International Women’s Day was celebrated around the
world on 8th March to acknowledge womanhood and shower them with love and
respect for who they are. The Bible with the best explanation of man’s creation
portrays man and woman as coheirs and equally responsible towards building of
the family, ruling the created universe, and be part of God’s mission. In the
Bible, Genesis 1:27-28 states, “So God created man in his own image: he
created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. God blessed
them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, and
subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature
that crawls on the earth.”
When God created male and female, He did not mean to glorify men and demean women, as if helper somehow meant lesser. Sarah E. Fisher in her website (refer to the site link given at the end of this blog) explains, “And so God created woman to be an ēzer to man. But this word, translated as helper, is not about making brunch and darning a man’s socks. This word means an ally or rescuer, someone who comes running when the people cry out for help. An ēzer drops everything to save those in need… An ēzer is a hero.”.
Adrien Segal puts this beautifully, “Self-centered, bullying leadership was never God’s plan. Neither was self-centered resentment when called to help.”. The twisted lie that the first man Adam’s call means power and privilege, and Eve’s subjugation, springs out of the pride that human hearts have harbored since the fall. Men too often have been puffed up to lead with domineering power.
God created humans — men and women together — as the pinnacle of all creation, crafting both in His very image. He created them with distinct and complementary attributes, inclinations, and gifts that make them indispensable to one another and to His plan for filling the earth with His glory.
Today, it may look as though women around the world are fighting for identity because they have low self-esteem and suffer from inferiority complex, which is not true. Women all through the ages are victims of oppression and abuse of many kinds, yet they stand tall today for who they are. 8th March is not the only day where they need to get recognition but every single day. They need to be intentionally respected and loved.
Genesis 2:18 is too often misquoted for the word ‘helper’ used in the passage. But the original Hebrew word used was ēzer kĕnegĕdô which literally means “a strength corresponding to him.” The Biblical Hebrew dictionary lists biblical meanings of ʿēzer as “help, assistance, might, and strength”. Unfortunately, the word ʿēzer here is often translated “helper,” which, in English, implies a subordinate or servant. The Bible used the word ‘ēzer 21 times in the old-Testament does not suggest ‘helper’ as in ‘servant’, but help, savior, rescuer, protector as in God in helper.
Women are very much part of God’s mission always. Have we forgotten, women at the cross, women at the burial, women at the tomb, women first at the resurrection. Women were the first to proclaim He has risen. Remember the cross, Remember the women! Let us not forget Luke 8 where it says, “Afterward he (Jesus) was travelling from one town and village to another, preaching and telling the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, and also some women . . . Mary, called Magdalene, Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s Steward; Susanna; and many others supporting them from their possessions.” (Luke 8:1-2). Women too went along with Jesus from one place to another for kingdom work.
Talk about Paul’s ministry, In Rom 16:1–16, Paul greets by name ten people whom he identifies as colleagues in Christian ministry. Seven of the ten are women: Phoebe, “deacon of the church of Cenchrea” (16:1) and “leader of many, including myself” (16:2); Junia, “outstanding among the apostles” (16:717); Prisca, “my fellow worker in Christ Jesus” (16:3; . Phil 4:3); and Mary, Tryphaena, Tryphosa, and Persis “worked hard in the Lord” (16:6, 12). Paul who is misquoted for stating hierarchical leadership had most of them women too. It is time for us to use women in a literal meaning ēzer kĕnegĕdô which is “a strength corresponding to him,” and tie strong partnership in Christ’s Mission. Can we seriously make a conscious alignment to our perspective and treat them as equals in our mission work?
To read the last blog click HERE
Helper:
defining the EZER woman – Hebrew Word Lessons
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