Valentines Day 12 ~ The Mysterious Lady and the Patient Man

Valentines Day 12: The Mysterious Lady and The Patient Man *Disclsimer: this devotional contains some dramatization* She isn't named in scripture. She's one of the only women in scripture who is part of a huge story and isn't named. She and her husband's story take up four whole chapters in Genesis...Genesis 5:28-9:29...the story of Noah and the flood. Remember I mentioned in day two that some people's stories are so special that maybe only their name is recorded in scripture? Their special story is reserved for "storytime" in heaven, and we are left to wonder. Noah's wife's story must be extra special, then, because we aren't even given her name, or any details about her. The only thing we know about her was that she was Noah's wife and she was one of the only 8 people saved from the worldwide flood. Or is it? It's really not. She was a mother to three sons, who were righteous, hard-working, faithful men. Answers in Genesis, says that the maximum years it took to build the ark was 75 years. For possibly 75 YEARS, Shem, Ham, and Japheth worked faithfully alongside their father building an ark...an ark that was nowhere near water....an ark that likely caused much ridicule from others. And yet, they built, and God saved them and their wives. Noah's wife HELPED RAISE STRONG, COMMITTED SONS! Noah was the only one to find favor with God. Scripture says he walked with God and was righteous. He is in Hebrews 11, because he was full of faith in God. He very likely led his wife and sons well. Noah's wife was "led". Let's put it this way: Noah's wife allowed herself to be led. She was probably submissive and respectful. While other wives likely be-rated and teased her for "following her crazy husband", she respectfully obeyed him! She didn't leave, so it shows that she also trusted her husband, and that takes respect. Noah's wife was RESPECTFUL AND SUBMISSIVE! Noah's wife likely gathered food and preserved it for the time they would be in the ark, helped bring tools and nails for Noah, and she very likely brought her husband water and his meals every day for 75 years, while he built the ark. She helped him build a humongous ship. The path from their house to the ship was likely worn into ruts! Noah's wife was HELPFUL, THOUGHTFUL, and STRONG! She was his perfect helpmate. Only the 8 people who God initially said could be saved in the ark, were saved. This means that for 75 years, Noah and his family probably begged and pleaded for people to listen to them, and no one did. On the flip side, for 75 years, people likely ridiculed, teased, and spoke badly of Noah's family, persecuting them with their words. Imagine Noah's wife, working in her garden and being approached by other women, and being told such things as this, "Why are you wasting your time? How can you follow your weird husband's ideas? Don't you think you could use your talents in a better way? What if the flood never comes, won't you feel like an idiot? ...you ARE an idiot!" Noah's wife KNEW HER IDENTITY, and showed FORTITUDE, and strength of CHARACTER. She was full of DETERMINATION and PERSEVERANCE. Three other women were saved in the ark. Surprisingly, (but actually NOT surprisingly) their names are not listed either. They were much younger than Noah's wife. I can imagine them all in the garden together and Noah's wife saying, "Girls, don't listen to them...we are following our husband's lead and we are trusting God. Don't let anything they say, cause you to take your eyes off The Lord. We are going to work hard and we will learn many lessons through this. It will be worth it." Think a little deeper...these three women had parents...they had sisters and brothers...they had friends. They all DIED in the flood. Without Noah's wife, those women would have likely caved under the pressure of their families and friends. Noah's wife was a ROLE-MODEL, a MENTOR, a GODLY OLDER WOMAN!! Imagine the day that the flood started coming. First a little rain. No big deal. But by the second or third day there are hundreds of people who are getting concerned. God has shut the door of the ark. Inside, four women huddle up. Four men are there with them. The men look at each other as they hold their sobbing wives. Outside people are pounding on the door. Some of them are the families of the three women. Some of them are friends of the eight people in the ark. The women are crying, but they know they cannot open the door. The people must die because of their choices. As the tears and sobbing begin to subside, an elderly man and woman are the ones who guide and comfort the other 6 people. They allow everyone to grieve. They set their chins, and keep their eyes on God. They pray. And in time, those 6 people realize the wisdom of Noah and his wife. Noah's wife COULD CONTROL HER EMOTIONS AND WAS LOOKED UP TO AS A TEACHER. SHE WAS LIKELY RESPECTED BY ALL. The 8 people spend over 190 days in the ark (some bible believing scientists say it's possible that they were in the ark for a total of 370 days). They shovel manure out of a back window. They feed and water animals (these are just my thoughts and I could be wrong, as God could have supernaturally cared for all of them in miraculous ways ---no feeding and watering and manure shoveling, necessary). They make meals in a smelly boat. They get irritated with each other. They get "ark fever". With time they learn to live with one another in peace. Noah's wife NEVER STOPPED GROWING. She never stopped LEARNING. But all this, however great it makes Noah's wife look, isn't all I want to share. Noah's wife wasn't perfect, just like each of us aren't perfect. Think of some things she may have struggled with. Maybe she struggled with doubt, great fear, and likely weariness, exhaustion, and impatience. "How long is this boat going to take...how many more meals must I bring for these men...how many more snide remarks must I hear from other women....? I'm going crazy....Lord, please help me!!" But there was this man. A good man. A righteous man. A man who walked with God. And lucky for Noah's wife, she got the blessing of being married to him. If Noah's wife showed any of the qualities I listed above, Noah showed them in greater measure. If there's a man in scripture that I would label as a "husband who sanctified his wife, and cleansed her with the washing of water (no pun intended!) with the Word, and presented his wife spotless and blameless (Ephesians 5:25-33) it would be Noah. No woman could have done what Noah's wife did, without a man like Noah must have been. But his greatest quality, I believe, is shown when the flood waters started receding. It is the quality I believe, that nurtured and cultivated the greatness of Noah's wife. Noah opened the window and sent out a raven and dove. There was nowhere for the dove to land so she came back (the raven never came back into the ark. He continually flew back and forth, likely resting on the ark---there is likely much symbolism with the raven and dove but I don't have time to research it). Noah WAITED seven days, then sent her out again. Then Noah WAITED seven more days and sent her out again. And this was after WAITING 40 days and nights while the earth flooded and 150 more days while the water stayed on the earth (and could have possible waited a total of 370). If it had been me, I would have been opening the window daily, and very impatiently! Noah was patient and I believe this is why his wife became excellent. Carefully, precisely, accurately, and patiently, Noah spent 75 years of his life building a boat, perfectly. Patiently, he oversaw the work of his three sons. Patiently, he encouraged his wife to keep going EVERY. GRUELING. DAY. for 75 long years. Quietly, calmly, faithfully Noah led a family in a boat for many, many days. Patiently, Noah told them, "we will wait seven more days and then open the window...occupy your minds, find something to do, and stop complaining". And then one day, 8 weary survivors stepped out onto dry land, alive....but also wiser, with many life lessons under their belts. Noah walked with God. Noah BUILT with God. Noah BUILT not only a boat, but a family, a legacy, an example for us, and he sanctified his wife. She was excellent because of him. He was excellent because of her. He was patient with her and led her rightly. She helped him, supported him, encouraged him, fed him. At the end of the day, maybe he hauled and heated her some bath water. Maybe at the end of the day she massaged his weary muscles. http://youtu.be/i6X71sXagUY