“SECOND CLASS”

I have heard many women complain about the Bible stating that it treats women as second-class people. While it is true that in Bible times, particularly in the Old Testament, society in general viewed women as property. That was never the intention of God.

In Genesis 2:18 says that He will make a helper suitable to man. The Hebrew term used here is ezer. The word has a broad meaning of support and assist. It goes much deeper than that. It comes from two root words meaning “to rescue, to save, and to be strong.” The word ezer is used over 20 times in the Bible. Twice, it refers to woman. 3 times it refers to nations that assisted Israel. And 16 times it refers to God.

I believe that this illustrates the importance God placed upon women. One might say that they complete man. Throughout the Bible, we see the importance of women and how God used them to carry out His will. In Proverbs 31 we are shown the traits of a virtuous woman. In the first 9 verses, we see a mother giving advice to her son, King Lemuel. In verses 10-31, we see the description of a women who supports her husband and her family. Both of these women play an important role in God’s plan.

Deborah was one of the Judges of Israel. God used Jael, the wife of Heber to kill Sisera, and enemy of Israel. These were women whose desire was to be pleasing to God.

God has given men and women defined roles in His church. Both are important and should not infringe upon the other. Many women complain that Paul said that women could not teach a man. While that is true, it does not prohibit them form teaching children or other women. Women serve in many different ways. This does not take away from the importance of women in service to God. Men and women just have different responsibilities.

Women played a very important role in the ministry of Jesus. It was the women who first saw the resurrected Jesus and He sent them to tell the Apostles. The church met at the house of Mary. Lydia become prominent in the church after her baptism in Philippi. Phoebe was a servant of the church at Cenchrea, and Paul told the Roman church to help her in whatever matter she needed. Priscilla worked closely with her husband Aquila.

Many husbands like to quote Ephesians 5:22-22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. This entire passage needs to be read to get the full understanding of the marriage relationship. Ephesians 5:25 sums it up, 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. The wife should be the most important thing in a husband’s life outside of his relationship with Christ.

?God has created male and female. We each have a role in the kingdom of God.

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Read Galatians 3:25-29