We often forget about the women who were prophetesses when we consider leadership. Prophetesses were gifted by God to speak His message to the people, just as the male prophets. Their mode of operation was very different from that of the firey, active, very vocal male prophets such as Jeremiah and Isaiah, yet they were leaders of the nation. The women prophetess useally worked behind the scenes, not on the "front lines." Examples of prophetesses are Miriam, Deborah, Hulda, the daughters of Philip, and even Anna of Luke 2.
Read Judges 4 and 5. Look for action words that describe the actions of Deborah.
Deborah was a judge and a prophetess. As a judge she led the country in the civil, or governmental issues that came into question. As a prophetess she spoke the word of God to the people. During her time we have no mention of any male judge or prophet. Deborah led the people, men and women.
Without a question Deborah was a leader. Respecting her as a wise woman who heard from God and knew His Law, the people of Israel came to her for guidance. What comes into question is whether she was a military leader or not. Many people call her the first woman Army General. A closer examination of her actions may call this into question. Deborah used her communion with God, her gift of prophecy, to guide Barak, the Army leader. When the word of the Lord came to Deborah, she summoned Barak and directed him to obey God by forming an army against the oppressor. Deborah was a prophetess, not an Army General.
In the book of Hebrews, Barak is mentioned as a champion of faith, not Deborah. Barak needed to have strong faith to believe in the prophetess Deborah. Barak had to stretch his belief that the true, living God could deliver Israel from the onslaught of the enemy, and listen to the word of Deborah. Deborah was a leader as a prophetess, Barak was a leader as the Army General.
Chapter 5 of Judges is a song about the battle. It was common in biblical times to record major events in the form of song that the people could sing, understand and remember. Deborah the prophetess, not the Army General, heard the word of the Lord and was obedient to God's call. She came forward to lead her nation, inspiring others to believe her message from God and follow in faith.
Read one of the prophets such as Amos or Zephaniah (I chose these two because they are very short. As a challenge read Isiah or Jeremiah!!) and compare their lives and actions to that of Deborah, Miriam, Hulda (We will study these last two in detail later.) How was the God-ordained role of the prophetess the same, or different from the role of the male prophet?
If you are interested in studying women of Scripture be sure to see my other blogs www.biblestudy2women.blogspot.com, www.biblestudywomen.blogspot.com. and www.jeannesant.blogspot.com
Monday, September 3, 2007
Monday, July 23, 2007
What Can We Learn From the Queens?
As a leader, or as a Christian woman in your community, people are watching your example. You have influence – negative or positive. As a child of God you are the daughter of the King. You might not be a "queen," but in many ways you are a Princess. Do you act like it? You have influence, people watch you.
If you are a child of God and walking with Him, then you are exactly where you are “for such a time as this.” God has a plan and purpose for your life planted just where you are.
There is a godly way to handle situations. Esther must have been fearful, yet she was faithful to her God and her people. She took care of the major problem in a dignified, gentle manner. Both Esther and Vashti could have usurped the throne as Athaliah did, yet they stood their ground, acted on what they believed in and, not causing disruption, effectively changed the situation.
As a leader there is a way to handle situations. Evil Queen Athaliah used force and murder, Esther and Vashti did not.
Each of us is a "Queen" in some way in the eyes of God. If whe have a relationship with Him, are walking with Him in obediende, then He has placed us where we are for a reason. Are you a working women? A wife and mother? An active leader, or a behind-the-scenes type of person? If you are walking with God, you are where you should be...for such a time as this. God's role model to us is Esther (and I think even Vashti). We can learn so much by her example.
If you are a child of God and walking with Him, then you are exactly where you are “for such a time as this.” God has a plan and purpose for your life planted just where you are.
There is a godly way to handle situations. Esther must have been fearful, yet she was faithful to her God and her people. She took care of the major problem in a dignified, gentle manner. Both Esther and Vashti could have usurped the throne as Athaliah did, yet they stood their ground, acted on what they believed in and, not causing disruption, effectively changed the situation.
As a leader there is a way to handle situations. Evil Queen Athaliah used force and murder, Esther and Vashti did not.
Each of us is a "Queen" in some way in the eyes of God. If whe have a relationship with Him, are walking with Him in obediende, then He has placed us where we are for a reason. Are you a working women? A wife and mother? An active leader, or a behind-the-scenes type of person? If you are walking with God, you are where you should be...for such a time as this. God's role model to us is Esther (and I think even Vashti). We can learn so much by her example.
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