From the little window in the house, she watched the shadow of her husband coming and going.
The day had arrived. She looked at the imposing structure 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide and 30 cubits high (450 ft. x 75 ft. x 45 ft.—see Gen. 6:15). The animals, in perfect harmony, came to the ark at God's command, Noah, with a twinkle in his eyes, came to her. He silently took her in his arms and pushed her toward the inside of the ark. A big smile was painted on his lips; everything was in its place: the ark, the animals, his children, and his most precious treasure, his wife!
This was the first time for her to he in the ark and she walked slowly, taking everything in with a critical eye. She observed each detail. "Humph!" ... she thought ... "This window is very little; we will suffocate!' She cast a glance at her husband and with a wink asked about the bedroom, Noah turned his head and with a timid gesture pointed to a little corner on the first floor. Without a doubt it was the best place. The tapestry on the floor looked inviting. There were soft cushions and a multicolored quilt gave the room a personal touch. Mrs. Noah's long fingers glided nervously over the improvised bed as she anxiously asked, "How much time will we be on the ark?"
He caressed her fingers and answered in a whisper,"I don't know exactly ... but don't worry, the Lord is our Guide."
The days of rain seemed so sad and filled with melancholy. She loved the sun, the flowers, walking, climbing up hills, coming hack down, chatting with the people, going to the garden to get fruit, and sleeping at night with her face to the stars.
This was not her wish ... The total darkness broken only by lighting rays that shone through the clouds; the thunder vibrated her brow, making her tremble. But the worst of everything ... was the swaying of 40 days and nights. The swaying made eating difficult. Each bite brought on nausea, especially when the breeze barely moved through the narrow window.
This imaginary experience of the life of Mrs. Noah inside the ark intends to show the natural human side of a woman whom the Bible refers to only as the wife of Noah, who was in ministry with her husband.
She was a woman with needs, fears, weaknesses, and anxieties like yours and mine, a woman who felt uneasy in her stomach for such a long time because the smell of the anima] corral was so bad. She was a woman who was pressed with the uncertainty of got knowing where she was going. Poor Mrs. Noah. This probably was the worst experience of her life. Can you understand her?
Many times people refer to us as "The Pastor's Wife" and we need to remember we really are chosen by God.
Being a pastor's wife implies having many privileges. It also means experiencing frustrating feelings, feelings we shouldn't feel guilty about.
We see that:
* Mrs. Noah felt lonely when her husband left the house for various days to preach while the ark was being built.
Haven't you felt the same when your husband is entangled (engaged) in an evangelistic campaign and he only comes home to sleep?
* Mrs. Noah experienced sadness when she had to leave her things behind to submit to the inconvenience of her new and strange dwelling (apartment).
* Haven't you felt the same when your husband is changing to a new district and the "pastor's house" (parsonage) isn't to your liking?
* Mrs. Noah suffered when the storm increased its intensity and the waters shifted from side to side until she thought they'd shipwreck.
* Haven't you felt the same when you had to endure criticism, censure, and demanding expectations that sometimes church members have for you, your children and your husband's ministry?
* Mrs. Noah stayed there because she understood that in spite of everything, it was the best place to be, the only place of salvation. In all the earth there was no other place of refuge. She came out of that experience appreciative, feeling so fortunate to be the wife of a servant of God.
Can you accept with gratitude, while developing a spirit of praise from looking at a world filled with homes of torment and misery, and understand that being the 'wife of a pastor" is the best gift that has been given you.
I pray that it will he so.
