Her Story
Her Story with Grace and Peace Joanne, LLC, seeks to retell the stories of women who were divinely called and empowered to do great things.
Many of them rose to the occasion, and a few very famously did not.
Often, the tragedies and triumphs in their lives are missed, their accounts sidelined, and their portrayals given from perspectives that dismiss the honor and dignity they deserve.
Excavating their narratives from millennia of obfuscation, we now meet the freshly restored, valiant, vivid, and sometimes villainous women of the Bible.
Her Story offers a deep appreciation for God’s work and call in and through women in the scriptures and encourages you and me to take practical steps towards recognition and support of women in all levels and varieties of ministry and spiritual leadership today.
Her Story
Season 5, Kings and Queens: Abigail
Abigail’s story begins during a traditionally joyful time, the sheep shearing festival. Many guests had gathered, and there was much feasting. Abigail was well-known for her gracious hospitality, and all the tables were generously supplied.
As the celebration wore into the evening, ten plainly dressed men entered the pavilion and came to address Nabal. Would he be willing to share some of the festival food with a fellow Judahite, David? For David, along with his 600 warriors, had not only protected Nabal’s herds from marauders and wild animals all throughout the year, he had made sure Nabal’s property and servants were also protected.
What they asked was well within the cultural ethos of their day. Tribes took care of their own, and both David and Nabal were of the tribe of Judah. What’s more, David’s father was also a wealthy and well-respected landowner and herdsman. But even if this were not so, God’s Law was clear.
"If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be.
"Be careful that you do not entertain a mean thought . . . and therefore view your needy neighbor with hostility and give nothing; your neighbor might cry to the Lord against you, and you would incur guilt.
"Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.
"Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, 'Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.'”
Deuteronomy 15:7-11 (NRSV)
There was only one possible answer Nabal could have given—a warm welcome and a generous sweep of his hand, come join us in the feast.
But that is not what happened.
To see the original YouTube presentation, click on "Abigail"
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Each podcast is designed to offer background scholarship on the topic, including setting, culture, original language, and archaeology, as well as a theological study.
Grace and Peace, Joanne Website
Biblical exegesis from an equalitarian point of view
Books by Joanne
"Broken, Searching, Trusted, Powerful"
"Love Feast"
Forty Freebies
If you would like a set of forty Bible studies on Women in the Bible, complete with fifteen study questions, commentary, a bibliograp...