4 minute read
Faith and Family
An Ordinary Woman
BY DONNA WHARTENBY
Advertisement
The Bible presents many women with important roles in God’s plan. Ordinary women full of courage, thirsty to know more about God, and full of faith in Him, ready to see what only He could do through their obedience. God called these women with His precise timing.
Four hundred years before Jesus’ birth, the Old Testament describes Esther as an ordinary, young, orphaned Hebrew woman. Her cousin, Mordecai, nurtured her during their captivity in Persia. He instructed her to hide her identity because of the discrimination against the Jews. King Xerxes found favor with Esther and crowned her queen. God called Esther to exercise her royal influence and save the nation of Israel from annihilation.
Rahab was a prostitute—a harlot—in the city of Jericho. God chose her to help the Israelites prepare for the battle of Jericho (Joshua 2, 5:13- 6:27). This ordinary woman knew of the powerful God of heaven and earth and risked everything to protect two Israelite spies (Joshua 2:8-14). Rahab skillfully helped God’s people while simultaneously protecting her family from His judgment by hiding them in her home built into the city wall. Her faith and relationship with God flourished. He redeemed her past sins and blessed her with grace to live a new life in Him.
An unnamed, ordinary Samaritan woman met Jesus one day on her daily visit to the well (John 4:4-42). As a lonely social outcast, she provided a drink for Jesus. He spoke of His knowledge about her sinful lifestyle of living with various men, none of whom were her husband. Jesus disclosed his identity as the Messiah for the first time to her. She longed to learn more about His living water that provided eternal life. Her belief in Him prompted her to tell the villagers about this extraordinary encounter. Her testimony led many to put their faith in Jesus. (John 4:39-41).
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was an ordinary, young Jewish virgin who lived in the rural city of Nazareth in Galilee. While engaged to be married to Joseph, she received a visit from the archangel Gabriel. God’s messenger told Mary she was “highly favored” and chosen by God; she would conceive a son by the Holy Spirit and name him Jesus (Luke 1:26-35). God called Mary because of her humble faith. Mary loved Jesus, took Him to the temple in Jerusalem, witnessed his first miracle at a wedding, and stood nearby as He died on the cross. Our Savior.
We are God’s creations. When we believe in God’s sacrifice, we join His plan for eternity. We are made in His image (Genesis 1:26). Psalm 139:14 says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. He designed us to be set apart. He entrusts us to be His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). He created us to have courage and compassion. He gives us a thirst to learn more about Him through His Word, His love, and His promises. He gives us the strength to protect our family and loved ones, love and provide for those entrusted to us, celebrate the joys of life, and trust Him in times of hardship. He loves us and forgives our sins when we confess, turn away from them, and put our trust and faith in Him.
Expect God to do amazing things in your life as He did with these ordinary women. Maybe He already has. Seek His guidance and study His Word daily. Pray for courage to do His will. Discover what God has planned for you. Are you ready to follow His lead in extraordinary ways? Let Him know you are ready and trust His precise timing.
Donna grew up in a Christian home and attended church weekly with her family. She and her husband, Keith, have been married for 39 years and have a son. Donna loves singing, traveling, and spending vacations and holidays with her three grandchildren. She is passionate about teaching and facilitates small group Bible studies. Family is important to her, which is why Donna is delighted to write this Faith and Family column for Voice of Truth magazine.
