10 women in the Bible who exceeded expectations

We can immediately think of women in the Bible such as Mary, Eve, Sarah, Miriam, Esther, Ruth, Naomi, Deborah, and Mary Magdalene. But there are others that have only a small appearance in the Bible, some even just a verse.

Although many women in the Bible were strong and capable women, these women weren't waiting for someone else to get the job done. They feared God and lived faithfully. They did what they had to do.

God empowered all women to be strong and to follow his calling, and he used the actions of these women to inspire and teach us years later through the biblical text.

Here are 10 examples of ordinary women in the Bible who have shown incredible strength and faith.

1. Shiphrah and 2. Puah
The king of Egypt commanded the two Jewish midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill all the Jewish boys when they were born. In Exodus 1 we read that the midwives feared God and did not do what the king had commanded them to do. Instead they lied and said the babies were born before they arrived. This first act of civil disobedience saved the lives of many children. These women are great examples of how we can resist an evil regime.

Shiphrah and Puah in the Bible - Exodus 1: 17-20
“But Shiphrah and Puah had respect for God. They didn't do what the king of Egypt had told them to do. They let the boys live. Then the king of Egypt sent for the women. He asked them, “Why did you do this? Why did you let the boys live? “The women answered Pharaoh:” Jewish women are not like the women of Egypt. They are strong. They have their children before we get there. “So God was kind to Shiphrah and Puah. And the people of Israel have increased their numbers more and more. Shiphrah and Puah had respect for God. So He gave them their families ”.

How they exceeded expectations: These women feared God more than the nameless pharaoh in Exodus who could have easily killed them. They understood the sanctity of life and knew that what they did in God's eyes mattered most. These women were faced with a difficult choice, to follow this new Pharaoh or to reap the consequences. They should have been expected to yield to Pharaoh's command to ensure their own safety, but they held fast to what they believed and refused to kill Jewish children.

3. Tamar
Tamar was left childless and dependent on the hospitality of her father-in-law, Judah, but relinquished his responsibility to provide her with a child to continue the family line. He agreed to marry his youngest son, but he never kept his promise. So Tamar dressed as a prostitute, went to bed with her father-in-law (he did not recognize her) and conceived a son from him.

Today it seems strange to us, but in that culture Tamar had more honor than Judas, because he did what was necessary to continue the family line, the line that leads to Jesus. His story is halfway through the story of Joseph in Genesis 38 .

Tamar in the Bible - Genesis 38: 1-30
“At that moment Judas went down to his brothers and turned to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. There Judas saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her, and conceived and gave birth to a son, and he named him Er. She conceived again and gave birth to a son, and named him Onan. Once again she gave birth to a son, and named him Shelah. Judas was in Chezib when she gave birth to him ... "

How she exceeded expectations: People would have expected Tamar to accept defeat, instead she defended herself. While it may seem like an odd way to do it, she has earned her father-in-law's respect and continued the family line. When he realized what had happened, Judah recognized his fault in keeping his younger son away from Tamar. Her recognition not only justified Tamar's unconventional conduct, but also marked a turning point in her own life. Tamar's son Perez is the ancestor of David's royal line mentioned at Ruth 4: 18-22.

4. Rahab
Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho. When two spies on behalf of the Israelites came to her home, she kept them safe and let them through the night. When the king of Jericho ordered her to hand them over, she lied to him saying they had already left, but in reality she had hidden them on her roof.

Rahab feared the God of another people, lied to his earthly king and helped an invading army. It is mentioned in Joshua 2, 6: 22-25; Heb. 11:31; James 2:25; and in Matt. 1: 5 along with Ruth and Mary in the genealogy of Christ.

Rahab in the Bible - Joshua 2
So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: "Bring out the men who have come to you and entered your house, because they have come to explore the whole country." But the woman had taken the two men and hid them… Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up to the roof and said to them, “I know the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen upon. of us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you ... When we heard about it, our hearts melted for fear and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below. “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown you kindness. Give me a sure sign that you'll spare my father and mother's lives,

How he exceeded expectations: The king of Jericho would not have expected a prostitute to outsmart him and protect the Israelite spies. Although Rahab did not have the most flattering profession, she was wise enough to recognize that the God of the Israelites was the only God! She rightly feared God and became an unlikely friend to the men who took control of her city. Whatever you may think of prostitutes, this lady of the night saved the day!

5. Jehosheba
When the queen mother, Atalia, discovered her son, King Ahaziah dead, she executed the entire royal family to secure her position as queen of Judah. But the king's sister, Ioseba, rescued her newborn nephew, Prince Joash, and he became the only survivor of the massacre. Seven years later her husband, Jehoiada, who was a priest, restored baby Joason's throne.

It was because of Joshua's courage in challenging his aunt that David's royal line was preserved. Jehosheba is mentioned in 2 Kings 11: 2-3 and 2 Chronicles 22, where his name is recorded as Jehoshabeath.

Jehoshabeath in the Bible - 2 Kings 11: 2-3
“But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Achaziah, took Joas son of Achaziah and carried him away among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. He put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed. He remained hidden with his nurse in the temple of the Eternal for six years, while Atalia ruled the country “.

How She Exceeded Expectations: Athaliah was a woman on a mission and she definitely didn't expect it! Josabea risked his life to save Prince Joash and his nurse. If she was caught, she would be killed for her good deed. Ioseba shows us that courage is not limited to one sex. Who would have thought that a seemingly normal woman would save David's royal lineage from extinction through an act of love.

* The sad part of this story is that later, after the death of Jehoiada (and probably Josabea), King Joash did not remember their kindness and put their son, the prophet Zechariah, to death.

6. Huldah
After the priest Hilkiah discovered a book of the Law during the renovation work on Solomon's Temple, Huldah prophetically declared that the book they found was the true word of the Lord. He also prophesied destruction, as the people had not followed the instructions in the book. However, he concludes by reassuring King Josiah that he would not see destruction due to his repentance.

Huldah was married but she was also a full-fledged prophetess. It was used by God to declare that the writings found were authentic scriptures. You can find it mentioned in 2 Kings 22 and again in 2 Chronicles 34: 22-28.

Huldah in the Bible - 2 Kings 22:14
'The priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Akbor, Shafan and Asaiah went to speak with the prophet Huldah, who was the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. He lived in Jerusalem, in the new quarter “.

How He Exceeded Expectations: Huldah is the only female prophet in the Book of Kings. When King Josiah had questions about the book of the Law that had been found, his priest, secretary, and attendant went to Huldah to clarify God's Word. They trusted that Huldah would prophesy the truth; it didn't matter that she was a prophetess.

7.Lydia
Lydia was one of the first converts to Christianity. In Acts 16: 14-15, she is described as a worshiper of God and a business woman with a family. The Lord opened her heart and she and all her family were baptized. Then he opened his home to Paul and his companions, offering hospitality to the missionaries.

Lydia in the Bible - Acts 16: 14-15
“A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; he was from the city of Thyatira and a merchant of purple clothes. The Lord opened her heart to listen with enthusiasm to what Paul was saying. When she and her family were baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me faithful to the Lord, come and stay in my home." And she prevailed over us “.

How it exceeded expectations: Lydia was part of a group that gathered for prayer by the river; they did not have a synagogue, as the synagogues required at least 10 Jewish men. Being a seller of purple fabrics, she would have been rich; however, he humbled himself by offering hospitality to others. Luke mentions Lydia by name, emphasizing her importance in this history record.

8. Priscilla
Priscilla, also known as Prisca, was a Jewish woman from Rome who converted to Christianity. Some may point out that she is always mentioned with her husband and never alone. However, they are always shown as equal in Christ, and the two of them together are remembered as leaders of the early church.

Priscilla in the Bible - Romans 16: 3-4
“Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me in Christ Jesus, and who risked their necks for my life, to whom I not only give thanks, but also all the pagan churches”. Pricilla and Aquila were tent makers like Paul (Acts 18: 3).

Luke also tells us in Acts 18 that when Apollos began speaking in Ephesus it was Priscilla and Aquila together who pulled him aside and explained the Way of God more accurately.

How She Exceeded Expectations: Priscilla is an example of how husbands and wives can have equal cooperation in their work for the Lord. She was known to have equal importance to her husband, both to God and to the early church. Here we see the early church respecting husbands and wives who work together as helpful teachers for the gospel.

9.Phoebe
Phoebe was a deacon who served with the overseers / elders of the church. He supported Paul and many others in the Lord's work. There is no mention of her husband, if he had one.

Phobe in the Bible - In Romans 16: 1-2
“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, deacon of the church of Cenchreae, so that you may welcome her in the Lord as befits the saints, and help her in whatever she may require of you, because she has been a benefactor of many and also of me. "

How it exceeded expectations: Women did not readily receive leadership roles during this time, as women were not deemed as reliable as men in the culture. Her appointment as a servant / deacon shows the confidence that had been placed in her by early church leaders.

10. Women who witnessed the resurrection of Christ
During the time of Christ, women were not allowed to be witnesses in the legal sense. Their testimony was not considered credible. However, it is women who are recorded in the Gospels as the first to see the risen Christ and to announce him to the rest of the disciples.

The accounts vary according to the gospels, and while Mary Magdalene is the first to testify to the resurrected Jesus in all four gospels, the gospels of Luke and Matthew also include other women as witnesses. Matthew 28: 1 includes “the other Mary,” while Luke 24:10 includes Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and the other women.

How They Exceeded Expectations: These women were recorded in history as credible witnesses, at a time when only men were trusted. This account has puzzled many over the years who assumed that Jesus' disciples had invented the resurrection account.

Final thoughts ...
There are many strong women in the Bible who depended on God more than themselves. Some have had to lie to save others and others have broken tradition to do the right thing. Their actions, led by God, are recorded in the Bible for all to read and be inspired by.