Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Godly Women: Making Their Men Great

We've all heard it said that behind every great man is a woman.
God created woman "for man" (1 Cor 11:9), as a "helper fit for him," since it "is not good that the man should be alone" (Gen 2:18). But sin came in and marred the roles of men and women. In Genesis 3 Adam did not lovingly lead or protect his wife from the words of the serpent, and Eve did not look to her husband. Our race was thus plunged into depravity, and part of the resulting curse was that women would resist their godly role to help and submit to their husband, and men would likewise resist their role of loving their wives as they lead them: "Your desire shall be for (or 'against') your husband, and he shall rule over you" (Gen 3:16b, ESV).

But whenever God's grace is at work in a woman, he enables her to fulfill her role to his glory. What an exceedingly beautiful thing to behold a godly woman helping her husband be great!

We men need the help of our wives! We need God's grace shown to us through our wife's ministry of help. What could men do or be without godly women in their lives? Godly mothers, sisters, and wives helping us, encouraging us, giving us crucial aid?

We see this shown in the life of Moses, with the women in his life. Moses was one of the greatest men of God who ever lived. THE leader of Israel, called by God to bring his people out of Egypt, mediate between them and God; God spoke to Moses! He gave him the law on the mountain, showed him the blueprints for the tabernacle, and listened to Moses' prayers for the people. Moses was a great man of God!

But Moses would have died in infancy if not for the faith of his mother! In Exodus 2 we read of Moses' mother putting him in a basket in the Nile river rather than killing him in obedience to the king of Egypt. She saved his life. Moses could not have been the man of God he grew to be if not for his mother who feared God more than man.

Moses also had a sister! Miriam stood at a distance to see what would become of her baby brother in the basket-boat. When Pharoah's daughter found Moses, it was Miriam's quick thinking and boldness that led her to approach her superior and suggest finding a Hebrew woman to nurse the baby. So she ran and got she and Moses' mother, who was able to save Moses' life (again!) by nursing him before he was handed over to be raised in Pharoah's house.

Moses also had a wife! In Exodus 4, Moses has returned from meeting God in the burning bush. He leaves Midian with his wife, Zipporah, and his sons, headed for Egypt in obedience to God. But Moses' obedience was only partial. He had not circumcised his son in observance of God's covenant with Abraham! Was this a serious matter before God? God came to kill him!!! But Moses' helper acted quickly on Moses' behalf: "Then Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin" (Ex 4:25, ESV). Zipporah saved Moses' life!

Praise God for godly women who embrace their role as unto the Lord, and help their husbands! Praise God for helpful mothers, sisters, and wives! Praise God for godly women who help their men be great for God!

4 comments:

Nicolle said...

Cary this is an awesome post. Thanks for sharing an encouraging word for us Wives, Mothers, and Sisters!

These Three Kings said...

WOW~ how encouraging! This spurs me on brother!
thank you for posting! I look forward to reading more!!
I found your blog through Nicolle's :)

Grace to you
Nicole

Son of the Sovereign God said...

Amazing, God is working among us brother, bringing unity of Spirit and healing our families.

Butterfly in Me said...

Very interesting read Cary!! Thank you for sharing. It's something to remember...being a team! Hope you all are great! Hugs!!