Redeemed Woman

I have been mulling over Genesis 2:18 in my head for quite some time now. I have heard countless sermons preached in the pulpit on this “helper” role for women in marriage. However, it wasn’t until recently that my mind, and most importantly, my heart, started to grasp the meaning of it…after 16 years of marriage, mind you!

The Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone…” This said after God had put Adam to work and to keep the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15). But this garden wasn’t any ordinary garden. No, this garden had two very significant trees in its middle, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life. Well, we all know how the story goes with Eve getting deceived by the serpent and plunging mankind into sin and death. She wasn’t a really good helper (Genesis 3:17).

But, in God’s great love and mercy, redemption is made possible through the work of Jesus Christ for women so we can fulfill our God-given role as our husbands’ suitable helpers. In context, Genesis 2:18 actually provides a foundational understanding of Biblical womanhood (see also 1 Timothy 2:12-13; 1 Corinthians 11:8-9). Our Creator God made His intentional purpose for His woman creature very clear.

In reflection, I have not been the most fit “helper”, especially in our early years of marriage. I didn’t pray enough for my husband…or, let’s say, I only prayed for him to be and do what I wanted or thought best. I made life difficult for him at times with my selfish ways. Instead of building him up, I’d tear him down. I may have appeared “helpful” to those around me, but my heart was not embracing my role with joy and selflessness. Being the helper was an act of worship to my God whose purposes were greater than my own, and yet my heart was filled with selfishness, bitterness, and discontentment. There was nothing I could say to justify myself in light of this Scripture; I could not even let my husband’s sins and failures justify my sins. Much repentance was indeed needed as I mourned over my sins.

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

Genesis 2:18 (ESV)

Meditate on that verse, my sister. Let these words of God sink into your heart – “I will make him a helper fit for him.” It was God your Creator who purposed you -and redeemed you- to be your husband’s fit helper; embrace it. Pray it.

In my next post, I will be sharing the practical things of this very important understanding. I hope you will come back to read it. Let’s start this dialogue by leaving a comment and pray for each other.