Recently we received an email that was questioning the role of women in scripture, as indicated in a previous article. This short article attempts to address this question.
Perhaps it may help the reader to review some examples of women of faith found in scripture.
A number of women have played a major role in Messiah’s lineage:
· Miriam (aka Mary), the mother of Yahshua
· Ruth: her son was the father of Jesse who became the father of David
· Rachel who was greatly respected as like Leah “built the house of Israel,” Ruth 4:11
· Leah – see above
Esther, who had boldly violated the king’s law by entering the inner court without being called. By her subsequent actions, she saved all the Jews in the king’s provinces.
Next is Rahab, “the harlot” (there is some question as to whether Rahab was actually a harlot.) She is mentioned in Hebrews 11, which is often referred to as the faith chapter, as she demonstrated her faith by works in sending the messengers the wrong direction. James 2:25 supports this.
Hannah, the wife of Elkanah, who had been barren for many years and in her grief prayed earnestly for a male son and further promising that if her request were granted, her son would be dedicated to Yahweh’s service and would serve Eli, the priest. After her son, Samuel, was weaned, she took him to Eli to begin his service.
In Judges 5:24, the following is said of Jael: ‘Blessed above women shall Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.”
1Samuel 25 speaks of Abigail, the wife of a very evil man named Nabal. David spoke to Abigail saying, “blessed be thy advice and blessed be thou which has kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.” After Nabal’s death, David married Abigail.
A nameless woman who poured ointment on Yahshua’s head was spoken of by Yahshua in Matthew 26:13 and in Mark 14:9, saying, “Wheresoever this evangel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.”
In Luke 7:44-50, a woman who washed Yahshua’s feet with her tears is mentioned.
The “poor widow” who gave a large donation is praised in Mark 12:41-44.
Proverbs 31:10-31 describes the virtuous woman, “favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth Yahweh, she shall be praised.”
Some may inquire about Deborah who is called a prophetess as well as a judge. E. W. Bullinger, the biblical scholar and author of The Companion Bible, in his footnotes to chapter 4 of Judges, states that Deborah was not a judge in the strictest sense of the title, and questions whether she had ever received a divine appointment.
It seems to me that the women that are praised in scripture played a supportive role to their husbands, the ecclesia, or directly to Yahshua. That is not to say they were unimportant, but simply that their roles were different than that of men. Yahshua makes a point of praising their actions. Women in the body of Messiah are co-inheritors and are thus given due respect. In the ecclesia, elders are always men, as are deacons in large assemblies. As Yahshua submitted to the Father’s great plan, these men in leadership roles submit to Yahweh Shua.
A sister in the faith