Proverb 31:14

Proverbs 31:14 “She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from afar.”

It seems odd to compare a good wife to that of a ship of the merchant, but just what is the function of the ship? It would have to be a strong and seaworthy to endure the harshness of the journey. A ship takes planning and design; the right materials and skill of the ship builders, a ship created to handle the cargo it was meant to carry…..

Therefore, God is the designer of this good wife; not any wife, but a good wife; suited for a particular Godly man.

I have observed this over the years. I know of pastors that it is unmistakable - God gave them a wife that would share the burden of ministry with him and be faithful to gird him up in prayer. Then there are missionaries that need to spend time in far off places enduring another type of hardship….these are given a wife that share the vision of spreading the gospel of our Lord to those in other lands. There are as many different scenarios as there are stars in the sky, but one thing is common; God is the designer of the woman for a particular man to be his wife and helpmate.

This wife brings her food from afar…..She nourishes her husband and children with the provisions of God’s Word. She knows her God and as she worships Him she is nourished herself by His Word in order to provide for her family. Wisdom and knowledge are imparted to her and she ‘knows’ what her family has need of. Intuition? No, God imparted inspiration to be at her best for her lifetime as wife and mother.

The combination of strength to endure the harshness of life and the nourishment that she brings to her family by way of spending precious time in her Lord’s Word and listening to His voice….. makes for a good wife….a good mother……and daughter.

MKL

07-07-09