Admirable Women of the Bible

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. —Proverbs 31:30, 31, NIV

Sarah might be my favorite woman in the Bible, perhaps because I see so much of who I am in her. Yet God answered her deepest desire, and she made it into the hall of faith in Hebrews 11. Sarah was by no means perfect. She doubted when God told her something, and when He seemed slow to deliver on His promise, she reasoned it away and took matters into her own hands. How I resonate with Sarah. I have been there.

I have grown tired of waiting on God and have taken matters into my own hands. The outcome was not pleasant. Friends, please tell me I am not the only one. But God! But God, in His infinite grace and mercy, still gives what He has promised, and Sarah is thus considered a woman of faith. Another woman in the Bible who is not typically spoken of much is Queen Vashti, the reigning queen before Esther became queen. Vashti’s husband acted foolishly after becoming drunk and demanded she perform for him and his friends.

Queen Vashti said no. She stood up for what she believed to be right. As I contemplate my own life, I pray that I will have Vashti’s courage when I am asked to do something that goes against my beliefs. I want to be able to say no as she did—no matter the consequences. Then there is Queen Esther. When I read her story, I just have to say, “God had a plan!” God placed Queen Esther in the palace specifically so that through her He could save His children, the Israelites, from total annihilation. He blessed her, and she found favor with the king, demonstrating great wisdom, grace, and reliance on God as she approached the king on behalf of her people. Before going in to see the king, she called on her people to fast, humbling themselves before the King of heaven, and their petitions were answered. I have not even begun to scratch the surface of all the stories of the incredible women in the Bible. But I want to share Proverbs 31:30, 31, which states, Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate (NIV).

Kaysian C. Gordon