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.
Proverbs 30: 21, 23b. Number 4, 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 is 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.
1 Samuel 1 shows that Hannah was more 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the virtuous woman, superseded the master wife, and became the family’s HEIR.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 Samuel. Samuel was not entitled to high rank in the family, but from his placement in the temple he went on to become the most important spiritual and political figure in Israel.
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 left a world-changing legacy.
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 Miles Chapel CME Church in Fairfield, Alabama; executive director of the Substance Abuse
Youth Networking Organization (SAYNO); and director
of rural leadership development for the National Institute for Human
Development (NIHD).
Email atgravestwo2@aol.com
You
can help support Rev. Graves’ work by visiting his personal blog and clicking the DONATE button on the
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Support
by check or money order may be mailed to
Miles
Chapel CME Church
P O
Box 132
Fairfield,
Al 35064
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