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| The Dove is Home with Us by Mary Jane Q Cross |
Noah's daughter-in-laws have a special place in my heart as the unsung heroes of the Bible. What can we say about them that is actually written?
We can focus on this truth:
These maidens were godly or they would not have been spared from the flood...
God warned them of the trials that would be coming. They would be going inside an ark and beginning life anew! What do you think they did until that final and fatal moment? My guess is that they prepared diligently with their hands and prayed with all their hearts. They learned skills. They were virtuous women. They were of the lineage that could have inspired the Proverbs 31 woman!
They undoubtedly acquired knowledge in sewing, gardening, animal husbandry and food preservation. They must have been educated in the uses of herbs and plants (which they were probably quite proficient in as it was the only God-given food source at that time) for medicinal purposes. Let us not forget the art of making oil from olives, creating pottery for dishes and weaving for clothing. These women must have been intelligent and skilled for didn't their very lives and loved ones depend upon it for survival?
They undoubtedly acquired knowledge in sewing, gardening, animal husbandry and food preservation. They must have been educated in the uses of herbs and plants (which they were probably quite proficient in as it was the only God-given food source at that time) for medicinal purposes. Let us not forget the art of making oil from olives, creating pottery for dishes and weaving for clothing. These women must have been intelligent and skilled for didn't their very lives and loved ones depend upon it for survival?
Dear ladies, we must glean what we can from these godly women. Though little is said, much is known! Hard times were on the way and they were prepared. We are placed in a similar position. Is not Christ's coming closer each day? Are not the signs on the wall? Our future as His return comes closer, is actually likened unto the days of Noah:
"But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." ~ Matthew 24:37-39
Jesus tells us that some intense moments will appear as His return draws closer:
"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." ~ Matthew 24:7-8 (The list goes on but I have shortened it for the sake of space.)We are warned of the spiritual battle that will be taking place as well:
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." ~ 2 Timothy 3:1-7
Are we prepared spiritually? Daily we hear of natural disasters, loss of jobs, sickness and immorality... Are we grounded in the Scriptures to stand strong when calamaties come and test our faith? Fill your heart, soul and mind with His word. His truths will sustain you (John 8:31-32).
We are promised that it is not easy to follow Him (Luke 14:26-27). Ask Noah's daughter-in-laws if those days aboard the ark, mourning the loss of family members, with the waves crashing against them, pungent smell of animals twenty four hours a day and a lack of fresh earth under their feet was easy. When they landed, the hardships were not over, they had to begin civilization from scratch. These women were warriors of God!
In recent history, we can learn from the matriarchs who lived during the Great Depression. Many of the women were modern at this point in time, relying on the cities and stores to provide their needs. But, hard times came and they were able to put their tucked away skills to use. They planted victory gardens, preserved the bounty, brought small live-stock back into their decorative yards, fashioned clothing for their children out of feed sacks, they patched, scrimped, remade and repurposed.
We don't know what the future holds for any of us but the woman who is prayerful, prepared, skilled and works willingly with her hands, "has no fear for her household"… (Proverbs 31:21 NIV)
"She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come."
~ Proverbs 31:24 NIV
Dear reader, my purpose is not to scare you but to inspire you to embrace those lost arts and skills of the homemaker for we never know when they may prove useful in these uncertain times.
Such an excellent post full of truth! The Lord has really been pointing me toward the need for homemaking skills. I do the basics, but haven't learned to sew or crochet or knit or much in the way of gardening and canning. I'm working at it and slowly making progress. It is my desire that my girls will leave home equipped to be a helpmeet!
ReplyDeleteI think our daughters inspire the best in us in that regard… I am battling my fear of sewing in order to teach her and am finding a new interest myself as a result from it.
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