The Mother of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah’s Wife

Posted on May 10, 2018 by Gail Slawson

Genesis 7:13 “On the very same day Noah and Shem and Ham and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark.”

While writing the devotion, The Rainbow Promise, I began to reflect on another faithful wife and mother in the Bible, Noah’s wife, the mother of Shem, Ham and Japheth. What an excellent example she is for us women today. Many of the following thoughts are not mentioned in the Bible specifically, but are assumptions made by me and should be read as such.

First, she showed great obedience to God in her honor and obedience to her husband. During those many many years of building the ark, she must have also suffered great ridicule and loneliness, yet she showed herself to be a woman of strength, resolutely standing faithfully by Noah’s side, supporting him and trusting him and following his leadership as he obeyed God’s will. “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time, Noah walked with God.” Genesis 6:9 “Thus Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did.” Genesis 6:22. Noah was also called a “preacher of righteousness.” II Peter 2:5

As a mother, she was also a a great example to her sons and her daughters-in-law. As objects of ridicule also, they saw and followed her diligent example of trust in God. Noah’s wife must also have created a strong bond of togetherness and been a source of strength and refuge during their long and lonely time on the ark. Here they were as a family, the only people left on the earth, terrible storms going on outside for 40 days, and then many more days (335 to be exact) on the ark as the waters subsided and yet they were bound together as a family with Noah as the righteous head and his wife faithfully gathering the family together under his leadership, finding comfort in God’s Word and prayer and refuge and solace in each other.

The mother of Shem, Ham and Japheth was also an industrious woman. There was much to work to be done during their time on the ark in caring for the animals, preparing food for themselves, and keeping things clean and orderly and she set an example of hard work and diligence.

Then she was also a woman of wisdom. The time they spent working together was also a time spent in sharing, laughing, and creating a bond that kept them close. Any differences between them must have been carefully averted by Noah’s wife, as she wisely spoke words of edification and not division. ” Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29

Let us spend some time considering this special wife and mother in the Bible, as we build our homes and families and seek to daily walk in God’s will.

The Better Way: Being An Example Of Obedience, Diligence, Industriousness and Wisdom is the Better Way

About Gail Slawson

I am a 74 year old wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. After 54 years of marriage, my husband and I have been richly blessed with 4 wonderful children and their wonderful mates and 19 precious grandchildren, five of whom are already with the Lord and 5 great-grandchildren. My husband and I are busy retirees and reside in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where we serve the Lord Jesus Christ through Bible Studies, as mentors in our church and telling others about Him "as we go." Mark 16:15

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1 Response to The Mother of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah’s Wife

Anita says:

January 7, 2014 at 9:37 p01

Thanks for sharing about Noah’s wife. I’ve never really thought too much about her! But you’re right! She must have been a very patient woman, mother, mother-in-law and wife

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