Five women role models in the Bible

Women in biblical times did not have equal rights or freedom of speech. Five women in Bible stories rose above all the constraints of their times and became role models for generations to come. They were Mary, Hagar, Esther, Ruth and Mary Magdalene.

Virgin Mary

The status of women has changed nowadays and we have women pastors, but in the rest of the world females are still treated as unequally as in old stories in the Bible. They suffer oppression and degradation. If we look at Mary mother of Jesus, we see a gentle soul at peace with the world. Mary accepts Jesus as the Son of God. She is the first Christian. She is the mother of a martyred son. Her patience and faith in the Redeemer brings all good women together and gives them eternal hope and mental peace.

Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene is called the Apostle of the Apostles because she was the first to inform the Resurrection of Jesus Christ to his followers. She was the brave one who went and discovered the empty tomb from which Christ had risen. She was rich and supported the followers of the new religion with her money. Nowadays, pastors accept that Mary Magdalene was a powerful inspiration for Jesus’ followers and is a good role model as an independent minded woman.

Book of Esther

Esther in the old Bible is regarded as an opportunist. She did hide her identity as a Jewess and used her beauty to become Queen of Persia. She used her influence in typical Bible activities and saved Mordecai her cousin and her Jewish brethren from extermination by Haman a powerful prince. She inspires us to remember our roots and to always help someone in trouble.

Naomi and Ruth

Hagar Hagar is a powerful symbol for the downtrodden women of the world. She was Abraham’s maidservant but through God’s grace, she sired a nation through her son Ishmael from the seed of Abraham. Her travails have given ideas for stories to many fiction writers. Ruth One of the great stories from the Bible is that of Naomi and Ruth. Naomi was Ruth’s mother-in-law. When both sons of Naomi died, she gave Ruth her freedom to do as she pleased but in the Bible, Ruth vowed to stick to Naomi and her faith. Ruth means ‘friend.’ Ruth married Boaz and gave birth to Obed who was the grandfather of David one of the greatest kings of Israel. The story of Ruth shows us that friendliness and faith can turn our life in a positive direction. Nowadays, in the modern age of the annotated Bible and the sceptics Bible, these five women stand as beacons of old-fashioned virtues.