Another look at the importance of your ezer role...

It's been a while since I've written about our role as women and the importance of that role in the kingdom of God. Today something came to my attention that has stirred my passion to encourage you to please seek out how you may live out your calling as an ezer.

If you've have heard me teach on the topic of biblical womanhood you've no doubt heard about your role as an ezer. For those of you who don't know what that means, ezer is a Hebrew word that is found in the bible. It's used in Genesis where God says that it's not good for the man to be alone so He will create a "helpmate" suitable for him. Well, of course the book of Genesis was not written in English, it was written in Hebrew. And you guessed it, the word in Hebrew for "helpmate" is "ezer". So, what exactly was God showing us about His intention for the purpose of woman when He inspired Moses to choose that word? Well, what does the word actually mean? In ancient Hebrew the word ezer means, "strong warrior". Usually when this word appears in scripture it's the word chosen to describe Jesus role to God.

This is no wimpy, silent, ineffective role! Yes, God is the ultimate authority in the triune Godhead, but without the work of Jesus the honor of God would not have stood against Satan's accusations. Jesus fought, using the most powerful weapon in all existence to prove God's singular holiness. He used a weapon the Enemy never imagined. Jesus fought with sacrificial love.

So, how does this knowledge instruct us as women, who bear a similar role in respect to the men who are in leadership over us? Oh, maybe you were thinking that this really doesn't apply to you because you're a single woman. NO, you are an EZER. In every place, at work and especially in the church you are an ezer. It is important for the women in God's family to fulfill their role in every relationship. In order to do this in a way that honors God we need to follow the example of the Perfect Ezer, Jesus Christ. Look at how Jesus lived out His ezer role:

• He always submitted to the will of His Father


• He met with God often in prayer


• His aim always was to bring honor to God and to show love to others and grow God's family


• He did not shy away from confrontation when it was needed, but He confronted with an intent to bring change.

So, the question for you and me is, "How can we live out our role as an ezer in way that brings God glory, and in particular how can our living out that role encourage the greater health of our Church?"

I'm not going to answer this question...but I'm hoping that you will engage your thoughts as to how you can use the gifts, the insights, the wisdom that God has blessed you with to be a mirror of Christ's sacrificial love and warrior heart along side the men in leadership where you worship.