Every year for the past five years I have read the entire Bible. Yet, the stories for me never get old. I love the Old Testament and enjoy reading its epic stories once again. I love many of the Bible’s characters, but I want to focus on five women I admire.

Leah

Leah was Jacob’s first wife but not his first preference. Jacob actually loved Leah’s younger sister, Rachel, and waited seven years to marry her. But on the wedding night, Laban, the sibling’s father, deceitfully switched sisters, and Leah instead became Jacob’s wife. Jacob subsequently marries Rachel, whom he loves the most.

Leah craved Jacob’s love, and the Lord, seeing her misery, allowed her to have six sons and one daughter, while Rachel, for a while, remained barren. Leah’s life couldn’t have been easy living with a jealous sister and cold husband. But despite the circumstances, she displayed no bitterness but instead praised God.

It’s possible Jacob finally loved Leah. After her death, he buried her in the cave of Machpelah among his ancestors and requested he be buried there as well. Here’s what he said:

“When I die, I want to be with my people. I want to be buried with my ancestors in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite. That cave is in the field of Machpelah near Mamre in the land of Canaan. Abraham bought that field from Ephron so that he could have a burying place… I buried my wife Leah in that cave.” Genesis 49:29-31 ERV.

Ruth

Ruth was a Moabite who decided to stay at her mother-in-law’s side as they journeyed back to Bethlehem. The story begins when Elimelech leaves Bethlehem and moves his wife and two sons to Moab. Sadly, Elimelech dies.

Naomi’s two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, married Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah, respectively. After ten years, Mahlon and Chilion also died. Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem with her two daughters-in-law. While on the way Naomi urged Ruth and Orpah to go back to Moab.

Orpah gave in to Naomi’s urging, but Ruth clung to Naomi saying, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” Ruth 1:16-17 NIV.

I admire Ruth for her loyalty to Naomi. She was willing to give up her family and her god to embrace Naomi’s God and people. Living in Bethlehem as a foreigner meant an uncertain future, but Ruth did not care.

Ruth needed a way to support herself and Naomi, so she set out and discovered the field belonging to Boaz, a wealthy landowner and relative of Elimelech. Coincidence? No. It was all orchestrated by the Lord.

Boaz and Ruth married and bore a son whom they named Obed. The Lord blessed Ruth, transporting her from barrenness and loss to fruitfulness and abundance.

Rahab

I wrote a previous blog post on Rahab the prostitute, but I just want to highlight one of her admirable traits. Her faith.

Rahab, from the time the spies entered the city, knew the outcome—the destruction of Jericho. She heard all about the Israelite’s conquests, starting from the Egypt getaway.

“We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” Joshua 2:10-11 NIV.

By hiding the spies, Rahab committed treason a crime punishable by death. But her faith shone through by acknowledging the one true God. She took a great risk. A risk that paid off in the end. Her faith and trust saved her and her family, resulting in her becoming a descendant of the Messiah.

Deborah

Deborah was the only female judge. She was also a military leader and a poet. In her time as a judge, King Jabin persecuted the Israelites. As a directive from the Lord, Deborah summoned Barak to take 10,000 men with him up to Mount Tabor, where she would lead Jabin’s army commander, Sisera, into his hands. But Barak refused to go unless Deborah accompanied him.

I’ve always wondered why Barak took that stance. Was he a coward? Did he lack faith to defeat Sisera? His attitude alone suggests Deborah’s influence. Deborah agreed to accompany him, but because of his attitude, Barak lost credit for defeating Sisera to another woman, Jael. Nevertheless, Deborah wrote a song of victory, which she and Barak sang. Deborah’s leadership skills led to forty years of peace for Israel.

Esther

Esther is my favourite Bible story. Esther was a Jewish woman who became King Xerxes Queen after Vashti’s banishment. Mordecai, Esther’s cousin and guardian, told her to hide her Jewish identity. But when Haman, the king’s right-hand man, devised a plot to annihilate all Jews in the kingdom, all because Mordecai refused to bow down to him, she could no longer conceal her Jewish identity.

Mordecai urged Esther to petition the king to spare their people. Esther was sceptical since the king had not requested her presence for a month. If she approached the king without his approval, she risked death. Mordecai responded:

“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:13-14 NIV.

Esther took the risk, and after a couple of banquets, she revealed Haman’s plot. Despite his pleas, Haman was hanged on a pole he erected to execute Mordecai. The king permitted the Jews to defend themselves, and thus, they defeated their enemies. Mordecai replaced Haman and grew in prominence.

I see Esther as a once shy girl who became a brave, confident woman to rescue her people.

These five women have taught me that trusting God means you don’t have to be afraid of doing anything or going anywhere once you believe He is with you. Prayer is also necessary for guidance and wisdom before undertaking any hard task.

Recommended Reading

Five Foods for Mental Health by Ashley Olivine