Throughout the years, and especially today, there have been several opinions about what womanhood is and what it entails. As a woman myself, I have also had my own opinions but over the years I’ve come to realize that the woman’s role is not determined by societal perceptions, but merely the original intention of the One who created her. Therefore, in my quest to gain understanding, I began to search God’s Word, and here’s what I found.
In the beginning, when God created Man in His own image, he was not described solely as an individual. Genesis 1:27 literally describes the entity known as “Man” to be male and female. This helps to solidify that woman was created in the image of God just as her male counterpart was. This may seem insignificant at first glance until we understand what God originally intended to be the woman’s role. Recognizing that Adam found no one comparable to him, God, in His wisdom set out to make a helper for him.
Often when we use the word, ‘helper,’ we think of one who is less significant than the one who receives the help. In this case, however, nothing could be further from the truth. The Hebrew word for helper is the word ‘ezer’ which is no ordinary helper. The only other time this word is used in scripture is to describe God in His military capacity.
Woman! Did you get that? You were created in the image of God to be a strong military aid. As I examined even further, I recognized that God, matchless in wisdom, chose to make woman from man’s rib. He didn’t do this because it was poetic. He did this because the ribs are used to protect the most vital organs of our bodies.
In this, He showed the woman’s identity without ever saying a word. Woman! Whether or not you’ve known this before, you are a strong military aid for those around you. You are a God-ordained warrior, chosen to protect and nurture that which is most vital in life. Do not take it lightly that you have been called to steward over the lives of your family members in prayer and in other ways. Why do you think the serpent approached the woman first? He understood God’s protocol from the inception. Woman, you are the one given eyes to see threats before anyone else does and you are equipped through Christ to bring all things into subjection.
You are not only a gift and help to man, but a gift to all you encounter. Woman, be who God has called you to be Its now time to arise and take your place.
Written by Cherise Cave
Barbados