I remember sharing this devotion at a bridal shower and it is one that I still look back on and try to glean from. There are many people in the Bible who hold such a great name but there are also many who had a bad reputation. Today, we will study four unnamed named wives of the Bible and learn what we can emulate and not emulate from them.
Job is one of my favorite characters in the Bible, if not my favorite. But his wife – hmmm… not so.
We all know the story of Job. I truly believe that his walk with the Lord was so strong that God permitted Satan to tempt him.
JOB’S WIFE: a critic
(Job 2)
The book of Job starts with describing him as someone that was perfect and upright; he feared God, and eschewed evil. He had 7 sons, 3 daughters, 7,000 sheep, 3,00 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 she-asses. Man, was he rich! But in a just a few moments, he lost all that. His wife, instead of comforting him, responded with, “Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and die.”
WOW! Can you imagine that the ONE person that’s supposed to be there supporting and comforting you when life isn’t going well — when you’ve lost everything else is now telling you to curse God and die? I’d say those are harsh and very discouraging words. Job responded by calling her “foolish.”
Marriage as I’m sure many of you have heard is not a bed of roses. Sometimes there will be thorns. But when you get married, you become one. So whatever your husband goes through, you need to go through it with him. Whatever he struggles with, you need to help him. When he fails, forgive him. When he falls, lift him up. When he’s unsure about something, reassure him that God is with him. This is something I am still working on. Don’t be like Job’s Wife and definitely don’t wish death upon your husband nor tell him to curse God.. I can be a very critical person, especially to my loved ones… but oh, how we need to lift up our husbands instead of tearing them down.
Instead of being your husband’s critic, be his cheerleader.
LOT’S WIFE: lover of the world
(Genesis 19)
We don’t know much about her background or family history. But she sure left an unforgettable reputation. In the Holy Book that God left to us, three simple, yet convicting words were penned – “Remember Lot’s Wife.” Looking back isn’t necessarily bad but for Lot’s Wife, it symbolized where her heart truly was – in Sodom — and she probably regretted having to part with that place and all its sinful pleasures, because she loved them so much.
We don’t like to think about death but it will come. And we have to be careful to ask ourselves, “What kind of wife do I want to be remembered as?” and more importantly, what kind of Christian do I want to be remembered as? Because before you’re a wife, you’re a child of God.
Every Christmas, there is a sweet lady in our church who gives my family gifts. The only name she knows is David’s. So on the gift for me, she would address it as “To David’s Wife” and the kids are “Baby C #1 & Baby C #2” It’s funny but really sweet!
In all honesty, even if she never remembered my name, I would be ok with it. I’ve heard so many times that as a wife, our “job” is to make our husbands look good. How we look & how we behave ourself also affects how others will view our husband. But let’s be careful not to be a performance-based Christian wife. (that’s for another blog post)
So, don’t be like Lot’s wife – she had a bad reputation. Be known as someone that loves God & loves her husband, and if applicable, loves her children. Wives do a lot of things behind-the-scenes and that’s totally fine. Don’t ever believe how our society is negatively portraying the role of a wife — saying how we should be equal to our husbands because that’s not how God designed it. God designed the husband to be the head of the home (and we, the neck because we can turn the head wherever we want, JK, JK!)
But really, set forth a reputation that you won’t end up regretting. Lot’s wife loved the things of this world. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth (Col. 3:2)
Instead of loving the world, love the Lord and His Word.
POTIPHAR’S WIFE: luster and liar
(Genesis 39)
She lusted after Joseph – one of the holiest and most attractive men in Egypt. She was cunning and persistent. Day by day, she tried to tempt Joseph. But Joseph loved his God so much that he didn’t give in to such wickedness. I am sure Potiphar’s wife wasn’t ugly. Joseph was a goodly person and well-favored and he too was probably good looking.
The previous wife I mentioned (Lot’s Wife) was described as someone who loved the world – and what is in the world? It can be summed up into 3 phrases – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, & the pride of life.
Potiphar’s wife was wicked. I mean, she straight up said, “Lie with me!” She definitely lusted and then after demonstrated her selfishness by lying instead of taking the blame for her wrongdoing.
A lot changes after marriage. it’s not guaranteed that your husband will still be the fit man that he was before marriage. I can testify! (But it only proves how good of a cook I am, right?!? Jk, Jk!) But really, those attractive features that you saw in him may change but don’t let that cause you to lust after someone else. Marriage is a commitment and a covenant — for better or for worse (and that includes their physical attraction).
There will be times in your marriage when you will have to be the one to apologize. Don’t be prideful like Potiphar’s wife. Always talk to each other about your problems. Be honest about what offends you or hurts you.
More importantly…
let your love be so strong for the Lord because when your love for the Lord is what it needs to be, your love for your husband will be exactly what it should be and there won’t be room for lusting after anything or anyone else.
NOAH’S WIFE: Faith-filled & faithful
(Genesis 7)
She probably watched Noah as he spent a lot of years building the ark and also preaching to people who didn’t even take time to listen to the message of salvation.
Which people made it into the ark? Noah, Mrs. Noah, Noah’s three sons (Shem, Ham, Japheth) and their three wives. Although not much is mentioned about Noah’s wife or her three daughters-in-law, we can probably conclude that their whole family possessed some kind of faith… or else they wouldn’t have been spared from the flood. Noah’s wife supported her husband for hundreds of years, even when people mocked and scorned him. How did she have such faith? I’m sure she walked with God.
No doubt, years and years of preparing for a judgment that God would send to the earth probably took a toll on her. There may have been days or weeks when she FELT like she wanted to quit or she FELT like her husband’s preaching was going nowhere, But instead she had faith and she maintained that faith.
“How can we develop such faith? It comes by spending time with God. When we take time each day to listen to Him and study His Word, we become more familiar with that still small voice that speaks to us. The closer we get to Him, the more we see that His plans for us are good and we can trust Him. As we obey Him in the smaller tasks that He gives us, it will become easier to obey Him when He calls us to something that seems beyond our capabilities.” – CBN
You may not experience it right away but there will come a time in your marriage when your faith will need to be tested, whether it be emotionally, mentally, financially, or spiritually. And during those times, you may not FEEL like going on or staying in God’s Word, but it’s during those times, that YOU WILL NEED THE MOST FAITH.
FAITH is necessary in a marriage. If you or your husband have not taken that first step in placing your faith in Christ, my friend, the Bible reminds us that “Today is the day of salvation.” If both you and your spouse already know the Lord as Savior, then remember that you will still need faith for the circumstances and trials that will come your way. If you are saved but your spouse isn’t, have faith that God can save your spouse. Keep praying! The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man (or woman) availeth much. (James 5:16)
Just as Noah’s wife put her faith and trust in God, may you also remember to trust in Him even when it may not “feel” right.
Instead of “feeling” it, “faith” it!
CONCLUSION
You know, even though these ladies weren’t really named, they actually were. They were known as so-and-so’s wife.
After you get married, you usually take on the last name of your husband. If there is anything you can take away from this short devotion, please remember that a husband and wife are a team. And as many have said, “there is no “i” in team. A marriage takes work and work from both spouses. A marriage takes communication. And a marriage takes commitment.
There are so many ladies today that can be considered a “Job’s Wife” or “Lot’s Wife” or even a “Potiphar’s Wife,” but may you be like Noah’s wife – a woman of faith, a woman full of support, and a woman with a walk with God.
Whether you’ll be named or known as another Mrs. “so and so”, or “so and so’s” Wife, may you have a good name because as Proverbs 22:1 reminds us, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. “
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