Becoming Mrs. Nehemiah: A Woman's Pursuit of Servant Leadership
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AUTHOR’S NOTE “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12). Our journey will compare the examples of Nehemiah and the Proverbs 31 Wife of Noble Character. While we've got big shoes to fill, I do not believe that God sets any example for us to follow that is impossible to attain and maintain. Allow me to explain. The last line in Nehemiah 1:11 reads, “I was cupbearer to the king.” It is said almost as an afterthought, a humble admission of his high rank that may have otherwise been concealed if it weren’t such a crucial aspect of the story. Interestingly, most of the writings that I’ve browsed regarding Nehemiah have to do with his leadership ability, his role in history, or even his feminine-side. I had not found anything descriptive, to my satisfaction, regarding what a cupbearer was. Essentially, he was the head butler at the Citadel of Susa, the chief servant to the most powerful king in the most luxurious palace in the world. Wow! I’ve seen butler’s portrayed in movies, but wasn’t familiar with their responsibilities or true job description until digging deeper into the story of Nehemiah. A butler is truly a gourmet manager of the household! As a wife and mother, I strive more and more to be the “Wife of Noble Character.” I wish I had paid more attention to becoming her prior to being married!! This is not a book about trying to find a man or how to please any other man except our Lord and Savior. This is not about a physical or biblical Barbie-esque mold that we are trying to Stepford into either, but an outline for shaping the context of our responsibilities and our attitude toward them. Nehemiah provides some helpful tips for achieving that goal.
Here’s the basic train of thought: Nehemiah = Cupbearer Cupbearer = Butler Butler = Gourmet Mommy Gourmet Mommy = Wife of Noble Character
Critical Note: You may be a wonderfully sweet woman, successful in business, have the cleanest cutest house in the neighborhood, or have raised some great kids, but apart from a relationship with Jesus, becoming a wife of noble character is not possible. The Blackaby’s explain perfectly, “Rules for interpreting the Bible must be guided by a relationship to the God of the Bible. It can be no other way. If we teach people how to study the Bible without the relationship, we will produce Pharisees, not disciples. If we teach people to pray and seek the relationship without Bible study, we will produce shallow and fickle believers who will be tossed about by every wind of doctrine that may blow their way. The two must be in balance” (Blackaby, 58). So there is an equation to beginning this journey: Bible Study – Relationship = Pharisee (legalism) Prayer + Pursuit of Relationship – Bible Study = Unstable Bible Study + Prayer + Seeking God = Relationship with God!
It is the encounter with God that transforms us. Without His fire, we cannot be refined and molded into what He created us to be. The Proverbs wife creates a brilliant general checklist for us, and Nehemiah provides some practical examples that can translate into our lives today. This book is simply a tool for knowing the will of God more intimately. It will not make any difference in your life unless you know Christ. Even then, it won’t make nearly as much difference in your life as if you will pick up your Bible and ask the Holy Spirit, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in Your law.”
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About the Book
Do you feel like women are compared to unattainable ideals in the Bible through passages like Proverbs 31? Are there any clear examples of a homemaker with a career to balance but who also serves the Lord with gladness, even against recurring problems?
In Mrs. Nehemiah, Rebecca L. Jordan has blended a surprising look at the wife of Proverbs 31 with an insightful and fresh approach to the character of Nehemiah—“the wall-builder.” It turns out that Nehemiah’s job as cup-bearer in ancient Persia is like a highly skilled butler in service of royalty. So does this apply to civilized women who wish to serve God with their lives and be honorable mothers, career-holders, even PTA members? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” There is much to be learned from viewing these two seemingly different perspectives side by side—and this book is it. Rebecca shows that there are simple and straightforward principles hovering just beneath the surface of these two stories and bristling with livable guidelines and reachable benchmarks which women will find valuable in their everyday lives.
For the many today who want clear strategies rooted in God’s Word by which they can shape lives that are productive, vibrant, and set free from mediocrity, Becoming Mrs. Nehemiah is the book you may not have even known you were looking for.
About the Author
Rebecca L. Jordan holds a BAS in Criminal Justice and a MA in Global Leadership from Dallas Baptist University. She and her husband, Nathan, live in Richardson, Texas, and have a blended family with seven wonderful children.