Was It Not A Woman?

by: Erika K. Stanley

As he approached the tower, heart ablaze, and ready to avenge, she hurled a stone over the rim of the strong tower. With one swooping movement of her instincts and arms, she killed him. 

When other men and women shrieked in fear stomping sloppily up the tower stairs, she rose in valor and upended Abimelech’s plan of attack. The absence of her name in scripture does not diminish the relevancy of her agency, instincts, and resourcefulness. Her courage became well known years later and even in the present day — a cautionary tale to soldiers who waged war with their neighbors. 

There is something profoundly rejuvenating about what is presumably wrapped up in the tale of her strength though we can’t call it… by name. I searched through scripture and wondered if not knowing her name, this hero of a nation, we are more inclined to see her strength and her tenacity more acutely and find mirrors of it in other women in history.

Of course.

Because what we see in years to come is how God takes courage of any kind, from any time and with one sweeping motion multiplies it by His Spirit and remarkably thwart plans of the attack. 

If you feel too small, too insignificant, know that when the ounce of courage left inside of you multiplies by the audacious Spirit of God, your name may go unspoken, but warrior men and warrior women will ask centuries from now was it not a woman…?

Reference verses:

Judges 9:50-57
2 Samuel 11:21