Pray with these women whose stories are woven into the ‘great fabric of salvation history’ – Global Sisters Report

As in the New Testament, the Hebrew Scriptures are peopled with a wide variety of women.Some of their names have been lost to history, others have names and stories that seem larger than life.However,all are part of the great fabric of salvation historywhich is our story.Thatstorybegan with the words, "Let there be light."

The author of Genesis 1:1wrotethatthe spirit/breath of God moved over the fearfulmysteryof chaos. I like toinvitethat same Holy Breath to bemy prayer companionon a regular basis eitherindividuallyor in a group of otherBiblical/saintlyfemininefriendsof my choice.

In severalmodernlanguages,such as Spanish,nouns areconsideredeither masculine or feminine.During my graduate theology studies, I took a class on Hebrew. I was surprised to discover that Hebrew nouns are likewise either masculine or feminine. Thus, the wordruahis,grammatically,a feminine nounthat means spirit or breath.However, ruah and many other Hebrew feminine nouns are often used as poetic metaphors in the human attempt to say something about God.

Joan P. Schaupp had this to say in her article "The Feminine Imagery of God in the Hebrew Bible":

There are profound metaphors of God as feminine in the Hebrew Old Testament. On occasion this poetic imagery is allegorized literally as female; most often the feminine appears in the Hebrew Bible in metaphor and allegory. ...

For women, this introduction to Genesis has profound implications, which are being grasped as a growing number of scholars closely examine the original Hebrew text. Simply stated, God is described in both masculine and feminine imagery in the opening verses of Genesis.God(a masculine noun) creates by his Word, and life begins as thespirit(a feminine noun) of God hovers over the earth with her life-giving breath.

That said, one can honor the feminine aspect ofruah.

Another Hebrew feminine noun is shekhinah, which is translatedas presence of God. Includingthis conceptduring my prayer helps medeepenmy meditation.I found this beautiful description in the Jewish Virtual Library: "It is through the shekinah that humans can experience the Divine. Thespirit moved to help bring order out of chaos. Thus,beginning the process of creation, we can pray for those who workto care for our Earthandfor government leaders to craft laws that will help heal and protect our Earth.

I reflect on the mother of Moses (Exodus 2:1-10): how sadthat she had to give up her childnot once buttwice.Many parents during the Holocaust sent or gave their children to other people so they would have a chance to grow up.Thisrealitycontinues today as parents of families fleeing violence often must make the difficult choice toseparate from their children bysendingthem to places they hope are more safe.I can imagine myself listening to Moses mother as she shares her painof letting go.With whatever spiritual practice you use to pray for the end of violence,prayalsofor thosefamilies andfor those unwed mothers who have given their child up for adoption,as well as formore women whowill choose adoption over abortion.

Turning to Miriam, sister to Moses and Aaron,(Exodus 15:1-18)makes me think of Oh,Freedom!, asong Ioftenenjoy hearingthe lyricsopranoRene Fleming sing. Her rendition islush,which, I believe, is perfectfor this timelessspiritual.While its lyricsoriginallycelebratedthe ultimate freedom of heaven after death, the song was commonly sung as part of the civil rights movementto celebrate the newfound freedom of African Americansin America.

After theIsraelites crossedthe Red Sea, Miriam ledherpeople in a dance to celebrate their deliverance.I can well imagine how these freed slaves must have danced and sang their own version of Oh, Freedom!The biblical text mentionstheIsraelitesconsideredMiriam a prophetess. Maybe her prophetic role was to show her people how to celebrate again.After 400 yearsof slavery, perhapstheyhad forgotten how.

When this pandemicendsand Christians of every faith community return to churchin greater numbers,how will we all celebrate?Let us pray with Miriam that we allwillsing with grateful heartsa freedom hymn.Pray also for those people who seeking freedom as refugees as well as for those who live under dictators.

Another favorite is Abigail(1 Samuel 25:2-42). Locked in an arranged and difficult marriage,Abigailwas able toremain true to herselfusingher strong diplomatic skillswith her husband.Shealsousedher diplomacytosoftenDavid's angry response toher husband'sinhospitable behavior. Itwasno surprise that after her husband dies, David marriesher.To have such strong skills,Abigailmust have first been a very caring and compassionate person.What might she say to you about compassion? As you listen, perhaps you could pray for those couples who have difficult marriages and for those who have escaped domestic violence.

Then there is Anna, Tobit's wife(Tobit). At one point in the story,Tobitbecomesblind.As a result,Anna must become the wage earner.Even though her earnings were essential for their survival, itwas a source offriction in their relationship.As a result, the story reveals the ups and downsmanymarriages go through.What I find interesting is how this couple's conversation progresses.We see Annaas a wife who speaks her mind to a doubting husband then a husband whochangesfrom doubtingto one who comforts a tearful wife.Similar tensions can occur today when a husband can no longer work due to an accident or illness.Anna would be an apt companion when we pray for couples in such situations and for those who are preparing for marriage.

Susanna(Daniel:13)was beautiful, rich, and deeply religious. Buther spiritualitydidntprotect her from beingsexuallyassaultedverbally. Then came "blame the victim.The two elders had everything going for them or at least they thought they did.Then someone spoke up oddly enough, it was a youth.Suddenly, everything changed.The elders were put on trial,their lie wasexposed, they were found guilty,thenthey received the punishment meant for Susanna.I like to share Susanna's prayerto intercedefor the unjustly condemned on death row,for women who are sexuallyharassedon their joband for all those who are sexually violated.

If you invite these or other women of the Hebrew Scriptures to be a part of your prayer and if you usetheintentionsI suggested, consider addingone or two ofyour own.In whatever way we choose to pray, we must prayfor a needy world.

Read more:

Pray with these women whose stories are woven into the 'great fabric of salvation history' - Global Sisters Report