In a recent Bible study I found a verse in Proverbs which has made me think about the role of women throughout the history of the Bible and the history of the world.
Proverbs 14:1
1 The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.
The many examples of women in the Bible and how these women built their house is the direction I would like to go in this blog.
Naomi, her husband Elimelech and their two sons fled Israel and went to Moab because of a famine. Naomi's husband and two sons died and left their wives widows. The daughter-in-laws were asked by their mother-in-law to go back to their families. A land of idol worshipers. Ruth refuses to go back to her family and goes with Naomi to Israel. Ruth marries Boaz and bears Obed who is in the linage of Christ.
Ruth 1:2
2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
Ruth 1:3-5
3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons.
4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years,
5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.
The book of Ruth tells about Naomi and Ruth. Ruth willingly goes with Naomi back to her homeland. The faithfulness of Ruth and her obedience to her mother-in-law provides a husband from the family of Naomi. There was a family member who was first in line to take Ruth as his wife and he forfeited that right. Boaz was willing to be the member in line to accept Ruth as his wife.
Ruth 4:11Ruth 1:3-5
3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons.
4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years,
5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.
The book of Ruth tells about Naomi and Ruth. Ruth willingly goes with Naomi back to her homeland. The faithfulness of Ruth and her obedience to her mother-in-law provides a husband from the family of Naomi. There was a family member who was first in line to take Ruth as his wife and he forfeited that right. Boaz was willing to be the member in line to accept Ruth as his wife.
11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. Jehovah make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Bethlehem:
It is of interest to me that Ephrathah is mentioned in these passages and it indicates to me the connection between these women is the coming of the Christ and the church.
Genesis 35:19
19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath (the same is Beth-lehem).
Rachel and Leah and their handmaidens were the mothers of the 12 sons of Jacob. The tribes of Israel.
Micah 5:2-3
2 But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.
3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she who travaileth hath brought forth: then the residue of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
Rachel and Leah and their handmaidens were the mothers of the 12 sons of Jacob. The tribes of Israel.
Micah 5:2-3
2 But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.
3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she who travaileth hath brought forth: then the residue of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
These women, Ruth, Rachel, and Leah all have born children that are in the linage of Christ. They are descendants in the plan that God has from Genesis to the cross. Each was a piece to the puzzle to bring about a Savior to the world to save humanity from sin and death.
Their role in building their house is an example to us as women to be a builder of the next generation to carry on the great commission.
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Mark 16:15-16
15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
My mother of 93 years of age passed away in November of 2012 and I have been thinking of her and of my daughter-in-law who has given birth to twin girls February 27th. And of course my mind was thinking about those mothers that I have met through my life and the mothers of the Bible.
I'm thankful to my mother for setting the example of taking her 5 children to Sunday School and worship services every Sunday. She was able to feed and provide for those 5 children with meager earnings my father made as a hired hand for a farmer.
As mothers will we build our houses to raise Christian children and grandchildren or will we tear our houses down?
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