A reflection and question addressed to other students of the Bible - disciples of Jesus, inclusive of but not limited to fellow pastor-preachers, biblical scholars, theologians, and any I’ve left out. I rarely post hermeneutical or theological reflections or questions for discussion, like this. Maybe I should do it more …

This is hot off the ‘press’, the trigger being a good but brief conversation just today. For  context: Yesterday I preached from the Old Testament lectionary text, Genesis 12:1-9. (Sermon audio here, a strictly optional 15 minutes). Among my observations was the evident frailty of Abram himself, in company with other prominent servants of God through the Biblical narrative. I know I’m far from alone among preachers in taking such a tack, whether yesterday itself or on other occasions. And it shouldn’t surprise that this was far from the first time I’ve expounded that theme, myself. 

But the very good and helpful observation shared with me today was the absence of women’s names from my brief list of biblical characters comparable with Abram for frailty and failure. It served as a welcome reminder of an all-too-common oversight on the part of preachers, male ones especially, and not the first time for me. But the pursuant thoughts for me in reflection since, have been a really interesting wrestle; and it’s that that prompts this post to the hermeneutical “brains trust”. My wife is also keen to hear what insights may come. We discussed it together over lunch, and both finished up in the same place.

Well enough rambling riddles. Time for the actual question. In one sentence - Where in the Bible do we observe flawed behaviour or failures of character, in women? (Whom the Lord used despite their frailty) … If one were preaching or writing to inspire faithful discipleship through surveys of the best human living among God’s people, multiple female (and male) examples would come to mind, exhibiting qualities of leadership, vision, faith, prayer, and more. But what of failure? As the two of us scratched our collective heads over lunch, we pretty much drew blanks. We thought of a handful of strained examples such as Rahab (lying to protect her Hebrew guests), Sarai (laughing in disbelief when hearing she’d have a child), Naomi (doubting God’s goodness), Sapphira (following her husband in deception)  … Maybe there are one or two more of that order? But  seriously, examples like that are “getting desperate” and straining at gnats, aren’t they?

So that’s the first part of my wrestling question. Are there biblical examples we’ve missed, of character failure in women servants of God? If we’re correct that there aren’t really any, then part B would be, “Why?”. Is there a theological significance I’m missing? (I very much doubt it; but may as well ask …) Or is it best accounted for by the patriarchal context of the biblical world and era? For instance, perhaps we see little to none of women’s failures because they only get brief mentions as exemplars?

I reckon that about covers it from me. I’d love to hear the thoughts or insights of others. May thanks in anticipation.