Well Covered
Being prepared for difficult circumstances ahead of time can end up being a big blessing for our families. Let’s not be naive; the Bible says we WILL have difficulties and tribulations, but how can we prepare ahead of time for them? Proverbs 31:21-22 New American Standard Bible says:
She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She makes coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
So why is this woman not afraid of the snow for her household? Is it because the minute the weatherman said snow, she dashed over to the grocery store and got her supply of milk and bread, before everyone else got theirs? (I live in the South and this literally happens here even before we see the first snowflake!). When these verses were written, snow would have posed quite a challenge for families with no central heating like we have. But the Proverbs 31 woman is not worried, because her family is “clothed with scarlet”, which commentaries say means “double garments”, in other words, very warm.
But the best way to prepare for difficult challenges that face our families is…. prayer. It’s not just about the snow. It’s about the needs your husband and children have that only He knows. So if we stay in prayer, He will show us how to meet those needs in His time. We have something better than the weatherman!
Take note also that the clothes she prepares for her household are SCARLET. This reminds me of 1 John 1:7 NASB:
…but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
So being clothed in scarlet symbolizes being clothed in the BLOOD OF JESUS. First, the Proverbs 31 woman can pray over her household. Second, she can teach her children that their sins are COVERED by the BLOOD OF JESUS. Third, she can teach her children to FORGIVE others easily.
I don’t know about you, but our family is very human. We need His forgiveness and we draw on it daily. One of our most difficult challenges as families is learning how to live together with all of our flaws and deficiencies. The family is where children learn how to relate to others and they carry those patterns of relating into their adult life. If we can teach our children how to FORGIVE others at a young age, this will help them learn not to carry bitterness in their hearts and this skill alone will greatly bless them as they grow. One of the first phrases we taught our children was “I am sorry, do you forgive me?” and then the other person said, “I forgive you”. If we do this, then our children will be COVERED IN SCARLET as they are COVERED IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
As for this mom’s own covering, she makes LINEN and PURPLE coverings. She takes care in how she dresses. LINEN means “bleached stuff, that is white linen” and symbolizes purification. This woman knows she is washed white and clean by THE BLOOD OF JESUS. And PURPLE was used for royalty. This woman has the inner confidence and knowledge that she is indeed ROYAL; she is the daughter of the King of Kings. No need for guilt, her sins have been washed, and she can walk with her head held high as His daughter.
Oh, how we need HIS COVERING! Let us bring prayer and His covering into our families-I know our family could not have survived without it! Our family definitely has had its share of “imperfectness” but
THANK GOD for HIS BLOOD THAT COVERS ALL OUR MISTAKES, SINS, AND HUMANNESS!
In His Love,
Suzanne
Mom Morsels 