Women in the Ark ~ A Lesson in Prayer and Preparedness

"But with thee will I establish my covenant;

and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons,

and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee."

~ Genesis 5:18

The women in the ark have a special place in my heart as the unsung heroines of the Bible. What can we say about them that is actually written? We can focus on this truth, these women were believers or they would not have been spared from the flood.

God warned them of the trials that would be coming. They would be boarding an ark and beginning life anew (from scratch!)! What do you think they did until that final and fatal moment? My guess is that they prepared diligently with their hands and prayed with all their hearts. They learned skills. They were virtuous women. They were of the lineage that could have inspired the Proverbs 31 woman!

The Dove Returning to the Ark (Used with Permission) by Mary Jane Q Cross

They undoubtedly possessed (or acquired from older women like Noah's wife), knowledge in sewing, gardening, animal husbandry and food preservation. They must have been educated in the uses of herbs and plants for medicinal purposes. Let us not forget the art of making oil from olives, creating pottery for dishes and weaving for clothing.  These women must have been intelligent and skilled for didn't their very lives and loved one's depend upon it for survival?

Let us glean what we can from these godly women. Though little is said, much is known! Hard times were on the way and they were prepared. And we, dear reader, are placed in a similar position. Our future as His return comes closer, is actually likened unto the days of Noah and we are warned of intense times by the Master himself:

"But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." 

~ Matthew 24:37-39

"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." 

~ Matthew 24:7-8 (The list goes on...)

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." 

~ 2 Timothy 3:1-7

No matter now "near" we think His coming is, these signs are already present in some degree.

Angel on My Shoulder by Mary Jane Q Cross

Are we prepared both spiritually and physically? Daily we hear of natural disasters, heartbreaking sickness, disturbing criminal behavior, tragedies, acts of terror, immorality, high rates of unemployment and so forth. Are we grounded in the Scriptures and diligent in prayer to stand strong when calamaties come and test our faith? Are we prepared in a practical sense to some extent in our homes (i.e., at least a few week's supply of food and water, a first aid kit with basic knowledge of application, alternative sources of cooking and washing in case of emergency, and so forth)?

The Dove is Home with Us (Used with Permission) by Mary Jane Q Cross

In recent history, we can learn from the matriarchs who lived during the Great Depression. Many of the women were living modern lives at that point, relying on the cities and stores to provide their needs. But, when hard times came, they were able to put their tucked away skills to use. They planted victory gardens, preserved the bounty, brought small live-stock back into their decorative yards, fashioned clothing for their children out of feed sacks, and patched, scrimped, remade and repurposed. We don't know what the future holds for any of us but the woman who is prayerful, prepared, skilled and works willingly with her hands, "has no fear for her household" (Proverbs 31:21 NIV).

"She is clothed with strength and dignity;

she can laugh at the days to come."

~ Proverbs 31:24 NIV

Noah's Daughter-in-Law in the Dovecote (Used with Permission) by Mary Jane Q Cross

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;

but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

~ 2 Timothy 1:7

Dear reader, my purpose is not to scare you but to inspire you to embrace the lost arts and skills of the homemaker (and to develop a "sound mind"). We never know when this knowledge may prove useful and be a blessing to our loved one's in these uncertain times. I am not saying to abandon your peaceful lifestyle and prepare yourself into a frenzy, but to take time in those little moments to learn (or do things differently). Perhaps, instead of watching a trivial television show, watch a historical reenactment and glean the old ways. Instead of picking up that novel in your spare time, dive into a do-it-yourself book.  Instead of planting a flower garden, plant a medicinal herb garden. Instead of adding more clothing to your closet, add more food into your pantry. Or make an effort to learn one new skill every year such as canning, fermenting and other methods of food preservation, gardening, sewing, natural healing and so forth. This can all be done gently and sensibly, if done purposefully and prayerfully.

"The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge..."

~ Proverbs 18:15a

This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Make Your Home Sing Monday, Good Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Titus 2sdays, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Roses of Inspiration, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop,  Wow Us Wednesdays,  Coffee and Conversation, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Our Simple Homestead, From the Farm Blog Hop, Front Porch Friday Blog Hop, Awesome Life Friday Link Up, Five Star Frou Frou Friday, Simply Natural Saturdays and Clever Chicks Blog Hop. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these.  This article has been adapted from our original one here. Also, the paintings by Mary Jane Q. Cross in this post have been fingerprinted! To hear more about her incredible art, visit our interview {here}.