In Genesis 2:18 it says that God gave a woman to Adam as 'help' meet for him. This word 'help' comes from the Hebrew word עזר ‛êzer (ay'-zer) which means aid or help. This word aid or help comes from the root word עזר ‛âzar (aw-zar') which means to surround, protect, help & succour. I was fascinated when I discovered this as I always saw my helper role as a woman as the sort of helper that makes tea for meetings and does the dishes, you know what I mean? This word 'êzer' seems so much stronger than that. It is as if the role of the helper is to protect the man when he is in great distress or need.
So as women we are not designed as helpers to make a cuppa tea, no we are way more than that. God designed us to surround our husband with help & protection. Since we already know that we are the weaker vessel physically, it stands to reason that this is not a physical help or protection but perhaps a protection of his heart. His heart also reflects the image of God, we need to cover him in times when that is threatened. We need to come to his rescue when he is in distress not by nagging him and telling him he is a looser but by rescuing him with our prayers and our words of encouragement. To support him as he wrestles through difficult things and to cover him with love. Perhaps it might even mean defending him when someone speaks against him.This discovery lead me to see where else 'âzar' was used in the Bible so that I could better understand what it meant. Well, you'll never guess what I found!
Psalm 115:11
You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord;
He is their help (êzer) and their shield.
Psalm 121:1-2
I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help (êzer)?
My help (êzer) comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
Do you see what I see? The sort of help that we give our men is the same sort of support that God gives His people. There are so many verses in the Bible using the word helper, have a look for yourself, it's so interesting. This completely blew my mind, I had no idea how important our role as helper is. Of course I am still going to make a nice cup of tea for Eric when he wants one, but deep down inside I know that I am the princess warrior that I wanted to be. Just like I used to play when I was a little girl - I was fearless and courageous and beautiful - everything all at once. Sadly growing up took away this girlish fantasy but my new discovery is surely going to bring it back. Did you ever see yourself as that sort of helper?
So as women we are not designed as helpers to make a cuppa tea, no we are way more than that. God designed us to surround our husband with help & protection. Since we already know that we are the weaker vessel physically, it stands to reason that this is not a physical help or protection but perhaps a protection of his heart. His heart also reflects the image of God, we need to cover him in times when that is threatened. We need to come to his rescue when he is in distress not by nagging him and telling him he is a looser but by rescuing him with our prayers and our words of encouragement. To support him as he wrestles through difficult things and to cover him with love. Perhaps it might even mean defending him when someone speaks against him.This discovery lead me to see where else 'âzar' was used in the Bible so that I could better understand what it meant. Well, you'll never guess what I found!
Psalm 115:11
You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord;
He is their help (êzer) and their shield.
Psalm 121:1-2
I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help (êzer)?
My help (êzer) comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
Do you see what I see? The sort of help that we give our men is the same sort of support that God gives His people. There are so many verses in the Bible using the word helper, have a look for yourself, it's so interesting. This completely blew my mind, I had no idea how important our role as helper is. Of course I am still going to make a nice cup of tea for Eric when he wants one, but deep down inside I know that I am the princess warrior that I wanted to be. Just like I used to play when I was a little girl - I was fearless and courageous and beautiful - everything all at once. Sadly growing up took away this girlish fantasy but my new discovery is surely going to bring it back. Did you ever see yourself as that sort of helper?
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Fab, just fab. How daft that it should take reading your post to make me feel more valuable than I realised in my marriage. I guess this is how I felt deep down but on reading this I've had one of those "YES! That's exactly it" moments. I'll pop the kettle on now and smile as I'm much much more than a teasmaid. xxx
ReplyDeleteI am so pleased that you found my post useful and that you realise how valuable you really are to your man :)
ReplyDeleteLove
Angela
xxx