Referring to the Genesis passages from Part 1, Havilah addresses the challenges of using all masculine for God, noting it’s impact on women and girls by assessing Genesis 2:18: “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Woman is too often described as “man’s helper or assistant.” But a more faithful treatment of the text would be woman as man’s “perfect comrade.”
Even more important, we tend to focus on God’s maleness, versus God as a motherly father, or God as fatherly Mother. An unfaithful and overuse of masculine language for God leaves women and girls wondering if they are, by comparison, somehow inferior. Sermons too often imply that God is more male than female with problematic outcomes. More attention is needed to focus on the feminine characteristics of God.
Consider Isaiah 42:14 (citing God): “For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant.” And, if women preached more, these texts would come up and balance the preponderance of masculine language for God. This would be affirming to women and that God is beyond gender and uses both masculine and feminine images.
Havilah discussed some of her favorite passages like: Judges 4:4ff focused on Deborah. “Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.” CBE’s proposed translation of this verse is one you won’t want to miss! Deborah is a woman of flame! She goes on top of the mountain to signal the army to charge. She’s a leader, prophet, and a fiery woman. She an unstoppable leader. She is “high voltage!”
The Deuteronomy 22 text was also discussed as it describes the rape of a woman which the translations “soften” what actually happened. It is very vital to make vivid and real the facts: calling out the fact she was raped. NIV also takes this posture, but we make it more clear throughout the text that the real issue is sexual assault.
We discussed Exodus 21:10 as the text addresses a man who takes another wife again softening the experiences of the woman. But our translation brings out the power of the text to reveal with greater empathy the woman as well as the man in the text.
We end with a discussion on “strength” or chayil in Hebrew in the book of Ruth. Chayil, Havilah points out, refers not only to strength but as status in the community. Boaz is described throughout the book of Ruth as a man of status or respect. And in Chapter 3, Boaz speaks to Ruth telling her she is a chayil a woman of strength. This is astonishing because as a Moabite, she was not even permitted to enter the community of Israel. They were viewed as an incestuous people. Yet Boaz calls Ruth chayil one who is outstanding in the community even as she reached out to him in the cover of night. But because she did so as a loyal daughter-in-law, who worked to protect and preserve the life of her mother-in-law (Naomi), she too deserves the status of chayil.
Havilah ends her discussion with the Proverbs 31 woman as a leader a chayil.
Guest Bio:
Dr. Havilah Dharamraj currently serves as academic editor of CBE’s award-winning academic journal, Priscilla Papers. She is a Langham Scholar and has for years pioneered a better biblical understanding of women in Scripture. Currently Havilah heads CBE’s chapter in India. She holds a PhD in Old Testament, from the University of Durham, UK. Her research interests are Old Testament and Comparative Literature. She is faculty at the South Asia Institute for Advanced Christian Studies, India. With an interest in biblical narrative, she encourages the use of storytelling in the pulpit. She is author of various articles, commentaries, and monographs, as well as an editor of the South Asia Bible Commentary (Zondervan, 2015) and the forthcoming South Asia Study Bible. Havilah writes and speaks for CBE. She received CBE’s Lifetime Achievement award in 2019.
Havilah Dharamraj’s Publications
Books: Authored and co-authored
Havilah Dharamraj’s Articles
Havilah Dharamraj’s CBE YouTube Lectures:
Disclaimer:
The opinions expressed in CBE’s Mutuality Matters’ podcast are those of its hosts or guests do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of CBE International or its members or chapters worldwide. The designations employed in this podcast and the presentation of content therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of CBE concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers.
(Global Impact) A Lifelong Call to Medical Missions with Dr. Aletta Bell
(Women and Men Leading Together) The Journey to Mutuality with Kim and Andrew Feil
(Intersectionality) Messages of Hope: Preaching and Mental Health in the Black Church with Rev. Dr. Dominique A. Robinson
(New Voices) Redeeming the Women of the Old Testament: A Conversation with Rev. Dr. Lissa Wray Beal
(Global Impact) The Work of Service not Power in the Anglican Church of Kenya with Rt. Rev. Dr. Emily Onyango
(Women and Men Leading Together) A Conversation with Eddy Ekmekji
Formed by Women: My Wrestle and Call to Preaching with Guest Rev. Dr. Dominique A. Robinson
(New Voices) Motherhood and a Tapestry of Perspectives with Blake Dean
(Global Impact) One Body, One Kingdom: Encouraging Arab Women in the Church and the Academy with Grace Al-Zoughbi
Women and Men Leading Together: The Value of Shared Partnerships from a Gen. Z Perspective with Tim Bushra
(Intersectionality) Economic Inequity and God’s Solidarity for the Poor with Dr. Kwok Pui Lan
(New Voices) Power at the Cross: Invitation to the Sufferings of Christ with Dr. Diane Langberg
(Global Impact) Healing the Outcasts: Fistula Repair in Bangladesh with Dr. Beatrice Ambauen-Berger
(Women & Men Leading Together) Mixed-Gender Partnerships: Women & Men Working Together in Redemptive Ministry Partnerships with guests Neely McQueen & Pat Swanson
(Intersectionality) How to Be a God-Honoring, Prophetic Preacher with guest Rev. Dr. Teresa L. Fry Brown
(New Voices) Ending Faux Egalitarianism with guest Tiffany Bluhm
(Global Impact) Advocating Hope for Evangelical Women around the World with guest Amanda Jackson
(Women & Men Leading Together) How We Can Reshape the Witness of the Church with guest Lisa Rodriguez-Watson
(Intersectionality) A Woman Called: The Role of Mentors, Champions, and Prayer for Women in Ministry with guest Rev. Dr. Carolyn Ann Knight
(New Voices) So, Are Women Equal Yet!? with guest Deirdre Jonese Austin
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Hello Heaven Podcast
Cast The Word
Let Me Be Frank | Bishop Frank Caggiano’s Podcast | Diocese of Bridgeport, CT
The Kingdom Power Fellowship Podcast
The Bible Recap
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)