Proverbs 30: 21 [NKJV] For three things the earth is perturbed. Yes, for four it cannot bear up:
22 For a servant when he reigns,
A fool when he is filled with food,
23 A hateful woman when she is married,
And a maidservant who succeeds her mistress.
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22 For a servant when he reigns,
A fool when he is filled with food,
23 A hateful woman when she is married,
And a maidservant who succeeds her mistress.
Proverbs 30: 21, 23b. Number4, and final, in this list of shifts that shake the world is a maidservant who succeeds her mistress. Some translations says a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
So basically we’re talking about a servant who ends up in her boss’s place.
In a positive sense, this passage about the glory of upward mobility. An elite leader recognizes and rewards the merits of her lowly employee who is more qualified to lead than her well-connected peers.
In the negative, this scripture is about a sneaky sister who steals her boss’s place (possibly by stealing her boss’s man).
The point is that sisters can choose to be a Hannah or a Hagar.
Hannah was one of two wives in a polygamist marriage (1 Samuel 1: 1-6). Her sister-wife (actually the Bible calls the other lady Hannah’s rival) had children, but Hannah was barren. Socially and legally under the Mosaic law, this depressed Hanna’s status to that of junior wife (Deuteronomy 21: 15-17). In many ancient families, a junior wife without children was little more than a servant to the “blessed” wife/wives.
But 1 Samuel 1 implies that Hannah was a more virtuous woman than her rival. For this reason, even though she’d given him no heir, Hannah was her husband’s favorite. When the time came to divide the profits and favor of the family business, the husband gave Hannah a double-portion (1 Samuel 1: 4, 8) In the Mosaic system, the double portion goes to a man’s chosen HEIR.
Hannah, the virtuous woman, superseded the other woman, and became the family’s HEIR.
God honored Hannah’s godly heart and gave her a son. Hannah honored God by giving her son back to the Lord to be trained as a priest ( 1 Samuel 1: 9-28).
That son was named Samuel. Samuel was not entitled to high rank in the family, but out of his place in the temple, he became the most important spiritual and political figure in the nation.
Samuel instituted the monarchy in Israel. He prophesied the rise and fall of high priests and kings. Samuel consecrated the biological line of the Messiah.
Through virtue, humility, and the integrity to keep her promises to God, Hannah brought forth a son who changed the world.
Hagar was maidservant to Abraham and Sarah. Hagar got caught up in a scheme to use sin (adultery in this case) as a backdoor to attaining God’s promised blessing. Drama ensued when Hagar gave birth to Abraham’s firstborn son.
Hagar got an attitude with Sarah. Abraham copted out of his responsibility. Sarah abused Hagar. Hagar ran away with the child. Then they came back. (Genesis 16)
Abraham was crazy about his son. He exalted the child, which meant that he exalted Hagar (Genesis 17: 18). The young maidservant supplanted her mistress.
Hannah’s rise was based on godliness. Hagar’s rise was based on sin.
Hannah’s son became one of the greatest prophets in history. He was the kingmaker of Israel.
Hagar’s son Ishamael became the patriarch of the Arab nations. He is ultimately the reason Islam, the religio-political enemy of the Jewish nation, exists.
In Proverbs 30: 23, God speaks directly to and about women. The Holy Spirit delivers an extraordinarily empowering message to the daughters of the King.
No matter where you start, sister, you can rise to the highest status. Like men, women also leave a legacy. If your rise is based on godliness, then your legacy will be great. If your ascension is based on sin and deception, then no matter whom else you blame----your legacy will be one of corruption.
You can climb the ladder in a way that is sinful and REBELLIOUS, or you can advance in a way that is righteous and REVOLUTIONARY.
One way or another, sisters ---- you have equal potential to turn the world upside down.
---Anderson T. Graves II is a writer, community organizer and consultant for education, ministry, and rural leadership development.
Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church in Montgomery, Alabama.
To hear sermons, read devotions, and learn more about the ministry at Hall Memorial CME Church, visit www.hallmemorialcme@blogspotcom.
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