By Kate Gudmanz
On the 9th of August 1956 approximately 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria. They came from all parts of the country, some as far away as Cape Town, to deliver a petition to the prime minister, JG Strijdom, against the pass laws. The women were from all races and had gathered 100 000 signatures from all over the country.
An eyewitness account says, “Many of the African women wore traditional dress, others the Congress colours, green, black and gold, Indian women were clothed in white saris. Many women had babies on their backs and some domestic workers brought their white employer’s children along with them. Throughout the demonstration the huge crowd displayed a discipline and dignity that was deeply impressive. “
The women filled the entire amphitheatre in the bow of the Union Buildings. They stood in silence for 30 minutes and then sang a protest song composed for the occasion. “Wathint ‘Abafazi Wathint’ Imbokodo! ” (Now you have touched the women, you have struck a rock).
The women who marched on August 9 have left an enduring mark. The day is commemorated annually as a public holiday. And the steps leading up to the entrance of the Union Buildings have been engraved with the words of the petition brought by the women. The event has inspired many women to speak up for human rights.
In the book “Captivating” by John and Stasi Eldridge, there is a quote that made me think of these brave women who joined together on that historic day. “She (woman) has an irreplaceable role to play. And so you’ll see that women are endowed with fierce devotion, an ability to suffer great hardships and a vision to make the world a better place.”
When considering Biblical examples, perhaps the most well known is Esther, a Jewish queen, who in the face of grave danger to herself and her people, sought an audience with the king. A decree had been written that all Jews in the kingdom were to be slaughtered on a certain day. With the prompting of her uncle, Mordecai, and bolstered by the prayers and fasting of her people, Esther approached the king without an invitation. She was welcomed by the king and able to persuade him that he should allow the Jewish people to defend themselves. And their enemy, Haman, was impaled on the very pole he had set up, intending for Mordecai to be killed on it.
1 Samuel 25 tells the story of another woman who acted bravely and with wisdom. Abigail was married to Nabal, a wealthy landowner. Vs 3 “this man’s name was Nabal, and his wife, Abigail, was a sensible and beautiful woman. But Nabal… was crude and mean in all his dealings.” (NLT)
While Nabal was shearing his sheep, David sent a message to him requesting provisions for him and his men, who had protected the shepherds and flocks. But Nabal refused, demeaning David and his men, calling them ‘a band of outlaws’.
David was angered by the response and prepared to exact revenge. A servant went to Abigail and explained the situation to her, asking her to intervene. Without consulting her husband, she quickly sent servants ahead of her with a large amount of provisions. When she saw David, she bowed to him and told him that she would take all the blame as she knew her husband was ill-tempered and a fool (the meaning of Nabal).
She pleaded with David to not take vengeance into his own hands, offered her gift and asked for forgiveness. She blessed him and cursed his enemies, reminding him of the Lord’s promises to him.
David’s response was to praise the Lord for sending Abigail to him. Vs 33 “Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out vengeance with my own hands.” (NLT)
What happened to Nabal? Once he was sober and heard the report, he suffered a stroke and died a few days later.
As women and Christ followers, we have a calling. Some of us may be called to actions that will be in the public eye and change the world around us. Many may rather be quietly obedient to the promptings of the Lord and find that our seemingly small actions have an influence on those we connect with.
For myself, I have chosen to step into new and stretching things in the last year. A call to leadership, speaking at a women’s meeting, praying for people in church and writing a blog for the first time. I am trusting that my small actions will touch some lives and will cause me to grow in faith and boldness. Perhaps there will be some bigger way I can change my world as I learn to hear the Lord more perfectly and trust that He wants to use little old me!
Just like Esther did not let her gender or race hold her back from speaking up boldly, so we should stop disqualifying ourselves. Let us consider that we too may be in a particular position “for such a time as this” Esther 4:14 (NLT)
And like the women who marched all those years ago, our actions done in faith may leave an enduring mark.