Strength for Widows from the Bible
By Cherie J Drew
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Biblical widows were strong, intelligent, beautiful, inspirational, determined, and focused; they raised children that changed the history of the world.
INTRODUCTION
Not Something but Someone
The widow’s might is not something; the widow’s might is Someone. In Genesis 49:3, Jacob is speaking to his sons and he tells Reuben that he is his first born, his might, and the beginning of his strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power. God is the widow’s might. He is our Lord strong and mighty, our Lord mighty in battle; therefore we can lift up our heads and be lifted up. (See Psalm 24:8-9.) When the Scriptures tell us in Ephesians 6:10 to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, we have been given instructions on where to gain hope and courage.
What is the “power of God’s might”? Might is defined as strength, power, force, ability, substance, and wealth. Therefore, the power of God’s might refers to His strength that makes us strong, His power to overcome our grief, His force to insure our safety, His ability to repair our broken hearts, His substance of faith made alive in us, and His wealth given to us as we manage the affairs of our families, His church, and His business.
Biblical widows were strong, ntelligent, beautiful, inspirational, determined, and focused; they raised children that changed the history of the world. These women have given us many powerful and encouraging examples. Through their lives we learn that widowhood is not the end of our success, but it should be the beginning of a new and God-focused life. God knew when we married our spouses that we would be without them one day. He knew the pain and hardships we would face, and He knew the questions we would want answered. God allowed me grace, and as I make the perpetual journey on this earth that is taking me to His understanding, I find that being a widow is a unique and special calling. Yes, calling.
Ephesians 1:18 says,
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.
The widow’s might is the hope spoken of here…the hope of God’s promise for us according to His purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
In The Widow’s Might we will discover that Tamar wastwice widowed, and because she understood her rights of inheritance and the laws of the land, she obtained an heir. Judah said that she had been more righteous than he, because he did not give her his son Shelah (Gen. 8:26). We are reminded that Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah were all widows,and Ruth married Boaz. Boaz was from house of Pharez, the son of Tamar and Judah. Ruth gave Boaz a son, Obed, who was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
We will be reminded of Abigail’s courage and insight that so impressed David, that after her husband died she became his wife. Batheseba too was a widow; she not only lost her husband, Uriah, but she also lost her child. But God still used her to give birth to perhaps the wisest man to ever live, Solomon.
I have written about the widow of Zarephath, who was used to sustain Elijah during a famine, and the woman whom Elisha directed to become a merchant and save her sons from being sold to repay debts. Widows are the reason we have deacons in the church today. In the Book of Acts we learn that God has a protection for widows that is not common or usual, and how many of us are afforded the privilege to serve as intercessors like Anna. He has special protection for us—it was the widow of Nain whose only son Jesus raised from the dead.
While discussing these godly women, I have shared the pain and victory relating to the deaths of my late husbands. My prayer and hope is that you will gain strength and grow in the Lord, who is the widow’s might. Jesus is our strength, and after all, “It’s all about HIM.
To Order the Widow's Might log on to thewidowsmight.org
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