Abigail - Woman of Wisdom and Strength

I previously wrote about how uncommon it was for women to be mentioned in the scriptures. I am finding more instances of women than I thought there were.

The Old Testament has many amazing examples of strong, courageous, and virtuous women. In 1 Samuel 25, David sent ten of his men to Nabal, (David had previously shown his herdsmen and servants protection and good will) asking for provisions; Nabal was very rude and refused.

David was so put out by this he determined to kill Nabal and all in his household; however, when Nabal’s wife, Abigail, heard what happened she took matters into her own hands.

18 ¶ Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.

Here, she is being very proactive.

19 And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.

And did this all on her own.

23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,

…

25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.

27 And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.

Here we see the power of a good, strong, and virtuous woman. David was on the way to kill Nabal and everyone in the household. Abigail proactively went to meet David and asked forgiveness of him for what her husband had done, took food and offerings to him and his men, and smoothed everything over.

Proverbs 31:10 surely is shown here:

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Just a bit later we see one of the great examples of “what goes around comes around” in the scriptures.

36 ¶ And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.

37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

38 And it came to pass about ten days after, that the Lord smote Nabal, that he died.

It gets better!

39 ¶ And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.

In the end, Nabal was struck dead and Abigail marries the king. Sounds almost like a fairy tale.

Rahab, Woman of Faith

Joshua 2

It isn't common to hear women mentioned in the scriptures, much less have stories told about them. Here is a story of a woman of faith, Rahab. Jacob sends in two spies to determine if they can take the city. Jericho is terrified of the Israelites and their God; their legend precedes them--and Rahab gives them refuge.

She asks for a “true token” (vs 12) that the Israelites will spare her family when they come to destroy Jericho, because of the kindness she has given these two spies. There are similarities in this token with what was required of the children of Israel to ward off the angel of death in Egypt.

Joshua 2:18-19

Rahab	Children of Israel
Bind the line of scarlet thread in the window	Paint blood on lintels and posts of doors
Bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee	Stay inside but be prepared to leave, the angel of death will pass over
Whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head	Those who didn’t follow the instructions, wouldn’t be spared.

We know that Rahab and her family followed these instructions and that Joshua held up the part of the token made by the two spies. We read about this in Joshua 6.

17 ¶ And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

…

21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.

  22 But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot’s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.

  23 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.

…

  25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

Not only did he spare Rahab and her family, Joshua spared “all that she had.” This, to me, is a type of mercy the Lord has.

By being a woman of faith who believed in God, Rahab was able to save her family and “all that she had.” Her city faced utter destruction and she found the way to make it through. This is a powerful witness to us as we are living in the latter-days.

The Easiness of the Way

In Numbers 21 "the Lord sent fiery (poisonous) serpents among the people; and much people of Israel died." (vs 6) 

Moses prayed, and the Lord told him to make a serpent on a pole at which the people only need look and be saved from the poisonous bite of the snakes. 

We learn more of this story from the Book of Mormon. 

Alma 33:19 "… a type was raised" (being symbolic of Jesus Christ) “… many did look and live." 

33:20 "...many were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them." 

Alma 37:46 "do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; ...if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever." 

Then in 3 Nephi 15:9 the Savior tells us what this means: 

"Behold, I am the law, and the light. Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life." 

This makes me think about what the prophets tell us to do today. How many things are we slothful in because of the "easiness of the way," or think it doesn't apply to me, or believe it won't heal us? 

I often joke that I know I was saved for the last days because I couldn't handle being a pioneer and crossing the plains. Sometimes I wonder if the "easiness of the way" will be a larger stumbling block for the latter-day saints than enduring enormous trials like the early saints did. 

The Children of Israel - 3 Principles

Reading this week about the children of Israel; after they are freed from the Egyptians, hear the word of God and accept it, then regress to worshipping a golden calf - three principles stood out to me. The first is overarching with the whole story and the other two are within. Those I have marked parenthetically after the example given.

Principle 1 - A latter-day warning: We aren't saved just by making covenants. 

The Lord, Jesus Christ, spoke the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai so that all the children of Israel heard.

Exodus 20:18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

22 And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.

(Principle 2 – The Lord speaks to his children, but they have to be prepared to listen)

They were then given the Mosaic Law (Exodus 21), and covenanted with the Lord to keep the Mosaic Law.

Exodus 24:7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.

8 and Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.

When Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the tablets, the children of Israel saw the glory of the Lord on the mountain.

Exodus 24:17: And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

Moses is gone for 40 days; a little over a month. While still being able to see the glory of the Lord on the mountain, they become impatient, start murmuring that Moses hasn’t returned, and fall back on old habits.

The Lord tells Moses what is happening.

Exodus 32:7 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.

(Principle 3 – We can’t hide sin from the Lord. He knows what we are doing even when he is engaged with something else. He knows us and is aware of us.)

Why, I wondered; would the children of Israel, after all the miracles they had witnessed and experienced; after being freed from hundreds of years of bondage; after accepting the gospel and covenanting with the Lord; would they – in less than 40 days – revert back to idol worship?

David Ridges has some interesting insight into this that helps me answer that question and apply the situation more to my life:

“It seems [the children of Israel] were afflicted with what might be called the “re-deciding syndrome.” They had trouble with long-term loyalty to the Lord, and kept “re-deciding” whether or not to keep the covenants … Sometimes, members of the Church find themselves similarly afflicted. They keep “re-deciding” whether or not to attend church, pay tithing, keep the word of wisdom, and so forth. Such lack of complete commitment takes a heavy toll on spirituality and peace of mind.”[1]

Put in modern terms, it makes what the children of Israel did seem easier to understand and even sympathize with. It takes work to keep covenants we make with the Lord in order to maintain that complete commitment required.

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[1] The Old Testament Made Easier, David J. Ridges, pg. 36

Reacting to Temptation and Choosing Righteousness

Genesis 39

In this chapter we see that doing the right thing doesn’t always bring about positive consequences when people who do evil are involved. However, by continually doing good, God will make up for any deficits.

In verse 12, Joseph shows how to react to temptation: he “fled, and got him out.”

12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

The result of this was Potiphar’s wife lied to save face and accused Joseph of coming after her. This resulted in Joseph being thrown in jail.

20 And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

Next, we see God blessing Joseph for his righteousness.

21 ¶ But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

  22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

  23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.

Being imprisoned eventually led to Joseph interpreting the dreams of the chief butler and chief baker, the chief butler finally tells Pharaoh about Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams, Joseph gives credit to God and interprets the dreams of the impending seven good years and seven lean years, and is made to be a leader in Egypt--second only to Pharaoh himself. In this position he is then able to save his family from starvation.

Joseph is richly rewarded for his righteousness. Sure, he had to endure some time in jail, but he had leadership while there and great leadership once released. It is always best to stay on the side of God and choose righteousness.

A Summer Cottage in Babylon

 Genesis 19:26 ¶ But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 

Elder Bruce R. McConkie paraphrased those verses in these words: 

“Look not back to Sodom and the wealth and luxury you are leaving. Stay not in the burning house, in the hope of salvaging your treasures, lest the flame destroy you; but flee, flee to the mountains. 

“Seek temporal things and lose eternal life; sacrifice the things of this life and gain eternal life.” [1]

Elder Holland states that “it isn’t just that she looked back; she looked back longingly. In short, her attachment to the past outweighed her confidence in the future. That, apparently, was at least part of her sin.”[2]

He equates the looking back “longingly” as not having faith that where the Lord was sending her was going to be as good as what she had.

When we look at the setting of this story, we identify Lot’s wife – a member of the church, one whom the Lord saw fit to save from the destruction of Sodom, living in a place so overcome with sin that the Lord could not find ten people within to save it. This is not a place conducive to the spirit and became nearly impossible to remain righteous while there. Having been sent out prior to the destruction by angels of the Lord, she was so affected by the place that she was unable to remove her heart and looked “longingly” back.

Elder Holland, quoting Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, “such people know they should have their primary residence in Zion, but they still hope to keep a summer cottage in Babylon.”[3]

Do I have faith that what the Lord has in store for me is better than what I have now? I would like to think so.

This brings me to Lot’s daughters.

After fleeing Sodom for a small city Zoar, Lot and his two daughters end up living in a cave and this story takes another downturn.

 Genesis 19:31 And the firstborn (JST Gen. 19:37 … firstborn dealt wickedly, and said …) said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth: 

  32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 

  33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 

  34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 

  35 And (JST Gen. 19:39 And they did wickedly, and made …) they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 

Is it possible upon witnessing the destruction of “brimstone and fire” being rained down from heaven, the daughters thought they were the last people living on earth?

Here is some interesting insight from David Ridges:

“In the culture of the day, there was a very strong desire to carry on one’s family line into the future. Lot’s wife had perished and all his married children and grandchildren had died also in the destruction of Sodom. Thus the family line of Lot was about to come to a close. This is apparently the thinking in the older daughter’s mind as she proposes an incestuous relationship with their father in order that they may have posterity that would carry on the family line.”[4]

My mind goes back to the “summer cottage in Babylon” comment. Is it possible, that by living in this city Sodom, so full of sin and ripe for destruction, these daughters became dulled to the wickedness of the act in which they participated? Had they been like Abraham and lived away from sin, would they have had this thought or followed through with it?

As quoted by President Monson, the Essay on Man by Alexander Pope:

Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,

As to be hated needs but to be seen;

Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,

We first endure, then pity, then embrace.[5]

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[1] The Old Testament Made Easier, David J. Ridges, p194

[2] Holland, The Best is Yet to Be, January 2010

[3] ibid

[4] The Old Testament Made Easier, David J. Ridges, p196

[5] Verse by Verse the Old Testament, Ogden & Skinner, p105

Satan will not support his followers

The translation in Moses adds something, missing from the version in Genesis, very critical to this story:

Genesis 4:5

 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 

Moses 5:21

21 But unto Cain, and to his offering, he had not respect. Now Satan knew this, and it pleased him. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

Satan will entice people to follow him and then be happy when they fall. Satan was happy with the fact that Cain’s offering received no respect from the Lord.

As it tells us in 2 Nephi 28:

21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.

22 And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance.

This makes me think about how important commandments and sacred ordinances are. We must treat them with the respect and care they deserve - that of something coming from the Lord and that of something being presented to the Lord. 

I want to please the Lord and not Satan.

Mother Earth and Enoch's Compassion

In reading Moses 7, I found the exchange of mother earth’s plaintive cry to God simply beautiful.   I also found it touching that Enoch was so moved as to weep and plead for her rest.

Here is the synopsis:

 

48 And it came to pass that Enoch looked upon the earth; and he heard a voice from the bowels thereof, saying: Wo, wo is me, the mother of men; I am pained, I am weary, because of the wickedness of my children. When shall I rest, and be cleansed from the filthiness which is gone forth out of me? When will my Creator sanctify me, that I may rest, and righteousness for a season abide upon my face? 

 

49 And when Enoch heard the earth mourn, he wept, and cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, wilt thou not have compassion upon the earth? Wilt thou not bless the children of Noah? 

 

 58 And again Enoch wept and cried unto the Lord, saying: When shall the earth rest? 

 

60 And the Lord said unto Enoch: As I live, even so will I come in the last days, in the days of wickedness and vengeance, to fulfil the oath which I have made unto you concerning the children of Noah; 

 

64 And there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand years the earth shall rest. 

Mother Earth is a living, sentient being that needs to be cared for. If mother earth was that “pained” and “weary” then, just imagine how she must feel now. Could this be the cause for all the turmoil the earth is undergoing now – she is sick, in pain, and weary of sin.

I long for the time when our Savior comes, when she can finally rest.

How God Prepared Eve for Motherhood

Many people think that when God the Father is talking to Eve in this verse, he is being punitive. However, when you look at the Hebrew root of some words, we see that isn’t the case.

Genesis 3:16

16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Multiply: HEB increase thy discomfort and thy size (i.e., in the condition and process of pregnancy).

Sorrow in this verse links to the Topical Guide: Sorrow. However, when you look at this same instance in Moses, sorrow references something else.

Moses 4:22

22 Unto the woman, I, the Lord God, said: I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception. In sorrow thou shalt bring forth children, and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

Sorrow: TG Pain

What God the Father is truly doing is preparing Eve for what will happen to her when she becomes pregnant and gives birth. He is saying to her: “I will greatly multiply your size and pain in conception” – she will get big and have pain. “in pain you will bring forth children” – giving birth will be painful.

These are the words of a loving father preparing his daughter for the role she will play in the creation of mortal bodies for his spirit children.

Bruce C. Hafen gives insight into the end of the verse regarding “rule over thee.”

“in the Hebrew original of that verse, the letter beth (pronounced “bait”) may be translated as “with.” Thus, the Lord was advising Eve that Adam “shall rule with thee,” which perfectly corresponds to our doctrine and definition of exaltation in the celestial world.” (Verse by Verse the Old Testament).

Our Father in Heaven is loving. By better understanding the origin of some words, we will see that displayed time and again in the scriptures.