When God created man, He formed him of the dust of the earth, and created him in His own image.  Adam then named all of the living creatures, but a help meet to him was not found. So God made a deep sleep to fall on Adam and took one of his ribs and made a woman.  Was God a little reluctant to make woman?  Did He foreknow that she would lead man into sin (by taking the forbidden fruit)? Was this why she was not made of the dust of the ground alongside Adam — but instead only after he had named all living creatures?

    In 1st Corinthians 11:7 we read, “For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.”    So man is made in God’s image, not woman. From what we are about read, we will see that man and woman were not created equal — much to the displeasure of ‘Christian’ feminists.

A Woman's Role

    So, what is the role of woman?   God’s first recorded direct instruction to woman was given after they had taken of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and before leaving the Garden of Eden:  “Unto the woman He said, ‘I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; In sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, And he shall rule over thee.”         (Genesis 3:16)

    Here God has distinctly set woman under her husband’s authority. A further example of a husband’s position over his wife is seen in Numbers, Chapter 30. This whole chapter is important and worthy of study, but to abbreviate it for lack of space; “But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it [her vow or utterance]; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the Lord shall forgive her.”    (Numbers 30:8)   
    “But if he [her husband, or the father of an unmarried woman] any ways make them void after that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity.” (Numbers 30:15)
    Yet; “If a man vow a vow unto the Lord; or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.” (Numbers 30:2)

Even as Sarah Obeyed Abraham...

    God has set our husbands to rule over us wives (or fathers over unmarried daughters) — so how should we respond?  

    “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
    “While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
    “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
    “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
    “For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
    “Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.”   (1st Peter 3:1–6)

    Also, “Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.” (Ephesians 5:24)

A Good Wife...

   A good wife should therefore be submissive to her own husband, as one having power and authority over her.

    “Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
    “For this cause ought the woman to have [a covering, in sign that she is under the power of her husband] on her head because of the angels.”
    “Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.”    (1st Corinthians 11:9–11)

    This symbol is a head-covering; and indicates that a wife is under the headship of her husband, in Godly order. “But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
    “Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered dishonours his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonours her head.” (1st Corinthians 3–5)

That the Word of God
may not be Blasphemed...

    What other aspects of woman’s behaviour are important? We have already read that a wife should be chaste in conduct, accompanied by fear, but Paul expands further in Titus 2:2–5;

    “...the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things — that they admonish the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste home-makers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.” (the penalty for blasphey in the Old Testament was death).

    Another important role for a woman is to bear Godly offspring for her husband and God. The first command given to Adam and Eve after they were created was;  “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply...’” (Genesis 1:28)

    This was again restated to Noah and his family after the flood in Genesis 9:1 & 7, and also in the law of God in Leviticus 26:9 and Deuteronomy 7:13, as a blessing, as well as in many other places.  For example, we read of Rachael and Leah who bore 13 children between them -- Milcah, the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor, who bore eight -- Keturah (Abraham's 3rd wife) who bore 6 children -- and even Eve, who bore many 'sons and daughters'.    We patriarchal women follow God's way, enjoying the role of motherhood.    God wants us to have Godly offspring, so with our husband’s consent, we should be fruitful and bear children for God, in love. A woman who is fulfiling this role of motherhood will also recognise how she ought to behave before God. That is, she is not going about as a gossip, or dressing or acting in a manner that is provocative to other men, but is staying at home, rearing her children in the fear and admonition of God, and being a faithful wife and mother in obedience to God’s law.

Women in the Church [1]

    Some women try to fulfil all we have read so far, but then forget how they should behave in church.    “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.
    “And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.”   (1st Corinthians 14:34–35)

    Paul is quite adamant here that a woman must be silent in church, and also that if she wants to know something, she should ask her own husband at home. This is so that the husband and wife may be of one accord in their understanding of the Scriptures (and also that they do not disrupt the service by talking).

    “Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.” (1st Timothy 3:11–12)

    Why? Paul goes on; “For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.”   (1st Timothy 2:13–15)

    God therefore knows that a woman is more easily deceived than a man, which is why she should not teach, and as we know, Eve was told that her husband was to rule over her.   Does this sound too tough or too old-fashioned? On the contrary, I couldn’t be happier! Submission to a Godly man is a peaceful pleasure most women never find. If you haven’t found it yet — I hope you find it soon...!   

— Mrs E. Morris

 

Footnote by HEM

[1] The passages that follow are interpreted a little differently by HEM. For further qualification, please see Should a Woman Teach in Church?, Women in the New Testament Church, and Should Women Teach in the Church?". For a detailed exegesis of 1 Timothy 2:11-12, see In the Beginning Was the Word. For PDF files on women leadership, see 1. A Church Without Women (PDF), 2. Women in Leadership (PDF), 3. Female Church Leaders and Requirements for Ministry (PDF), 4. A Church with Love (PDF) and 5. Did Paul Forbid a Woman to Teach a Man? (PDF)

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SWEET SURRENDER

   If you were to say what your most treasured wish is, what would you say?

    I can tell you mine. It is the gentle smile on my husband’s face, to know he is contented and happy, and that I am his treasured possession... Happy, obedient children, a smooth-running family, with everyone having their roles to play like a old well-oiled clock ticking away... Fresh bread cooling beside the stove, with its welcoming aroma drifting through our home... A comfortable lounge with my husband contentedly reading his Bible — this is what God wanted for us. To contentedly serve our husbands, to support and love them, tender and gentle, and in return we receive so much more their love and tenderness, their approval and respect, even their lives, for they would die in defence of us, for our role as ladies is to be the living heart of our families, while our husbands care and provide for us, worry and work and strive to do all God asks of them, face the world, while we quietly go on in our role as mothers and wives. How blessed we are to be born women!

    My heart goes out to the women of today, for they strive, in a man’s world, to find contentment, when all along what they are fighting against is what they most desire, inner contentment and fulfilment. They worry about their hair, forever changing styles or colours, and still feel that something is missing — but they baulk at the thought of a head-covering, a visible sign of our love for our husband. They have lost their place due to today’s society.

    For me, they are the lost generation, on a fast spiral to self-destruction.   As for me, I will follow the way of the patriarchal fathers, where I find peace as a woman precious to God.

   May God bless you.

— Mrs. L. Peddell

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Oh you fair maiden of God
Take care of your self!
Do not be swayed by the ungodly,
Walk not in their harsh ways.

But be of a gentle nature,
Kind, tender, faithful and loving,
For you are an unpicked flower
In the garden of women

Save yourself for your husband,
For he is saving himself for you....
Courtship and romance are to come
For God will deliver you there

Seek the simple things in life
Do not seek the ways of the city
Or the ways of women who are men
But live your life as a lady

Be romantic, trust in God
Be a homemaker, pleasing the Lord
Never compromise your honour
For your wedding day will come.

Sweet lady; you make a man a man
You are a precious jewel
Never lose your innocent way
Never entertain those who are not true

Entertain only the ways of God
Keep your mind pure and clean
For you are a virgin in waiting
And your Lord will not let you down...

Authors: MEM, MLP