Bible Women in Leadership Roles have a lot to teach us
A couple of weeks ago I was conducting a Bible study class at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, CT. I go out there every Tuesday morning. There were about seven women in the class. We’re doing a systematic study of all the women in the Bible, especially women in leadership roles.
We talk about each woman’s situation and experience, what lessons were learned, what cultural influences there were in a story, and what applies to our lives today. It’s always amazing to see how these women, who lived thousands of years ago, had very similar issues that women have today. The circumstances may be different, but the issues and spiritual precepts are always relevant to what’s going on in today’s world.
The class discussion started with the story of Miriam, the sister of Moses, leading the women of Israel in song after the Egyptians were defeated at the Red Sea.
Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.” Exodus 15:20, 21 NIV
Miriam was a prophet
The conversation we had just on these two verses was pretty incredible. There were several things that stood out to the women in the Bible class. First of all that Miriam was called a prophet.
That led to a whole discussion about what it means to be a prophet. Who can be or is a prophet? Are there prophets today? Who decides who is a prophet? It was a really lively discussion.
One lady knew someone who called herself a prophet and was always acting like she knew things no one else did. This woman was always telling people what they should and shouldn’t do as if she had a direct line of communication with God for every person and every situation.
Now, I’m not going to say that’s impossible, but everyone in the group felt like this person was more of a self-appointed prophet, than ordained by God. But no one else knew her, so we focused more on what being a prophet could look like.
How to tell if someone is a prophet
First of all, we talked about knowing a tree by its fruit. One of the litmus tests for someone who claims to be a prophet is to see if they are doing things contrary to God’s commandments and the way Jesus taught us to live our lives, or are they living in obedience to God and following Jesus in their daily life.
Another way to evaluate if someone is a prophet is to see what they’re actually doing. How do they treat people? Are they honest and fair? Do they stand up for what’s right or do they go along with whoever is in a position of authority? Are they morally and spiritually minded?
Being a prophet doesn’t necessarily mean you predict the future. But I do know some very spiritually minded folks who have known ahead of time they should or shouldn’t do a particular thing, or be or not be in a certain place.
What a prophet does
Someone shared that to be a prophet means to be in communion with God, to hear His voice, and not be afraid to speak truth to power, someone who can see things on a higher spiritual level, things the material senses can’t take in.
Another name for a prophet is a seer. It’s someone who sees what’s going on spiritually.
I’ve done a couple of podcast episodes about being a prophet. Episode 88: What it Takes to Be a Prophet and Episode 158: Can We Be Modern Day Prophets?
Miriam: one of many women in leadership roles
The point of the discussion was that Miriam was considered a prophet because she was inspired at a very deep level by God.
After the Egyptian army had met its demise in the Red Sea, Moses led all the Children of Israel in a song of praise and gratitude to God.
But immediately after that Miriam led all the women in a similar song but with timbrels and even dancing as well.
Miriam was showing a powerful sense of leadership here. No one told her to sing this song or to get her timbrel and encourage all the other women to participate..
She was responding to what her gratitude to God impelled her to do.
None of the men there, not even Moses could have led all the women in that song of praise the way Miriam did. It had to be a woman. When I said to the class that being a woman was a gift from God that Miriam was using to its fullest at that moment, you could see the light bulbs going off over their heads.
Being a woman is a gift from God
One member of the class said she had always thought of being a woman as a liability, being a victim, being taken advantage of. But now she could see that it could be her superpower. She realized she could do things as a woman, that a man could not do. She could minister to and be supportive of women in a way the men could not.
I totally agree.
I mentioned to the group there have been times when I suggested to my wife something I thought she should do or think about. But she didn’t. But when a woman made the same suggestion at some point later, my wife thought it was such a great idea.
Now, I realize when I made theses kinds of suggestions, my wife may not have seen the need or been ready, but sometimes I think she just couldn’t hear what I said the same way she heard a woman say the same thing. It was a right idea, but it was easier to hear it coming from a woman instead of a man.
Now just to be clear, my wife and I have a very supportive relationship, and we both share suggestions and ideas with each other all the time to be supportive, but there are times when it’s easier to hear something from one person instead of another.
What can guys learn from women in leadership roles?
So, how can Miriam’s leadership apply to you, even if you’re a guy?
Miriam didn’t try to lead all the Children of Israel in a song of praise. Moses had already done that. But she saw a specific need and took the initiative to meet it. That applies to everyone, whether you’re a man or a woman.
Miriam saw the women had a powerful collective contribution to make in expressing gratitude to God.
There is nothing that can compare to the collective power of women united in deep, heartfelt prayer, gratitude, and praise to God.
So if you’re a woman, it’s time to embrace your gift of being a woman and be alert to the opportunities God puts in front of you to lead and support women, either collectively or individually. And it could be that you also have a gift to lead and support men in a way that other men cannot do.
Look for God-given opportunities to use your gifts
Own who you are and use the gifts God has given you. You don’t need anyone’s permission, except your own, to do this.
If you’re a guy, it’s time to admit you can’t do everything. There are situations when a woman can lead better than you. That’s okay. They’re using their God-given gifts and talents. Would you want to stop or hinder anyone from doing what God has called them to do?
There’s a lot of talk in some church circles that women in leadership roles is not appropriate in church, and they should never teach men, but that is a man-made doctrine that crept into the church over the centuries. It’s based on a few passages in the Bible, without taking everything in the Bible into consideration.
And there are still people who would insist it was fine for Miriam to lead the women, but not the men, and point to this story as an example.
But the Bible tells the stories of lots of women in leadership roles who did lead and teach men. I’m thinking of a couple: Deborah, the Old Testament prophet and judge, and Junia, referred to as an apostle by Paul.
Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. Judges 4:4 NIV
Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. Romans 16:7 NIV
If you want to go a little deeper on this, I’ve done several episodes on women leadership. Episode 159: Following Wise women in the Bible, an episode on Deborah, Episode 259 Deborah: The Judge and Prophetess and Episode 228: Women Leaders in the New Testament.
God doesn’t choose someone based solely on their gender. He chooses who is the best person for the job He has in store for them. And I just have to add, sometimes a guy can be supportive of a woman, or women, in a way other women might not be able to. It really depends on which man, which woman, or women, it is.
The point is, Miriam has set an example of true leadership by seeing a need and an opportunity and responding accordingly.
Leadership challenges
Now, this is not the only time Miriam gives us a hint at true leadership and how to overcome the challenges that come up because you’re in a leadership role.
Moses, along with Aaron and Miriam, his sister and brother, had each played an important role in leading the Children of Israel out of Egypt. But it may have seemed to Aaron and Miriam that Moses was getting more responsibility and recognition than they were. After all, he was the youngest of the three siblings. Shouldn’t they have a more prominent role?
This is just me reading between the lines, by the way.
But some kind of feelings bubbled up over something somewhat unrelated. Miriam and Aaron began to grumble that Moses has married a Cushite woman. The KJV translates it Ethiopian.
Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the LORD heard this. Numbers 12:1, 2 NIV
Don’t compare yourself to others
Does this sound familiar at all to you? Have you ever been in a leadership position and someone else in another leadership role seems to be getting more recognition and so you find something unrelated to complain about? Have you ever thought: Who do they think they are? I’m just as good, or better, than them.
This can be one of the temptations in leadership, to compare yourself to others.
In light of what Arron and Miriam said, God called them, along with Moses, to the Tent of Meeting. He said,
“Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” Numbers 12:6-8 NIV
Just remember, God knows the thoughts in your heart, whether you say them out loud or not. Miriam and Aaron realize what they have done. Miriam suddenly became leprous. Aaron sees this and, unlike Adam who did not confess his sin, instantly says to Moses,
and he said to Moses, “Please, my lord, I ask you not to hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed. Numbers 12:11 NIV
True leaders admit their mistakes
Aaron has taken the leadership role of admitting they made a mistake. They had judged Moses and complained inappropriately.
Have you ever done that? I sure have and it never ends well, until I repent and let go of those judgmental and critical attitudes.
Aaron and Miriam should have kept their focus on what God was calling them to do instead of judging Moses and comparing their purpose to his. And that’s a lesson we all need to learn.
The beautiful thing here is that Moses prays for Miriam to be healed. He knows God is the only real solution to this problem.
So Moses cried out to the LORD, “Please, God, heal her!” Numbers 12:13 NIV
And she is healed.
Importance of humility
It’s interesting to me that the very person who Miriam was being judgmental of, her brother Moses, is the same person who prays for her to be healed. Miriam must have taken that all in.
Now, it’s not mentioned specifically in the text, I can only imagine that Miriam was impelled to learn the importance of humility in leadership roles and in experiencing healing.
Humility is an important lesson for us to learn as well.
Miriam is not forgotten. Her leadership role as a calling from God was an important part of Jewish history. In fact, God reminds His people though the prophet Micah of her importance.
I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. Micah 6:4 NIV
God is making it as plain as day that He sent Miriam to help lead the people out of Egypt and through the wilderness.
What are your spiritual super powers?
I encourage you to revisit the lessons Miriam teaches us. She brings a lot of value to the table. Own who you are. Be alert to the needs of situations you find yourself in. Who can you minister to in a way others cannot? How can you keep focused on your God-given purpose without comparing it to or being judgmental of someone else’s?
Will you be humble when you make a mistake in your leadership role and repent?
Just as Miriam discovered, who you are and what you are capable of are gifts from God. These are your superpowers. How will you use them to glorify God and encourage others to do the same?
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James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and church mentor. He conducts Bible workshops online and in person. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life. Contact him here.
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Bible References
Exodus 15:20, 21 NIV
20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing.
21 Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.”
Judges 4:4 NIV
4 Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.
Romans 16:7 NIV
7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
Numbers 12:1, 2 NIV
1 Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite.
2 “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the LORD heard this.
Numbers 12:6-8 NIV
6 “Listen to my words: “When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.
7 But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house.
8 With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”
Numbers 12:11 NIV
11 and he said to Moses, “Please, my lord, I ask you not to hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed.
Numbers 12:13 NIV
13 So Moses cried out to the LORD, “Please, God, heal her!”
Micah 6:4 NIV
4 I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam.
