10 Ways the Bible Honors Women: Part 4

7. Women as Independent

The story of Moses is, at face value, the story of a man being used by God in amazing ways. However, his story is only made possible because of strong women who were overlooked by the ruling men of the time. The setting for Moses’ story begins with Pharaoh underestimating the potential of the female gender: he orders all male Hebrew babies to be killed. The female babies are allowed to live because they aren’t a threat in his eyes. However, despite this pressure from a powerful and ruthless king, Hebrew midwives refuse to comply, and “God dealt well with them.” Pharaoh’s plan hinges upon the cooperation of women, and he does not account for their fear of God overcoming fear of him. In an attempt to regain control once more, Pharaoh then orders his people to throw Hebrew boys into the Nile. From his perspective, this seems to work. But in the end, the rebellious act of his own daughter in saving and adopting a Hebrew boy proves to be his undoing. If not for the rebellion of these women against corrupted authority and tyranny, Moses would not have survived to become the great leader of the Israelites.
(See this talk by Jen Wilkin for a more detailed exposition)

8. Women as Co-Heirs and Priests

One of the fascinating tenets of Christianity that sets it apart from other religions is the concept of inclusion of women in the priesthood of the Church. Additionally, women are included as co-heirs with Christ. If the Bible were a misogynist book, women would have no place in the Church’s priesthood and only men would inherit the promises of God. Romans 8 declares: “you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons...The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” Some key points in this scripture come from the language used by Paul (who is not the oppressive misogynist many claim he is). First of all, by referring to believers as adopted “sons” of God, he is not making a gendered claim but rather doing just the opposite. In the culture of Paul’s time, women were not inheritors of property or wealth, and yet here Paul boldly claims women as heirs of the greatest Father of all. A better translation of the verse would be that we are all adopted as sons, like sons, like those who would inherit their father’s wealth. Our inheritance as children of God disregards gender as a factor; we all receive equal portions from God through Christ. Christ is the first heir, and all others (including women) can take hold of the promised blessings of the Lord.

In a similar way, women are included in what is commonly referred to as the Priesthood of Believers, which comes from 1 Peter 2. The Church partakes in the responsibility of a holy priesthood under Christ as the High Priest.  This means that women in the Church serve as priestly ministers under Christ. This is not the same as women leading churches as pastors but allows for them to be as integral a part of building up the Church as any other member.

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Part 1: Women as Leaders and Assertive
Part 2: Women as Equal and Courageous
Part 3: Women as Faithful and Valuable

Part 5: Women as Brides and Purposeful