Good morning,
“10 women in the Bible who exceeded expectations.
Immediately we can think of women in the Bible like Mary, Eve, Sarah, Miriam, Esther, Ruth, Naomi, Deborah, and Mary Magdalene. But there are others that have only a small appearance in the Bible, some as few as one verse.
While plenty of women in the Bible were strong, capable women, these ladies didn’t sit around waiting for someone else to get the job done. They feared God and lived faithfully. They did what they needed to do.” (Kate Edwards is a School Chaplain, Kid’s Ministry Leader and aspiring Bible Scholar. http://www.thenurturedword.com/)
For the next two weeks we will look at some of the lesser-known women in the Bible. They will challenge us in our walk with the Lord.
5. Jehosheba
When the Queen Mother, Athaliah, discovered her son, King Ahaziah dead, she executed the entire royal family to secure her position as the Queen of Judah. But, the King’s sister, Jehosheba, took her infant nephew, the prince Joash, to safety and he became the only survivor of the massacre. Seven years later her husband, Jehoiada, who was a priest, reinstated little Joashon the throne.
It was through Jehosheba’s bravery in defying her aunt, that the royal line of David was preserved. Jehosheba is mentioned in 2 Kings 11:2-3 and 2 Chronicles 22, where her name is recorded as Jehoshabeath.
Jehoshabeath in the Bible – 2 Kings 11:2-3
“But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed. He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.”
How she exceeded expectations:
Athaliah was a woman on a mission, and she definitely didn’t see this coming! Jehosheba risked her life to save prince Joash and his nurse. If caught she would have been killed for her good deed. Jehosheba shows us that bravery is not limited to one sex. Who would have thought a seemingly ordinary woman would save the royal line of David from extinction through an act of love.
*The sad part of this story is that later after the death of Jehoiada (and likely Jehosheba), King Joash remembered not their kindness and put their son, the prophet Zechariah, to death.” (Kate Edwards is a School Chaplain, Kid’s Ministry Leader and aspiring Bible Scholar. http://www.thenurturedword.com/)
Jehosheba showed tremendous courage. Athaliah was a wicked woman. She slew all the king’s sons to secure her place on the throne. Jehosheba saved the rightful heir to the throne. One of Judah’s Godly kings. She did what she knew to be right. Many spiritual reforms were made under the leadership of King Josiah.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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