THE WOWEN OF THE BIBLE

Through millennia, women have figured inextricably in the pages of Holy Writ. They are
portrayed with passion, power, and purpose. Living in difficult times and facing undeniable
odds, they rose to meet the time’s challenges with faith and courage. Whatever the
circumstances, and however long ago they lived, these women carried universal messages that
still resonate in the hearts and minds of the humanity.

MARY, THE MOTHER OF JESUS

No other woman in history has been celebrated as much as Mary, the mother of Jesus. A young
and virtually unknown girl, she was chosen by God to give birth to the Messiah. Being a virgin,
she was greatly startled and perplexed by the angel’s announcement that she shall conceive a
child by the power of the Holy Ghost. But Mary demonstrated her total submission to God’s
sovereign will.

Mary’s line: “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord. Be it unto me according to thy word.”

Motherhood is a painful privilege. Mary was the only human being present at both Jesus’ birth
and death. She saw Him arrive as her baby son, and watched Him die as her Savior.

ESTHER

Xerxes of Persia had divorced his wife Vashti and was in search for one to replace her. Thus, a
decree was sent throughout the realm to summon all beautiful virgins to the capital in Susa.
Among these virgins was the Jewess Hadassah.

Orphaned during the exile, she had lived with her older cousin Mordecai, a minor functionary in
the king’s court. As a young woman in the palace of the Persian king, she thought it prudent to
hide her Jewish identity, and so went by the name, Esther.

King Xerxes was captivated by Esther’s beauty and humility, and in time declared his favor of
her above the rest. Thus, Esther became the Queen of Persia.

Haman, the Agagite and the king’s vizier began to plot to exterminate the Jews from the empire.
Learning of this, Mordecai went into mourning and began to loudly lament at the king’s gate.
Seeking an explanation for her cousin’s strange behavior, Esther sent a servant to inquire from
him. In answer, he sent a message that read:

Esther’s line:

Esther knew she had to intercede for her people. But Persian law forbade anyone to approach the
king without being summoned, on pain of death. But Esther risked her life and sought audience
with the king.
Esther’s line:

Because God was with Esther, King Xerxes received her kindly and promised to give her what
she wished. She then told him of Haman’s plan to destroy her people. This made the king furious
and ordered Haman’s execution.

Though God is nowhere mentioned in the book of Esther, we see His divine guidance, care and
sovereignty in the life of this woman of courage and faith.

ABIGAIL

When David was outlawed by the King Saul, he and his men depended on the kindness of
friendly neighbor’s to survive. Nabal, a rich landowner in Carmel, refused to help provide
sustenance for David and his men, despite his possession of hundreds of herds. This made David
very angry, and with 400 men planned to punish the greedy landowner.

Fortunately for Nabal, he had Abigail for a wife. She was not only lovely but wise and prudent,
and when she heard what her husband had done, as well as David’s plan to kill him, she ordered
her servants to pack several quantities of food loaded on donkeys, and led the caravan herself to
David’s camp. This she did without her husband’s knowledge.

Seeing the caravan from a distance, David went out to meet it. Thereupon, Abigail dismounted
and fell at his feet. With great courage and tact, she apologized for her husband’s rudeness.

Abigail’s line:

David was so impressed by Abigail’s gesture that he decided to forego of his vengeful plan.
Abigail’s swift and skillful act prevented the dire consequences of her husband’s greed.

After her peacemaking errand, she returned home to her husband and told him how close he had
come to perishing by David’s sword. Within ten days, Nabal died by the Lord’s hand. David sent
for Abigail and she became his wife.

MIRIAM

Life for her began in Egypt, where the Hebrew people were enslaved for hundreds of years. By a
stroke of tyranny, Pharaoh decreed that all Hebrew male babies be killed. To save her infant son,
their mother, Jochebed, ingeniously devised a basket of bulrushes lined with pitch, and floated it
on the Nile with the baby in it. Miriam, as a dutiful sister, watched her baby brother while he
floated on the river, until Pharaoh’s daughter found him. Thus did Moses survive.

Moses by God’s leading, rose to be the deliverer of the Hebrew people. Miriam and Aaron
assisted their brother Moses in leading the children of Israel out of Egypt. After the miraculous
crossing of the Red Sea, Miriam led the people in songs and dances in thanksgiving to the lord
for their deliverance.
Miriam’s line:

DEBORAH

At the time in Israel’s history, when “everyone did that which was right in his own eyes”,
Deborah became Israel’s Prophetess and judge. To her, the people came to receive Godly
counsel and wise decisions.

But the nation was menaced by war, and the people’s lawlessness had incurred God’s disfavor.
Yet, Deborah’s faith never wavered. She knew that God would rescue His people if they honor
Him. Realizing that Israel lacked military leadership, she called on Barak in whom she saw the
potential for greatness, to lead a campaign against the Canaanite oppressor, Sisera. But Barak
would only go to the battle if Deborah went with him.

Deborah’s line:

Israel went into the battle and speedily defeated the Canaanites, and Deborah’s prophecy was
fulfilled, for Sisera met his end in the hands of Jael, the blacksmith’s wife.

Under Deborah, Israel enjoyed a period of peace for 40 years.

MARY MAGDALENE

One of the most prominent, and controversial figures in the Gospels is Mary Magdalene. The
New Testament identifies her as one of several who had had been cleansed of evil spirits by
Jesus Christ. Whether this affliction was spiritual or physical is of no consequence.

The Gospel narrative shows us that Mary Magdalene’s great devotion to Jesus and His ministry
was expressed in very practical ways. She was one of the women who followed him in His
ministry in Galilee. Prior to His death, she accompanied Him and His disciples to Jerusalem. She
was present at the Crucifixion. She came to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body, and she reported the
empty tomb to the Disciples.

Mary Magdalene’s line:

Mary’s character remains today as a subject of controversy and speculation by popular fiction.
To us Christians however, we hold Mary Magdalene in high respect and esteem for her piety and
devotion to the Lord.

MARTHA

It is measure of our human weakness that we tend to remember people’s faults more than their
virtues. Martha, the sister of Lazarus and Mary of Bethany, is most often thought of as the
complainer – the one who was unfavorably compared with her sister.
Yet Martha, thought very different from her sister, was a most conscientious and worthy woman,
and Jesus also loved her. When she complained, Jesus did not censure her industriousness, but
gently corrected her outlook. His point was that Mary’s total dedication to Him was a sign of her
Holiness, not her laziness.

The response that Jesus yearned for in his earthly ministry was faith. To Martha’s credit, she
made one of the most earnest professions of faith recorded in the Gospel narrative.

Her brother Lazarus had been dead for four days when Jesus arrived in Bethany. Despairingly,
Martha met the Lord with almost blaming words. To this, Jesus replied with one of his famous
statements recorded in Scripture: “I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me,
though he was dead, yet shall he lives. And he that liveth and believeth in Me, shall never die.
Believest thou this?

Without a moment’s delay, Martha declared:

Martha’s line:

In our last picture of Martha, she is once again serving a meal to Jesus and his Disciples, this
time without complaining, Martha had begun to learn that worship begins with silence and
listening.

HANNAH

Mother of Samuel the Jewish judge childless as one of the two wives of Elkanah, she prayed for
a son, promising to dedicate him to God. Her prayer was answered and she brought the child
Samuel.

Hannah’s line: Blessed be your name Oh God my son would serve you perpetually as a
Nazareth.

RUTH

Her story of obedience, love, faith, trust and humility. Show as a woman of noble character. She
had integrity and wasn’t afraid working hard. Most importantly, she trusted life to God even in
the midst of great pain she was experiencing.

Ruth’s line: Remember to be humble and keen working or God Blesses you.

REBECCA

The wife of Isaac and mother of Esav and Jacob. Described as courteous, trusting and helpful of
her two sons Rebeccah favored Jacob so intensely that she declined Isaac into bestowing her
blessing (inheritance) on him.

Rebecca’s line: A Woman of gentleness and grace, what is the matter to me?
The leader of two nations will came from somebody. Two nations will came from you, and they
will be decided, one of them will be stronger and the older will serve the younger.

THE SAMARITAN WOMAN

Scripture does not name her, and yet her example is often cited as one of the richest in faith and
obedience.

The town of Sychar is located in Samaria- a region historically abhorred by the Jews. Going
from Judea to Galilee, Jews often travelled around it, rather than through it. But Jesus defied this
custom. In fact, he stopped by a well in Sychar and asked for a drink of water from a Samaritan
woman. Jesus’ non- conformity to Jewish tradition, disarmed and intrigued the woman at the
well.

She would later learn from Him, that His message knew no boundaries, for His love embraced
all. Jesus further amazed her by saying that whoever drinks of the water He gives shall never
thirst. Deeply impressed, the Samaritan woman eagerly declared:

Woman’s line:

But Jesus led her step further, by showing His knowledge of her personal life. The woman
thought she had been speaking to a prophet. Jesus then proceeded to teach her the truth about
Him.

The next thing we know of the Samaritan Woman was her eagerness to share the Good News of
Messiah.

Woman’s line:

By her witness, the people came back to the well with her. Jesus taught them of the Kingdom of
God, and many believed. She was the first female evangelist.

CONCLUSION

Each of these women achieved in very different circumstances, her own particular spiritual
triumph. Their lives furnish us with a catalogue of widely ranging virtues – love, dedication,
filial, piety, courage, fortitude, loyalty, wisdom and faith.

Such is the rich tapestry woven by the lives of these Women of the Bible. From the wide and
diverse range of virtues they exemplified, may we draw the courage to live out our own lives in
honor of their memory, to the glory of God.