Over the holiday of Shavuot (Feast of Weeks), as I read the Book of Ruth, I found myself reflecting not just on her loyalty, but on her boldness. Ruth didnāt quietly follow Naomiāshe left her country, her people, her gods, and her comfort zone to start again. Later, she approached Boaz at night on the threshing floor and, in a moment that could have gone terribly wrong, asked him to redeem her. It was audacious. It was courageous. And it worked.
Her story got me thinking: What does holy boldness look like? And who else in the Bible made brave, even shocking moves that changed the course of our history?
As I looked, I found a thread connecting five extraordinary women: Tamar, Rachav, Yael, Ruth, and Chanah. None of them came from traditional power structures. Some werenāt even born into the people of Israel. But each one stepped up at a critical moment, risking reputation, comfort, or safety to move the story of Israel forward.
Tamarās story in Bereishit begins with injustice. Widowed twice, sheās promised a third husband who never materializes. Rather than wait passively, Tamar disguises herself and ensures Judah fulfills his obligation to her. When confronted with her pregnancy, Tamar does not name namesāshe simply presents Judahās staff, seal, and cord. Judah recognizes the truth and says: “She is more righteous than I.”
That one sentence reframes everything. Tamarās seemingly scandalous action is revealed to be a deeply righteous act. From her line comes Peretz, the ancestor of King Davidāand ultimately, the Messiah.
Rachav risks everything to hide two Israelite spies in Jericho. She defies her king, protects strangers, and asks only that her family be spared in the coming invasion. Why does she do it? Because she sees what others do not:
Her faithāspoken from the lips of a Canaanite womanābecomes the key to her redemption. Her home, marked by a scarlet cord, is spared. And her legacy continues in Jewish tradition as the ancestor of prophets and kings.
Yaelās story feels like a scene from an epic drama. After Israel defeats the Canaanite army, their general Sisera flees to Yaelās tent. She welcomes him in, gives him milk, and lets him fall asleep. Then, in a moment of startling resolve, she kills him with a tent peg. Itās not the battlefield anyone expectedābut itās the battlefield that mattered. Deborah, the prophet and judge, sings Yaelās praises:
Ruthās story is front and center on Shavuot, but itās easy to overlook just how radical her choices are. When Naomi urges her to go home, Ruth responds:
Itās a full conversion of heart, identity, and destiny. Later, she lies at Boazās feet, asking him to spread his cloak over herāa symbolic proposal, bold and risky. Boaz blesses her:
Her boldness leads to a marriage, a legacy, and ultimately the Davidic line.
Chanahās bravery looks different. She doesnāt wield weapons or make deals. Her boldness comes through her broken heart and her quiet prayer. In Shmuel Alef, she prays silentlyāsomething no one had done before. Her lips move but no sound emerges. The priest Eli assumes sheās drunk. When he confronts her, she doesnāt retreat:
Her prayer, bold in its innovation and honesty, becomes the model for Jewish prayer to this day. And her sonāShmuelāis one of the greatest prophets Israel ever knew.
What do all of these women have in common? They werenāt perfect. They werenāt expected. But when the moment came, they acted. They didnāt wait for permission. They didnāt retreat into silence or decorum. They stepped forwardāeach in her own wayāto bring redemption into the world.
And isnāt that the essence of Shavuot?
We stood at the foot of a mountainānot a dazzling palace, but a simple mountain in the desert. We were a people barely out of slavery. No army, no infrastructure. Just trembling souls. And yet we said: “× Ö·×¢Ö²×©Ö¶×× ×Ö°× Ö“×©Ö°××Öø×¢” ā We will do, and we will hear. (Exodus 24:7). It was bold. Maybe even reckless. But it was holy.
So here’s the challenge.
What in your life today looks mundaneābut could become a vessel for holiness? What bold step have you been avoiding because it feels uncomfortable, or because it might raise eyebrows? Maybe it’s in your workplace, but maybe it’s in your relationship with God.
These five women didnāt wait until everything was perfect. They acted with what they had. Rope, a tent peg, a vow, a field of barley, a silent prayer. They remind us that holiness doesnāt always look polished. Sometimes it looks like courage in the mess.
As we carry the Torah forward from Shavuot, may we find the boldness to act when the world needs us mostāand may we see that even our small, imperfect tools can shape a future of redemption.
Be bold with your Bible study. Immerse yourself in The Israel Bibleāa stunning 20-volume softcover edition featuring the full Hebrew text, English translation, commentary, and breathtaking full-color photos. Highlighting the deep spiritual connection between the People, the Land, and the God of Israel, this set transforms your learning into a visual and soulful journey. Perfect for students, seekers, and lovers of Scripture.