- Thursday, December 11, 2014

Women of the Bible—some respectfully devout, some of ill repute, others in between—exhibited valor and inspiration not only to those at the time of the writing, but have continued to be an inspiration even today. Women in the Bible were strong and sought out justice and were held in high regard. They accomplished great things.

Examples of strong women include Deborah in Hebrew Scriptures who was a prophet, wife and judge and the first woman to lead the nation of Israel and secured victory over the Canaanites. Mary in the New Testament defied convention of the day and sat down to listen to Jesus talk in a men’s only world at a time when male teachers did not allow women to learn with them. Jesus rebuked Martha for holding the view that Mary couldn’t sit and listen to him teach and lifted up Martha’s sister Mary. (Luke 10:38-42).

The 200 named women of the Bible comprise less than sixteen percent of the people in the Bible. Nevertheless, historically, biblical women continue to inspire others to assume humanitarian roles: women’s suffrage, abolition, temperance, and compassion for the weak.

Following the tradition of women in the Bible, women in the 19th century played major roles in the abolition movement and in women’s suffrage. In the petitions in England in the late 18th century, women signed their own names to the petitions at a time when they were not allowed to vote. They wore the on their dresses the medallion of abolition created by Josiah Wedgewood “Am I not a man and a brother” featuring a black slave on his knees in chains. It was an indirect way of voting since they couldn’t do so at that time. Abolitionists in the U.S. distributed and sold medals at abolition of slavery fairs, raising money with a women kneeling in chains with the slogan: “Am I not a woman and a sister”

Women were great organizers for the abolition of slavery in America and England. Despite the limitations by law and convention, they wrote poetry, essays and letters. They sent petitions to the government, raised money, gave lectures and helped slaves escape.

Following in the tradition of women in the Bible, Sarah Moore Grimke, famous for making speeches to mixed company of men and women about slavery was condemned for doing so even by clergymen. Yet Sarah held that “All I ask of our brethren is that they will take their feet from off our necks and permit us to stand upright on the ground which God intended us to occupy.”

Susan B. Anthony, one of the leaders of the women’s right to vote in a speech in the 1850s expressed the hopes of many women of the time:

The true woman will not be exponent of another, or allow another to be such for her. She will be her own individual self-do her own individual work- stand or fall by her own individual wisdom and strength. She will use worthily every talent given her by God, in the great work of life, to the best advantage of herself and the race.

Women in the Bible also inspired organizations. In the spirit of the biblical Hannah who stood up to taunts because of her barrenness and was oppressed by others until she finally had a son, Hannah House ministers in various locations: a shelter for oppressed women and children in Columbia, SC; a women’s residential treatment center in Vancouver, Canada and supervised parental visitation for children otherwise unable to visit due to custody litigation or other difficult family transitions in San Diego, CA.

Another example: From her home on the Jericho city wall, the prostitute Rahab boldly hid two Israelite spies. Rahab was later recognized as part of Jesus’ ancestral line. In that spirit, Rahab’s Sisters is a hospitality ministry in Portland, OR, offering support to women, especially those impacted by the sex industry: “Like the original Rahab, we strive to give ’friendly welcome’ to those who would otherwise be on the streets and in danger.”

Women inspired by the Bible and organization inspired by women in the Bible continue to be an important part of the fabric of the world around us today.

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