The Crown of His Creation-Part 2

It was not good for man to be alone. God said that! Men and women were made to be relational just like our God. We were meant to share in this adventure. I have always understood that woman was made to be man’s helper. But through the study Captivating that I’m doing I’m learning that when God creates Eve, He calls her the Hebrew word, ezer kenegdo. “It is not good for man to be alone, I shall make him [an ezer kenegdo]. The English translation of this word is “helper” or “help mate”. I don’t feel that translation has really captured what God made when He made woman.

“The word ezer is used only twenty other places in the entire Old Testament. And every other instance the one being described is God himself, when you need him to come through for you desperately.” From Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge.

“Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your shield and helper (ezar) and your glorious sword.” Deut. 33:26, 29

“We wait in hope for the LORD, He is our help (ezar) and our shield.” Psalm 33:20

“I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help (ezar) comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2

This kind of helper (ezar) is a “lifesaver”. The meaning behind that word is much more powerful and deep than just the world “help mate” as we see how the Lord is described in these verses. And the word kenegdo means alongside, or opposite to, a counterpart. Wow! That really tells me so much about how important women are and that God has given us an irreplaceable role. We are to be a helper that comes alongside to strengthen, protect and encourage. And I think that goes both ways.

I know that in the eight years we’ve been married, Mario and I have both helped strengthen each other in areas where we are weak. Some of that has been through encouragement and much prayer. It hasn’t always been easy but it is part of being made in the image of a wonderful God. He is our strength and encourager.

A good friend of mine and I were talking about this the other day and she shared with me something the Lord had been showing her as she was going through this study. That Eve was taken from Adam’s rib and the function of the ribs are to protect the vital organs and especially the heart. I thought this was really good stuff. The more I read the Word of God the more I see the symbolism in all He does. This totally makes sense to me. I know that when someone comes to hurt or harm Mario in anyway I am very protective. Say anything you want about me but you better not mess with my husband or my kids. I become fierce! His heart is so important to me and it is super important to God. I definitely want to help guard and protect it.

I want to encourage ladies, that you are not just the Crown of God’s creation but He has made you with great purpose and this is only part of that. There was a good reason that God saw it wasn’t good for man to be alone. God made us to be like Him, relational. We need each other. Of course I just mentioned the women’s side of all of it. Men also have an irreplaceable role to play. Both needed and both very important. If you aren’t married this still applies to you. We have dads, brothers and friends all around us that need us too. We should encourage, strengthen and protect them as well.