(This is a special post in honor of Women’s Day.)
In the last week of January we had a men’s conference. We
had a great time of worship and fellowship. As great as that was
that is not what stood out for me. The word our pastor preached
really drove home the importance of the mission and assignment
God has given us men. It was a message that challenged me to
the core. As men we have a huge responsibility that must not be
taken lightly. (don’t worry ladies, it will all make sense in a bit) !!
I would like to share a very familiar passage of scripture:
“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food
and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom,
she took some and ate it.
She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.”
Genesis 3:6
Did you see that? I certainly didn’t the first time I was shown.
Eve took a bite of the fruit (not an apple as some people think)
then gave it to Adam who was with her…..
Adam was with her when Eve was being tempted!!!
Why didn’t he stop the enemy?? Who knows! Maybe he froze,
maybe he didn’t know what to do but the fact remains, he was
supposed to protect Eve and he didn’t. Things would of been
much different if he did so!
And look at how crafty the enemy was. he knew God’s order
and protocol. He knew man was the head, the cover but
instead of attacking him, he went to Eve!
Let me pause here for a bit and say this, men and women are
equal in value. Man is not better than woman.
But what the enemy has done is, he has got us to focus on the
wrong thing. The issue is not if women can do what men can
do and who is better at everything. For centuries men and
women have been trying to prove who is better. From the
time we start walking we are pitted against each other.
What an embarrasement for a guy if a girl beats him!
I would love to tell you how I was beaten by a girl in a chilli
eating competition but I will have to put that on hold!
I never lived that down for quite a while especially when I
considered myself the chilli master! 🙂 Anyway………..
If we have been thinking like that then we have been deceived. The
real issue is about what God had in mind when He created man and
women because He had a clear idea.
God made man and women in His image and we all know that
there is no part of God that is weak or useless, but as men we
have this idea that women are weak, and that they are meant
to be slaves and do our every bidding. They are not encouraged to
pursue the call of God on their lives and so on…
God has a purpose for men and He has a purpose for women!
God made man to be the head. To lead their family, to guide
them and protect.
This is what God says about His purpose for women,
“Now the Lord God said, It is not good (sufficent, satisfactory)
that the man should be alone;
I will make him a helper meet (suitable, adapted, complementary)
for him.
Genesis 2:18
This verse has been misundertood so much but we really need
to take the time to study it and even ask God to show us what
He intended in the very beginning. God didn’t create her to be
your own personal slave! (are you kidding me??)
There is so much more, and remember, women are a very
specific expression of God! To understand Him better, He made
women!
Let’s keep moving…..
When we read Genesis 3 again it’s interesting to note that
when Eve took a bite of the fruit, nothing happened!
“When the women saw that the fruit of the tree was good
for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining
wisdom, she took some and ate it. ”
It’s only when she gave the fruit to Adam and he took a bite that
their eyes were opened and they realized they were naked.
“She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and
he ate it.
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized
they were naked;
Genesis 3:6, 7
Could all of this been exactly what the enemy had planned?
Did he use Eve to get to Adam?
Was that his plan, to take the man out?
It’s an interesting thought…….
But look at what happens after that,
“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord
God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day,
and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
But the Lord called to the man, “Where are you?”
Genesis 3:8
Firstly, God knew exactly what happened. He was not clueless!
What’s interesting though is that He called Adam! God held him
responsible for what happened.
We see God talking to Adam from verse 9 till verse 12.
Man as the head was responsible but Adam still blamed Eve
who in turn blamed the snake. It’s important to note that God
confronted Adam first!
So what is the take home here?
Women, God gave you a purpose. Don’t let anyone dimish your
worth because of their lack of understanding. Pursue all that
God has called you to do whatever that may be.
Men, we are to lead, guide and protect. In marriage we must
make sure we are doing that. We are responsible for how we lead
our families.
Single men, we are to learn what it means to lead, guide and
protect the way God planned.
The last point is this, our value is the same. No gender is
better but when it comes to function we are very different.
We need to understand that does not make us less of a person.
We must embrace our God given differences and honor each other!
God bless you friends and Happy belated Women’s day!
Rolain
photo credit: google images
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