Communicating with men leaders can be challenging for a woman, especially if you are more accustomed to working only with women. Research has shown that women and men really do have different styles of communication (see Deborah Tannen’s books on Amazon). Yet, the precedents set by many biblical women–who lived in a very patriarchal culture–can empower you to overcome your communication challenges.

The woman prophet Huldah–one of my favorite biblical sheroes–is one of the most hidden figures in scripture. I would say 98% of the people in my audiences have never heard of her. I don’t want you to be unaware of this woman and the significant role she played in the history of God’s people. Her story is found in 2 Kings 22-23 and 2 Chronicles 34.

The January 2017 movie “Hidden Figures” (and book by Margot Lee Shetterly) revealed how the success of John Glenn’s first earth orbit overshadowed the fact that without the mathematical genius of Katherine Johnson at NASA, that orbit may not have happened at all. (If you haven’t seen the movie yet, run, don’t walk, to your nearest theater! The audience applauded at the end when I saw it!) Unfortunately, the same kind of overshadowing has been allowed to happen with the stories of biblical women. Just as the nastiness of Queen Athaliah’s story hides the role played by Jeshosheba (see last week’s blog), the story of good King Josiah’s national reforms hides the role played by Huldah.

King Josiah’s request

You may remember the story about King Josiah, one of the good kings of Judah, who had the Temple in Jerusalem cleaned after it had fallen into disrepair. In the cleaning process, the high priest found a scroll among the rubble–probably the book of Deuteronomy explaining the Law given by God. When the scroll was read to the king, he became very upset because he realized how disobedient the people of his nation of Judah had become. Then the king sent five men, including the high priest, off to fulfill this request: “Go inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found” (2 Kings 22:13 NRSV).

One thing to note is that there were numerous prophets—including Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Nahum, and Habakkuk—available in Jerusalem at that time who could have been summoned to appear before the king (Tidball and Tidball, The Message of Women, p. 119). Instead, five men from the king’s court sought out the woman prophet Huldah to fulfill King Josiah’s request!

As an adult, I now wonder why this important detail of the story was never emphasized to me as a little girl. What would be different today if girls and boys had grown up with Bible story pictures like the one above where a woman is being consulted by a group of men–including the high priest–to interpret God’s Word to them? 

Huldah’s reputation

Because the king’s envoy chose to go to Huldah, we know these things:

1. She must have had opportunity to study written prophecies before and they knew she would be able to discern whether this one was authentic.
2. Her knowledge was appreciated and sought out by others—even men like the high priest and others who reported to the king.
3. She must have been known as a trustworthy and honest prophet, for the men would not have risked upsetting the king with a disreputable report.

Huldah’s response

Huldah’s response demonstrates the use of five keys for communicating with men leaders.

1. Be prepared. Huldah was faithful to use her knowledge wisely. She had been diligent in studying God’s word. As a leader, nothing can substitute for the preparation time required of you to lead, to communicate, and to inspire others.
2. Be accurate and truthful. In a day when it was not unusual to “kill the messenger,” Huldah still interpreted the prophecy’s message of coming destruction. As a leader, your honest communication will get a lot more accomplished than sugar coating bad news. 
3. Know the reliability of your source. Huldah knew the prophecy was from God. According to the biblical record, Huldah was the first person ever to authenticate and interpret a written document as God’s Word. This also indicates that she is the first person to begin the centuries-long process of canonizing scripture (see Camp’s article on Huldah in Women in Scripture edited by Carol Meyers, p.96). As a leader, the reliability of your sources can make or break you. 
4. Answer the questions they ask directly and succinctly. Huldah was concise and did not give extra details. As a leader, show your respect of others by listening carefully to their specific questions and by answering only those questions. Wait for a request to provide extra details. Men usually greatly appreciate this.
5. See the purpose in your message beyond your need for recognition. Even though Huldah fades into the background of this story, the biblical record lets us know that it was her interpretation that convinced the king to institute national reforms that turned the nation of Judah back to God. The fact that her name and prophetic communication were preserved in scripture is an honor no leader today will ever have. As a leader, your individual contributions may be overlooked, but if a grander purpose that brings God glory is fulfilled, that is what is important.

Huldah’s prophetic wisdom changed a nation when she was willing to communicate faithfully, honestly, and authoritatively with the knowledge she had! Now that Huldah is no longer hidden from you, how will you use her story to inspire others–especially women–to share their biblical wisdom with men and women?

Watch for a Bible study on Huldah on the Resources page which you can use to share Huldah’s story with others!

Coming this spring, my book entitled When God Chooses a Woman First. My subscribers will be the first to know when it is available! Subscribe in the pink box and you’ll get a FREE book when you confirm your subscription in the welcome email.

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