Weekly devotion: Challenging our preconceptions about God on International Women’s Day

Think and Do, Egypt

Women at the Life School, Upper Egypt

As we celebrate International Women’s Day this week, we are praying for our partners across the Middle East who are working to advance women’s rights and opportunities. We especially want to focus on the Life School project we support in Egypt, which is upskilling women living in marginalised rural communities.

Run by our partner, Think and Do, the Life School project supports women who were denied an education as girls. The project is teaching 180 women to read and write, as well as a range of vocational skills, such as cooking, hairdressing and sewing. This will equip the women to start their own small businesses. The project also runs health awareness sessions and information about human rights.

Farida, one of the women who attended the Life School, said: “I learned at school how to read and write and solve some math problems. I’m proving to people that I can be educated at my age and have a role in my community. The school made a big difference in my life.”

Bible reading

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

“Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”

But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Luke 8: 42-48

Thought

Women in the first-century Roman world were widely regarded as second-class citizens. Jesus’ regard for, and dealings with, women in the Gospels was revolutionary for his time.

This short account in Luke 8 is just one of many examples of Jesus engaging directly with women in public. Here, Jesus speaks to the woman in a thoughtful, caring manner and tenderly addresses her as ‘daughter’.

Time and again, we see Jesus honouring, teaching and ministering to women in ways that elevate the status of women and demonstrate the intrinsic equality of men and women.

Ask yourself: Contemplate Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37): ‘How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing.’ As one of the few places in scripture where God takes on female characteristics, how might this challenge our preconceptions about who God is?

Prayer

Loving God,

We thank you that you created both women and men in your own image. We thank you that all people, regardless of their gender, are known, loved and valued by you.

On International Women’s Day, our hearts are heavy as we acknowledge the prevalence of inequality. Please lift up the marginalised and rescue the oppressed.

In particular, we commit the Life School project in Egypt to you. We thank you for the lives that have been changed as a result and we pray for your continued blessing on all the women who attend. May there be a ripple effect through communities and generations.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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