Woman: Man's Helper or Slave?

By David Eckman, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer, Kesed Seminars

CBN.com -- Many men and, sadly, some women think that God intended women to be flunkies. In Genesis 2, when God provides a helper for Adam, He used a glorious Hebrew word for helper: azer. "Then the Lord God said, 'It is not a beneficial thing for the man to be alone. I will make for him an azer who is his complement or equal.'" In Hebrew, azer is used 19 times; mostly it is used to denote humanity's great helper. The word means a "helper like unto God." God paid a compliment to women with this word. The same word is used in Psalms, where it says, "O Israel, trust in the Lord, for He is their Helper and shield" (Psalm 115:9). The term is always used to describe someone who brings significant help and often not as someone who delivers another from some great dilemma. When the ancient Hebrew speaking Israelite heard the term used to describe Eve, he would have been impressed. He would have thought of women, therefore, as a God-like gift from God.

Women are viewed in the Bible as wonderful gifts. Genesis 1 is clear that men and women are equal because both are in the image of God. "Let us make humanity in our image, according to our likeness, in order that they might rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over the beasts, and over the earth," says Genesis 1:26. Because both share God's image, they were to share the responsibility of ruling.

Genesis 1:28 says that God blessed them for their mission of governing and filling the earth. When women and men become Christians, a similar but profoundly richer blessing is given. In Ephesians 1:3, men and women in Christ are the recipients of every spiritual blessing in the upper Heavens, where God dwells. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the Upper Heavens." If the text in the Old Testament, Genesis 1:28, is combined with what is in the New Testament, Ephesians 1:3, we have a blessing that first was given in the sphere of the earth, and then with the work of Christ, it is extended through the skies to included Heaven itself. God intends good for women and men through the work of Christ.

Women and men are also equal in worth, for Christ died for both. Romans 5:8 states, "But God recommends His own passionate love toward us, in that while we were continually sinning, Christ died for us." The genders are different, but not different in worth. Worth is determined by what the buyer wants to give for the desired possession. In this case, God was willing to give a Son for us.

Men and women are equal in creation, reign, blessing, and worth. God values people, and people have to realize the value He places upon them. Indeed, Jesus Christ is an equal opportunity sufferer for both genders. Whenever we begin to feel worthless, ashamed, or guilty, we should shift to how He values His children, both women and men.

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David Eckman is the co-founder and senior lecturer for Kesed Seminars, a non-profit organization dedicated to introducing people to Gods loyal love. The organization name, Kesed, comes from the Hebrew word for loyal love. Kesed Seminars is a seminar and training team that works with Campus Crusade, churches, denominations, schools, and other parachurch organizations to bring spiritual transformation to their constituencies. Dr. Eckman and his wife, Carol, have been married for 30 years and have two children.