And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
~ Genesis 2:18 ~
I love Hebrew, and find the original Hebrew words fascinating:
"And Yehovah 'Elohiym said, It is not good that man (Adam) should be alone (bad); I will make him an help meet (literally a help, or succour; support) for him."
Succour is an old English word that is not much used today. Here is its definition in the 1812 Webster's Dictionary:
v.t. Literally, to run to, or run to support; hence, to help or relieve when in difficulty, want or distress; to assist and deliver from suffering; as, to succor a besieged city; to succor prisoners.
For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.
~ Hebrews 2:18 ~
n. Aid; help; assistance; particularly, assistance that relieves and delivers from difficulty, want, or distress.Succored: pp. Assisted; relieved.
Succorrer: n. He that affords relief; a helper; a deliverer.
Succorless: a. Destitute of help or relief.
Thus, our job title as women is to literally help, relieve, support, and I would add, encourage the men in our life.
I understand that this may be a sensitive subject to some young women, because maybe God hasn't brought your "Adam" into your life yet. Well, me neither!! :) However, I think we need to take a step back from the sometimes all-consuming desire of marriage, and look at the big picture.
One time, I was sharing this revelation with a friend, and another gal who was listening took offense to it because she was in her mid 20's and still unmarried. In her mind, if that was our purpose in life, than she was obviously failing it as a woman, as were all other women who God had either called to a life of singleness to serve Him whole-focusedly or were too young for marriage.
I think this is where we often get our focus off-track. Though God's design for us is to be an help meet for our husbands, it starts with being helpers at home as little girls; helping our fathers (be wary though of usurping your mother's position!), our brothers, and those around us.
Hadassah lived at her cousin Mordecai's home when she was gathered for the king. (Esther 2) Rachel kept her father's sheep, and Leah, as the older daughter most likely had a large amount of responsibility serving in the home. (Genesis 29) Mary, a mere youth, probably lived at home still during her espousal, before visiting Elizabeth (Luke 1:27), and Miriam was at home -- able to watch over Moses, before later helping her brothers with the Israeli Exodus.
So, the question is, How do we accomplish this?
1) Find ways to serve. (And I would add--look around at home first, as I am realizing it is so much easier to serve outside the home, especially in our day and age, but our families, mothers, and younger sisters (and brothers) desperately need and miss us!!)
2) Study womanhood in the Bible, and seek to apply it: Proverbs 31, Titus 2:4-5, 1 Timothy 2, to name a few.
3) Seek to disciple others. Though we may feel so inadequate, knowing how much we need to grow (I know I sure do!!), God doesn't want us to use that as a crutch. He wants us to be actively sharing and discipling others {in humility}, while we are maturing in Him ourselves.
Get creative!! One of Satan's biggest lies is that we are to be "just waiting"... Yes, waiting, but not "just" waiting. No, we are supposed to be productively waiting.
Oh, if I could only always grasp this!!! This has become an almost utterly consuming passion inside of me, though I so often fail to really, fully live it out, however, God is faithful, and He continues to teach me. The hard part is really applying it...
That they (older women) may teach the young women to be sober (moderate, curbed, controlled), to love their husbands (or fathers, brothers, etc.), to love their children (or siblings), to be discreet (temperate, self-controlled), chaste (exciting reverence, pure, modest), keepers at home (watcher/caretaker of the home), good (useful, pleasant, joyful, upright), obedient to their own husbands (or fathers-as the authority--submit/subject one's self, yield to another's admonition/advice), that the Word of God be not blasphemed.
~ Titus 2:3-4 ~
PS> Sorry it took so long to get this posted!! I meant to finish it a few weeks ago, but well....I was busy trying to live it.. ;)
I've always had this question, and maybe you can answer it:
ReplyDeleteHow does Deborah, who was a single woman judge in Israel (besides leading the army) fit into this picture?
Thanks for your input!
That is a great question!! I have always loved the story of Deborah, as hers was very unique.
DeleteTo answer that question, I think we first have to go back to Judges 2:16-20. After Joshua died, the Israelites "did evil in the sight of the Lord", so God raised up other judges to help guide them back, though the Israelites didn't follow them either.
We see in chapter 3, that there were cycles of judges, and the Israelites did much better while they were alive, however, after their deaths, they returned to their false gods and whorings.
In chapter 4, Ehud died, and the Israelites continued their whorings. If we continue reading that chapter, we can come to the conclusion that the men were not stepping up to the plate as men. Thus, Deborah did. I find it interesting that the Bible notes her as "the wife of Lapidoth".
We see that she was in communion with God, and was acting in His will, for "the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was *with* the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them." (Judges 2:8)
So, what did Deborah do? Here she was, in a time where those around her doing evil in the sight of the Lord, and the men were not doing their duty. She sees what needs done, and what does she do? She calls Barak (vs. 6-7), blesses him, tells him the word of the Lord, and also tells him that they will succeed.
And what does he do? He says (vs. 8-9): 'I'll go if you, but if you don't go, then neither will I' (paraphrase). A complete lack of faith and valor.
Her response: 'I will go with you, but you won't get any honor from it, because (of your lack of faith), the Lord will sell Sisera into a woman's hand.'
Even in verse 14, after he had 10,000 men at his command, Deborah has to tell him to go, and remind him that the Lord WILL deliver Sisera into his hand. "Is not the LORD gone out before thee?"
Sure enough, Jael was the one who killed Sisera.
Delete**So, what can we learn from Deborah??**
- First, God raised up a woman, mighty and strong. He will use any of us who are willing and listen to His voice.
- Second, When God does call us to do something, or sets us over in authority of others--especially men, it is important that we give due respect and honor to them, because though we are equal as believers in Christ, God did create a special place for women, as the help meets, which is a position of great responsibility and gentle strength.
1 Cor. 15:28 says: "And when all things shall be subdued unto Him {God}, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him {God} that put all things under Him {Christ}, that God may be all in all." Even Christ is subject to Father God, and the relationship of women towards men is in a likewise situation. Equal but different.
Third, God has given us women a unique responsibility and role: We women have a great influence on men as a whole. You know it... How many times I have seen a young man change his whole attitude in the presence of a woman. We women have a huge decision to make: To use that moment for good, or bad. We can encourage the men in our lives around us by encouragement, chasteness, modesty, and cheerfulness, or "go with the flow", flirt, be disrespectful (even in teasing, work-type ways)...
In conclusion, when given opportunities of leadership over men, remember to try encourage the manhood in them, like Deborah did. Something God keeps working on me with (though I am getting better!!) is carrying heavy things, instead of letting the guys do it... I love to do it..I get to exercise those muscles and it's fun... BUT, if there is a man around and willing, sometimes it is better to encourage the manhood in them by allowing/asking them to do it, in a way that encourages it. I am NOT saying it is wrong to lift heavy things--but every situation needs acted out in appropriateness--there is a time for everything, and I have found that when I ask God (I love flare prayers!!) He is quick to answer!!
Does this help at all?? This turned into a mini-post. Sorry about that!!