Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Fearing

Two women stand tall in ancient stories, challenging us to see beyond the confining labels we place on others. Rahab, known through centuries primarily as "the prostitute," was actually a savvy negotiator who rescued her entire family from destruction when Jericho fell. Yet while her profession gets endlessly mentioned, the Israelite men who visited her establishment face no similar judgment—a double standard that persists to this day.

Then there's Deborah, a fiery prophet and military strategist who led Israel to victory and provided forty years of peace—longer than nearly any other biblical leader. Despite her extraordinary leadership, later biblical accounts either minimize her role or erase her entirely, giving credit to her male general Barak instead. Even in Hebrews 11, the Bible's "hall of fame" of faithful people, Barak gets mentioned while Deborah disappears.

These ancient stories expose our troubling tendency to reduce complex human beings to convenient labels. Who are the Rahabs among us today that we reduce to a single aspect of their identity? Is it the immigrant labeled only as "illegal," the performer seen only through one lens, or the political opponent reduced to a stereotype? Jesus himself modeled a different way by including Rahab in his family tree, demonstrating his solidarity with those society had labeled and dismissed. As we follow his example, we're invited to see and celebrate the full humanity of everyone we encounter. After all, everyone has a story that matters—and they deserve to have that story told completely.

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The courage of five sisters from ancient Israel offers us a blueprint for navigating unjust systems today. When the daughters of Zelophehad approached Moses about an inheritance law that would leave them destitute after their father's death, they weren't just seeking personal relief—they were challenging a fundamental injustice in their society's structure.

What happens next is remarkable. Rather than facing punishment for questioning established law, God affirms their petition with surprising clarity: "The daughters of Zelophehad are right." This divine endorsement leads to an immediate change in inheritance law, creating protections for women throughout Israel. The story reveals a God who listens to the marginalized and validates their concerns, while establishing that sometimes challenging unjust laws is exactly what faithful people should do.

Drawing parallels to modern challenges, we must ask ourselves: When do we follow rules, and when do we break them? Like the characters in the children's show Bluey navigating their "Shadowlands" game, we need both those who respect boundaries and those willing to question them. The story warns against automatically assuming laws passed by "our side" are just, while those from political opponents are evil. No political party has a monopoly on harmful policies—our moral compass must be guided by justice and compassion rather than partisan loyalty.

Perhaps most powerfully, these ancient women teach us about meaningful compromise. When concerns arose about property leaving their tribe, they agreed to marry within their community while maintaining their inheritance rights. They demonstrated that standing firm on core principles while finding reasonable middle ground isn't weakness—it's essential for community flourishing. What rules in our society need challenging today, and how might we work together to create systems where everyone belongs?

Listen now to explore how five forgotten women from Scripture might guide our response to today's challenging social and political landscape.

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Who really saved the day in the Exodus story? Behind Moses stands an extraordinary lineup of women whose courage, wit, and quick thinking repeatedly preserved his life—from infancy through adulthood. This exploration of biblical heroines challenges our conventional understanding of what makes a spiritual leader.

The Hebrew midwives Shiprah and Puah kicked off this chain of resistance with their breathtaking act of civil disobedience, refusing Pharaoh's command to murder Hebrew babies. Their defiance created the possibility for Moses to be born at all. Then his mother Jochebed, facing impossible choices, crafted a waterproof vessel and set her son afloat on the Nile—not in desperation, but with a strategic plan. Standing guard was Moses' sister Miriam, perfectly positioned to suggest that Pharaoh's own daughter hire the baby's birth mother as his wet nurse! This delicious irony—Pharaoh unknowingly paying a Hebrew woman to raise her own child—demonstrates the power of subversive humor against authoritarianism.

Perhaps most surprising is Zipporah, Moses' Midianite wife. When God mysteriously attempts to kill Moses during their journey to Egypt, Zipporah performs an emergency circumcision that saves his life. With nerves of steel, she serves as mediator between God and Moses, foreshadowing Moses' later role as mediator between God and Israel.

These stories remind us that liberation never happens through a solo hero. Instead, it requires a community of brave individuals, often women, taking risks in moments both dramatic and ordinary. Their legacy offers a profound blueprint for courage in today's world, where small acts of resistance and moments of intervention can still change everything.

What might happen if we recognized that we're surrounded by such potential heroines and heroes today? How might our faith communities transform if we honored not just the charismatic leaders but also those whose behind-the-scenes bravery makes everything else possible? Listen in and discover your own calling to practice courage, compassion, and holy resistance.

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