“Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who
destroy kings.” These are “the words of king Lemuel [part of] an oracle his
mother taught him.” Only a few verses later the description of an excellent
wife is begun. I believe this passage is used to convey the need for great
caution in the women a male allows to have any part in his life, but why? The
truth is women can have a big influence on men, I think much more than we
realize, and all through Genesis you can see examples of how women abuse that
gift. Let’s look at a few:
It begins of
course with the fall, when Eve first decides the apple looks good to eat and
then tells her husband to try it. Genesis 3:1-6.
Then
Sarai (later to become Sarah) reveals her lack of faith in God’s ability to
keep his promise when she sends her female servant in to Abram (Abraham), in
hopes that her servant will have a child on behalf of Sarai. Abram listens to
his wife. Genesis 16:1-2.
In
Genesis 27:5-13 it is Rebekah that tells Jacob to deceive his father to get
Esau’s blessing, and the she manipulates her husband to protect Jacob in
27:41-28:2.
Now I
don’t mean to be negative, most of these people have also set good examples for
us to follow, but I think we can learn something from their mistakes. This
reveals how careful we need to be that we don’t make the same mistakes that
have been repeated again and again. Women are prone to use their influence for
evil, but surely this was not what God intended. I believe this “lady-magic”
that we possess was given to us, by God, for a much greater reason – To strengthen,
encourage, and inspire our men to be better leaders. We must learn to use it
that way. This is something we were created for. Let’s make it our goal to
gently push others towards God, not something sinful and not ourselves.
“The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of
gain.
She does him good and not harm, all the days of her life.”
~Proverbs 31:11-12~
