<\/p>\n
Lectionary Genesis 2:18-24<\/pre>\nA helper who is \u00abjust right\u00bb<\/h1>\n
You’ve all heard the 10 reasons why God created, Eve, right?<\/p>\n
\n
- God worried that Adam would always be lost in the garden because He knew men would never ask for directions.<\/li>\n
- God knew that Adam would one day need someone to hand him the TV remote because men don’t want to see what is on TV; they want to see WHAT ELSE is on TV.<\/li>\n
- God knew that Adam would never2. buy a new fig leaf when the seat wore out and therefore would need Eve to get one for him.<\/li>\n
- God knew that Adam would never make a doctor’s appointment for himself.<\/li>\n
- God knew that Adam would never remember which night was garbage night.<\/li>\n
- God knew that if the world was to be populated there would have to someone to bear children because men would never be able to handle the pain of childbirth.<\/li>\n
- As Keeper of the Garden Adam would never remember where he put his tools.<\/li>\n
- The Scripture account of creation indicates that Adam needed someone to blame his troubles on when God caught him hiding in the garden.<\/li>\n
- As the Bible says, \u00abIt is not good for man to be alone\u00bb, he only ends up getting himself in trouble.
\nAnd the NUMBER ONE reason…<\/b><\/li>\n- When God finished the creation of Adam he stepped back, scratched his head and said, \u00abI can do better than that.\u00bb<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Seriously, there is so much debate now about the correct interpretation that we should give of the Creation story, and especially of the role and relationship between man and woman. \u00a0The Church is supposed to be shaped and guided by the Word of God, and yet it is clearly evident that our cultural norms and expectations have guided our interpretation of the Bible, and even come into play with respect to the translation of the Bible.<\/p>\n
There is no question that gender issues have been shaped by our culture. In a patriarchal culture, the Church accepted and used passages of the Bible to justify male superiority and female servitude.As cultural views shifted, we have looked back at the translations and words used, and searched for a new understanding of the Bible – but we should ask ourselves, are we simply looking to once again \u00abbe right\u00bb, as opposed to being guided by the Word of God? \u00a0Are we simply now looking to justify a feminist or egalitarian perspective of the creation story that is acceptable in today’s society? \u00a0Or are we looking for the Bible to present to us an actual Biblical response to the question of \u00abwhat is a Godly relationship between a man and woman?\u00bb<\/p>\n
This morning, I would like to explore the verses of Genesis 2: 18 to 24, and \u00a0provide some insight regarding translation and meaning. \u00a0But this is merely one of many possible understandings and meanings that can be found, and I would venture to say only scratches the surface of a possibility of interpretations. \u00a0But there are lessons here for us! \u00a0While God created man & woman equally in His image, there is \u00a0no doubt that we are different – the same way that the males and females of all species are equal but different.<\/p>\n
In Genesis 1 we find a chronological view of Creation – from day 1 in which God creates time, through to day 7 in which God rests. \u00a0On day 6, God is particularly busy, creating all creatures that habitat on land. \u00a0Great and small, he creates them, and when God is done, he declares that \u00abit is good\u00bb. After this God – Elohim – the multiple nature of God, decides to create man in his image. God says:<\/p>\n
\u00abLet us make man in our image, in our likeness.\u00bb<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
And so, man is created, both male and female. In order to avoid confusion, I’m going to use the term \u00abmankind\u00bb to refer to humans, and man to refer to the male gender. \u00a0To emphasize the godlike nature of mankind, God gives mankind dominion over the earth, and asks Adam to name all of the animals.<\/p>\n
The creation story in Genesis 1 is repeated in Genesis 2, but told from a different perspective, demonstrating different facets of God’s character. \u00a0And so, in Genesis 2, we rewind a little, and are given more details regarding the creation of mankind, and in particular the differentiation of men and women.<\/p>\n
Most versions of the Bible have simply translated verse 18 \u00abI ti sno good for the human to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him\u00bb or \u00aba helper that is just right for him\u00bb. And because it was culturally acceptable and appropriate to define \u00abhelper\u00bb as an assistant or as subordinate to the man, the woman was interpreted as having a role of serving: somehow intended to be responsible for catering to the needs and demands of her husband. \u00a0Because if woman is the helper, man is the boss, right? \u00a0 Even Paul says that the man is the head…<\/p>\n
But much has been written about the translation of this section, especially regarding the original term \u00abezer\u00bb having been user rather than \u00abazar\u00bb. \u00a0\u00abEzer\u00bb, with an e does not mean the same as \u00abazar\u00bb. Azar does mean helper or servant, but ezer has a different meaning completely.<\/p>\n
The word EZER is used in the Old Testament some 21 times, 2 in the context of Eve (women made in creation), 3 times in relation to man’s help and 16 in relation to God. \u00a0And the 3 times it’s used in relation to man’s help, it is referencing that help did not arrive such as that help which only God can provide.<\/p>\n
So let’s see what other words and terms ARE used throughout the Old Testament that might have been used to describe women as servants or assistants, that would have clearly established woman’s role as being subservient to that of man:<\/p>\n
\n
- The best word for helper or assistant in Hebrew is Azar<\/em> – and it is used 82 times in the Old Testament, in contexts of helping, assisting or giving aid. \u00a0So, if God had wanted to say helper, he could simply have used this word, azar,<\/em> instead of ezer,<\/em> right?<\/li>\n
- And if we wanted to specify that woman was a servant-helper, a better word would have been ebed.<\/em> \u00a0In fact, the word ebed<\/em> is used over a thousand times in the Old Testament. \u00a0But that’s not what it says in Genesis 2.<\/li>\n
- Or then there’s the word sharath,<\/em> which means high-ranking assistant, like Elisha was to Elijah, or like Joshua was to Moses. \u00a0But Genesis 2 doesn’t use sharath.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
So, what does ezer<\/em> mean, then? \u00a0Ezer is help from God: not only from a superior, but a miraculous help. \u00a0Divine intervention.<\/p>\n
Before you go off thinking that women are witches and we really fly on broom sticks, let’s get into the translation issues a bit more closely. \u00a0Ezer<\/em> means that God is the help<\/em>. \u00a0Ezer conveys that it is never a servant, helper or assistant.<\/p>\n
So, how does this help us? \u00a0Well, possibly because if we realise that this was Divine assistance, we will realise that maybe we’ve always been misunderstanding this verse. \u00a0It never was intended to say that the woman was the helper! In fact, it should not be ascribed to any human at all. \u00a0So, if she isn’t the helper, what did God make? \u00a0What does Genesis 2:18 refer to?<\/p>\n
Let’s look quickly at the other word that rises in this verse – \u00absuitable\u00bb or \u00abright\u00bb or \u00abcompanion\u00bb. \u00a0The word in Hebrew is kenegdo.<\/em>\u00a0Kenegdo arises from 2 words: \u00a0Neged refers to a mirror image or reflection, and ke refers to \u00abhimself\u00bb or \u00ablikeness\u00bb. \u00a0So, God has said he will make a likeness of his mirror image or reflection. \u00a0So, woman was supposed to be a mirror-image of man.<\/p>\n
Going back in the verses in chapter 2 of Genesis we see what the story of the creation of Eve starts out with the only time God says about creation – \u00abthis ins’t good\u00bb. \u00a0And what isn’t good? \u00a0It’t not good that man is alone. \u00a0Man is incomplete – because unlike all of the creatures that he has just named, male and female, Adam is alone.<\/p>\n
And so God says, I will help man by making his mirror likeness, a reflection of himself. \u00a0The solution for man’s loneliness is woman, made to reflect him. God did not create woman to be man’s servant, or assistant or subservient to him. He didn’t make Adam \u00abthe boss\u00bb. \u00a0But rather, God makes them one – flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone. \u00a0Equal and together. In harmony and communion.<\/p>\n
But, as with the fall in Eden, the moment we allow our self-interest to get in the way, we start to run into \u00a0relationship and control issues. \u00a0The moment we start to allow our egos to rule, we look at our differences, and then separation and domination begin to take hold, rather than unity and oneness. \u00a0Separation and domination was never part of God’s divine plan for men and women.<\/p>\n
Lessons we can take away from Genesis 2 today:<\/p>\n
\n
- Companionship – It is not good that the man should be alone. \u00a0Human’s are social creatures – we need to connect with other people. \u00a0One of the most shattering emotions of which human beings are capable is that of loneliness – it consumes people: whether they be teenagers, struggling with acceptance, stay at home mothers or fathers who are thirsting for interactions, or the elderly who are feeling forgotten. \u00a0We need each other. \u00a0What are you actively doing to be part of the lives of those around you? \u00a0If you are a spouse, are you making sure that your other half doesn’t feel alone?<\/li>\n
- Are you sharing the load and the burden? \u00a0Whether it be with your spouse, or a team member at work, or another volunteer in an organisation you have joined: is someone feeling that they have to do everything themselves and that they are not getting the support that they need? \u00a0What can you do to support that person? \u00a0What needs to change so that you become a team player?<\/li>\n
- Are you taking care of your responsibilities? \u00a0In every team, each person has different functions and tasks: and your first priority should always be to have fulfilled your responsibilities first. \u00a0It’s \u00a0no good to be worried about what others aren’t getting done to the detriment of your own responsibilities. \u00a0You will always hear – finish \u00a0your own responsibilities before helping another – just like in an airplane you put on your own oxygen mask before helping someone else with theirs. AND FINALLY<\/li>\n
- Acknowledge and rejoice in our individuality and differences. \u00a0They are not meant to separate us from each other – they are intended to complement each other. \u00a0Yes – women and men are different – women may be more emotional, or protective of our little ones – but that doesn’t mean the weaker sex! And some of us are black, white, yellow, pink or any other colour under the sun. \u00a0We come from different cultures and customs. \u00a0But these differences are to be enjoyed and celebrated, creating a diversity in our team work and fulfilling all of the needs.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Today I would invite all of you to explore how you were created to be \u00abjust right\u00bb, a Divine gift to help and connect with those around you.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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