The Role of Women in the Bible
Rahab and the Emissaries of Joshua
by Peter Stockton
“A kindhearted woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth.” Proverbs 11:16
Some countries view women as second-class citizens. Women in these countries are entitled to less rights. They receive less education, less training. They are seen as a burden in the household except the time when a man needs a woman to carry his children and continue his family name.
Sometimes this is the case during the time described in the Bible. In the Bible, most of the crucial events center around men. But God sees differently. Even when the time described in the Bible were played out mostly by men, God made it clear from the beginning that He created all men equal regardless of gender, race, or skin color. The exact Bible verse was, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:27). In any case, the Bible is a testament that God loves women as much as He loves men.
Women also played key roles in the events of the Bible. It’s just that they were overshadowed by the greater number of men. Two women are listed in the infamous hall of faith of the Old Testament in chapter seven of Hebrews: the prostitute Rahab and Sarah, the wife of Abraham.
Sarah was a barren woman who was promised by God that He would bless her and her husband Abraham with a son. Soon enough she became pregnant and nine months later gave birth to Isaac, who was foretold by God as the seed of a great nation. All this happened when Sarah was ninety years old.
Rahab was a prostitute. Her profession alone wasn’t very Christian, but doesn’t God forgive those who have strayed away from their path and come back with humility and repentance? Rahab was the prostitute woman who bargained for safety with Joshua’s spies in the city of Jericho. Take note both Rahab and Sarah are listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
Other women in the Bible who deserves a mention are Ruth, a Moabite and a widow, and Esther, who provided one of the most inspirational stories in the Bible. She was willing to die in order to save the Jews, her people.
Bad Girls of the Bible & What We Can Learn from Them
Other notable women in the Bible are seen in this excerpt:
“Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.” Romans 16:12
The apostle Paul was one of the first Christian followers to observe Christ’s treatment of women. He made history when he established women in key leadership roles normally held by men. In Europe, his first convert was Lydia, a businesswoman and Jew in Macedonia. The rest of Christ’s apostles also eventually did their share of helping women establish a better foothold under Christianity.
If Christ and his twelve apostles treated women equally, then we should definitely treat women today with equal respect. To follow in Christ’s footsteps is no doubt the best way to spread the good Christian belief.
About the author: Still craving for more inspiring Bible verses? There are hundreds of Bible verses uploaded at Top Bible Verses on a regular basis. Don’t forget to visit the Top Bible Verses website to get your daily fill of bible verse search.
Courtesy: www.isnare.com
Related Reading:
Women of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Women in ScriptureWomen of the Bible, by Ann Spangler and Jean E. Syswerda, focuses on fifty-two remarkable women in Scripture---women whose struggles to live with fait... Read More >
Tags:
Bible, Bible, Church History, Culture, Esther, Old Testament, rahab, Ruth, Sarah, Social Issues, Women in the Bible
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Posted onFebruary 12, 2011 in Bible, Church History, Culture, Social Issues
