Written by Koekoes van As, the Prayer Coordinator for the Africa Area. Koekoes and her husband EJ recently moved back to their homeland in South Africa after spending a decade in Botswana where Koekoes was the National Director for the YFC Botswana ministry.
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The Bible is my Leadership Manual

As I read through the Bible I came across a very interesting piece about two women in leadership in the Old Testament in 2 Cronicles 22 according to the Message translation.

As I read through the Bible I came across a very interesting piece about two women in leadership in the Old Testament in 2 Cronicles 22 according to the Message translation.

2 Ch 22:10  When Ahaziah’s mother Athaliah saw that her son was dead, she took over. She began by massacring the entire royal family.

2 Ch 22:11  Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram, took Ahaziah’s son Joash, and kidnapped him from among the king’s sons slated for slaughter. She hid him and his nurse in a private room away from Athaliah. So Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and Ahaziah’s sister–she was also the wife of Jehoiada the priest–saved Joash from the murderous Queen Athaliah.

2 Ch 22:12  He was there with her, hidden away for six years in The Temple of God. Athaliah, oblivious to his existence, ruled the country.

Two women: Athaliah & Jehosheba.

The Lord promised King David many years before that there will be forever an heir of his on the throne of the tribe of Judah.

Both these women knew about this ruling of God. Athaliah had a powerful position. She was the mother of the King. When she heard her son Ahaziah was dead, she killed all the princes. Or that was what she thought. [Phew – what a grandmother!!!] Then she put herself on the throne.

When the killings started, Jehosheba took the little one-year-old prince and hid him in a private room. This was one very brave woman. Later she took a risk and hid little Joash in the temple with her husband Jehojada.

Unfortunately we still get women who lead like Athaliah. With fear and a one-woman show, abusing power. Interesting that in 2 Cron 23:12 she also went to the temple! She definitely knew something about God. However, her ways didn’t bring her life.

Jehosheba on the contrary came through as a woman of wisdom. She knew how to read the times and act quickly to save what she knew was important. I believe she worked hand in hand with the nurse of Joash and her husband to save the future king. They looked after him and prepared him. [Wow, what an aunt!]

Recently somebody said that there are not a lot of books on leadership for women available. That may be true BUT we have the Bible.

As women of God, we can take His Word, learn from it and make it applicable on our lives and situations.

We can, like Jehosheba take young people, hide them in the ways of the Lord and prepare them for the day that they must face the world. This will take a lot of courage and patience from us. For Jehosheba, her husband and the nurse it took 6 years. Interesting that we never hear of Jehosheba after this incident.

Are we willing to do likewise?

Let’s make the difference fellow sister!

~ Koekoes van As
koekoes.vanas@yfci.org

Written by Koekoes van As, the Prayer Coordinator for the Africa Area. Koekoes and her husband EJ recently moved back to their homeland in South Africa after spending a decade in Botswana where Koekoes was the National Director for the YFC Botswana ministry.
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My Position

With Easter that is still in the back of our minds, I was thinking on the position of women in ministry.

On the Sunday when the Lord was no longer in the grave, first the angel and then the Lord Jesus Himself said to the women to go and tell the disciples that he rose from the dead.

• Mat 28:7 – And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead. And, behold, He goes before you into Galilee. There you shall see Him. Lo, I have told you.
• Mat 28:8 – And they quickly departed from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.
• Mat 28:9 – But as they were going to report to His disciples, behold, Jesus also met them, saying, Hail! And they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.
• Mat 28:10 – Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid; go tell My brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see Me.

What a very important message our Lord entrusted to women!

Sin came to the world in part through a woman BUT the Saviour of the world [the Plan for the sin] came into life through a woman. Here at the grave the Lord gave a very important message to women.

I am just thinking that if a woman was not supposed to be in ministry why did our Lord give the message to a female? If women were not allowed according to Him, He would have said that the women needed to go and call a man but He didn’t.

This action of Jesus assured me once again that I, as a female, matter to Him and that I have a ministry/calling to fulfil.

My position in Him is what 1 Pet 2:9 says:
But you are:

• a chosen generation,
• a royal priesthood,
• a holy nation,
• a people for possession,

so that you might speak of the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Also in Rev 1:6:
and made us

• kings and
• priests

to God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

This comes also out of the Old Testament in Ex 9:6:

And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.

Nowhere did the authors of these books put it out there that it is only for males. Therefore I can go forth as a chosen one, a priest, a king to proclaim that He has risen to the youth of our world today.

Stand strong fellow sisters!

~ Koekoes van As                                                              Back to Top
koekoes.vanas@yfci.org