There are stories about people in the bible that we love to love. These are the stories everyone seems to know: famous daughters, brave judges, and influential church planters.

They wait in broad daylight for us to discover something new, as if to say, “There’s more to me than what you think you know and love.”

For as much as the bible is about God, it would be nothing without people. And the thing about people is that even while they change, they also stay the same. Century after century, people get lost, make a new home, and find love. People stand up for what they believe in, step outside their comfort zones, become the leader they didn’t know they could be. They mess up, try again, and find joy in surprising places. It is holy to be human.

Let’s examine four biblical figures, their familiar place in the narrative, and what they represent about the world in which they lived. Without a doubt, we will find God’s commitment to our empowerment through the verses written about these people. The stories of Ruth, Deborah, Junia, and Mary Magdalene are still shining with bright light.