Have you ever considered the beauty of the role of women according to God’s design? I’m not talking about a human, patriarchal misconception of the perceived demand for subservience from women, but the intentional design of God to make an adequate helper for man. God would not make a partner for the pinnacle of his creation who was unequal to the splendor of the man. And indeed, he did not. Let’s take a moment to explore how the woman was designed!

Genesis 2:18 says:

The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

There are two words we need to understand in this verse to get a true idea of God’s original design for humanity. The first is helper. Over the ages this word has been misunderstood and manipulated to keep women submissive to men. I think there is an inherent misconception that if someone is “just” the helper that they are somehow less important or essential than the one they are helping. What a lie of the enemy!

But this is not a word that should inspire timidity or weakness. The Hebrew word here is ‘ēzer. It’s definition is translated straightforwardly. It literally means “helper.” The thing that is profound about it and allows us to understand the weight of this role is who we see this word being used to describe in numerous places across Scripture, and that is God himself. Here are a few examples of this word elsewhere in the Old Testament (I’ll emphasize where this word is used in each verse!):

Moses’ second son was named Eliezer, which means my God is helper. We see this in Exodus 18:4

And the other was named Eliezer, for [Moses] said, “My father’s God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharaoh.”

In Moses’ blessings for the tribes of Israel, he says, in Deuteronomy 33:26 and 33:29

There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty…Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights.

Psalm 33:20

We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and shield.

Psalm 70:5

But as for me, I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; LORD, do not delay.

God refers to himself as the helper in Hosea 13:9.

“You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your helper.”

In light of the how this word is used of God, we can understand that the role of the woman as the helper is one of strength, protection, and valor. As helpers for our husbands, we are called to support, honor, and encourage the men God has given us. If we don’t have a spouse yet, we can – and should – live with these values as we interact with the men around us. We become more attractive women as we mirror this aspect of God’s nature and learn to be compassionate and resilient helpers.

The other word in Genesis 2:18 which is vitally important to understand is suitable. It’s the Hebrew word neḡeḏ. In this context, this word means “corresponding to; i.e. equal and adequate to himself.” Our role as women is not secondary to men. It is equal and adequate. Women are not less than or better than men just as men are not less than or better than women. Both are made as image-bearers of God. God may have used a part of the man (Gen 2:21) to create the woman, but woman was created with that part in the image of God (Gen 1:27), not the image of the man. In this context, equality doesn’t mean identical, but rather being worthy of the same honor and respect. It is unique in purpose but the same in value.

I hope this helps you consider God’s design for you as a woman with greater clarity. We are designed with beauty, femininity, and strength. The man, formed first, becomes the natural leader of a relationship (we’ll hash that out in part 2!), but the woman, created because God didn’t want the man to be alone in his purpose, is just as vital to the work God created humanity to accomplish. She maintains, lifts up, and enables the purpose of the man’s work. This doesn’t mean she can’t do work of her own. This doesn’t mean she is weak. This means she trusts God’s design as good and ordered.

Let’s work with the men around us, to see the Kingdom of Heaven flourish on the earth. Understand the beauty and strength of God’s design for you. Press into it. Do the work before you with diligence.

How does this understanding of God’s idea of a “suitable helper” change the way you consider your interactions with men? How does it change the way you think of yourself? Leave a comment below and let’s discuss!