Women out number men, there should be a reason

You may have read a Reuters story of men preferring women who cheat with women to those who cheat with men. Women’s preferences were found to be reversed. It is basically a sinful fantasy by men of having multiple partners simultaneously. With women, it is an issue of comparison, and naturally, women are more forgiving than men when it comes to adultery.

Thank God, I and Adam married the one woman each. Abraham waited for the son of the promise far too long and his wife to give an Egyptian housemaid named Hagar, for the birth of the heir. At 86 years of age, Abraham obliged to having a younger fertile woman.

(I must mention how the Holy Bible expresses how very beautiful Sarah, Abraham’s wife was. Abraham thought people would kill him for his wife and twice denied her, saying she was her sister, to Abimeleck and to Pharoah. Sarah was actually a daughter of his father, but different mothers. At 100, Abraham was circumcised with Ishmael, the same year Isaac was born of an aged Sarah.)

Abraham lost his wife, Sarah at about 128 years old and buried her, and went on to marry one more wife, Keturah. Many of us would envy the man with the fire power to marry at that age. Keturah mothered for Abraham, Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah. He had several concubines of his own. He died aged 175.

In ancient times, men’s pride lay with having seed to perpetuate the family name. As for people like Solomon who married 700 times and had 300 official concubines (and I am convinced there is more off record) it was a case of pleasure than need. Hard as it may for 2 women in bigamy, you see how the 700 harmoniously lived together, being at piece even with concubines. It is a gift men do not have.

Following his raw deal with uncle Laban, Jacob married Leah and then Rachel. Rachel gave in her maid, Bilhah, to Jacob for a concubine, and so did Leah. For sure, there were less grounds of jealousy here and maybe, that is why men had no fantasy of having more than one woman in bed. In the case of Solomon, it is safe to assume he did, because, how does one cater for a 1000 women?

Owed something? Try this.

The Philistines took the Ark of God from Ebenezer and brought it to Ashdod. They placed it in the temple of their god, Dagon. Each morning, they found their god fallen upon his face and finally broken into pieces.

The presence of the Ark in the enemy camp displeased God, and he destroyed them until they got rid of the Ark. They passed it around and many people died and suffered diseases of the genitals until they gave it back to Israel 7 months later with some sin offering of gold and silver.

They made a cart and sent it by untrained bullocks that delivered it without losing direction or their way until they came to the field of Joshua. The Ark was kept by Eleazar, Abinadab’s son for 20 years.

If there is one who owes you anything and are keeping it from you illegally and against your will or you have been robbed or cheated, pray that the same God can unleash the same power, that it can be released back to you. God’s power has not diminished since then, but you have to believe.

Hannah and Peninah

Hannah married Elkanah, who had Peninah as wife. Peninah had children while Hannah was barren. Peninah did to Hannah for her barrenness, the ‘na, nanana, na! Na, nanana, na! It worked wonders as it tore Hannah’s heart apart, to her delight.

Hannah grieved and prayed for a son and made a vow to God in front of the High Priest Eli, to dedicate him to Him. Hannah conceived and bore a son she called Samuel. She dedicated him to the Lord as per her vow. Hannah was to bear a further 3 sons and 2 daughters.

Eli’s sons were evil and corrupt, sleeping with women worshippers at the tabernacle of the congregation gate. This brought Eli’s family a curse, but Samuel grew and matured in spirit in the temple with Eli.

The Lord called Samuel while he slept, and all the 3 times, Samuel said, ‘Here I am’ rising and approaching Eli, perceiving he called him. Eli soon discerned that it was God calling him and instructed the boy accordingly. Samuel became famous as a prophet in Israel, though it was a time the Philistines oppressed them.

Israel went to war and lost badly until they remembered to bring the Ark of the Lord. They shouted loud at the Ark’s arrival, sending shivers down the Philistines’ spines. The Philistines knew how the Egyptians and the other nations were defeated with the presence of the Ark. They however did not want to entertain being ruled by Hebrews.

Hophni  and Phinehas, Eli’s sons were the Ark bearers. The Ark was captured the Eli’s sons died the same day. The 98 year old Eli died of shock, falling off his chair and breaking his neck, at the news of the capture of the Ark. Phinehas’s wife was pregnant at the time, and she went into labour upon hearing the news. She bore a son she named Ichabod and died too.

God answers enerst prayer. Pray without ceasing, believing every word you say and the promise of the Holy Bible.

The story of Ruth.

It is a little common and usually quoted for wedding invitation cards, the story of Naomi, having Orpah and Ruth as her daughters in law. Her her husband and sons, Mahlon and Chillion, died and she asked them to return to their homes. Orpah did, and Ruth stayed. In Bethlehem, Ruth gleaned Boaz’s field. Boaz was a rich close relative of Elimelech, Naomi’s late husband.

Boaz showed massive favours to Ruth and Naomi was impresses by it and gave her instruction about a visit to Boaz in the evening. Ruth 3v8: ‘And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. v9: And he said, Who art thou?  And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.’ I guess he knew that code. If it was me, I would have been lost.

He told her that there was a nearer kinsmen and he was going to hook her up but she must keep the secret. Ruth had bathed and was sweet smelling indeed, as per Naomi’s instructions. She then slept until the morning ‘and she rose up before one could know another’ and was instructed ‘Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.’

Boaz eventually married Ruth and she conceived and bore Obed. Obed fathered Jesse, the father of David. Incredible story of a Moabitish woman.