Hello Everyone,
Are you discovering more about yourselves? We have covered a lot of foundation information regarding Eve and biblical womanhood last week. I hope that you were not overwhelmed by it. I pray that you were enlightened and that it brought you a little closer to your divine purpose as a woman or man of God.
It isn't possible to understand the Bible's teaching on men and women without first understanding God's purpose in creating them (DeMoss & Kassian 2012). Now that we have a better understanding of what God's intentions are for us as men and women, we can move forward to discover His specific roles for us.
To successfully live in today's society as a Godly man or woman, we must live counter-culturally to represent the true intentions of the Creator towards Adam and Eve. This week will dissect that purpose and learn how to exhibit and practice those characteristics.
RESOURCE
Genesis 2:23-25
23 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." 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
bride - a female (woman) participate in her own marriage ceremony; a woman recently married
wife - a man's partner in marriage
LESSON
Adam and Eve are the first example of marriage that we can draw from. They were the first couple. They never had a chance to date, court, and/or be engaged. God made them and they knew each other. Verse 25 of Genesis suggests that they knew each other in the most intense case of vulnerability. Their marriage and their relationship with the Creator represented God's original blueprint for both (Wolgemuth 2013).
This divine design exemplifies the Holy Trinity of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. They are three entities in one. Through the earthly trinity of marriage; Christ, man, & woman, we learn how to better understand the Holy Trinity. Each part is relational as the sum of its parts. In marriage man and woman are a "we," not just a "me and you" (Allen, House, Radmacher 1999). To dismiss or deny God's purposeful design of man and woman in marriage is to denounce the Creator and His divine plan. Anytime we fail to consult the Designer (Creator) and fail to follow the directions He has provided, we're going to end up with a mess (DeMoss & Kassian 2012).
One flesh suggests both a physical, sexual bonding and a lifelong relationship; meaning unity with diversity (Allen, House, & Radmacher 1999). We are physically different, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually the same; both made in God's image (Genesis 1:27).
Eve was the first wife ever. She did not have all of the examples that we currently have to guide us in honoring God in our womanhood and wifely responsibilities. She had to lean directly on the Creator to exemplify His purpose in design her. Eve had to practice complete vulnerability with Adam and God in order to successfully live in the Creator's design for her; for us.
We must diligently seek to rekindle the illustrious fire that God created in the Garden of Eden. The fire that unites us with the oneness He originally intended. We must read His word for direction, seek His face for strength, and kneel before Him for His help. Single woman, this does not exclude you, for we are all the bride for God! (Revelations 19:7-9)
APPLICATION
I pray that we all have a better understanding of God's intentions towards oneness, marriage, and the overall responsibilities of being the bride of Christ. The Creator's design of oneness requires completely vulnerability (nakedness) as metaphorically implied in Genesis 2:25.
We must become naked before God again and naked before our spouse to truly exhibit the earthly trinity as a reflection of the Holy Trinity. God has purposed us all in His image for that reason. When we do as God has intended we glorify Him.
This week we will choose to be vulnerable and trust God to guard and protect our hearts through it. God did not promise a life without pain. He did promise to keep us (2 Thessalonians 3:3). Vulnerability does not imply pain, as we associate it. Vulnerability actually creates a window for God's divinity to shine and bless. When we close ourselves off, we are operating in our own might. When we practice vulnerability, we are walking in His.
Have a blessed week!
Be blessed,
T. Carter
REFERENCES
All scripture notations were extracted from the New King James Version of the Bible. YouVersion (2013).
Allen Th.D., Ronald B., House Th.D., J.D., H. Wayne, & Radmacher Th.D., Earl D. (1999). Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Thomas Nelson Publishers. Nashville, Tennessee
DeMoss, NancyLeigh & Kassian, Mary (2012). True Woman 101: Divine Design. Moody Publishers. Chicago, Illinois
Wolgemuth, Barbara J., & Wolgemuth, Robert D. (2013). Couples of the Bible. Zondervan Publishing. Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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