Excavate

Last week we looked at some challenging feminine language and metaphors for Israel in the prophets. Today we’re going to look at some of the positive images and the way the feminine images are used to describe God. Most of us “know” that God is outside of gender but when it comes down to it, we haven’t really explored what that means or how that’s revealed and demonstrated in the word. So that’s where we’re heading today. And if there’s something that feels new, we encourage you to lean in with us and get curious!

We dig into a lot of scripture in this episode, follow along with us:

Hosea 11:3-4

Hosea 13:8

Mother language

Birth : Isaiah 42:14

Nursing : Isaiah 49:15

Comfort : Isaiah 66:13

Deut 32:11-12

Using feminine images in prayer

Psalm 131:2 God as a Mother

Psalm 123:2-3 God compared to a woman

Luke 15:8-10 Woman and the coin

Luke 13:34 Lament over Jerusalem

In this episode we’re going to be talking about feminine imagery in the prophets. specifically metaphorical uses of female language to describe Israel. We have often conflated the metaphorical language with literal views of women so today we want to draw better distinctions in how God was talking to Israel and what he was trying to communicate in these metaphors. We’ll also dig into the way the movie Redeeming Love depicts the book of Hosea, what it gets right and what became some unhelpful misrepresentations.

Passages read in this episode:

Ezekiel 16:15-21, 35-38

Hosea 1:2

Heather’s blog post if you’d like to dig in further on the differences between the book of Hosea and the novel/film “Redeeming Love”

http://thecultureofmoore.com/2022/02/05/we-should-not-use-redeeming-love-to-teach-hosea/

If you were to make a list of Biblical stories about liberation, would Esther be on that list? As we discuss the second half of the book of Esther, you’ll see why it will make your list moving forward! Chapters 5-10 are packed with supernatural timing, ironic twists, profound reversals, and powerful victory over oppression. We also discuss how the story of Esther became a Jewish national holiday and continues to carry immense hope and celebration for the Jewish community in modern history.

Passages read in today’s episode:

6:13

8:9, 11-13, 15-17

9:1

9:20-23

We’re digging into the book of Esther! This is a book that has often been reduced to a story that’s only for women about winning a beauty pageant and becoming a queen. But there is so much depth to this book for both women and men. It’s a fantastic hero’s journey, there is one of the best male role models in scripture, it has a great deal to say about racial identity and the pressure to assimilate, and this is a book that’s had tremendous meaning for the Jewish people throughout history. There’s so much to excavate in this powerful book that we’ll be splitting it into 2 episodes. So today we want to start with chapters 1-4 as we uncover Esther’s themes of marginalization and assimilation, the struggle to maintain one’s identity in exile, and the cost of being our whole selves.

Passages read in this episode:

Esther 2:1-22, 3:1-6, and 4:12-17

The story of Hannah has at times been used as a formula for women to get pregnant who struggle with infertility. That approach can become judgmental and overly simplistic, and does not honor the fullness of Hannah’s story and the pervasive instances of barren women in the Bible. In this episode we dig into the risky hope that Hannah expresses in her petition to God. Hope that requires vulnerability and boldness to be honest about our desires before the Lord. Hannah’s story provides a model for what it can look like to struggle with perpetual disappointment and shame and still bring our whole hearts to God. And her story and those of other barren women point us to the mystery of life and an invitation to humility.

Hannah’s story is found in 1 Samuel 1-2. We also reference the story of Anna in Luke 2:36-38

The book of Ruth is known for being a sweet love story and an important installment in the redemption story. But Ruth is also a book about the power of female friendship and community. David and Jonathan typically get all the attention for modeling biblical friendship, but David first learned about commitment and support from his great-grandmother. This is perhaps one of the most well known female figures we discuss this season but don’t think there’s nothing new to uncover in this story about grief, despair, courage and healing.

The book of Ruth is only 4 chapters so we encourage you to read it in its entirety. In the episode we read 1:15-21 (Heather accidentally misidentified the passage in the episode as being in chapter 2), 3:11, and 4:11-17.

We’re continuing our excavation as we move into the book of Judges and then the era of the kings, looking at the prophetess and judge Deborah (and her fellow warrior, Jael), and the prophetess Huldah. We’re discussing these powerful examples of women in leadership in Israel, and taking on the pervasive interpretation that their leadership was a last resort in the absence of other willing male leaders. These are some women who aren’t always paid their due so we are excited to dig into their stories!

Passages discussed in this episode:

Judges 4:1-9, 17-22

Parts of Judges 5 (highly recommend reading this whole chapter)

2 Chronicles 34: 22-27, 35:18, 25

This week’s episode is delicate but so important for making sense of some passages that on the surface can feel harsh and unfair. We’re digging into Deut. 22:22-29 and discussing how this passage handles sexual violence, and the test for adultery in Num. 5:11-31 (cross referenced with John 8:1-11). We may not resolve every feeling of unease these passages can incite, but we believe that God cares very much about the struggles women face in these areas and ultimately desires our protection and wellbeing. God also invites our honesty and wrestling, so please dig in with us.

Trigger warning: We do not discuss sexual violence in a graphic way but the nature of the conversation has the potential to be emotionally intense and may not be appropriate for children if you normally listen with kids in the car.

Additional resources mentioned in the episode:

The scholarship of Dr. Jo Vitale

“Reading While Black: African-American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope” by Dr. Esau McCaulley

Did you know the Bible has a whole passage about periods and menstruation? Today we’re talking about Leviticus 15 and “bodily discharges”. Men, don’t skip this episode because it’s a topic we all need to understand better. We’re digging into how to interpret the way the Bible talks about male and female reproductive hygiene, and specifically the ways we think about being “unclean” and what God’s intention is for the way we view ourselves. This is a passage that on the surface can feel harsh and disgusted, but we believe contains compassionate guidance for life on earth and a glimpse into the sacred.

In this episode we dig into:

Leviticus 15:19-31

Leviticus 17: 11,14

Ezekiel 22:10

Luke 8:43-48

Jamie mentioned the ways women in developing nations navigate menstruation and we want to recommend a wonderful (and Oscar winning!) documentary short called Period. End of Sentence available on Netflix

Share this episode on your preferred social media platform, Facebook or Instagram, and tag our socials (@strongheather and @jamiedonne) will receive a promo code for a free book of your choice from Hearts and Minds Bookstore! We’ll send you all the details!

We’ve got a special bonus episode for International Women’s Day! As this day celebrates the contributions and leadership of women, we will dig into the story in Exodus 1 of the Hebrew midwives. Their story gives us a humorous and inspiring picture of Godly resistance and the ways women have acted with bravery and wit to advocate for their communities.

We read the following passage in the episode:

Ex. 1:6-21

Ex. 15:20-21