Pioneer Women of Promised Land

Imagine what life was like for women in the expansion of the American West. The role and vocation of women were primarily limited to being a pioneer woman, working in saloons or brothels, with a few who became outlaws and frontier women. Most pioneer women began their life with a journey to the unknown whether it was during the Great Plains land grab, The Oregon Trail, or later on the railroad. Life was very difficult, including hard labor, untimely death of husbands and children, and little reward of the comfort, culture and civilization found in the Eastern cities.

What would it be like to be the Great Plain settlers on dry, sweeping grassy landscapes living in one room sod houses? Can you imagine raising a family on the open plains exposed to the wind and bitter cold of the harsh winters and the draining heat and hard labor during the summer? Their sod houses made of mud, grass, and the wood from their wagon, no electricity, running water, privacy, cable TV, gas stoves, dishwashers, etc., and to cook your meals in a small pot bellied stove with dried buffalo, horse, or cow manure. “Hey Sweetheart, your tuna casserole has that wonderful grassy, buffalo manure aroma and delightful flavor…pass the salt please.” Now that should be featured in Chef Bobby Flay’s southwestern cuisine.

In my study in Judges, Chapters 4 and 5 share a glimpse into the lives of two women of the Wild West in the Promised Land, Deborah and Jael. One a prophetess, a Judge, a God appointed leader to the loosely held together nation of Israelite tribes. A lawless time filled with oppression by enemies, uncertainty of the future, fear, hard labor, and seeking to just survive. The other, Jael, a nomadic wife living on the wide expanse of the Middle East plains and wilderness, who acted with gruesome decisiveness. Both called to be pioneer women in their own way. One literally a pioneer in her tent-dwelling life, and the other a pioneer in her leadership and role as Judge to the Israelites. Both playing a critical role in God’s plan to establish the Twelve Tribes of Israel as His Holy Nation and to reveal Himself to humanity.

Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leadinga Israel at that time. 5 She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided. – Judges 4:4-5

“Most blessed of women be Jael,
the wife of Heber the Kenite,
most blessed of tent-dwelling women. – Judges 5:24

Pioneer women are some of the toughest, persistent survivors in our American story, and we discover other women with the same pioneer spirit in the Old Testament as well. Read the story of these two pioneer women of the Wild West in the Promised Land in Judges 4 & 5.