The Bible is the most read book and one of the longest books in world, but it is shockingly short in the description of strong women. As important as marriage is for strengthening the kingdom of God, we find just a few anecdotes showing happy, successful marriages. Happy marriages are implied by stating that a couple has been together for so many years.
When Misty approached us for this month’s topic “What Christian or Biblical Character/Account Inspires You in Your Help Meet Ministry”, it took me a while to decide what to write about. Honestly, there is not just one character that helps me in my help meet ministry, there are several.
First is the mother of all humankind – Eve. The bible doesn’t say much about her, but she was made to be her husband’s help meet – physically made. God saw that Adam, a man, could not live without a companion and made woman to be a companion for him. Talk about significance! We, our husbands help meets, are so important to men, that the first person God fashioned was us. This is a time pre-“marriage” and thus, she was born into a marriage with Adam. They only had each other; she was to be his complete companion.
Second is a woman, a wife, who is not even given a name in the bible – Noah’s wife. When Noah’s wife listened and had faith that the man who was her husband was a man of God, Ephesians 5:22-24 takes on a whole new meaning!
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
I believe my husband is a man of God, but sometimes, just sometimes, I question his judgment. But then I remember that Noah’s wife had so much faith in her union that she supported him building an ARK for a storm that no one saw coming. That is love, submission and most of all faith in the man she called her husband. It’s faith that sometimes we, as the help meets, do not know what vision was given to our husband to lead our family, but it is our duty to listen and follow. I do not interpret this to mean that we cannot ask questions, as in Proverbs 9:10-11 says:
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For through wisdom[b] your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
To ask questions is to gain knowledge and wisdom. Sometimes your questions will be fully answered, other times, you will have to rely on faith to fill in the gaps. If Noah’s wife had not trusted in her husband’s faith, she would not have made it to the other side of the storm.
Third is a widow and none is mentioned about her before her husband’s death – Ruth. After her husband’s death, she pleaded to accompany her mother-in-law, Naomi, to return to Naomi’s homeland, Bethlehem. After returning, she worked in the field to provide for Naomi, picking up scraps of barley, hoping it would be enough to feed her and Naomi. Boaz, the owner of the land, is kind to her because he knows of Ruth’s kindness to Naomi, allows her to continue picking barley for the remainder of the season.
She did what was necessary not only to feed her family, but then to clear the debt left from the passing of her husband, brother-in-law and father-in-law, and finally to carry on the family line. She submitted herself. Her submission led to her (and Naomi) being cared for by Boaz – paying for all of her debt and being married in the process. She was a hardworking woman, who became the grandmother of David.
Noah’s wife and Ruth followed God’s word and ended up being blessed beyond what could have ever been envisioned. As we follow God’s word, we don’t know what will come to fruition in the future, but we must be steadfast in our faith and always know that God has a plan for us. Our Father wants us to put our faith in Him. He does not require that we want to do it, He just require that we do it. Sometimes, it’s easier said than done, but we have to remember that He has a plan.
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