SHE IS LIKE THE MERCHANT SHIPS

01/09/2015

#VirtuousWomanSeries

"She is LIKE the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household's food from a far [country]"

Proverbs 31:14

 

Happy new month.

As I pondered over this verse, I was so focused on the foodstuffs and household's food that the initial title also reflected the title. However, it didn't quite add up. For instance, why would the #VirtuousWoman import her household's food? Why can't she grow them herself considering the fact that she's "cat woman", "wonder woman" etc all rolled in one? Does it not even mean that she doesn't cook at home but brings food already prepared in "a far country" for her household to eat?

Like I said, there were more questions than answers. I checked about 7 translations and they all read the same...Hmmmm

 

Finally, I noticed the word "LIKE" in the first part of the verse. She is LIKE the merchant ships loaded with foodstuff! That means she has attributes that are similar to merchant ships loaded with foodstuff! So, what is so special about merchant ships loaded with foodstuff? I did some research and I'll share some interesting facts with you.

 

Merchant ships that transport foodstuff are called BULK CARRIERS. They are usually large ships which are SPECIALLY DESIGNED for the type of cargo (bulk cargo) they transport. Bulk cargo are obviously heavy. Some can be abrasive or corrosive. Also, the bulk carrier has to be designed to withstand sea conditions. Some bulk carriers have sunk because they got corroded by the materials they carried. This has led to more stringent design requirements for bulk carriers.

 

In a similar fashion, the #VirtuousWoman is SPECIALLY DESIGNED for her assignment. Sometimes, she may have to deal with challenging situations but how she responds to these external stimuli will determine if she remains in business or if she sinks.

 

Some of the things that you received in "good condition" may sink your ship if you haven't allowed the word of the Lord form you properly. For some, it is the ministry they've received from the Lord that may cause their ship to sink. They've become so focused on getting "results" that they've neglected their fellowship. For others, it is the marriage that the Lord gave them that will eventually cause their ship to sink. It has become their idol. For another set, it is their children/jobs/businesses/pride that sink their ships. Anything that takes the place of God in your life is an idol and if it isn't properly addressed, it will sink your ship.

 

For a special set, it is the challenges they face that eventually sinks their ship. They've made their abode and tabernacle by "the rivers of Babylon". There they weep and remember the "golden days" when they COMPLAINED in Zion. They allow the challenges guide their choices whereas they have been specially designed factoring these challenges.

 

When the merchant ship arrives with its goods intact, the receiving merchant rejoices, the authorities rejoice (because of their taxes), the merchant that sent the goods rejoices because he/she is about to get paid. The people who'll buy the goods from the merchant ship rejoice because they can get their favourite goods. When the #VirtuousWoman arrives with her goods intact - wen she has come through the storm,everyone around her rejoices. She has something of extreme value to give to everyone...

 

I can't conclude this post without talking about food, cooking and sundry kitchen matters. Even if the verse may not be focused on food, the fact that "foodstuff" and "household's food" are in it justify talking about what the household eats. It's not practical, in my opinion, to ALWAYS bring the household's food from "a far country" (including the nearby restaurant that has an oriental chef, lol). However, it won't hurt to do that once in a while. I am uncomfortable with the idea of spending all day cooking and cleaning, expending ALL your energy on those. I think you should manage your tasks and reserve some energy for your husband at night (whether you both go to Jerusalem or not).

 

I also think that even if you're bringing your household's food from "a far country", you should ensure that it is healthy and nutritious. The fact that your husband/children will anything (including burnt/rotten food) doesn't mean you should feed them anything. Please ensure that your household's food is healthy, nutritious and tasty.

 

I have a question for some men and the women that enable them. How did you come to the conclusion that men shouldn't learn how to cook? (I know there are fantastic male cooks, they are not the ones I'm talking about here). Which rule book says a man cannot cook for his family? I read one RIDICULOUS story of a man whose wife was supposedly neglecting him because she had a job while he did not. There was a bit about the woman asking her friend (who was having marital challenges) to help her cook for her husband while she was away on a business trip (the wife is also a LEARNER but that's not my point for now). Apparently, that's how the cookie crumbled. The simple question I asked, which even Google hasn't been able to help me with, is this - "Why couldn't the man, who was portrayed as the longsuffering man, unable to cook for himself and his kids for the period that his wife was away on a legitimate business trip? Till today, the answer to that question is still blowin' in the wind...

 

Enjoy your day.