Women carry power. It is not necessarily physical, economic or political power. It is the power of influence. Our society, over the years has been shaped by the influence of women, positively or negatively. It is not the issue of whether or not woman have power, it how do they use this power. Are they using it positively or negatively?
Our history as a nation will be incomplete without the positive influence of women during the armed struggle. Women played an important role in the struggle against the Apartheid regime. Who will forget the role played by the women during the Sharpeville massacre? Who will forget the role played by women like Charlotte Maxeke, Winnie Madikizela -Mandela, to mention just a few.
Women played a great role in the struggle against apartheid and they still continue to contribute for the development of our great nation even today.
Also, in the Bible, women were the first to proclaim the message of the resurrected Christ whilst men were cowering in fear (Matthew 28:5-8)
However, women can use their influence for good or for bad.
The following are some Biblical examples of women who used their influence negatively:
- EVE in the Garden of Eden - She's the very first woman to usurp the authority of her husband, used her influence negatively to get her husband to sin (Gen 3:1-6, Gen 3:17, 1 Timothy 2:14, 2 Cor 11:3)
- SARAH - Sarah, upon realizing that it was taking long for the promise of God to be fulfilled, negatively influenced her husband Abraham to sleep with Hagar. That resulted in the birth of Ishmael. Today, there's war in the Middle-East between Israel and Palestine (GEN 16:1-16)
- JOB'S wife - in times of adversity, she tried to use her influence to get her husband, Job, to curse God (Job 2:9). Thank God, Job didn't give in to her negative influence (Job 2:10).
- JEZEBEL- Negatively influenced her husband Ahab and the entire nation of Israel into idolatry .She seduced Ahab and Israel to whoredom (1Kings. 16:31 -33, 1 King 21:2-25). Jezebel usurped the authority of Ahab, her weak husband (1 Kings 21:8).
- SOLOMON'S wives - Used their influence to seduce him away from God. A man who loved the Lord and had great wisdom, was seduced away from God by his many wives( 1 King 3:3, 11:3-4)
The following are some Biblical examples of women who used their influence positively:
- DEBORAH - She's a perfect example and a role model that an empowered woman in the 21st century can follow. She was a judge, a prophetess and a wife (Judges 4:4). Though she was an empowered woman, yet she didn't confuse her roles. She was both a judge and a prophetess and a wife! As powerful and influential as she was, she still fulfilled her role as a wife. There are many empowered women today who shun their responsibilities as wives due to their social status or the positions they occupy in society.
- ESTHER - Used her position and influences positively to save the nation of Israel from total extinction. Haman had set himself on a course to attain the destruction of the Jewish people (Esther 3:8-9). She discovered, through the persistent voice of her Uncle Mordecai, that the events of her life, which had brought her to the palace that particular point in history, were not arbitrary. She had been positioned by an unseen hand for a yet unknown purpose (Esther 4:14-17). Esther, one ordinary woman, made a difference. She stood in the gap and saved the Jews from extinction (Esther 8:5-15).
- ZIPPORAH - Zipporah, a daughter of Jethro and wife of Moses, used her influence positively to save the life of Moses, her husband. Moses committed a sin of omission in that he didn't circumcise his son. this offended God, who sought to kill Moses until she intervened. Zipporah's action is so influential that it actually saves Moses' life and enabled him to continue his assignment to emancipate the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage (EX 4:24-26).
- DORCAS - She is one woman who lived a selfless life. Her life impacted so many people that when she died, people refused to bury her because they wanted her to be raised from the dead to continue her noble work (Acts 9:36-43)
There are so many women even in our contemporary society who used their influence positively. Women like Florence Nightingale, Rosa parks, Mother Teresa, just to mention a few. All these women played a major role in bringing transformation to our society.
Women use their power and influence in distinctly different ways and with different consequences. As we celebrate women's month, how are you influencing your family, husband, church, community or nation? Is it negatively or positively?
As women, endeavour to use the power of influence that God has given you, to positively influence your husband, children, church and community towards God.
