Remember Noah's Wife

"And the LORD said unto Noah,

Come thou and all thy house into the ark;

for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation."

~ Genesis 7:1

In the Scriptures, there is one nameless woman that speaks so passionately to me as an example of a God-fearing female, help meet to her husband, and faithful mother to her children. May I present Noah's wife... The Bible does not name her but her reputation stands strong and unblemished. She is never rebuked though never described in nature or appearance either.  One can only surmise that this woman served God with a "meek and quiet spirit" (1 Peter 3:4).  Noah's wife should be an example for all of us in the beauty of serving with a submissive spirit despite all the chaos that surrounds us. We should teach her story to our daughters and may it be a good reminder to us mothers for peer pressure from the world is a strong enemy and one that she faced daily for at least one hundred years of her life!

Have you ever considered what it would take to be Noah's help meet? Some of us may think about our current circumstances and say we have it hard living with this man we call a husband, but would you be strong enough to join your husband against the whole world? This would include her family as well for she was the only one in her lineage that was on the ark. How many times did they insult her husband and the godly lifestyle they had chosen? After spending 100 years building the ark, with everyone laughing, mocking and jeering, would you still be able to stand by your man or would you grow ashamed? Would you constantly question your husband regarding the ark? Would you create doubt in your home and continually ask, "Are you sure God told you to build an ark?" (How similar it sounds to the cunning voice in the garden so many years ago.) How much does the outside world and it's opinions affect you in your household? Whose side are you on when the comments come flying?

Today, we can read in the Scriptures the following:

"But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD." Genesis 6:8 

"But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee." ~ Genesis 6:18

But, Noah's wife didn't have access to this information nor was it mentioned that she had any personal correspondence with God in the same way her husband had. She had to decide at one point in her life if she was going to trust and obey, or question the authority of God like her relative would later do and turn back to become a pillar of salt. In Luke 7:32, we are warned to "Remember Lot's wife" and now I present to you, as an encouragement to us all, to "Remember Noah's wife." She chose to follow her husband, support him in his calling, endure the harsh words, hard work and hostile environment in that ultra wicked time.

Married Maidens & Mothers

We as women don't always know what work God is calling our husbands to. We may not even understand it. But our calling is to embrace it and to be a help meet to him (Genesis 2:18). Sadly, this is often the hardest challenge in a marriage for many women. To be in a position of looking "different" is hard. It is especially hard to endure criticism when it can come from their own dear, loved ones!  In their heart they agree with the biblical stands which were mutually made with their spouse, but they can not handle the outside pressure and begin to buckle when it does come. They are weakened at the insults thrown at her and her husband's decisions and allow it to slowly break down their once happy and united home. This is where we must "remember Noah's wife".

Single Maidens

Some of you may feel this peer pressure under the biblical leadership your father purposes for his family. This is excellent training for you to observe your mother and how she handles those awkward situations and comments for your time will come when the world questions your choices and to learn to accept being "different" now will only help to fortify you in your future role as wife.

Stand Strong

Dear reader, at some point in your Christian walk, your family decisions will be scrutinized, criticized and scorned. The world may not like the large size of your family, the way you choose to raise them, educate them or even dress them. You will get attacked verbally and sadly it may come from places you never dreamed. But, it can be no other way for it is written that "if ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." (John 15:19).

“Fear of others will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”

~ Proverbs 29:25

Do not let the gossip, words of malice or sarcastic comments penetrate you. Do not entertain thoughts that would make you second guess your father's biblical stand for the family or your husband's godly choices of lifestyle. Stay focused on the Scriptures for there you will find like minded people and the will of God! Many women are in agreement with the  decisions made that are based on the Word but when the testing comes they are quick to pull back and question the wisdom of following the biblical commands. They may even bring up words like "legalistic" or too much "law" when in reality they fear they are not looking like "everyone else". They are different. What we must remember is that Christ called us to be a "peculiar people"(1 Peter 2:9). We shouldn't blend in.

Sisters, our matriarch Mrs. Noah fought these same battles many years ago. Be comforted, for her family did survive to tell the story! Next time you feel distraught, frustrated and that the whole of creation seems against you and your loved ones, "remember Noah's wife"… and the shelter and safety she had from all those massive floods and fountains of water because she followed the path of God. She found that truth and security was in God and not the crowds of people around her. She knew...

"It is better to trust in the LORD

than to put confidence in man."

~ Psalm 118:8

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake:

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you,

and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:

for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

~Matthew 5:10-12

Women in the Ark Series:

Noah's Knowledgable Daughter-in-Law's (A Lesson in Preparedness)

Waiting for Shem, Ham and Japheth (Importance of Finding a Godly Spouse)

Angel on my Shoulder ~ A Poem