The Role of Women in the Church

The Lord is always so faithful to bring an answer to my questions. As He has been working so mightily in my life this past year, I often found myself questioning Him about how I am to carry out the tasks He gives me without stepping out from my God-ordained head (i.e. my husband). My friend wrote the following commentary today which completely settles this issue in my mind. Thank you, Lord! I hope this encourages other women as much as it has me.

Note: This is written from a messianic perspective. YHVH is a common way to refer to God/Jehovah/Yahweh in Jewish tradition. The Torah reading mentioned comes from Exodus 13:17-17:16.



Haftorah Reading—Judges 4:4-5:31
Deborah–A Fiery Woman of YHVH
The Torah and Haftorah portions for this week bear many similarities. In both pericopes, Israel was languishing under oppressive foreign powers, and in both YHVH sent them a savior to deliver them and through miracles and against overwhelming odds, Israel defeated its oppressors and the nation was brought to a new spiritual level. Prophets were instrumental in both cases, and women were used of YHVH in the deliverance of his people. And finally, both scenarios climax in the production of a psalm of praise to YHVH for his mighty hand in setting his people free.

The story of Deborah often brings up the question concerning the role of women among YHVH’s people. Proponents of women in leadership roles point to Deborah as a champion to their cause. Those who decry any sort of women leadership blush when the example of Deborah is brought up and are often quick to add that she was a one-time exception to this rule. What is the truth as presented by Scripture? Please note the role of women in Scripture by reviewing the following examples as Batya Wootten points out in her book, Mama’s Torah—the Role of Women:

Miriam was a prophetess and coworker with her brothers Moses and Aaron in leading Israel (Mic 6:4).

YHVH used the daughters of Zelophehad to help instruct Moses, and on the basis of their wisdom, the Torah was amended (Num 27:1–11).

Huldah was a prophetess and an advisor to King Josiah (2 Kgs 22:11–20).

Queen Esther helped to write law (Est 9:29).

Phoebe was a deacon/minister within the spiritual body of early Messianic believers (Rom 16:1–2).

Junia along with Andronicus, her husband, are listed as apostles (Rom 16:7).

Priscilla and Aquila were a husband and wife ministry team and pastored a congregation that met in their home. There are times when the Scripture even records Priscilla’s name first. She was evidently a dynamic leader, along with her husband (Acts 18:2,18,26; Rom 16:3; 1Cor 16:19; 2Tim 4:19).

The women in Corinth prayed and prophesied publicly (1Cor 11:5–6).

Philip had four daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:9).

A nucleus of women developed a congregation at Phillipi (Acts 16:12–15, 40).

Wootten then deduces from the biblical record that “believing communities should be aligned with Biblical patterns of the Scripture. And while it clearly depicts a pattern of male leadership, is also clearly shows female participation” (p. 37).

In light of the example of Deborah we must ask the question: will YHVH’s plans and purposes be put on hold or thwarted simply because there lacks a person of the male gender to fulfill those plans? Can he who used Balaam’s ass for his purposes, and who said that he could raise up rocks to declare his praises not use women as he so chooses when there lacks a man to do the job, or use women to assist men in doing theirs?

4:4 The wife of Lapidoth (KJV). The ArtScroll Tanach has translated this phrase as “a fiery woman” since the Hebrew word lapid means torch. This implies that Deborah was energetic and decisive. The Jewish sages teach that Lapidoth is but another name for Barak since both names connote flashes of lightning, and therefore are used interchangeably (ArtScroll Rubin Edition Joshua/Judges Commentary, p. 137). If the sages are correct, then Deborah was assisting her husband, Barak. He was the military leader of Israel, while she was the spiritual leader. Does this shake your paradigm about the role of women in biblical societies? Many times fiery women are labeled and branded as persona non grata. Is this a fair thing to do if they are women who walk in and uphold biblical standards of righteousness, and who honor and defer to male headship, if there is righteous male headship worthy of honor?

Often Barak is viewed as a reluctant, even cowardly military leader. Is this a fair assessment? Didn’t he display great faith when he heeded the Word of Elohim through Deborah, and furthermore abandoned the strategic high ground when attacking the enemy on the plain where the enemy’s chariots would be most advantageous? If Barak and Deborah were husband and wife, what does this story teach us about husbands and wives not only respecting, but heeding each other’s counsel, and then working together as a team? Who knows, YHVH may be using your wife or husband to speak to you right now!

5:1 On that day. Deborah composed her praise psalm on the very day of battle and victory. She did not delay to offer up a sacrifice of praise to the Elohim of Israel. “Given the fragile nature of joy so great that it bursts into a song, it must be expressed immediately, before the heightened perception begins to fade away, or is depleted by sin” (Ibid., p. 141). Is your relationship that vital with your Maker and your joy and gratitude that child-like, spontaneous and unquenchable that you do not delay to praise YHVH the moment a blessing comes your way?

5:7 A mother in Israel. Have you along your spiritual journey ever encountered a “mother in Israel” who YHVH used to change the course of your life and shape your spiritual destiny through her wise counsel and guidance? Such a Deborah-like woman is loving, but she does not fail to scold or discipline her children when they need it. May YHVH raise up such righteous and discerning women in Israel in our day!

Let’s not forget the other woman in this passage: Jael. While one woman, Deborah, was a well-known public figure functioning as a prophetess, judge and military leader in Israel, another woman was tucked away in the wilderness, away from others fulfilling her role as a house (or, tent) wife. She, too, was a mother in Israel, who was quietly walking in righteousness in her own home, yet YHVH brought a ministry opportunity her way. Though the task she was asked to do was a grisly one, she did not shrink back when duty called to her. In so doing, she helped to save the nation of Israel at a very tenuous time in its existence, and her name is immortalized in Deborah’s psalm of praise. What is the lesson for us? Be faithful to do what YHVH has called you to do, no matter how insignificant and out of the limelight it may seem, and he will bring you greater opportunities and reward you with blessings unspeakable.

This may challenge religious ideas and presuppositions we hold. My prayer is that we would start to think as YHVH thinks and not as man or religious traditions think and have us to think. We need to go to Scripture humbly and not in arrogance of mind and harden ourselves against HIS WAYS. Let us go to HIS WORD and let it change us and not we change it!
Blessings!!

A New Calling

I have not blogged for some time because I have been in a period of waiting. Since November, I have known that God has something in store for me. A job to do. I did not know what it was and I have been praying regularly for Him to reveal the next step He wants me to take. He's been nudging me to serve with a particular ministry at my church for quite a while but I have avoided it or thought I could not do it for one reason or another (mostly because of fear or pride). I finally gave in and contacted the person leading that group about joining and it was not long after that He started revealing more of His plan for me. Sometimes (or in my case--a LOT of times) it just takes an obedient heart in order to get things moving again.

I have always had a deep interest in the Jewish people and their culture. As a teenager who loved to read, many of my favorite books were historical fiction set during the time of the Holocaust. Even earlier, in the Lutheran church I attended as an elementary aged child there was a Sunday School teacher who would present a passover seder. I loved it, and even now sometimes when I smell celery or haroset it reminds me of that time. Later, as a newly-married adult, I had a friend who shared with me her interest in celebrating the biblical feasts and listening to Messianic praise music. As I've gone through life, the Lord has inceasingly been adding more and more of His chosen people's culture and traditions to my life.

Even more recently, when we first moved downstate we knew of a messianic congregation in the Detroit area through one of my husband's friends. We spent several months attending regularly their sabbath services and getting to know the people there and it was a very enriching time. Unfortunately, due to life circumstances we were not able to be as involved as a member needs to be so we found our current church. Also, this past summer our annual homeschool camp theme was the Biblical Feasts and How They Point to Christ. After that inspiring week, my husband and I made a commitment to celebrate the feasts this year as a family. We even invited friends to come to our home and share a meal and learn a bit about the Feast of Tabernacles.

After a week of being reminded of all of the above, reuniting with my old friend who observes the feasts and while starting to plan the passover seder dinner for our homeschool support group which I volunteered for, I decided on Friday that I would take the kids with me up to the sabbath service for the first time in years. I am so glad I did. My kids loved the service! These are kids who normally sit in the seats looking bored or tired. My 8 year old son was standing next to me on Saturday morning, clapping, singing, trying to sing in Hebrew, and read the prayers and getting very excited about it all. He did not want to go that morning but before the first couple songs were done he was already saying he wants to go back every week.

All of this is background to explain how God has revealed to me my new job in His kingdom. I am to be an ambassador of sorts. He wants me to dispel the myths about Judaism that abound in the Christian church. He wants me to share the beauty of Israel with the gentiles. To share the truth of who we are as a Church; Jew and Gentile, together, one in Messiah Jesus/Yeshua, the Christ. He wants me to help silence the voice of the enemy who seeks to divide the Body of Christ. We are entering some turbulent times and we need to be prepared and we need to be made strong. We cannot be strong if we are divided. He also wants me to pray for Israel, and provoke the Jewish unbelievers to jealousy so that they too will turn to Yeshua their Messiah. This is my calling. I will keep one foot in the church and one in the synagogue, and do what I can to help the Holy Spirit bring the two together as one Body.

So be ready to hear more from me on this in the future. The plan is to head up to the synagogue with the kids at least once a month so we can learn and grow under their wisdom in this area. We are also going to continue celebrating the feasts and inviting whoever the Holy Spirit leads our way. If you are local and want to join us let me know so you don't get left out! I am also reading and studying a book I got at camp from James Whitman from the Center for Judaic-Christian Studies called Our Father Abraham: the Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith by Marvin R. Wilson. Now that I know who I am and what I'm supposed to do I need to "go to school" and learn about my field. I am going to have so much fun doing it too!

Now I am off to eat non-kosher pizza and watch Fiddler on the Roof with the family! :)