Thursday, July 10

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Thursday, July 10, 2014

Nehemiah 3:12

Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.

Throughout the Scriptures can you think of the epic examples of women who are recorded in Biblical history that were a force?

I’ll share a clue you name the woman.  (this works best with the Audio version of 10 Minutes)

She hid spies and ultimately had her life saved    Rehab

She saved her people from annihilation.    Esther
She gave birth to our Savior.    Mary

Recorded in Judge 4, she used a tent stake to kill  Sisera.  Jael

Only recorded female Old Testament prophet.  Deborah

Famous widow who marries her kinsman redeemer after returning with her mother in law.  Ruth

Because of the oppression of women through history it inspires me to take note when God’s Word highlights them like the daughters of Shallum.  It is more significant than even Lucy Li the eleven year old girl who qualified for the Women’s US Open.  It’s terribly exciting to scurry through the Scripture with my eleven year old daughter and give her a vision for Kingdom impact by reflecting on the examples of God using women for his purpose and for his Glory.

The daughters of Shallum would have worked alongside their father and other men to build the fortifications needed to keep their families, their livestock and their temple (which had already been rebuilt) safe. These women wanted to see Jerusalem rebuilt like the others and were willing to do the physical labor required. They may have been especially skilled in their work, or they might simply have been moved by a need to build and protect their families, their community and their faith.

As I've thought about these unnamed daughters, I see the value in teaching girls and young women the value of hard work and getting one’s hands dirty.  The daughters of Shallum had learned and developed their building skills years well before Nehemiah ever began his work on the wall. Their father and probably their mother too, had taught them and trained them so that when the time came they were able to contribute to the re-building of Jerusalem.  They were READY!

I don’t think I am going too far out on a limb when I suggest that our young women in the future are going to be face a hard world.  One with physical and spiritual challenges and with incredible temptations and opposition from the evil one.

Will the women in our families, the women of FBCG, be prepared, like the daughters of Shallum, to handle the trials that come? Will they be prepared with a good work ethic and valuable skills? Will they be ready to rebuild?

As I have shared previously, they will if we win home field advantage and equip our daughters (and sons) what it means to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind.  Not to mention the importance of teaching them how to chop wood, change a tire, load the washing machine or add window washer fluid to a car.  Our young women and men need this taught and lived out in the lives of the adult faith community.  Join the team!

Faith at Home Questions to Consider:

• Who is the "handy" one at your house? Husband or wife? Daughter or son? How were those skills developed or recognized?

• In Nehemiah 2:6 Nehemiah mentioned that when he was speaking with the King about returning to rebuild Jerusalem that the queen was also sitting by him. This queen is probably Queen Vashti, since this would have been before Esther's time. Why do you think he mentions her? Do you think perhaps she said something that influenced the King on his behalf?

BRUCE MCEVOY
Pastor of Family and Serving