Israel thought of itself as the religion of the Patriarchs. Even Jesus invoked the memory of “Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” When you look at the stories in Genesis, however, you see that the women were more often than not the ones who were putting things in motion. Sarah’s insistence on the prerogatives of her son over the son of Hagar determined how the promise of God was lived out. Rebekah’s manipulation of her husband so that her favorite son would become heir to the promise put Israel on its path. The mothers of Jacob’s sons were always vying for status and position which impacted how their sons looked on one another. Even in a society stacked against them the women were able to control events. We can only hope that as Church and society we recognize the rightful place of women so that their gifts are able to be used in direct and overt manner.
JULY82023
By Church Staff
