Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
There is a special person in the Bible that we wish we knew more about--a lady who appears on the stage for a brief moment and then disappears forever. She is a persecuted, rejected, disgraced queen--Vashti (Esther 1). Her husband turned against her with a vengeance, even using her as a tool to spread his male chauvinism "throughout all his empire, (for it [was] great)" (vs. 20). Vashti had no way to counter the injustice that was done to her; apparently suffering in silence ever afterwards. Macho men ruled the vast Persian empire; women were things to be handled at selfish will.
Throughout history, women have suffered, and in some cultures even today they are oppressed just because they are female. In the Bible (the word of God) woman is described as "the weaker vessel" (1 Peter 3:7), but not in any sense an inferior one. Complete equality before God is what Scripture says they deserve (Gal. 3:28, 29). The quality that denotes them as "the weaker vessel" becomes a test of judgment for men; God watches to see if a man regards woman as He intends, giving her the "honour" that He has assigned her. Even in this life, God judges the "macho man" who arrogantly rules over woman, for his "prayers [are] hindered" (1 Peter 3:7).
Think of it! Here's a "good," moral, upright man who prays and prays and nothing happens; he doesn't know what's going on behind the scenes that "hinders" his prayers from being heard and answered. God has had to tell the angels, "Don't pay attention to that man's prayers; he has a hard heart that doesn't appreciate that women are 'heirs together of the grace of life' deserving special 'honour.' Wait until his heart is melted and he accepts the 'knowledge' that he lacks." God is patient with such a man; but he MUST learn.
Meanwhile, what can a persecuted woman do? (1) Let the dear Holy Spirit give her that sparkling jewelry of "the hidden man of the heart, ... even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" (1 Peter 3:1-4). (2) But love doesn't dictate one's being a doormat to be walked over. Verses 5 and 6 say that "devout woman of the past ... placed their hope in God, ... not afraid of anything" (GNB). (3) Love casts out fear (1 John 4:18), so that the woman who believes the gospel is set free to be the wonderful person that God created and redeemed her to be--a fearless and therefore happy saint.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 28, 2001.
Copyright © 2011 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to: dailybread@1888message.org
------------------------------
Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.
There is a special person in the Bible that we wish we knew more about--a lady who appears on the stage for a brief moment and then disappears forever. She is a persecuted, rejected, disgraced queen--Vashti (Esther 1). Her husband turned against her with a vengeance, even using her as a tool to spread his male chauvinism "throughout all his empire, (for it [was] great)" (vs. 20). Vashti had no way to counter the injustice that was done to her; apparently suffering in silence ever afterwards. Macho men ruled the vast Persian empire; women were things to be handled at selfish will.
Throughout history, women have suffered, and in some cultures even today they are oppressed just because they are female. In the Bible (the word of God) woman is described as "the weaker vessel" (1 Peter 3:7), but not in any sense an inferior one. Complete equality before God is what Scripture says they deserve (Gal. 3:28, 29). The quality that denotes them as "the weaker vessel" becomes a test of judgment for men; God watches to see if a man regards woman as He intends, giving her the "honour" that He has assigned her. Even in this life, God judges the "macho man" who arrogantly rules over woman, for his "prayers [are] hindered" (1 Peter 3:7).
Think of it! Here's a "good," moral, upright man who prays and prays and nothing happens; he doesn't know what's going on behind the scenes that "hinders" his prayers from being heard and answered. God has had to tell the angels, "Don't pay attention to that man's prayers; he has a hard heart that doesn't appreciate that women are 'heirs together of the grace of life' deserving special 'honour.' Wait until his heart is melted and he accepts the 'knowledge' that he lacks." God is patient with such a man; but he MUST learn.
Meanwhile, what can a persecuted woman do? (1) Let the dear Holy Spirit give her that sparkling jewelry of "the hidden man of the heart, ... even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" (1 Peter 3:1-4). (2) But love doesn't dictate one's being a doormat to be walked over. Verses 5 and 6 say that "devout woman of the past ... placed their hope in God, ... not afraid of anything" (GNB). (3) Love casts out fear (1 John 4:18), so that the woman who believes the gospel is set free to be the wonderful person that God created and redeemed her to be--a fearless and therefore happy saint.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 28, 2001.
Copyright © 2011 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to: dailybread@1888message.org
------------------------------
Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.
