I saw a commercial recently where a woman my age extols the ability of our generation to adapt to a whole new world.  We’ve moved from phones stuck on the wall, adding machines, mimeograph printers and encyclopedias to cell phones, calculators, wireless printers connected to home computers and cell phones which are now combining all of the above and making them available 24/7.  Have you ever been talking to someone, wondered about something and instantly looked it up on your phone?  Whether it’s the weather, history, pop culture or the need to talk to someone, with the right phone, it’s all there, right at your fingertips.  It’s a whole new world.
            If there was ever a person in the Bible that had to adjust to a whole new world (and there are a few!), Ruth would be near the top of the list.  In fact a whole book of the Bible is devoted to her story.  The opening chapter of Ruth describes the situation.  After the conquest the Israelite tribes have settled in their designated territories but they have not completely rid the land of its former occupants as the Lord commanded.  During this time, roughly 1100 B. C. the judges are administering cases and serving as military deliverers when oppression arises (Jud. 2:16; 4:4; Ruth 1:1).
            In an ironic twist of events a famine breaks out  in the territory of Judah, specifically Bethlehem which means “House of Bread” and the family of Elimelech (God is my King) decides to pack it up and move 30 miles across the border to the land of Moab.  The Moabites were descendants of Lot (Gen. 19:30-38).  They were considered enemies and cursed when they did not help Israel after the Exodus (Dt. 23:3-6).  During the time of the judges they took advantage of the instability and dominated Israel for 18 years at one point (Jud. 3:12-14).  As pantheists they worshipped a number of “baals” (Num. 25:1-5) but the chief and most detestable of their pantheon was Chemosh whom they offered their children to on a regular basis (2 Ki. 3:27).  One has to wonder what Elimelech was thinking when he relocated there, especially since Moab means “waste”.  It was a dubious decision and he certainly wasn’t living up to his name!   We are never told how Naomi, his wife, felt about the decision to move, but we do know how she feels the way life played out in Moab.  After the death of her husband and her sons she changes her name from Naomi (pleasant) to Mara (bitter) when she decides to return to her homeland (Ruth 1:20).
            But while all seems lost, there is a glimmer of hope.  Naomi has one bright spot in her life, her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth.  They are both loving and devoted to their mother-in-law.  After the deaths of her sons Naomi points out that their prospects in Bethlehem are minimal to none and she encourages them to remain with their families when she returns to Bethlehem (Ruth 1:8-13).  Widows had very little prospect for survival if they did not have family to help care for them.  Since Naomi is uncertain about her family’s situation in Bethlehem common sense dictates they stay in Moab.  Orpah chooses to stay but Ruth begs to go (Ruth 1:14-18).  Their names reflect their choices: Orpah= cloud; Ruth= drop of water.  Like many of the names mentioned in this book these names offer an interesting reflection the predicament Naomi faces.  If you were facing an uncertain future wouldn't you rather have a drop of water, than a cloud?  That’s just my observation!
            As Ruth adjusts to the cultural nuances in her new home (deftly guided by Naomi I might add), her character traits remain unchanged.  She listens to Naomi and does as she’s told which results in her being noticed by Boaz who eventually makes her his wife (read the rest of the book if you don’t know the details!).  In a time when the nation of Israel struggled to be faithful and true to their God, Ruth’s faith and loyalty to Naomi stood out- especially since she came from Moab!  It could be said that these characteristics foreshadow a future descendant of hers, that is Jesus (Mt. 1:5; Lk. 3:32).  As a devoted Son, He remained faithful to the Father’s will (Jn. 6:38-40).  It is no surprise then that He will be known by these attributes when He returns (Rev. 19:11).
            The major cultural backdrop upon which the story of Ruth takes place is the harvest.  As commanded in the Mosaic Law, Boaz allows the poor to glean around the edges of his field.  This is where Ruth catches his eye due to her loyalty and gentle spirit.  It is a reason to examine our own attitudes and actions as we go through our routines day in and day out.  How do we compare to Ruth?  If we need a checklist, Gal. 5:22-23 is a great resource.  Aided by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, others should see these traits without question.  You and I may be adept in adjusting to a whole new world in technology, but more importantly the Spirit should be changing us within, adjusting us to be more like Jesus.  How are you measuring up?
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div. 
Week of 5/28/2017

            There is something that every mother to be (biological or adoptive) shares- that aspect of expectancy that wonders what her child will be like.  Which family member will they resemble?  What kind of personality will they have?  What will they like to do?  What will they accomplish in life?  And from the moment those children come into our lives the answers begin to unfold before us.  Eve is the only woman in the Bible who holds the distinction of being created rather than born (and of course Adam is the only man who shares this distinction as well).  The book of Genesis has two "creation accounts".  The first appears in Genesis 1 and is an overview of the whole creation.  The second account is found in Genesis 2 and is a more detailed account of the creation of man and woman (Gen. 2:4-23).  Created by an all-knowing and loving God Adam and Eve had no parents wondering what would become of them, but instead had a Heavenly Father who knew them better than any earthly parent could.  Once created, they were given a role and purpose which continues today many (MANY!) generations after them (Gen. 1:28-30; 2:15).
            According to Genesis men and women were created for a specific purpose.  In other words, purpose is inherent to our creation.  God had a purpose in creating us as human beings, male and female, and as unique individuals.  Scripture reveals that part of that purpose is to proclaim to others what the Lord has done and to bring Him glory (Ps. 145:1-7; Mt. 5:16; 1 Cor. 10:31).  The Westminster Confession puts it this way, “The chief end (or purpose) of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever".  The creation of Adam and Eve was a unique act of God.  After God formed Eve from Adam's rib, He never "created" a human "from scratch" again.  From that point on, men and women were created by God through the way He designed them to procreate.  An important aspect of Eve’s creation is that she was a “suitable helper” (Gen. 2:22).  Lawrence Richards wrote, “The word helper does not imply subordination or inferiority, but identity, for only a being with the same personal capacities as Adam could have related to him.”  Eve is different from the animals.  She is of the same components as Adam, a fact which is affirmed by Adam’s reaction to her (Gen. 2:23).
            While some like to use Eve as a representation of the position of all womanhood, it should be remembered that she was a flesh and blood person just like you and me.  She was industrious (helped tend the Garden of Eden), inquisitive (drawn into conversation with the serpent), observant (initially adhered to God’s commands) and loving (to both her husband and children).  Her admiration for beauty is noted in the way she reacts to the fruit on the Tree of Knowledge, but it was also the excuse for her disobedience (Gen. 3:6).  Her culpability in this matter is on equal ground with Adam.  He never did anything to stop her.  They are both held accountable and judged for their disobedience (Gen. 3:16-19) which supports the position that there is an equal and lateral standing in their relationship rather than a positional order (i. e. first place, second place).
            Each of us, in our own way, is also created- but not in the same physical sense as Eve.  Ps. 139:13-16 states that the Lord forms our “inward parts”.  He understands the essence of who we are because He knows what is deep, down inside of us.   If Eve (or Adam) is our model, then there are several questions we might ask in light of what we’ve learned about her.  Eve was created with a specific purpose.  What is ours?  Eph. 2:10 says that we were created for good works so that we could walk in them but what does that look like?  Just as a child’s features begin to reveal a family resemblance our walk of faith produces a resemblance to Christ (Rom. 6:5; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Jn. 3:2) and we develop the same attitude and character as His (Phil. 2:1-8).  How is that demonstrated?  It is shown in the way we are “suitable helpers” toward one another.  We build one another up (Rom. 14:19; 1 Thes. 5:11), use our gifts to care for one another (1 Cor. 12:25; 1 Pet. 4:10), serve one another (Gal. 5:13), bear each others’ burdens (Gal. 6:2), encourage one another (1 Thes. 4:18; 5:11; Heb. 3:13; 10:24-25) and love one another (Jn. 15:12-17; Rom. 12:10; 1 Thes. 3:12; 4:19; 1 Pet. 4:8; 1 Jn. 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11)  just to name a few!
            While Eve is often touted as “the mother of all humankind”, she is also an example of what “new creatures in Christ” (2 Cor. 5:17) are to be like.  Therefore taking a good look at Eve is a starting point for taking a good look at ourselves.  Are you a suitable helper in the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-27)?   If not, what will you do to change that?
 
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
Week of 5/21/2017

            Mother’s Day will be celebrated on May 14th this year.  According to Wikipedia Mother’s Day is “a celebration honoring the mother of the family as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society.”  It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March and May.  The modern celebration of Mother’s Day as we know it in the U. S. came about due to the efforts of Anna Jarvis who wanted to honor the work her mother had done among wounded Civil War soldiers.  It was first celebrated in 1908 in Grafton, W. Va. but by 1911 every state was recognizing and celebrating it.  In 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed an official proclamation that Mother’s Day should be celebrated every year on the second Sunday of May.
            Many people incorrectly assume that women in ancient Israel had less value than our present-day status of “equality”.  And while it is true that the potential for success in any realm (home, business, entertainment, etc.) was not as broad as it is in 2017, women in ancient Israel actually had greater rights than those in neighboring countries.  The most prominent role for women in these times of course was motherhood, but across the pages of Scripture we see women in the role of leadership (Miriam: Ex. 15:20-21; Num. 12; Mic. 6:4; Deborah: Jud. 4-5) as well business (Lydia: Acts 16:14-15) and even politics (Damaris Acts 17:16-32).  But as mentioned previously, motherhood was truly the highest level of achievement a woman could reach in Biblical times.  Becoming the mother of a son was the highest of the high! 
            But in 1 Sam. 1:1-20 motherhood is in a have/have not situation.  Hannah, Elkanah’s primary wife, is childless.  Peninnah, his secondary wife has both sons and daughters- making Hannah’s childlessness even more painful.  A common mindset back then was to believe that if a woman could not produce an heir, there must be some sort of sin issue that God was judging.  Peninnah’s nasty behavior is indicative of this.  And of course this makes Hannah even more miserable because she is fairly certain she has done nothing wrong.  In desperation and at the brink of overwhelming sorrow Hannah begs the Lord for a child and after a mistaken judgment by Eli the priest she receives the promise that the Lord will indeed grant her request.  What happens after that is even more admirable- so make sure you read it!
            What is so interesting about this story is the contrast between the two mothers.  We know A LOT about Hannah.  We know virtually nothing about Peninnah.  We know A LOT about Hannah’s son (the prophet Samuel).  We know nothing about Peninnah’s children.  All we know about Peninnah is that she existed and that she used her motherhood as a weapon to torment Hannah (1 Sam. 1:6).  She particularly enjoyed doing this as the family traveled to the Tabernacle at Shiloh for worship.  Unlike Hannah, God was never the focus of Peninnah’s life.  Peninnah was a mother who faded into obscurity along with her children. 
            What can we learn from the behavior of these two mothers?  Do we have to be a mother in order to learn something from them?  Obviously not!  In fact we don’t even have to be a female in order to learn something from their lives- but perhaps being a female may make it easier for us to understand the depth of Hannah’s emotions.  So what lessons do we learn from Peninnah’s life?  First and foremost, our blessings are never to be used as a means to one-up ourselves over others who may not have the same.  Secondly, no matter what life brings to us (motherhood or not) God is to be at the center and He should be recognized as the source for all that we have.  And lastly, if it is possible, we should be a support to others who may not be as blessed as we are thus leaving a positive impact on someone rather than humiliating them and then fading into obscurity. 
            How about Hannah’s life?   What is there for us to learn from Hannah?  First, every feeling, every situation can be brought to God.  He hears and He answers.  Secondly, for those of us who have been given the responsibility of motherhood, we are to raise children who have an impact for God, but, thirdly, if we have not been given the responsibility of raising children, or the days of raising our children have passed, in what ways can impact the children of our church or our extended families?  I believe the role of motherhood is not limited to a biological event.  As members of the body of Christ we have the opportunity to be a spiritual mother to any number of “children” (young or old).   Remembering Hannah’s attitude and actions is a great directive for how we can fulfill that role with those who come within our sphere of influence.   This kind of “motherhood” never stops unlike that of the biological kind.  And the nurturing aspect of it is something that anyone, male or female can do.
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.    
Week of 5/14/2017

            There are times when I wonder how my father survived the years of three girls growing up in his home.  Each one of us had our own distinct personality and likes and dislikes.  I was the dreamer, Diana the out-going one, and “Kim” was the little mother.  We could be the best of friends and the worst of enemies.  Since I was the oldest I certainly had my moments when I thought my sisters were annoying, but they too had a complaint or two when the “bossy” older sister was left in charge.  Throughout the years we have been comrades, cheer-leaders, counselors and cohorts.  And thanks to the journey life has taken us on we have come to treasure each other as only sisters can.
            There were never two sisters in all of Scripture that were as different as Mary and Martha.  Yet each of them chose to serve Jesus as their Lord and Master.  Luke is the only Gospel writer to recount the scene that illustrates this so clearly- the “dinner party” in their home (Lk. 10:38-42).  From this passage and the one in the Gospel of John (Jn. 11:1-45) we learn that neither is married and they live in Bethany with their brother Lazarus.  They appear to be relatively well-off and well-respected since in John’s account Bethany is listed as “the village of Mary and her sister Martha”.  Martha, as the older of the two, has assumed the duties of the matriarch which seems to indicate that their parents have been deceased for some time.  Martha took her job very seriously as all women of her day would have done.  In the custom and culture of the time, hospitality was second only to purity.  And every home was designed to accommodate guests- expected or otherwise.  So it is no surprise that we see Martha busily preparing for her guests in the Luke passage.  It was not only her expected role, but we can see in Martha’s actions that this was the way she worshipped and served Jesus.  Serving Him the best was her ultimate expression of love and devotion.
            Mary on the other hand often draws more attention because of her “counter-culture” actions and the affirmation they receive from Jesus.  Luke notes that while Martha “welcomed” Jesus into her home and was busily making sure everything was perfectly prepared, Mary had seated herself at Jesus’ feet, just like one of His disciples.  We’ve learned from archaeological excavations that the floor plan of most homes had one open room where the cooking and entertaining took place so it is easy to picture Martha’s culinary duties taking place nearby while Mary sits serenely by Jesus’ side.  One can also imagine the kind of looks Martha was sending Mary’s way (especially if you have siblings)!  I think Martha has traditionally gotten a bad rap here.  She’s played as the heavy; the one who chose the practical and mundane over spiritual enrichment.  Mary is exalted as not only “spiritually sensitive” but the one who made “the right choice” and bucked conventional roles to learn from Jesus.  But is that what the passage is really saying?  I think not.  
            It’s quite apparent in the original language (Greek in the New Testament), and we can see it in the English translation too if we pay close attention to the “body language” as well as the words that Martha is just as devout a disciple as her sister, but simply put, her priorities got a little mixed-up.  Martha is described as being “distracted”.  The implication is that she would have loved to be sitting beside her sister and listening to Jesus as well, but as the “lady of the house” she allowed herself to become consumed with the details of the meal.  Her frustration culminates with a question directed at Jesus, “Don’t you care about me” (v.40)?  Jesus’ answer both reassures and corrects.  Martha’s labor of love is not repudiated, but Jesus points out that her attention to detail has consumed her.  At this point I can picture Martha becoming a little teary-eyed, setting down the bowls and joining the others while whatever was prepared to this point cooked. 
            There are several lessons to be learned from these two distinctively different sisters.  1) While Mary and Martha were different, they were still members of the same family.  This is also true of the family of God which has many members which are designed to work together (1 Cor. 12:12-27).  2) We must not mistake Martha’s work ethic as a lack of faith; rather it is an expression of it.  Scripture sees a direct connection to faith and works (Jn. 14:15; Js. 2:14-26; 1 Jn. 2:3-6).  3) While putting our faith into action is important, time spent in learning God’s Word is equally important (Ps. 119:9-16; Ez. 7:10; Lk. 10:41-42); 1 Tim. 4:6; 2 Tim. 2:15).  And lastly, 4) serving others is a testimony to God at work in you and ultimately brings glory to Him (Mt. 5:14-16; 1 Pet. 4:8-11).  Mary and Martha’s story reminds all of us (male and female) that there is room for every personality type in God’s family and He has designed us that way on purpose.   Each has a place to serve, and all are meant to work together as a whole (Rom. 7:4-6; 12:3-13).  Are you holding these things in balance or are you “distracted by many things” (Lk. 10:41)?  How will you combine your faith and actions to bring God glory this week?
Ann H. LeFevre, M. Div.
Week of 5/7/2017