Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
The book of Genesis chronicles the story of creation , and on the sixth day Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. The Lord made Adam a helper which was woman suitable for Adam, since God said that it was not good for man to be alone. After God created male and female, the word says He blessed them.
I would like us to look at the Hebrew phrase, a helper suitable. It is ’ezer k’neged. The word ‘ezer means a more capable, more powerful, more intelligent ally. One who helps has something to offer the one who is helpless or needs help.
The second phrase K’ neged shows what kind of partner God gave Adam. K’ neged means equal. God made Adam an equal helper! Woman was created to serve with Adam, not serve Adam.
It was not until after Eve was created that God said let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth. Also, Genesis 2 flashes back to Genesis 1.
It has been said that since God made Adam first, he is the one in charge. God’s design for each of His created beings, not the sequence of their arrival is what gives them value.
So why the history lesson? To show you in the word that God gave leadership roles to women. Leadership roles are given by God, and has nothing to do with gender.
When we come to believe that women are not called to preach or have leadership roles in the church and there is a bias against women, it sends the message that God is unjust. God is not unjust. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, in His image!
Paul’s writings are to be studied thoroughly, since it is an issue of time and culture. We like to read the famous verse, I do not permit a woman to teach, and fail to recognize that woman is singular, not plural. Paul was speaking to one woman, not women. Studying the Bible without listening to the spirit of God can lead to legalism and spiritual death.
I leave you with this verse:
Joel 2:28-29
“And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
All of us are called to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, even women.
May you be blessed this day.
Oh Yvette, I am so thankful and grateful you wrote this! Wow, I have been coming across all kinds of opposition about women being called by to preach the Gospel. Thank you for posting this. I no longer argue with them but have turned them over to God. As long as the truth of the Gospel is being spread it does not matter if it is a man or a woman, the truth is being spread to all the earth! Praise God!