The Christian Lifestyle Magazine, Issue 12

FOCUS ON WOMEN
IMPORTANCE OF
by Derrick Grobbelaar
As South Africans, we celebrate women’s month
during August, with 9 August being Women’s
day. These celebrations may vary. To some, it is
just another public holiday, meaning we can do
what we feel like doing when we feel like doing
it. To others, it is a day to attend some political or
other meetings where speeches are made about
women, their rights, challenges, achievements,
and the abuse of women that is so evident in our
country. Yet to others, it is a day filled with all the
responsibilities of any other day.
Throughout history, women have played a vital
role in society. Since the earliest days, we read
how God has used women in various ways. Some
of the roles they played could be described as not
generally associated with women. Some would
describe it as roles more suitable for men.
One such old testament example we find in
Judges 4 Deborah’s story. She was both a
prophetess and was judging Israel at the time.
Not one of these roles was usually associated
with women at the time. Israel was suffering
at the hands of the Canaanites due to their
disobedience. When they called on the Lord,
He used Deborah. What Deborah did, was very
uncommon for women to do at the time. This
lady summoned Barak, one of the military leaders,
to go and attack the Canaanites. He was unwilling
to go without Deborah going with him. She
agreed. Can you imagine an army warrior hesitant
to go to war without women accompanying him?
Barak’s weakness of faith caused another
woman to step on the scene. She is a lot less
famous than Deborah. In fact, besides her name
appearing in four verses of Judges 4 and two
more times in Judges 6, we see nothing else of
this woman called Jael. While Barak was pursuing
the Canaanite army, Sisera, the commanding
officer of the Canaanite army, was fleeing by
IN SOCIETY
foot. On his way, Jael, what we would
call an ordinary woman, called him to her
tent. While he was sleeping, Jael killed
this suppressor of Israel by driving a peg
into his skull. The result of this heroic
act being Israel delivered form Canaanite
oppression. In the New Testament, we
read about various women such as Dorcas
and others, whose names were not even
mentioned, who played vital roles in their
communities. We also read that women
supported Jesus’s ministry in various ways.
The presence and influence of women
are pretty evident throughout our
communities. Today it is nothing different.
God is still using women in various roles
in society. These roles include prominent
roles in politics, science, engineering,
and business, to name but a few. These
women I would call the Deborahs of the
Old testament. Those who are known,
recognized, and celebrated. We thank
God for every one of them.
Our communities are, however, filled
with Jael’s. These are the infamous
women silently going about their business
every day. These are the women you will
not read about in the newspaper. You
will not see them on television. They
may not even have a personal blog, but
they are making a massive difference
in the lives of millions daily. They are
encouraging, healing, supporting, learning,
and comforting as only women can.
These are the unsung heroes of the day. You
will find them not only in various roles in our
communities, serving our communities. You will
find them caring for the sick and needy with
their own resources. You will also find a few at
home taking care of their own, and sometimes
even other children.
These women are the anchor and most
significant supporters and inspiration of some
of the world’s most powerful and influential
men. You will rarely read about them. You
rarely hear anybody singing their praise, but
these women keep households, communities,
and countries going.
Many men struggle to acknowledge the fact
that we need women. We need them in many
ways. Let us all recognize their immeasurable
value to this world.
May all woman realize their worth and
contribution to our world. Whether you are the
Deborah or the Jael, God values you highly, so
He paid for you with His blood.
THESE ARE THE
UNSUNG HEROES
OF THE DAY.
YOU WILL FIND
THEM NOT ONLY
IN VARIOUS
ROLES IN OUR
COMMUNITIES,
SERVING OUR
COMMUNITIES.
YOU WILL FIND
THEM CARING
FOR THE SICK
AND NEEDY
WITH THEIR OWN
RESOURCES.
18 THE CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE 19