Being a Woman - Who is Not Deceived

Whether we like it or not, women are vulnerable to deception. The Devil knew this and counted on it since the beginning of time. God made us vulnerable and He made us the weaker vessel, this was intended as a good thing. God gave us the blessing of being a weaker vessel so that we didn’t have to carry the heavy load that men were designed to carry. The Devil did what he always does, and took the good that God intended and used it for his evil purposes.  Women, if we can uncover this plan of the enemy, we can beat him at his own game. It’s time to take some of the ground that was lost in Eden. It’s time to be women who remain the weaker vessel but are not deceived. 

Genesis 3:13

And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

1 Timothy 2:14-15

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.

Adam acted by deliberate choice, but Eve was deceive. Eve was swindled! How many of us girls are swindled by sales people? Eve was tricked! How many of us girls are susceptible to tricks of all sorts? I have learnt my weakness in these things, which is why I lean on Eric now. My husband is not easily deceived, he can spot a con a mile away whereas I tend to be quite gullible and will believe most stories, especially sad ones. In times past I had signed up to things that I only regretted later or bought something that I really didn’t need. Looking back I can see that I was deceived. 

Since I have discovered my vulnerability in this area I have wholeheartedly released certain decisions to Eric. If a sales person comes to the door I call Eric, if we get a phone call inviting us to something – even a ministry opportunity – I say that I will speak to my husband first.  It’s great! I don’t have to give into the deceptions of this world anymore.

Have you considered that Adam and Eve were standing side by side when she was deceived? One little question could have saved us all. Eve could simply have said,

“Darling, what do you think?”

But she didn’t! Of course, Adam could have jumped in and interrupted the conversation but Adam’s passivity is a whole other story.

Thankfully the Bible tells us how to deal with our sorry state. If you read 1 Timothy 2:15 it says that ‘she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.’

Firstly, this verse says ‘she’ and so can still be talking about Eve as it was in the previous verse. Eve (and her daughters) would eventually be saved by Jesus who was born from a woman. It was in Mary’s childbearing that we were all saved.

‘Saved’ in the original Greek is ‘Sozo’ and is talking about being safe. We will be delivered, protected and preserved from deception in childbearing. ‘Childbearing’ refers to the performance of maternal duties. Although most women will perform maternal duties by physically giving birth to a child, all women carry a burden to mother, whether or not they have given birth physically. 

1 Timothy 2:15 tells us that if we get on with our God given role in life then we can escape deception. Having children and making a home is something that Paul also instructs us to do . It is in those times when we are getting busy with the wrong things that we are very often deceived. Although there are some women who don’t have children they should still focus on what God has called them to do. Mothering or parenting can take many forms. Mother Teresa was a fantastic example of a woman who was not deceived. She got busy with mothering all the sick in Calcutta. Perhaps you are not called to do what Mother Teresa was called to do but you are called to bear children in some capacity. 

Perhaps you could focus on discipling younger Christians or if you have a passion for evangelism, get busy with bringing new babies into the kingdom. There are always children that need care both physical and spiritual, ask God what sort of childbearing He wants you to get busy with so that you can be a woman who is not deceived. 

1 Timothy 2:15 goes on to say that ‘they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self control’. Did you notice the word they? In order for a woman to avoid deception she should continue with her husband in faith, love, and holiness, with self control. It speaks of doing things together in unity. The woman was not told to do this on her own, it says that ‘they’ should live like this. Be a woman who is not deceived by focusing on ‘childbearing’ and building a life of faith, love, and holiness, with self control. It is in this these things that you will find safety. Don’t be deceived women, even though Eve has already bitten into the apple, the devil is still on the prowl, seeking whom he may devour.

Find out more about Being a Wife here.