The True Measure of a Woman (Genesis 2:21-24)

 

And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'Woman,' because she was taken out of Man.” 
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:21-24)

So what do you think? Was Eve created as a lower life form than Adam, perhaps along the lines of a chimpanzee? Or maybe she was created as a superior life form. (After all, I'm convinced "woman's intuition" is a real thing. I don't know if scientists have found it yet, but I know Jen has more wires in her brain than I do!) 

In Genesis, we read that God created animals out of the ground. He created Adam from the ground. If He had made Eve the same way, we would always wonder, "What kind of creature is woman really?"

To forever remove all doubt, God didn't create her the same way He created Adam or the animals; He created her out of Adam. Adam and Eve were formed, then, of the exact same substance, the exact same DNA, making them the same value. 

 

Now this didn't only determine the woman's worth; it also determined a significant part of the man's job description in a marriage. How does a man decide the proper level of how he should provide for his wife, protect her, woo her, and cherish her?   

 

According to God's design, Adam was supposed to love her like he loved himself, because in a way, she was himself! 

 

If that's not clear enough, we can always sprinkle on a little bit of Paul: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her..." - Ephesians 5:25 (NKJV). 

 

How's THAT for a high standard? 

 

Sexism, either direction, has no place in the life of the Christian. While men and women were created with different responsibilities, there is no argument over value when we all come from the same source (Adam), were made of the same substance that makes us distinctly human, and were created by the same Creator Who was thrilled like a child with a new toy at His creation!

 

Dear Heavenly Father, in our culture that is becoming increasingly confused about gender roles and identities, please help Your people learn how to love each other, respect each other, and more clearly reflect Your masterful design in their relationship with each other. In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

 

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