All in the Family
"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
King James Version
EXPLORATION
"All in the Family"
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"Everything nourishes what is strong already."
Jane Austen
Pride & Prejudice
Do I believe I am God's woman of valor?
INSPIRATION
"A woman is like a teabag- only in hot water do you realize how strong she is."
Nancy Reagan
Let your mind wander for a moment. Pretend your name is Mrs. Noah. When you met your husband you were attracted to him because, in a world of totally godless behavior, he had chosen to be a "Man of God." When you looked at his family tree, you found it rooted in the light of God.
One day, amid the evil you saw all around you, your husband walked into the house and informed you that God had come directly to him, telling him that the human population, as you knew it, was going to be destroyed. However, God, in His mercy, was giving all the inhabitants of earth a 120 year probation. God wanted your husband, Noah, to not only build an ark, a boat, which would protect all who chose safety inside, but God also asked "your man" to preach and warn anyone who would listen about the impending doom.
I want to ask you, would you have thought your "Mr. Noah" had lost it?
Here's how I think a conversation might have gone if this were between my husband Jim and me.
Jim: "I had a visitor today."
Dorothy: "Who?"
Jim: "God. He told me the earth is going to be covered with water and furthermore He wants me to build an ark which we'll live in for safety. Oh, and by the way, our sons and their wives will be coming with us. And I almost forgot, the boat will be filled with animals and birds and we'll be locked up inside together for a long time."
Dorothy: "How long?"
Jim: "Close to a year!"
Dorothy: "Jim, are you nuts. I'll go crazy locked up in a boat with animals and relatives for a year. Let me tell you something, don't expect me to be your cleaning lady with a pooper scooper. I'm not going to take care of all those animals. You must have misunderstood God. I've never heard of or seen rain. Dear, you just weren't listening closely enough. Are you sure you are feeling alright?"
I can tell you, my Mr. Noah and I would have had a lot to talk about for 120 years. But here's where we see why the Jewish rabbis included Mrs. Noah on their list of "valiant" women in the Old Testament. In fact, I think it is the reason she is first on their list. I don't believe there is any woman in Scripture who reflects the virtue we call valor, more than Mrs. Noah. This daughter of God stands as a bright light, a witness to what God's girls can be when they focus on the light of their Father rather than the darkness of the world.
As we found out yesterday, in Proverbs 31: 10, Mrs. Noah is associated with the first line of this famous passage penned by the "wisest man who ever lived"- Solomon. What we found out is that the word "virtuous" is the same Hebrew word that is used throughout the Old Testament to describe mighty men of "valor."
If ever a woman needed to be a "mighty woman of valor," it was Mrs. Noah who not only remained loyal to God, but supported her husband through thick and thin and radiated such persuasive power that her family, both sons as well as daughters-in-law were all saved. A family united and intact, safe from harm because of the "valor" exhibited in their home. When we look at the definition of valor, this is a word that means, "a person of worth." A person of "strength and virtue." I call Mrs. Noah, "a woman of substance." She wasn't a fair-weather daughter of God. This is one lady who understood what it meant to endure to the end. If we look into the well of Mrs. Noah's soul, there was a fresh, large, water of life running through her. Strong. Virtuous. Worthy. Substantive. Valiant. A woman of valor. Or as the Bible says, "a force to be reckoned with."
I ask you, daughter of God, are you a woman of substance, worthy to be called God's daughter?
The way we find, all through these Old Testament stories, that certain individuals developed into God's chosen people is that they kept their eyes fixed on the light. Their focus was on God, for the Bible says they walked with Him. That made all the difference in the world. And for eight family members in a boat full of animals, it made the difference between life and death.
AFFIRMATION
As I was preparing today's devotional, it was difficult to find many prayers written about women of God being given Heavenly strength.
Then this morning when I got up, my prayer had been answered during the night for Wendy, one of our Transformation Garden angels, sent me this prayer that came through my machine at 3:26 a.m. I've adapted this beautiful prayer for our affirmation today.
"A Letter From God to Women"
"If you ever look at yourself and feel that you don't measure up remember: 'You are fearfully and wonderfully made in God's image and likeness.' When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke them into being. When I created man, I formed him and breathed life into his nostrils. But you, woman, daughter of mine, I fashioned after I breathed life into man. I allowed a deep sleep to come over him so I could patiently and perfectly fashion you, from one bone I fashioned you. I chose the bone that protects man's life. I chose the rib, which protects his heart and lungs and supports him as you are meant to do. Around this bone, I shaped you, I molded you. I created you beautifully and perfectly. Your characteristics are as the rib, strong yet delicate and fragile. You provide protection for the most delicate organ in man, his heart. His heart is the center of his being; his lungs hold the breath of life. The rib cage will allow itself to be broken before it will allow damage to the heart. You were not taken from man's feet, to be under him, nor were you taken from man's head to be above him. You were taken from man's side, to stand beside him and be held close to him. You are my perfect angel, you are my beautiful girl. You have grown to be a splendid woman of excellence, and my eyes fill with tears when I see the virtues in your heart. Your eyes, don't change them. Your lips, how lovely they are when they part in prayer. Your hands, so gentle to touch. I've caressed your face in your deepest sleep. I've held your heart close to Mine. Of all that lives and breathes, you are most like Me. Adam walked with Me in the cool of the day, yet he was lonely, everything I wanted Adam to share and experience with Me, I fashioned in you; My holiness, My strength, My purity, My love, My protection and support. You are special because you are an extension of Me. Man represents My image, woman My emotions. Together, you represent the totality of who I am."
Your friend,
Dorothy Valcarcel, Author
When A Woman Meets Jesus
Dorothy@TransformationGarden.com
