Written by Sis. Stacy-Ann Wilson
“Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, shall be praised.”
In the bible we see that the role of a woman is vital to the will of God.
The bible records a few women in leadership positions. God chooses leaders by his standards and not our own. Hence, we learn of God’s faithfulness to show honor and favor onto certain women who were selected to carry out his will. God chose Deborah to lead the children of Israel; she was a prophetess and a judge as well as a mediator, advisor, and a counselor. Esther was shown favor by God to be chosen as a queen so that she would courageously lead God’s people out of the evil plan of Haman. Ruth was faithful in all her ways and trusted in the Lord.
Deborah
Deborah’s story shows that she was not power hungry and wanted to serve God. Whenever praise came her way, she was humble and would give God all the glory. (Judges 5:5-11). She did not deny or resist her position in the culture as a woman or a wife, but she never allowed her responsibilities to hinder her relationship with God. She reminds us of the need to be available both to God and to others, encourages us to spend our efforts on what we can do rather than worrying about what we cannot do. Deborah challenges us to be wise leaders by demonstrating what can be accomplished when God is in control. (Judges 4:4-24)
Esther
Esther was another profound woman in the bible that was selected by God. He granted her favor through king Ahasuerus to be the next queen of Persia. She was chosen to ultimately intercede on behalf of the Jews that was set for extermination by the evil plan of Haman; the descendant of King Agag, an enemy of the Jews. (Esther 3:1-15). The book of Esther shows examples of God’s divine guidance and care over our lives. With God in control, we can be courageous. He can guide us through the circumstances we face in our lives. He can save us from the evil of this world and deliver us from sin and death. We are not to fear what people may do to us; instead, we are to be confident in God’s control. Esther obtained favor from God, through the revealing of the plan to Mordecai of Haman’s plan to execute the Jews. She was strategic, caring, compassionate and loyal to her people. Esther exhibited great intelligence, using the favor in which she had with the King to request that her people be set free, even at the cost of her own life. (Esther 7:1-10).
Ruth
Now unto our dear Ruth, the wife of Boaz. Ruth’s life was guided by faithfulness toward God, and this showed by loyalty toward the people she knew. To be loyal and loving in relationships, we must imitate God’s faithfulness in our relationships with others. God’s kindness should motivate us to love and honor him. When we experience God’s faithfulness, we should respond by showing integrity. The values by which Ruth and Boaz lived were in sharp contrast to those of the culture portrayed in the bible. In the same manner, our lives should stand out from the world around us. Ruth showed high moral character by being loyal to Naomi, her mother-in-law by her clean break from her former land and customs and by her hard work in the fields. We tend to think of blessings in terms of prosperity rather than the high-quality relationships God makes possible for us. Ruth’s life exhibited admirable qualities; she was hard-working, loving, kind, faithful, and brave. These qualities gained her a good reputation, but only because she displayed them consistently in all areas of her life. Ruth was a great example of God-honoring character and kindness toward others.
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.”
As we celebrate women, especially mothers in the month of May, Deborah, Esther, and Ruth are just a few examples of great women throughout the Bible. Proverbs has a lot to say about women. Some people perceives that the ideal woman in the Bible is retiring, submissive, and entirely domestic. Not so! These women are excellent wives and mothers, women of strong character, great wisdom, many skills, and great compassion. Their strength and dignity do not come from their amazing achievements; however, they are a result of their reverence for God. The famous scripture - Proverbs 31 - expresses traits of an outstanding woman. Alternatively, this scripture is probably not about one woman at all. This may be a composite portrait of ideal womanhood. We should not acknowledge this as a model to imitate in every detail, instead we should see this as an inspiration to be the best you can be. These qualities coupled with the fear of God will lead to joy, success, honor, and self-worth. This shows us how to become wise, make good decisions, and live according to God’s will.
This is an illustration of God’s deep love and appreciation for a virtuous woman.