IBOGIRLLIVING

 

Both men and women are created in the image of God the Father. We both represent and express different aspects of His DNA just like we do with our earthly fathers. Some of us may take after our dads with our work ethic, logical thinking abilities and quiet approach to life for example while some of us will look more like him in our friendliness, kindness and steady emotions. These are all attributes of an earthly dad that his children display and the same is true with our Heavenly Father.

The first 2 times the word EZER is used in the Bible, it describes women ( Genesis 2:18; 20) but the majority of cases after that is used to describe God. God describes Himself as Israel's ezer in times of conflict giving an imagery of swords, spears, shields and victory - so very much using military symbolism. One of God's names is EBEN-EZER (Rock/Stone of Help or Helper) so it follows that as women what we were created to do in the lives of men and others is to assume the role of a warrior, both spiritually and physically. We lean on our Ebenezer so we can fully express that aspect of His DNA by being Ezer Kenegdo.

As women, we are equal to men but different. Each one is lacking something on their own but together, they complement each other. Individually we uniquely reflect who God is and it is in Him we get our value through the ways we are called to walk alongside men. Isaiah 41:10 tells us that"... God will strengthen us and uphold us with His righteous right hand". Exodus 15:2 says "The Lord is my strength  and my song; he has given me victory". God is the strength of man and in the same way, Eve was created to be Adam's strength.

Relationship is something that God is passionate about and wants for His children. We see that clearly in Genesis when He declared "let US make man in OUR image"- this suggests that before man, relationship between the Trinity existed. In Ecclesiastes, we are told that 'two are better than one" because where the one is weak, the other can cover in strength and where one is easily attacked and destroyed, two are not so easily conquered.

Before the Fall, the command was to be fruitful and multiply, to have dominion and subdue the earth (Genesis 1:28). As women, we walk alongside men as their counterparts to do this until Jesus comes. How do we do this though? Many a teaching have suggested that women are only here as assistants, meant to stand behind men while they dominate. When God punished both man and woman for their disobedience in the garden, to the woman He said in Genesis 3: 16  "....Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you" -NIV. It accounts for why 'Fallen Eve' and all women who have not come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior will continually look to their husbands as superior to them and unable to function in their helper, warrior, strength and counterpart role.

Restored Eve offers her strength in many ways some of which include  prayer, being spiritually sensitive and discerning, bringing balance and structure, peace and God's favor. Remember that he who finds a wife, finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. Other ways include being a partner or ally in business, a planner, the one who is better with writing a proposal for a contract or public speaking. Expressing this identity looks different for every woman and those in her life she is called to. The question now becomes are you doing what you were created to do as a woman, as an Ezer Kenegdo, as Restored Eve? Or are you still walking around the earth as Fallen Eve?