomon in the book of proverbs of the necessity of one inclining one's ears to wisdom and being attentive to understanding was almost missing from what we know of Samson's life in regards to an ungodly woman's course. The lips of a forbidden woman Solomon tells us drips honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end it is bitter as wormwood, or to bring the phrase more home to us, it is as bitter as eating a piece of log found amidst dogs faeces.

We know from the narrative (Judges 16) that Samson fell prey to Delilah's smooth words, her enticing lips and goddess like beauty were all exercised to the end of her desires which is money. Before we dive deep into Delilah's ungodly ways and the way she slew the anointed of God, let us paint a picture of Samson for it was because of his remarkable weakness for a woman's charm that Delilah is forever etched in the pages of Scripture.

Samson is the hero of God but can hardly be portrayed as an example to follow. Before his conception, he was to be set apart to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines. Divine instructions were given to his parents that no razor should come upon his head.The strength of Israel’s salvation was to be rooted in Samson's hair. If Israel was to be saved by Samson's hand then obedience was necessary on the part of his parents and eventually of Samson himself.

Samson had one fundamental sin. He could not rebuff a woman's charm. He was a man that opened himself to the lust of his heart. His election to embrace a woman was dictated by his eyes. If she was beautiful, if his eyes agreed so does his heart, despite all the counsels that bids him that such ways will lead him astray. Seeing a daughter of the Philistines in Timnah, Samson was immediately awed by her, so much so that he commanded his parents to go and fetch her to make him his wife. Parental guidance sought to avert him from such a path, but Samson settled that 'she was right in his eyes' and thus was resolved to adopt for no other. He was to have his uncircumcised bride and by uncircumcised we mean that she was not an Israelite. Even in Gaza Samson used a harlot in order to satisfy his desires. Such was the ways of the man that it is not surprising that his end should come at the hands of a forbidden woman.

We are first introduced to Delilah as a woman that Samson loved who lived in the Valley of Sorek. I suspect that she was a friend of the Philistines and known by them, for after they noticed that Samson's heart had been captured by Delilah, they came at once to her as the individual who could execute successfully their evil plans. In loving Delilah Samson ushered in his death. Her honey dripping lips will finally bring about his ruination.

Delilah loved money; and for a pretense in displaying love as to having true affections, she is willing to play the actress. “Seduce him,” asked the Philistines “and find out where his great strength lies and we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver”. This was a far greater price than what Judas sold his Christ for but both had the same treacherous heart, namely a love for money. To bring down one man who so foolishly was already eating breadcrumbs from her hands was a worthy sacrifice for her reward which will forever give her a life of luxury. Resolved to betray Samson, Delilah inaugurated her script.

At first she said plainly, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one can subdue you.” Samson played the part and three times consecutively he kept hidden from her the secret of his strength. Feeling that Samson had not fallen yet completely to her to reveal his secret, she unleashed her choicest bait. She pretended writes one author that she had been neglected and trifled with by an unrequiting love. From her enticing lips she said, “How can you say, 'I love you,' when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies.” What a hypocritical women that she dared say to Samson that 'how can you say that you love me when your heart is not with me.' What a serpent! Is her heart with Samson? Nay, it is for money, it is for gain; and for the treasures of this world she is willing to kill a man. Indeed, although Samson was not slain by her hands yet his death was all to obvious when he 'told her all his heart.'

At this revelation she called up the Philistines whom she had kept hidden in an inner chamber to take away their spoil of war. Before the Philistines took him away, she made Samson sleep on her knees and tormented him. What a wicked woman! Wicked Delilah, O wicked Delilah blessed with beauty and charm only to use it for destruction. And is this not the heart of many women today. Their feminine beauty is but an asset to trap a man. Outwardly they profess to be angels but inwardly their heart is no different to the devil's.

Men be careful of a pressing women for Delilah too pressed Samson until his soul was vexed to death. Be wise in your choice, for a woman can so weaken you that you even give up your Christ for her. For there are many sad testimonies of a once believer who threw the faith into the trash in order to pursue a woman that he loved. And of course such women may have nothing of Delilah's character; and according to general morals these women may be very good, and thus shame only need be proclaimed upon that once believing man who threw it all away in order to kiss the lips of a woman.

A man ought to pour out his heart to his wife but be sure O man that she is made of trusting materials. Give all that is in your heart to a gossiping woman and you shall find the deep things of your heart scattered throughout the land; but say them to a trustworthy wife and she shall keep them locked up in her chamber until the day of her death.

When Delilah had sleeping Samson on her knees, Samson lost his hair, and with them lost God in him. 'Lust, severing from God the source of strength, makes the strongest powerless; only by waiting on the Lord, we, like Samson, renew the strength which was lost by self-indulgence and self-reliance.'

Delilah knew no remorse. Her job was accomplished and I imagine that Samson will not remain in her thoughts only on the cool evening musings that this poor Nazarite was the reason for her gain. But I must stay my pen and not condemn Delilah too severely for he who is without sin let them launch the first stone.

The evil of lust and perhaps the covetousness of riches is not too far from all of our hearts. David fell from his throne by committing adultery and Solomon, well Solomon had many wives and concubine which eventually led him astray from the living God. Samson is to be pitied and like God we ought to have mercy on each man or woman who have been led astray by the Delilah's of this world when they groan in repentance. And as a warming to women, restrain from the path of Delilah, do not sell love for money, do not play the part of the harlot. Do not use your feminine appeal to serve sinful ends but rather use it to glorify God.

K.Oni

Women of the Bible: Hannah - A contented complaint

Hannah was a woman troubled in spirit. She was one of the two wives of Elkanah who was an Ephramite. Yearly Hannah visited Shilor with her husband to offer sacrifices, for there the tabernacle was located. With each visit Hannah laid on the alter her troubled soul which arose because she had no children. She wept bitterly dropping on the sacred floor the tears of shame, and so zealous was her weeping and prayer that Eli the priest thought that she was drunk. But Hannah was no drunkard, she was a woman moved with womanly affections to have an open womb which the Lord had closed. She prayed and then at the end of her prayer departed with a contented Spirit. Eli had spoken to her to go in peace for the God of Israel will grant her her petition that she has made to Him. Hannah departed, no longer with a sad heart, and took food to eat displaying her now contented soul.

My friends who have much sorrow in their hearts, who at this moment are depressed, who at this moment are grieving, who are weighed down with a great heaviness, are you praying contented prayers? Are your complaints holy complaints or are your complaints full of discontentment? 

You might say, what is the difference between a holy complaint and a discontented complaint? The difference is this. In a Holy complaint we complain to God and in a discontented complain we complain of God. In the garden of betrayal or that which we know as the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed a contented prayer or we might say a contented complaint by which we mean that Jesus was longing to see if there may be an alleviation of his present and soon to come sufferings. Jesus laid his soul to His Father in heaven and at the end of a three hour ordeal where he wept blood and tears, He finally rose and said, Father thy will be done. This is a contented complaint. A discontented complain would have been Jesus's unwillingness to accept heaven's decision displayed by his willingness to linger with bitter tears even after such a clear decision was revealed to him. There was no other way except the way of the cross. And for you there might be no other way except the way of suffering. Rachel did well to weep for her Children as did Hannah did well to complain about her barrenness, but the fault with Rachel was that she refused to be comforted, there was discontentment, and with Hannah there was contentment.  

Then you might say, are we to stop praying for our troubles but only pray once and then weep no more. No my troubled saint. In these two situations, that of Hannah and Jesus there was an immediate divine answer given to their complaints. Jesus received in his soul heaven's confirmation that there was no other way and Hannah received from Eli the word of a God elected priest. But we are to do this, namely, that after we have poured open all of the injuries of our hearts towards God, we are to depart from such wrestling with a submission to God's holy sovereign order of the universe, saying with a contented heart that thy will be done. We are not to leave our place of wrestling without at last saying that God, my Father to you I commit my cause, therefore, I will walk in the satisfaction that you alone are to my soul. To leave your place of complaint without this contented disposition is to really display your lack of trust in God and that Jesus Christ alone is not sufficient for you. If Jesus Christ is enough as you no doubt believe, then do you think that the answering of this petition will add one inch of joy to your soul outside of what he has done for you? Or if unanswered will you linger in bitterness? There is a lesson for us all to learn from that apostle who said that whatever circumstance he is in He has learnt to be content, (Philippians 4:11). This does not stop the apostle from weeping or praying, but rather, all of his complaints are cemented on his unwavering satisfaction on all that Christ is for him.

This contented disposition should cause you to rise early in the morning like Hannah and worship the Lord. And if your injuries are not to be solved in the passing flow of this age, then like Habakkuk you should pray this contented prayer: Habakkuk 3:17-18

 "Though the fig tree should not blossom,
    nor fruit be on the vines,

the produce of the olive fail    and the fields yield no food,the flock be cut off from the fold    and there be no herd in the stalls,     yet I will rejoice in the Lord;    I will take joy in the God of my salvation."

Pray it now poor soul in great distress and entrust yourself entirely to him who Judges justly.

K.Oni

Women of the Bible: The first women missionary society for the support of the gospel

In the New Testament times the position of women was not equal to that of men. Women were regarded as inferior to men. In marriages, only men were allowed to dissolve a marriage and in the temple area, women were permitted to go only as far as the court of women and can only share in the synagogue worship only by listening.

The mixture of the sexes in public was an uncommon thing, opposed to the custom of Palestine. The rabbis were not in favour of associating with a woman in public but we read of Jesus that as he went about through the cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good-news of the kingdom that some women provided for him and his disciples out of their means (Luke 8:2-3).

Some of the women mentioned were Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna. These women all had personal grounds of gratitude to Jesus for some of them were healed of evil spirits and infirmities.

In Jesus’ social context, there was a lot of disdain towards women. Women lack influence and power, they were shunned in public and treated as second class citizens. A rabbi in the second century AD said that the Jews should daily utter three Thanksgivings with one of the Thanksgivings being: ‘Blessed be God who did not make me a woman, for a woman is not obligated to keep the commandments’. Such was the hostility towards women in public life that Jesus countered the social hatred by accumulating women to travel with him on his journeys.

These women displayed their gratitude to Jesus by providing for his missionary work out of their own personal resources; we could say that this is the first woman missionary society for the support of the gospel. Another Rabbi may have shunned these women’s support and bid them go back to their own homes, but Jesus, the ever compassionate Saviour allowed these women to be the backbone of his ministry.

We read that in Jesus’s suffering hours that these women were with him. He had them for company from Galilee all the way to Jerusalem. The gospel writers were not misogynist for they included the presence of these woman in the dying hours of Jesus’s life whereas they were completely silent about the whereabouts of the chosen twelve save a few.

These women were loved and cherished by Christ. Jesus also came for them. He came for their reconciliation to God’s society and to God himself.

We see two valuable traits in these woman of which we can all learn. The two traits are service and loyalty.

Service

These women offered their service voluntarily. I am sure that Jesus did not oblige them to provide for his needs just because he had set them free; their debts were for him to pay, but in the view of the mercy and love which Christ had showered upon them, these women responded by giving him their hearts. They offered him that which they could give in whatever heights or depths. One thing can be said, namely, that they gave their service willingly. God loves a cheerful giver and Christ and his disciples must have loved these women for they supported the ministry out of their own means. And when Christ had ascended into heaven the disciples were found devoting themselves to prayer with the Women and Mary the Mother of Jesus.

Daughters of God and sisters of Christ, is your heart melted by Christ as these women’s once unclean souls were? Are you quick to offer your service, money and time to Christ, supporting the work of his ministry or are you still lingering in your struggle to conquer Adam and fight your rights of equality? Will you not be like Christ who considered equality with God, not as a thing to be grasped but emptied himself and was found as a servant? Will you not be a servant? Will you not go quickly because of your gratitude and in your great joy sell all of your ambitions to gain Christ? O will you not be one of the Mary’s?

I pray that you render your service to Christ and to his Church for the joy and salvation of the world.

Loyalty

The beloved Apostle tells us that standing by the cross of Jesus was his Mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdelene. The loyalty of the other women were recorded for us by Matthew when he writes, There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

These women were faithful to their Christ, there was not a Judas among them – they did not pick up the cause of Christ, putting their hands to the plough and then turn back like some of the disciples at Capernaum who turned back and no longer followed Jesus. These women endured the hard teachings, they suffered the fear of being thrown out of the synagogues because of their association with Jesus. These women were seeds planted on good soils, they yielded the fruits of faithfulness.

These women’s loyalty was like Uriah’s loyalty for his fellow soldiers when David had taken him away from them. Uriah refused to go back to his own home to sleep in comfort but he slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord’s and did not go down to his own house. Although David may write that the faithful have vanquished from among the children of men, we can say of these women that the faithful have not perished from among the daughters of Eve. These women stood and watched the crucified Christ from a distance although powerless to do anything yet they showed their support for the suffering Messiah by being there and standing near the foot of his cross.

In all truths of heaven, women are not second-class citizens of the Kingdom of God, they are first class, highly honoured and crowned with beautiful gems decorated with a special name which God their Father has given to each that belongs to him. They enter the kingdom of heaven like all men namely through the effectual calling of God, who justifies them and then glorifies them conforming each to the character of his glorious Son who carried their sins on the cross.

My dear Ladies, be Women who are full of gratitude because of what Christ has done for you. Hold nothing back, live for Christ, serve his church, love your family, use whatever gifts Christ has given you, be a good daughter, seek his kingdom, be loyal, be faithful, provide for the ministry like the Women mentioned in the gospels who provided for Jesus out of their means.

K.Oni

Women of the Bible: Deborah

Deborah Study: Judges 4-5

History

The Book of Judges has several recurring themes. The first is the cycle of sin, suffering, petition, deliverance, the death of the deliverer—and then the cycle begins once again with sin. This is outlined in the text above. The next is the recurring statement, “there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (see 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). Another recurring theme is that, at this time, there were two problems in Israel, and both concerned leadership: (1) Israel had no king, and (2) its leaders (judges) kept dying. The solution will become apparent in time—Israel needed a man who could be their king, and yet who would never die. This could only be fulfilled in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ.

A judge of Israel.

Joshua has invaded the Promised Land and the Israelites are in constant battles with the inhabitants. They are sent judges to keep them living the right way under God but constantly drift away from God and worship other Gods. God uses other nations to judge Israel but also gives them many victories to show his power.

Story

Deborah came to be Judge after Ehud. The Israelites went away from God, so God let the Canaanites rule over them who oppressed. Israel cried to God and He called Barak to fight the Canaanites. He promised Barak victory. Deborah was a Prophetess and many people came to her to have their arguments dealt with. Barak went to Deborah for counsel, who confirms again Gods message to Barak, however he would not go without Deborah. She went with him but said God would give the glory of taking Sisera's life to a woman. They went to battle and the Israelites killed all Sisera’s men. Sisera escaped and found refuge in the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. She hid him and Sisera fell asleep. Whilst he was asleep, Jael killed Sisera by hammering a tent peg through temple. Barak came to find Sisera and Jael showed him dead. The Israelites eventually conquered Canaan. Deborah and Barak sang praise to the Lord for being freed and living in peace again.

Name and Character

Deborah's name means 'Bee'.

A Bee- very focussed, produces wonderful results (honey). At the start of her ministry the Israelites were severely oppressed, at the end they enjoyed 40 years of peace under her leadership.

Deborah had a ministry of encouragement and was all for God. She was very influential and due to her closeness with God produced a strong spiritual atmosphere which attracted people and was a source of encouragement.  

Confidence in God

Deborah was plain spoken and direct, honest, decisive and courageous.

Strong military leader: generating effort and commitment towards a goal/objective.

Spiritual leader: Deborah and Barak praised God after they won the battle.

Deborah is introduced as a prophetess, someone who speaks with divine authority, and as the Eshet lapidot which can be translated as 'wife of lapidoth'  (NIV) but also means 'woman of torches'. The two translations originate from different possibilities. If it is translated as 'wife of' then it implies Deborah could be married and therefore have another role. However the other translation results from the translation of how the sentence is written. 'Lapidot' means torches and is written in the place where a man’s name would be, however it is strange sounding and doesn't have the standard patronymic 'son of'. Is 'lapidot' a noun or a name?

Woman of torches fits Deborah and the story in the manner of biblical names. "Torch‑Lady" provides a significant wordplay, for it is Deborah, not her husband, who is the torch that sets the general Barak (whose name means "lightning") on fire.

Moreover, in Mesopotamian mythology, the torch and the lightning (tsullat and hanish) are the heralds of the storm god. In the same way, "Torch Lady" and "Lightning" are fit agents for the God of Israel, who defeats Sisera by creating a river of mud to incapacitate his chariots.

Women in leadership

A prophetess seems to be identified in relation to a man. Do you agree with the view that when there was a woman prophetess who assumed a leadership role, it was meant to be a very clear indication of spiritual decay?

“You will be shocked and amazed! You are totally blind! They are drunk, but not because of wine, They stagger, but not because of beer.  For the LORD has poured out on you a strong urge to sleep deeply. He has shut your eyes (the prophets), and covered your heads (the seers)” (Isaiah 29:9-10).

Can this passage be used to prove the role of women in leadership?

Deborah's ministry is located in the book of Judges. It is in Judges that we read, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; cf. also 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). The Book of Judges is not holding forth an ideal for us to follow, but is depicting evils for us to avoid. Judges describes real people, people with very serious flaws, people that God nonetheless employs for His own purposes. But let us not make the mistake of assuming that since they are found in the Bible they are examples for us to follow in all that they did.

The story of Deborah and Barak does not advocate a general principle that women should lead men. Deborah does give Barak the word to go to war in 4:14, but she is merely repeating what she had already said. Barak should have seen that it was the time to fight on his own, based upon what God had already said. Deborah plays a crucial role in this battle. She operates behind the scenes as much as she can. Barak’s reticence to lead and his insistence that Deborah go with him are portrayed as weakness on his part, for which he is rebuked. That a woman gets the glory is to be viewed as a divine rebuke, not a compliment.

Deborah lead within limits, to promote male leadership, and thus to keep herself in a subordinate role. Deborah did not seek a prominent leadership role, and in fact she actively sought to avoid it. She made it clear that God had designated Barak as the leader, and that God was commanding him to lead.

Deborah did play a crucial leadership role in our text, but note the outcome of her leadership. From 4:23-24, we learn that this battle was a turning point in the relationship between Israel and the Canaanites, who dominated the Israelites for 20 years. In the “song of deliverance” in chapter 5 (verse 2), we see that because of Deborah’s ministry, the leaders assumed their leadership roles, and the workers followed them (not her). Deborah did not seek to overturn the way leadership was supposed to function, but affirmed it. Because of her ministry, God’s designated leaders did lead, and followers actively followed by volunteering for service. That is the way it is supposed to work. That is the way it did work when Deborah played out her role in Israel’s history.

Barak became the leader he was supposed to be, thanks in large part to the role that Deborah played. More often than not, when a man becomes the kind of leader that God wants him to be, there is a “Deborah” somewhere nearby, perhaps out of the spotlight, but very much standing behind the man, encouraging him and strengthening his faith in God. Many of the great deeds of faith performed by men find their roots in the godly actions and prayers of a woman—a wife, a mother, a daughter, a prayer warrior.

In those dark days of the judges, the leaders shrunk back, and there were few who were willing to follow. The bottom line was that there seemed to be no one to fight the enemy, the Canaanites. Through the ministry of this great woman, Deborah, leaders and followers emerged, and the battle was fought and won. Today, it is very little different than in Deborah’s day. There is a great deal that needs to be done in the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are Sunday School classes to be taught, new believers to be discipled, evangelism to be carried out, and on and on the needs go. And yet today there are all too few willing to step forward and assume leadership positions. And there are even fewer people who are willing to follow. In our church, as in most others, there are jobs that need to be done and not enough people willing to do them. What has God called you to do? Has He called you to serve? Then volunteer, and be a supportive follower. Do what needs to be done! Are you called to lead? Then do it, trusting in God to work through your weakness in a way that makes you strong.

LEARNING FROM DEBORAH

Our relationship to God affects those around us. If we exhibit trust in God's ability to help and promptly obey whatever he requires, others will be encouraged to follow our model.

Truly successful leaders recognize that worship and praise to God is the right response to their accomplishments. The more we see God's hand in our endeavours, the more we will want to fall before him in wonder and praise for his incomparable works and mercy.

FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE

There is no shortcut to knowing God and being able to hear his voice. Knowing him requires that we spend time speaking and listening to him. One way we can listen to him today is by reading Scripture. Try systematically reading the Bible from beginning to end. In this way you will not be tempted to concentrate only on your favourite passages but will receive a more complete picture of God's character and of the ways he has related to his people throughout the ages. Also, thank God openly and quickly for every good thing he gives his people.

By Ruth Tisdall 

The highlighted words were highlighted by K.Oni

Women of the Bible: Leah

There are two kinds of beauty. There is a beauty which God gives at birth, which withers as a flower and there is another kind of beauty, namely, the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. The first beauty is given by grace and so is the second beauty accomplished by God in the hearts of his redeemed. Leah was denied the first beauty as she is specifically reported that her eyes were weak to suggest that her eyes were lacking that lustre which always and everywhere is looked upon as a conspicuous part of female beauty. Compared to her sister Rachel, Leah's appearance had no beauty that we should desire her, or that humanity should boast about the excellences of her feminine frame.

Women who feel the lack of praise for their feminine physique should not feel the urgency to desire such earthly praise from the world, for was not the Lord Jesus himself depicted as a commoner, one who had no majesty in the likeness of Rachel or in the manner of the Hercules of this world that we should desire him. Christ had no Olympian figure, amidst a crowd his features were not to be lauded but yet it was in Him that the fullness of deity was pleased to dwell.

I fear for the women of this age that they have bought into the heresy of the time that beauty is all that matters. Outward appearance has become the crown and gold of the end of their desires. Many feeling themselves to be the Leah's of this world have idolized the Rachel's and thus sought with all of their envying energy to become like the Rachel’s and thus have commenced their own ruins. Leah in wanting her sister's husband conspired with her deceitful Father to engage in an act of great wickedness that she heavily veiled herself to hide her identity in order to gain Jacob in whom he had not worked for. Surely, she could have at any time told poor Jacob that she was not his beloved Rachel and having compassion and love to God she could have told the truth and spared herself the ache of polygamy.

But such is the conduct of omnipotent hands that Leah although entering into the marriage through a deceitful means was to be the most favoured and pitied for it was Leah that bore Jacob six children before beautiful Rachel was given the grace to conceive her Joseph.

God does not look at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart and although there was nothing in particular which distinguished Leah's heart from Rachel‘s, yet Sovereign grace according to God's free choice chose Leah to conceive Judah and in Judah, David and in David, Jesus. Leah it can be said was the mother of the Christ.

To the Leah's of this world, do not hate your sister Rachel but praise God for her beauty and thank God for yourselves that he created you in his own image and that which God has called beautiful, do not call ugly.

Awake and sleep with this passage, 1Peter 3:3-4 "Do not let your adorning be external--the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear- but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."

K.Oni

Women of the Bible: Lois - Timothy's Grandmother

Paul befriended Timothy for his journey whilst he was in Lystra, modern Turkey (Acts 16:1-3) and from then on grew in his love for this man. Paul calls Tim his “co-worker” (Romans 16:21), his “son whom [he loves]” as well as his “true son in the faith” (1 Corinthians 4:17 & 1 Timothy 1:2, respectively), his “brother” (2 Corinthians 1:1) and a “servant of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:1). Paul even displays 360° discipleship as he offers his dear one some apothecary advice out of concern for his health, telling him to take care of his stomach and frequent illnesses (1 Timothy 5:23). Most prominently Timothy is described to the church in Corinth as one who will remind them of Paul’s Christ-like ways. Timothy reflects Paul, who reflects Jesus. As Timothy is discipled by Paul, he imitates not only his earthly Rabbi but also his heavenly one. His life is an example of healthy discipleship, where leaders aren’t afraid for their followers to be like them, trusting that the leader is following the right person too.

But this is a series on women of the Bible. And although the phrase “behind every great man is a great woman” has become a slogan for feminist movements which people can sometimes get angst about, two women in Timothy’s life get a mention and it does seem that behind this great man, there are two great women.

In the opening of Paul’s second letter to Timothy he gives thanks to God, remembers Timothy’s tears, and longs to see his son again in order to be full of joy (v.4). He then refers to his friend’s “sincere faith”. Timothy’s faith was wholehearted, deep, genuine, and honest. But where did he get it from? “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice” (v.5).

There are only 2 grandmothers mentioned in the Bible, and Lois makes the cut for one of them. It is notable that unlike many of the other characters in the Bible who are listed in genealogies by their paternal tracks, Timothy is recounted maternally. For a man of such a high status in Paul’s heart, it is very encouraging to read that Timothy has his faith passed on predominantly by his grandmother. Not only did she do a fantastic job at passing it onto her daughter Eunice, but this faith also reached young Timothy. I wonder if in that household Lois would recite the Torah to the toddling Tim, if as a young boy Timothy could see Lois’ faith at work as she began to grow old and maintain her joy, if when she died Timothy was around to witness her peace. All things to speculate on but the nature of much biblical narration provides space for readers to dream up something of the bits in between and make the journey more lifelike.

The other grandmother mentioned is Maakah who had the privilege of being the grandma of Asa, a king of Judah of the house of David (1 Kings 15). At first she only gets a mention, and Asa reigned as a man who “did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done.” This was also a good grandmother, who surely must have had some role in raising Asa to follow God. It takes a village to raise a child, and Grandmothers are a key member of this village! Sadly, Asa had to remove Maakah from her office as queen mother after she makes a “repulsive image” and like all but one person in the Bible commits a sin in the midst of greatness. But, the point is that she is the only other grandmother in scripture and can surely take some responsibility for her grandson’s nature which was to follow God. Sure, she had a bad day (or two), but name one Granny who doesn’t!

My Grandma died when I was in year six, just two years before I asked Jesus to come into my life and I put my life in Him. As far as the fruit can tell, my dear Grandma Kath is the only Christian in my family and I can guarantee that as a strong, incredibly loving, and very child-friendly woman she would have prayed for me without ceasing. In the grand scheme of my life my Grandma may get a relatively small mention. I would probably celebrate my favourite memory of her as when I would be ill from school and get to spend a day with her and Granddad. Without fail she would make tuna sandwiches and homemade chips for lunch and we’d watch Neighbours. There would be no grandiose story of the two of us, just the memory of her loving support as I grazed my knee, cried after a hard time on the playground, or sought shelter from my horrid big brother.

Maybe Lois gets such a wee mention because often a Grandmother’s work is behind the scenes, all taking place with years of wisdom advising parenting, smiles, prayers and the obedient passing on of faith to those she loves.

I am encouraged to read the mention of Lois in Paul’s thankfulness to God of his dear friend Timothy, and am thankful myself to my own Grandma for passing the faith on to me in ways I will not fully see for a long time. What a joy for me to know she is in the cloud of witnesses, championing me on, and restored to life like she never knew whilst here on Earth.

To all the Grandmothers out there – keep being you, love with all your heart, and pass on the faith.

Kate Moreton

Woman of the bible - Rachel

The first we read of beautiful Rachel came from the mouths of Shepherds. They said of her to Jacob with an exquisite delight, as if to be very proud of her; “and see,  Rachel his (Laban’s) daughter is coming with the sheep.” 

Rachel was a shepherdess. We may ask what distinction is there between a shepherd and a shepherdess? None at all, except one be male and the other female. As a shepherdess, Rachel was open to the dangers of the open field from the wild beasts; and if one of her father’s sheep went missing, she was required as a shepherdess, just as a shepherd, to search for them. 

The Lord Jesus once asked the Pharisees; "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?" Rachel does not stay with the ninety-nine, she goes and finds that one sheep. We can also say of Rachel, although much of it is imagination, but fitting, because her father has trusted her with the care of his sheep, namely that she will tend his flock like a shepherdess; her father was sure that Rachel will gather the lambs in her arms; she will carry them in her bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. In short, she will care exceedingly for them, and in doing her duty, that is leading the sheep to be watered by the well, was when she first met Jacob.

Jacob’s immediate sight of Rachel as she drew near, was one of love at first sight. The feeling I say was mutual, for, after the watering of the sheep, they both embraced in a passionate customary greeting kiss; and following in the manner of Rebekah, Rachel ran home to tell her father.

Rachel was the youngest of two daughters. In contrast to her older sister Leah, she was beautiful in form and appearance. Jacob would have Rachel as his wages, not money, nor gold from Laban, but Rachel. O Jacob would have laboured for a thousand years if eternity was the time span - for he loved Rachel. 

Jacob agreed with Leban to have Rachel has his bride, and when the hour came after seven long years which seemed to Jacob but seven minutes, he was cheated. Jacob was denied his true love and had to wait another seven years, which I imagine to be perhaps the reason for the later marital strife which developed between Rachel and Leah.

Rachel was the privileged one in the marriage, for Jacob loved Rachel and poor Leah was hated. Leah was the leper of the marriage, and Rachel having command of Jacob’s heart and affection could let Leah have Jacob at her will. For we read in Genesis that, “In the days of wheat harvest, Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, "Please give me some of your son's mandrakes." But she said to her, "Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son's mandrakes also?" Rachel said, "Then he may lie with you tonight in exchange for your son's mandrakes."” Such power did Rachel possess over Jacob’s heart that at her will was Leah only to have Jacob. Did they not possess the same right of Jacob as wives? Absolutely! But this marital affair, since the beginning had Rachel on the upper foot.

The Lord saw that Leah was hated, and therefore opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. The divine favour was withheld from Rachel perhaps as a judgment of her attitude. Rachel grew exceedingly frustrated with her barrenness, and approached Jacob saying, “Give me children or I shall die.” She envied her sister with such intensity that her own barrenness, she loathed and would have death instead of this curse. Jacob’s anger was kindled against her and replied to the vileness of her envy, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?" 

Unable to produce a child of her own, Rachel was not to loose the child battle with her sister, so she gave her servant Bilhah to Jacob. Night and day Rachel must have prayed to God asking him to grant her a child, as all people in desperation do; and when finally Bilhah conceived Rachel said, "God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son." And when Bilhah conceived again, Rachel said, "With mighty wrestlings, I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed."

Marital life became a competition; it was a bitter feud, for the marriage has become a stage to outperform the other through child-bearing. Polygamy, as presented in this unintended marriage, is a sad picture to be burned. It is to be thrown to the wild dogs because of the hostility that arose between the two sisters because of it.

Rachel was not to die without having her day for it was now time for God to remember Rachel, for him to allow her a dove of her own. She conceived and bore a Son and said, "God has taken away my reproach." And she called his name Joseph, saying, "May the LORD add to me another son!" In obtaining her wish, the greatest joy to her, she suffered her sharpest pang; in pain, she conceived Ben-oni ("son of her sorrow"). What had caused her heart to envy her sister was now the very thing that caused her to die. Poor Rachel died, buried in the neighbourhood of Ramah, lamented by Jacob who set a pillar on her grave.

Rachel’s name and tears in her last sorrowful hours were to be remembered by the weeping Prophet who recorded to us what God had said unto him (Jer 31:15-17) to denote God's people mourning under their calamities.  "A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children because they are no more." This passage is also quoted by Matthew as fulfilled in the lamentation at Bethlehem on account of the slaughter of the infants at the command of Herod (Mat 2:17, Mat 2:18). Rachel’s weeping traveled through time, heard in the town of Bethlehem where the King of glory and the redeemer of Rachel was born.

As Rachel wept for her children, we ought to lament some of Rachel’s trait. She stole her father’s household gods used for divination when it was time to depart to the land of Jacob’s fathers. The idolatrous ways of her country were engraved in her as she was given to the superstition of her country, the worshiping of the teraphim. The deceitfulness evident in Laban was manifested in her as she sought to hide from Laban the truth of her covetousness. She envied her sister; she forgot that they were both daughters of the same Father. But we can say positively of her that she had given up all her idols before the death stroke fell on her, being influenced by Jacob’s monotheistic devotion who once said to his household; "Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone." 

As God was with Jacob, He was with Rachel. Long after her death, her memory still lives on in the hearts of Israel, being privileged along with her sister Leah as the builder of the nation of Israel. And it was through her offspring by which God saved Jacob and his children. It was Joseph’s devotion and obedience to God which elevated him to the right-hand throne of Egypt and spared the family the fatal blow of famine.

K.Oni