ChangeMakers: Unsung Women of the Bible (Vol 2)Sample

Woman at Thebez

Have you ever felt the frustration of watching corrupt leaders grow more powerful, their actions unchecked? Perhaps you’ve witnessed injustice unfold before your eyes—the cries of the oppressed met with deafening silence. Maybe you’ve endured moments when evil seemed to triumph, whether in your own life or in the lives of those you love.

In a world where systems often favor the oppressor and the path to justice feels overwhelmingly difficult, it’s easy to believe injustice will always prevail. Yet, tucked away in the book of Judges is a story that defies this despair—a tale of hope where God’s justice arrives through the most unexpected hands: an unnamed woman.

Abimelech embodies the destructive force of unchecked power and ambition. As Gideon’s illegitimate son, he seized leadership through betrayal and bloodshed, murdering seventy brothers to secure his position. At Thebez, we find him attempting to repeat the violent tactics he used at Shechem, trying to burn down a tower where city residents had taken refuge.

But just as Abimelech approaches the tower, intent on setting it ablaze, an unnamed woman takes decisive action. With remarkable courage, she lifts an upper millstone—a heavy stone used for grinding grain—and drops it with precision, crushing Abimelech’s skull. In a single moment, the reign of one of Israel’s most ruthless leaders comes to an end.

This story powerfully inspires us today, reminding us of the hope and strength we find when we partner with God to confront evil. Abimelech symbolizes the seemingly unstoppable forces of injustice we encounter in our world. Yet this often-overlooked biblical account reminds us that God's justice will always prevail no matter how insurmountable the odds.

It also highlights a recurring theme in Scripture: God works through the unexpected, the unknown, and the overlooked. The hero here isn’t a mighty warrior or judge but an unnamed woman with a simple household tool. God’s ways surpass human expectations and defy social hierarchies, often working through those society overlooks to fulfill His purposes.

Perhaps most encouragingly, this story shows how God transforms the ordinary into instruments of the extraordinary. A millstone—this symbol of the woman's domestic realm—became the means of divine justice. In the same way, God continues to use our abilities, resources, and circumstances for His purposes. What we see as mundane can become powerful tools when placed in God’s hands and offered in faithful service.

Prayer & Meditation

Reflect on the image of the unnamed woman, courageously lifting an ordinary millstone—a symbol of daily labor—and wielding it as an instrument of justice. Picture her faith and resolve in the face of tyranny.

What "millstone" in your life, though seemingly mundane, might God use for extraordinary purposes? Sit with this image and invite God to reveal how He can work through your ordinary circumstances to bring about His justice and grace.

Written by Ruth Lorensson

Photo Credit: Death of Abimelech by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld