More Than Morsels

A look at the early history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church shows that many women devoted their gifts to God in carrying out His work.

Women as well as men were placed in positions where they were needed. If we look at the social situation of women in the nineteenth century, that is exceptional.

A church that owes its existence to a woman who is considered to be God’s messenger—even a prophet—had to appreciate the fact that God imparts His gifts to all believers. The women of Adventist history are like a cloud of witnesses who encourage us to lay off all that hinders us from giving God our best and to run in the race, looking to Jesus (see Hebrews 12:1, 2, NIV). And today God still pours His Spirit on His sons and daughters.

Sometimes I feel women are overlooked in the story of the feeding of the five thousand. Only the men were counted, but women and children were there as well! All were served and fed. And they collected twelve baskets full of morsels.

I am sure no woman left the baskets behind but brought them home to feed her village. The disciples did not take the baskets as they entered their boat. Jesus performed a miracle, blessing the five loaves a woman had prepared for her son.

And today God takes the bread prepared by women and blesses it. Jesus is Himself the Bread of Life, and He gives bread in plenty, not just morsels.

But sometimes women have to work with morsels, and God blesses their efforts. In Jesus’ encounter with the Canaanite woman, a mother pleads with Jesus to heal her daughter. Saying, “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table” (Matthew 15:27, NIV), she shows she would be satisfied with a morsel of His attention. But with the words “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted” (verse 28, NIV), Jesus gave her more than a few crumbs. He gave His full attention and healed her daughter.

We can only reach the goal God has set for us if we all work together. Jesus did not wait for His culture to change before treating women with respect and appreciation. Let us treat each other with love and appreciation, especially, those who have done such a great service to this church and still do.

Hannele Ottschofski