Inspiration!
Want a story of prostitution and deception, abuse and judgement and confrontation?
Try: Tamar
She is one of my more favourite female characters in that book that I should read more widely in as I tend to steer towards the nobrainers of pslams and the letters.
So continues my occasional (limit self to ONE chapter a session when good) progression through Lost Women of the Bible by Carolyn Custis James.
I’ve read about Tamar before in that Francine Rivers book… and so have been previously enlightened and inspired by her courage and strength.
Oh yes, as Christian females – women, girls, tweenies you should be gentle quiet and submissive…
WHY WHY WHY do they always quote those and leave off all those bits and pieces that calls for a bit of, “Woah, back up there _insert male name_ you might just be wrong this time”.
Gentle and submissive.
Oh yes.
That was Esther. Who just had to smile at Mr. “I choose if you live or not if you offend me” and then flat out tell him what to do.
That was Tamar. Who had to de-wool Judah’s eyes by something I wouldn’t consider if you paid me (how ironic) to keep the honor of the family name – this same family that collectively abused her and dishonored her.
That was Ruth. Who had to pull a hurry up on Boaz and ‘fulfil’ your duty, respect me (and Naomi), while having to act in a way that could have gone horribly wrong.
While I am mentioning it Rebekah got to choose if she wanted to ‘go with’ (aka marry) Issac. How’s that for respect of her judgement in a culture where arranged marriages, mainly minus consulation with the female, were the thing to do!
I grappled with the whole strength and vulnerabilty and all that junk ages ago.
It’s very curious to see how it all fits together.
There are many apologetics for the Timothy verses:
“A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.” (1 Tim 2:11-12)
Of which I cannot honestly be bothered going into right now. These theories go both ways. Although a fuller contextual look at Jesus/God and how women fit into the Bible it points towards…
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Gen 1:27)
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal 3:28-29)
How can I be non-feminist and still say hooray for strong women? But for people willing to speak up and protect honor. Speaking the truth in love – in whatever that means, even if it is graphic confrontation. Well, here’s to them.
I want to be one of you.