In the biblical book of Esther, wicked Haman’s wife Zeresh gives
him some “wonderful” advice: build a very high gallows and hang your archenemy
Mordecai on it. (Esther 5:14) We know the end of the story: that Haman is made to
honor Mordecai, and Haman ultimately
gets hanged on that high gallows himself. His riches and house go to Queen
Esther, a member of the Jewish race he planned to wipe out.
Other wives who gave equally bad advice:
Ahab’s wife
Jezebel told him, arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the
vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite (1 Kings
21:7b). Then she proceeded to forge letters with Ahab’s seal, frame Naboth,
have him unjustly stoned to death, and steal his vineyard.
Job’s wife
said, Curse God and die (from Job
2:9). Thankfully, he refused to do so.
Wifely advice that should have been heeded:
Pilate’s
wife said, Have
thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day
in a dream because of him (Matthew
27:19b). Pilate gave in to the other “important” people around him, cared more
about his political standing, and disregarded life in letting Jesus be
crucified, even though he knew he was wrong. (I wonder if he or she ever slept
well afterwards.)
I guess you could call this
“pre-wifely” advice:
It
came from Abigail, who was the wife of Nabal at the time. She begged David not
to take vengeance on her husband (who deserved whatever he got). She thus
averted much bloodshed. And David said to
Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet
me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day
from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand (1
Samuel 25:32-33). Later, Nabal died, and David took Abigail as his wife.
And this lousy advice comes from
“a woman” whom Samson loved, not exactly his wife. She was clearly not an
exemplary type:
And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray
thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to
afflict thee (Judges 16:6). This tale of seduction and nagging and Samson’s
very sad end is full of lessons for any man. Any woman who lives loosely isn’t
trustworthy, especially with one’s deepest secrets.
I can’t end this blog with
Delilah.
There were some wonderful women in
the Bible who were assets to their husbands. How about these?
Sara,
Abraham’s wife—held up to generations after her as an example of a submissive
wife
Jochabed,
wife of Amram and mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam—followed Pharaoh’s law to
the letter, yet protected the future leader of Israel
Deborah,
wife of Lapidoth—prophetess, judge, and even military leader
Ruth,
wife of Boaz—Moabitess who trusted the Lord and was abundantly blessed by God
Hannah,
wife of Elkanah—prayed earnestly to the Lord, and God blessed her with Samuel and then
with five more children
The
Virtuous Woman—Her husband and children rose up and called her blessed.
Mary,
Joseph’s wife—chosen by God to bear much shame and to rear His only Son
Elisabeth,
wife of Zacharias—encouraged Mary, obeyed God in naming John, and was miraculously
the mother of the forerunner of Christ
Priscilla,
wife of Aquila—helped tutor the Apostle Paul in spiritual truth
I am glad the Bible gives us
insights into the good women as well as into the bad. I am thankful that any
Christian woman can influence her husband and children and those she ministers
to for good.
I know that I would like to be
known for my good wifely advice. I’m sure you would, too!