Love this post! Thank you for writing it. This reminds me of what Angelina Grimké wrote to Christian women of the South in 1836: "Are there no Shiphrahs, no Puahs among you, who wilt dare in Christian firmness and Christian meekness, to refuse to obey the wicked laws which require woman to enslave, to degrade and to brutalize woman?"
Beautiful. I also think Jochebed is playing the same wily game that Shiphrah and Puah played. Pharaoh's command is that all Hebrew male babies are be cast into the river. Jochebed does place her son in the river, albeit in a way that gives him a chance of survival. Technically, Pharaoh's command has been obeyed. Perhaps Bithiah - the possible connection to I Chronicles 4:10 is intriguing - also recognizes the technicalities have been fulfilled.
The lesson I frequently teach here at a women’s prison is the women you’ve named above are Bible scholars, in fact, they had no Bible. They had stories handed down through the family over the dinner table . Stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, and with that little itty-bitty amount of oral teaching these women stood up to the most powerful man in the known world. The reason I teach this exact same Bible lesson once a year is that our faith does not depend on what we know or how much we know or how many classes we’ve taken, or how many church services we have attended. Faith can be enormous. Faith can be powerful. Faith can be taught over the dinner table to children and result in the saving of a nation. I find it fascinating that I have never heard a sermon on these women. In fact when I taught this portion of Exodus in our church, I was reprimanded that I was glorifying the women instead of giving the glory to God. My answer, Moses could’ve started the story with himself, but he does not like Luke like Matthew. He starts the story with the actions of faithful women.
In one sense I agree. In another sense, they were risking their lives and futures. It reminds me of Esther. She could've kept silent and preserved her own life.
It's definitely true that growing up on stories of people risking their lives for others can train your compass in the right direction. I grew up reading The Hiding Place and other WW2 stories over and over, as well as the Bible. Presumably they had stories like that that haven't been recorded.
YES! I think about this a lot even over the course of church history. Most people of faith have only had oral teaching - incomplete - and the retelling of stories. I think this is one reason most of the Bible comes to us in narrative form...as stories! I love that this is the message you teach to women who are imprisoned - what a powerful word for all of us!
Smh at people saying it was glorifying women too much. It is no accident that the book of Exodus opens with all of them together. Intentional, powerful storytelling. Love it!
Amazing. Tying all that together to show how women can be strong, inspired and intelligent. Without power. Because God is behind it all. In our weakness He is strong.
Love this post! Thank you for writing it. This reminds me of what Angelina Grimké wrote to Christian women of the South in 1836: "Are there no Shiphrahs, no Puahs among you, who wilt dare in Christian firmness and Christian meekness, to refuse to obey the wicked laws which require woman to enslave, to degrade and to brutalize woman?"
You are so welcome - thank you for reading! And, whew! That AG quote is 🔥
Beautiful. I also think Jochebed is playing the same wily game that Shiphrah and Puah played. Pharaoh's command is that all Hebrew male babies are be cast into the river. Jochebed does place her son in the river, albeit in a way that gives him a chance of survival. Technically, Pharaoh's command has been obeyed. Perhaps Bithiah - the possible connection to I Chronicles 4:10 is intriguing - also recognizes the technicalities have been fulfilled.
YES! Love this! Brilliant and clever.
Your 'novelist's imagination' reminds me of a midrashic imagination. I enjoyed Womanist Midrash by Wil Gafney.
YES! I appreciate her work so much! Am eager to start next year’s lectionary cycle with her “Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church”
"Doula death/midwife life"
Gotta say that's some killer word choices! Kudos on some great writing!
Thank you!
The lesson I frequently teach here at a women’s prison is the women you’ve named above are Bible scholars, in fact, they had no Bible. They had stories handed down through the family over the dinner table . Stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, and with that little itty-bitty amount of oral teaching these women stood up to the most powerful man in the known world. The reason I teach this exact same Bible lesson once a year is that our faith does not depend on what we know or how much we know or how many classes we’ve taken, or how many church services we have attended. Faith can be enormous. Faith can be powerful. Faith can be taught over the dinner table to children and result in the saving of a nation. I find it fascinating that I have never heard a sermon on these women. In fact when I taught this portion of Exodus in our church, I was reprimanded that I was glorifying the women instead of giving the glory to God. My answer, Moses could’ve started the story with himself, but he does not like Luke like Matthew. He starts the story with the actions of faithful women.
Well, it's also not hard to know right from wrong. It's not hard to decide not to help in the genocide of your own people.
In one sense I agree. In another sense, they were risking their lives and futures. It reminds me of Esther. She could've kept silent and preserved her own life.
It's definitely true that growing up on stories of people risking their lives for others can train your compass in the right direction. I grew up reading The Hiding Place and other WW2 stories over and over, as well as the Bible. Presumably they had stories like that that haven't been recorded.
meant to say “ are NOT Bible scholars”. sorry
YES! I think about this a lot even over the course of church history. Most people of faith have only had oral teaching - incomplete - and the retelling of stories. I think this is one reason most of the Bible comes to us in narrative form...as stories! I love that this is the message you teach to women who are imprisoned - what a powerful word for all of us!
Smh at people saying it was glorifying women too much. It is no accident that the book of Exodus opens with all of them together. Intentional, powerful storytelling. Love it!
Fantastic Marissa, I would love more pieces like this.
Thank you for reading!
Love how you’ve helped us imagine the details in this story. Beautiful.
Thank you!
Amazing. Tying all that together to show how women can be strong, inspired and intelligent. Without power. Because God is behind it all. In our weakness He is strong.
Great post. Made notes.
YES! And thank you for reading!
Where do I find my notes? Sorry such a newbie.
To be honest, I'm not sure! I am pretty new to substack as well! Maybe in your dashboard?
I found them. ❤️
Beautiful!
Thank you for reading!
I love this SO MUCH 😩💖
💗