Photo by Velizar Ivanov on Unsplash
Let’s talk about the original baddies. No, not Rihanna or Lilith. I mean the real ride-or-die rebels: the Bad Girls of the Bible. The women who were scandalous, messy, complicated, and somehow still part of God’s plan. Sound familiar? Well, Let’s talk about them.
I recently came across Liz Curtis Higgs’ Bad Girls of the Bible (highly recommend for your next church girl book club or solo tea-and-pillow moment). It’s like reading a gossip column with holy footnotes and what I learned is pretty straightforward.
Eve: The First Baddie
Sis wanted knowledge. She was curious. She was bold, but she also couldn’t say no to a fruit recommendation from a talking snake.
You know that one decision changed everything, like answering a “wyd” text you should’ve left unread. Yeahhhh that’s what I am talking about. Well, with Eve, we see that while curiosity is powerful, discernment is life-saving but let’s continue.
Potiphar’s Wife: The Thirsty Employer
She saw fineboy Joseph, and the spirit of “I get what I want” possessed her.
He said no. She said, “Okay, jail time then.”
Imagine shooting your shot, getting curved, then deleting the guy’s number and pretending he never existed and then following his friend just to get back at him??? Lol. Aunty, rejection isn’t the end. You trying to ruin things because of it? Yikes.
Lot’s Wife: The Queen of Nostalgia
God said, “Run and don’t look back.” She said, “But what about my things??”
She turned into salt.
Still stuck on an ex, a past life, or a place you’ve outgrown? Hnmm. I get you sis. We know sometimes survival requires surrendering and letting go. We know this but sometimes we choose to look back or remain. I get it.
The Woman at the Well: Certified Situationship Survivor
Five husbands and still outside.
But then Jesus pulled up, no judgment, just truth and living water.
Many of us have searched for love in all the wrong places, forgetting that the right one can find us wherever, whenever.
Delilah: The Spy with the Wig Snatch
She played the long game. Flirted with Samson until he gave up his secret, then sold him out.
Think about someone giving you their heart’s password, only for you to ghost them and change it. Damn.
Sapphira: The Lady Who Lied on Her Taxes
She and her husband finessed their offering at church.
God said, absolutely not.
Jezebel: The Original Villainess
Manipulative, powerful, dangerous.
She worshipped idols, painted her face, and plotted like a Netflix drama villain.
Maybe not us exactly but I promise we all have had our drama queen moments.
Rahab: The Holy Plug
She was a working girl, but when the time came, she used her connections and courage to save lives.
Spoiler: She became part of Jesus’ lineage.
Michal: The Judgy Wife
David danced for the Lord; she rolled her eyes.
Ever been embarrassed by someone’s joy? Yeahhh.
The Sinful Woman: The One Who Got It Right
She didn’t even speak, just washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and perfume.
Because? Sometimes, the most powerful worship is wordless and maybe the key takeaway is Grace meets you right where you are.
Let me stop here for now.
Okay so you ask me…Favour, why does this matter?
Because these women weren’t erased.
They were seen, named, remembered.
Some fell.
Some rose.
Some got both.
And we tell their stories again and again.
I personally think most of these women made our Bible stories more interesting than normal.
They make up the Bible too.
God used them to make examples, warriors, great men.
God loved them. Very much.
Their stories are told again and again.
We are women after all. We bring life to everything.
And these women?
These women are us.
You.
Me.
And the message here is simple.
You are not too messy, too late, too much, or too broken for grace.
You are the story God is still writing.
Whether you are in your Rahab era, Lot’s Wife season, or Michal moment, know this:
Redemption is always an option and the God I know doesn’t cancel people — He transforms them.
He blesses them. Brings them close and uses them for beautiful things still.
So, you are okay.
You are you.
You are beautiful as you are.
And you already know that when I am President, every woman will know she is not the worst thing she’s ever done.
