We see male leadership in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The pattern began at creation and is maintained with patriarchs, priests, kings, apostles, and elders. If you're wondering, "What does the bible say about leadership?" read or listen to this chapter from Your Marriage God’s Way for answers.



Table of contentsFEMALE LEADERS IN THE BIBLE DON'T CONFLICT WITH GOD'S PATTERN OF MALE LEADERSHIPQueensPriestessesProphetessesFIVE REASONS DEBORAH SUPPORTS MALE LEADERSHIP IN THE BIBLEFirst, There’s No Mention of Deborah Being Appointed by GodSecond, Deborah’s Ministry was Private Versus PublicThird, Deborah Encouraged Barak to LeadFourth, Deborah Rebuked Barak for Failing to LeadFifth, the Account Is Descriptive Versus PrescriptiveTHE PATTERN OF MALE LEADERSHIP IN THE BIBLE CONTINUES TODAYTHE REAL QUESTION ABOUT MALE LEADERSHIP



I was not raised in a Christian home. While my parents were moral, hardworking, and I learned much from them, they didn’t model gender roles for me as they’re presented in Scripture. This led me to believe men and women are identical regarding their roles and responsibilities. Aside from the obvious, such as not going into the bathroom of the wrong gender or playing on the opposite gender’s sports team—things that tragically our world is even starting to get wrong—I didn’t think of men and women acting much differently from each other.



This was even the case when I went through ROTC and then became an Army officer. Except for a few differences, such as lower requirements on the physical fitness tests, I didn’t see men and women facing different expectations or being treated differently. Although I wasn’t a Christian at the time, and even though I couldn’t put my finger on it, there was a nagging suspicion that men, versus women, should lead. You probably have this thought in the back of your mind too. Why is that? Because, as Scripture reveals, God created men to lead. We see that throughout the history of God’s people. The pattern of male leadership began at creation and is maintained throughout Scripture:



There were patriarchs instead of matriarchs.The tribes of Israel were named after men.The only legitimate mediators between God and people were men (i.e., priests instead of priestesses).God appointed kings instead of queens.God called men to serve as the focal points of His covenants with mankind (for example, Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus).



FEMALE LEADERS IN THE BIBLE DON'T CONFLICT WITH GOD'S PATTERN OF MALE LEADERSHIP



So why do we see examples of female leadership in Scripture? What about queens, prophetesses, and at least one female judge—Deborah? Were these women anomalies? Are they examples of rebellion against God’s design, or is there another explanation? To answer these questions, let’s look at them individually.



Queens



Scripture mentions three prominent queens, and they fall into two categories: evil and good. Jezebel (1 Kings 16-22; 2 Kings 9) and Athaliah (2 Kings 8, 11) were evil women who seized control and became tyrannical leaders. Jezebel instituted the worship of the false god Baal across Israel and persecuted followers of Yahweh. Athaliah murdered her grandchildren upon the death of her son and then seized the throne of Judah. Clearly, neither woman serves as a good example.



On the other hand, Esther stands in contrast as a godly queen. We see through the account of her life that she supported male leadership through her submission first to her adopted father, Mordecai, and then to her husband, King Xerxes of Persia. This wasn’t the only factor that allowed her to save her people from annihilation. There was also her courage in going before the king knowing “that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live” (Esther 4:11). All of this reveals a heart that’s yielded to God.