Five maidens, Youths Good Representatives
Introduction
Representative as defined by Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary is as a person who is typical of a group.
Many a time because of how some youths behave in the society and some of the exhibited characters of some youths some adults and elders have a negative perspective of youths and have classified all to exhibit such characters. Some it may not even be because of what the youths in the society are doing but because of what they themselves have done during their days as youths, thus, they postulate that to all youths that they must exhibit such traits in them.
But in the bible, we read accounts of some Youths who have distinguished themselves not only among their peers but even among the adults and leaders of their days. Through this they have become good examples and representations of the youths globally.
Since bible is written so that we shall learn from those who have passed and act like them, I know if some of the characters exhibited by those people could be followed by the present-day Youths, the Youths would be viewed from another perspective by many people.
1. Miriam
- Definition of name: Uncertainty surrounds the meaning of the name, Miriam in the bible, because it has three different root words which are, “bitter”, “obstinate”, and “corpulent”. However, the Arabic root “rāma” suggests sense of “desired child”. This name may have its origin in Egypt, “mry” in which case it means beloved.
She is the sister of Aaron and Moses (Exo 15:20; num 26:59) and probably was the one who watched over the ark which contained infant Moses (Exo 2:4-8). (The New Westminster Dictionary of the Bible)
Miriam in Hebrew is written as “מרים”, Romanized form is miryâm (phonetic spelling is meer-yawm'). It is the name of two Israelitesses. (1 Ch. 4:17)
The name could be found mentioned fifteen times in the bible.
Summary of what done: She is the elder sister to Miriam she was the one probably assigned by their parents to keep a watch over the infant Moses when he was placed in the ark and put beside the river. She kept a watch over the ark, patiently, hiding herself from the view of people to know what would happen to the ark.
On seeing the princess and entourage come to take a bathe at the river and she shows interest in the ark, she dare the consequences and moved near her to talk to her and by that saved her brother’s life, reconnecting her brother to his origin, their parents, through which he could learn the culture of Israel and what Yahweh has in mind for the people of Israel.
“And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.
“And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.
“And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, this is one of the Hebrews' children.
“Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?
“And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother.” (Exo 2:4-8)
2. Jephthah’s Daughter: She was an unnamed maiden in the bible who was the only child of her parents. Though her father was excommunicated from the family because they considered him a bastard, but this does not stop his father from bringing his daughter up in the ways of the Lord, teaching her the commandments of the Lord as being contained in the law of Moses. She lived a distinguished life, distinct herself and would not go the way of the worldly becoming unbecoming in the land. she maintained her chastity in the land and was supportive of his father’s “ministry” as revealed by what happened to her afterwards. She does not consider her life as her own, she rather lived for Yahweh and died for Yahweh in the land of Israel which made the people to set aside a day to celebrate her yearly.
“And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.
“And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.
“And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.
“And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows.
“And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.
“And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,
“That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.” (Jdg 11:34-40)
3. Jewish Maid: She was a captive of war that has been assigned to attend to the wife of the captain of the land, called Naaman. Since the time that she has set her foot into the house had she been looking at the captain and she discovered that something was wrong with him. Soon enough she discovered what the problem was with the man, the head of the family.
Being a maid, and a captive of war, what she did she shouldn’t have done, but she chose a noble path, an honorable path, the path of honor and walked up to the mistress of the house to show her how she has become restless since the time she has known the condition of the master of the house who is her husband.
They may not believe in miracle, but she told her that miracles happen daily and if the master of the house could go to his land to a prophet there, she is confident that he would be cured of his disease.
This message was taken to the leader of the house who went to the land of Israel and was cured of his disease by the power of God.
“Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.
“And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.
And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.
“And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.” (2 Ki 5:1-4)
She considered the message of Yahweh important than her predicament and position. She thence, make bold to show whom her God is where and when she was not expected to show it, thus showing that God has feelings for the gentiles and he would come and save the gentiles at the end of the age, by sending his son Jesus to the world which has been done.
What is important now is taken a step like the captain has done, accepting Jesus Christ message into our lives and be saved from the incurable sickness of sin that has weighed every one of us down over the years until his appearance.
4. Esther: A whole book has been dedicated to this maiden and woman in the bible. She lost her parents when she was young, perhaps killed during the war or by some circumstances which was not mentioned. She was raised by her uncle who taught her the laws of God and put her through so many things in life even when they were slaves in another land, the land of Babylon.
She obediently followed the laws of her uncle until she was married and after she got married and became a powerful woman in the land of Babylon, she would still listen to her uncle as if she was yet under her custody.
She later would arise to save her people from the impending genocide that the enemies have planned for them, through her spiritual moves, followed by going against the law of the land to go and meet her husband the king and plead for the lives of her people to be spared.
Her request was granted, and her people was saved from the hands of their enemies and her uncle was again promoted in the land.
She was unique a youth, which laid good examples that position does not make one misbehave, but in the position of honor one should tread softly, be in tune with one’s God and whatsoever one desires shall come to pass.
She showed an example of how Jesus would stand in between man and God to bring redemption to man, saving us from the hands of the devil.
5. Rhoda: She was a servant and perhaps a slave being bought by a rich people in the land. Those rich people got saved and she started fellowshipping with them. The principles of faith were laid out before her and she engrafted the principle in her heart.
An incident happened in which the leader of the team was apprehended and imprisoned. This makes the entire team to gather together and be praying for the release of their leader. Because the person who was imprisoned ahead of him was killed so that this would not be the lot of the leader, they started praying for his release.
God hearkened unto their prayers and the man was released by an angel. The man having known his members decided to go to the mistress of this lady’s house to tell her what happened and to ask of the brethren from her.
He on getting there discovered that the door was locked and he knocked, it was this servant who went to the door to open the door for the person there, but on getting to the door asking for who was knocking and discovered the person to be the person being prayed for his release through his voice, she opened not the door, because she was over joyous. She returned to others to tell them that their prayers had been answered but they would not believe her and even call her names. She was not angry with this, but insisted they should follow her to the door to see.
“And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
“And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.
“And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, it is his angel.” (Act 12:13-15)
They did follow her there and discovered she was right.
She demonstrated rare faith here, when others were praying with little or no faith attached to their faith, she attached greater faith to her prayers that before they leave the place their prayers would be answered and that was what happened.
When we are praying, we should be like Rhoda, attaching greater faith to our prayers.
These are five maidens in the bible, youths who lived a life that was rare during their days, despite all odds, stood out to give youths and youthful phase a better name.
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