God’s word is so wonderful! He has given us a road map, a history book, and a how-to book. In this wonderful Book, He shows us examples of how to live, grow, and be godly women.
Last week, I briefly shared inspiring life lessons from the Proverbs 31 Woman and how we can use her as our model to be godly women. Today, we will study another woman. This woman is spiritually older and teaches younger women how to honor God in their behavior.
Throughout God’s Word, there are many examples we can study: Naomi and Ruth, Elizabeth and Mary, Lois and Eunice, Debra and Barak, and Priscilla and Apollos, to name a few.
As we look at these women, we see five characteristics or attributes they live by each day that can guide us today. Grab your Bible and notebook, and learn how to be a Godly woman.
In modern times, we often hear the words influencer and role model. They usually describe people with large social media followings or famous singers, actors, or sports stars. It is in our nature to find someone we want to imitate or look up to as a role model.
We are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27) and are to reflect the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29). Because we are made in and reflect the image of our Creator, we must choose and be women who are godly role models in our words, spirit, love, conduct, faith, and purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)
In Hebrews 11, women and men of faith show us how to live lives of fear of God, use our gifts, and obey God with unfailing hope and patience.
By faith, the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. Hebrews 11:31
Rahab was a Gentile woman and an outcast because of her livelihood. But because of her faith, she is a role model for us. Although she came from a pagan background, she believed God was the only true God.
Rahab was knowledgeable; she knew about Israel’s history and what God was doing for them. She showed initiative by arranging their salvation. By doing this, she also showed great courage because if Rahab sided with the Israelites, it was considered treason, and Rahab’s people could have put her and her family to death.
Though no one told her who God was, she put her faith in Him. Rahab had spiritual insight; she knew the gods her people believed in could not measure up to Israel’s God. She put her faith in God, using His covenant Name, Yahweh, and then put her faith into action by hiding the spies.
Because she made the right decisions and stood firm in her faith, even though it could have cost her her life, Rahab is a great role model. God thought so, too. Because of her faith and courage, God honored her by placing her in the lineage of His Son. Through her came Israel’s great king, David, and the great King of kings, Jesus. Rahab is one of God’s godly women.
A powerful influencer of her day was Queen Esther. Esther became queen after the previous Queen, Vashti, refused the king’s summons. For a year, Esther prepared for when the king called for her.
Queen Esther was an orphan, so Mordecai, her uncle, raised her as his daughter. Mordecai had gained an official position in the king’s court. One day, he overheard a plot to kill the king and told Esther about it. There was an investigation, followed by the hanging of the guilty parties.
There was another man named Haman, and the king liked him and promoted Haman above all princes. Now, Haman disliked the Jewish people because of Mordecai. Haman convinced the king that because the Jews did not obey the king’s law, they should be destroyed. The king agreed, and a decree was written.
Mordecai learns of the decree and begins mourning. Esther becomes deeply distressed when her maids tell her that Mordecai is in mourning. Esther sends one of her eunuchs to find out why, and he returns with the decree and a message that she must see the king to plead for the survival of her people.
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14
Esther considered Mordecai’s question, but she had a problem. The king had not called for her, and if she went to him without being called, he could put Esther to death. But Esther came up with a plan. Then, she prepared herself physically and spiritually. Then, she invited the king and Haman to a banquet.
God used Queen Esther’s beauty, intelligence, respect for her husband, and influence to petition for the lives of her people. She swayed the king’s opinion and was given the authority to rewrite the law, saving her people. Queen Esther was one of God’s godly women.
1 Samuel 25:2-43 tells a story about a very intelligent woman named Abigail. Her husband, Nabal, was wealthy, foolish, harsh, and overbearing.
One afternoon, David sent some of his men to Nabal in peace to ask for provisions for a feast. When the men met Nabal, he was rude and insulting to them and to David, so David decided to take revenge.
A servant went to Abigail to warn her that Nabal had insulted David and his men, and that David was on his way to destroy all of Nabal’s men.
Abigail was a godly wife who understood what was about to happen because of her husband’s foolish actions. She acted quickly and prepared supplies. Her plan was to meet David before he could carry out his vengeance.
Using her wisdom, respect, and submission, Abigail reminded David that he was the Lord’s anointed and that if he took revenge on Nabal, he would forever be guilty of taking revenge rather than letting God fight his battles.
David listens to Abigail, heeds her words, and honors her by saying God had sent her to keep him from bloodshed.
‘David said to Abigail, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak.”1 Samuel 25:32-34
Abigail returns home and finds Nabal is having a party. Because he is very drunk, Abigail waits until morning to tell him about her visit with David. When Nabal heard the news, he became like a stone, and after ten days, the Lord struck him, and he died.
When David heard of Nabal’s death, he gave thanks to God because the Lord carried out the vengeance against Nabal. Then David asked Abigail to marry him.
Abigail earned David’s respect by courageously demonstrating her wisdom and intelligence in saving her family and servants from certain death. Abigail was one of God’s godly women.
Last week, I shared highlights from the Proverbs 31 woman. In these verses, we learn about the kind of woman a man should choose to marry. This woman is of virtue; she is trustworthy, diligent, organized, and loving.
The Proverbs 31 woman is trusted by her husband, and her children bless her. She runs her home efficiently, and her business is profitable. This woman is good at all these things, but most of all, she fears and honors God. The Proverbs 31 woman is one of God’s godly women.
The last godly characteristic I want to look at is mentoring or spiritual mothering.
What is mentoring? It means to advise or train, to share knowledge, skills, and expertise with another person.
Many companies today have mentoring programs because they recognize the need for new employees to learn from those with more knowledge and longer tenure. They set up these mentoring programs to strengthen their workforce.
So, what does mentoring look like for godly women?
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then, they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands so that no one will malign the word of God. Titus 2:3-5
In a mentoring relationship or spiritual mothering, the mentor must not be older; she must be more spiritually mature. This mature woman will teach and train the younger woman. This woman does not need to be younger; she is new in faith or learning something new.
Titus 2 is our curriculum for mentoring relationships, but it is to be done in a nurturing and loving one-on-one relationship, not in a formal setting.
A beautiful example of spiritual mothering is between Elizabeth and Mary. Elizabeth was the daughter and wife of a priest, so she lived a righteous life. She and her husband Zacharias knew the pain of being childless and had given up hope because of their age.
Zacharias was serving in the temple in Jerusalem when an angel visited him. The angel told Zacharias that he and Elizabeth would soon have a son, and his name would be John. Elizabeth didn’t hear her husband’s voice for nine months because he laughed when the angel told him the news.
Then Mary, a young girl, had her visit with an angel and was told she would be the mother of Jesus, the Messiah. Then the angel shared the news that Elizabeth was carrying a baby. So Mary leaves to visit with Elizabeth.
As Mary arrives and Elizabeth hears Mary’s voice, John dances inside his momma! The two women begin their mentoring relationship. Elizabeth teaches Mary, gives wise advice, and shares hospitality. Elizabeth and Mary are godly women.
God created us for relationships, and we need older, mature, godly women to step up and train and teach the younger, less mature women. We grow when we follow God’s plan for our relationships, and the world will see Jesus through our lives.
The stories of these women can be found in the following Scripture for further study!
Rahab – Joshua 2 and Hebrews 11
Queen Esther – Esther
Abigail – 1 Samuel 25:2-43
Proverbs 31 Woman – Proverbs 31:10-31
Elizabeth and Mary – Luke 1 and 2
Resources:
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/TIT.2.3-5
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/1SA.25.32-34
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/EST.4.14
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/HEB.11.31
