Daughters of Abraham

When I was in college, I wrote a 30 page research paper on how women were made in the image of God and what that actually means for us women (and also for men!)

During my time researching, I found that a similar idea was being repeated over and over again: men want to provide and lead, women want to serve and submit. That seemed to be the end of the conversation on how women are created in the image of God. And this really didn’t sufficiently answer the question I had deep in my soul -- HOW do I, as a woman, bear God’s fingerprints? What attributes of myself and what longings of my heart are echoes of the creator? Because I knew that from Genesis 1:27, man and woman were BOTH created in the image of God.

Women may have come from man’s rib, but we both were created in God’s image and bear His mark in some way. We are two sides to the same coin, different faces meant to represent the same whole. But how do I -- consciously or even subconsciously - represent the Lord? And why does this matter?

This is the question that I want to attempt to answer today.

To start, I want to establish how Jesus views women by sharing a passage that may not be the obvious choice for this message.

In Luke 13:11-13, we’re told that Jesus and His disciples were in a synagogue teaching the people. One of the people in the crowd was a woman “with a disabling spirit.”

We’re told that for 18 years, this woman was bent over and couldn’t stand up straight. For 18 years! We don’t know exactly how old this woman was, and we don’t even know her name, but we do know that Jesus sees her out of the crowd of people and He calls out to her. “Woman,” he says, “You are freed from your disability.” And he touches her gently, and immediately she can stand up straight, and she begins to worship and praise God right there.

The Ruler of the Synagogue sees this and is outraged. He can’t believe that Jesus would heal someone on a Sunday. And so the ruler, furious, looks to the people and cries out, “There are six days of the work week -- you can come then to be healed, but don’t bother coming on the Sabbath.”

And as you can imagine -- this response outrages Jesus.

“You hypocrites!” He yells. “You water and feed your animals on the Sabbath. And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, who was bound by Satan for 18 years, be loosed from these bonds on the sabbath?” By saying this, all of Jesus’s adversaries were ashamed, and the people rejoiced because of what Jesus was doing.

At first, this story looks like a classic argument between Jesus and the Pharisees/synagogue rulers of his time. They were constantly going back and forth because Jesus was constantly challenging the culture and rules of the day.

What makes this story so unique, though, is that Jesus does two very radical things.

1. He heals a woman on the Sabbath and 2) He calls her a daughter of Abraham.

Prior to this moment, that term had never been uttered aloud -- especially in a church. There had only ever been “sons of Abraham” -- never daughters! I imagine that when he says this, it sends a shockwave throughout the crowd. A Daughter of Abraham? Is that even possible? In a day and age where women were seen as property and inferior, Jesus calls a deformed woman a daughter and frees her from her pain. He gives her a place at the table. And more than that, by uttering these simple three words in the face of authority figures’ fury, Jesus is inviting women into the family -- because women were always a part of the family!

By healing this woman, by recognizing her, by calling her a daughter of Abraham, Jesus was embodying the idea that neither male nor female nor white or black or brown, nor old or young, nor rich or poor can be separated from the love of God. Anyone can be a child of Abraham, and inherit the blessings that were promised to Abraham’s descendants.

So, as I’ve mentioned, in Genesis 1:27, we’re told this:

"God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created

them; male and female he created them." - Genesis 1:27

During Jesus’ time, men were the only ones who were considered worthy and influential and the image-bearers of Christ. But Jesus says, “No! Women are Daughters of Abraham and they deserve healing and truth and justice because they are created in MY image!”

We see this idea playing out over and over throughout the New Testament. There was the woman with the issue of blood, Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany, Martha of Bethany, Susanna… all of these women were considered and treated as equals, and Christ praised them and honored them for their godly hearts and pure spirits.

Let’s see what it means to be a daughter of Abraham by actually breaking down Prov. 31 in a way that seems realistic instead of intimidating. In Jewish culture, these verses are read out loud on the Sabbath as a celebration over women. This is in no way condemning what they aren’t, but rather celebrating what they are, in their own unique expressions, living out the virtues detailed in this chapter. These aren’t words meant to tell a woman she is supposed to be more. They are a celebration of who she is already through Christ.

1. Godly women are trustworthy. → 31:11

We are meant to listen and hear and relate to and help and show empathy and compassion to those who need it. This ability to be trustworthy and dependable is something that enriches the lives of those around us. Does listening mean being silent? NO! We are not called to be mutes. Our voices and opinions matter. But we have a natural tendency to listen, too. We listen to the hurting. We listen to the broken. We don’t just listen to respond, we listen to understand.

2. Godly Women are emotional providers → 31:20

In the same way God does this for us, women bear the image of God through our ability to nurture a tired soul. Whether it’s through comforting the broken or opening our arms to the hurting, we have a natural tendency to defend those who are broken, to pour love on those who are missing it, and to speak up for the voiceless.

3. Godly Women are confident women who serve out of love. (31)

If Proverbs 31 intimidates us, it’s because it practically lists out all of the chores that the Godly woman does in a day! If there’s one thing women don’t want more of it’s chores, right? But here’s the truth: Proverbs 31 is not emphasizing what the woman does -- it’s emphasizing and honoring who they already are because of Jesus! This is not a job description or a list of expectations -- Godly women work efficiently and accomplish so much because they’re confident in who they are, because they know who they are -- they laugh without fear of the future because they know that they are Daughters of Abraham. They’re clothed in strength and dignity because of this assurance in themselves, their capabilities, and the gifts that God has given them. Women serve out of love and fearlessness because they know, like Jesus does, that you learn how to love from being loved.

You are a Daughter of Abraham, worthy of leadership positions, love, graciousness, and authority. Go in that truth today.