Women in God’s Plan

Throughout human history, men have suffered greatly.
But women have suffered in an additional and unique way.

Men—in their own insecurities and depravity—have for millennia abused women. Even in this Twenty First Century, the facts uncovered reveal appalling statistics about the oppressed female gender.

"The global statistics on the abuse of girls are numbing. It appears that more girls and women are now missing from the planet, precisely because they are female, than men were killed on the battlefield in all the wars of the 20th century. The number of victims of this routine ‘gendercide’ far exceeds the number of people who were slaughtered in all the genocides of the 20th century" (New York Times)

"The phenomenon of female infanticide is as old as many cultures—and has likely accounted for millions of gender-selective deaths throughout history. It remains a critical concern in a number of ‘Third World’ countries today—notably the two most populous countries on earth—China and India" (GendercideWatch.org). Muslim husbands who feel their wives are rebellious are to "admonish them, and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them" (Koran, Sura 4, 34). "Hundreds, if not thousands, of women are murdered by their families each year in the name of family ‘honor.’" (National Geographic News, Feb. 12, 2002).

With a pair of pink empty booties on its cover, The Economist on its March 6, 2010, asks the question, "What happened to 100 million baby girls?" "Killed, aborted or neglected, at least 100m girls have disappeared—and the number is rising."

Why? The ancient preference for sons; a modern desire for smaller families; and ultrasound scanning that identifies the sex of a fetus. "Gendercide exists on almost every continent. It affects rich and poor; educated and illiterate; Hindu, Muslim, Confucian and Christian alike." While such discrimination against females now found in China and India are unknown in the West, the practice of sex-selection abortion is found in the USA as well.

Domestic abuse against women due to the bad economy has also generated much concern. Violence against women has been called "the most pervasive yet least recognized human rights abuse in the world" (UNPF). The United Nations Population Fund lists 16 forms of gender based violence—including child marriage, neglect of baby girls needing medical attention, incest, honor killings, trafficking of women and girls, etc. Does the Bible hold any better hope for women?

Created in God’s Image

First of all, God created both men and women in His own image. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" (Genesis 1:27). Both man and woman were designed to be a reflection and representation of the invisible Creator of the universe! What happened? Knowing that with free-will ability to make choices they would both eventually experiment with and violate His regulations—God imposed a simple, but explicit, test of obedience on the couple.

Genesis 2:16-17

"Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."

God allowed Satan through the serpent to test the woman first. When Eve was tempted, she "gave also her husband" to eat of the forbidden fruit—thereby inducing him likewise to sin (Genesis 3:6). Adam received a special curse to work "by the sweat thy face" (Genesis 3:17-19). But to Eve who disobeyed Adam’s instructions, God said, "I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." (Genesis 3:16) But this penalty did not give Adam and his male descendents license to misrule over women. Thus, Adam and Eve’s male and female posterity were also condemned.

Penalty Ultimately Beneficial

Honored Women of the Bible

Actually, in that Kingdom of Christ, faithful women of the Bible will be honored leaders! In the Bible’s history, certain women, from time to time played important roles in unique capacities and were especially blessed by the LORD.

One such a valiant woman was Deborah. After Israel came to the Promised Land—and before the Kings—there was a 450-year period of Judges. This arrangement led the people continually to look to God for their leaders rather than the ordinary claptrap of politics in which personal ambitions usually would dominate and control. God did the nominating, and the people in proportion to their faith would acknowledge His judges.

Judges 4:4,5

"Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time….and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment."

When the LORD informed Deborah that Israel’s idolatrous enemy was about to attack the Tribes of Israel, she "summoned Barak" and told him to call for 10,000 men, for the LORD God of Israel will "give him [the enemy Sisera] into your hand" (Judges 4:6-8). Barak answered: "If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go."

So Deborah went with Barak to Mt. Tabor and said, "Arise! For this is the day in which the LORD has given Sisera into your hands; behold, the LORD has gone out before you." As Deborah expected, "The LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak...." (vs. 15).

Actually, even these Satan-blinded, idolatrous, children-sacrificing Canaanites will come back from their graves in the Kingdom—just like the destroyed Sodomites (See Ezekiel 16:56-63). But, undoubtedly, Deborah will be a Judge in that Kingdom—teaching, instructing, guiding them:

Isaiah 1:24-26

"Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel….And I will turn my hand upon thee….And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellers as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city."

Women in Divine Providence

The account of Esther in the Book of Esther is amazing. At the time when some Jews had returned to the Holy Land, there were still hundreds of thousands residing in all parts of the Persian empire. By very complicated divine providence, a beautiful and young Jewish woman named Esther found herself selected as queen by the powerful, though brutal, King Xerxes.

During the same time, one of the king’s favorites who had a grudge against Esther’s uncle, contrived to have King Xerxes sign a decree to allow every Jew, young and old—throughout the whole civilized world under Persian rule—to be killed. Now no decrees or edicts of the Medes and Persians could ever be altered or amended. However, risking her own life, Esther entreated the King to make another decree that the Jews could defend themselves! So then the fear of the Jews was upon their enemies—and the Jews were victorious (Esther 9:16-19).

Another key woman in God’s providence was actually a woman of Moab named Ruth. After her husband died, she had the faith to accept the God of her Jewish mother-in-law Naomi:

Ruth 1:16

"And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God."

After some amazing circumstances and risk, Ruth, showing her faithfulness to Naomi and her purity of character, actually became the great-grandmother of King David—and is also in the honored lineage of Christ Jesus! (Matthew 1:5; Luke 3:32)

Jesus’ Bride to be a Mother

Jesus, of course, is calling his followers to be his Bride. But, faithful ancient patriarchs and matriarchs of old—who have left us wonderful examples—will actually become "children" of King Jesus and his Wife.

Psalm 45:10-16

"Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house; So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him…. The king’s daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework….Instead of thy fathers [and mothers of faith] shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth."

Model for Husbands and Wives

Apostle Paul draws a beautiful model from Christ and his Bride, the Church. Yes, wives are to be submissive to their husbands as the Church is to Christ Jesus. But what did Christ do for his Wife? He gave up his life for her! Likewise, husbands are to lay down their lives for their wives.

Ephesians 5:22-25

"Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself up for her." NAS

Alas, throughout the world’s sad history, too many husbands—non Christian as well as those claiming to be Christians—have abused their wives. When they come back in the "Day of Judgment," they will have to give an account even for every careless word—let alone physical or emotional harm to others. "And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the Day of Judgment." Matthew 12:36

That Day of Judgment is the 1,000-Year Kingdom of Christ! At that time those men will have to show their repentance and love in tangible ways.

When the Bride is Ready

When the Bride of Christ is complete, it will be composed of faithful male and female Christians—pictured as the government—the "New Jerusalem" ruling over and blessing the earth.

Revelation 21:1-5

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and….He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain." NAS

The rest of the world will be awakened from the sleep of death and receive life from Jesus and his Bride. Jesus, as the "last Adam" will then be the world’s father, the "life-giving spirit" (1 Corinthians 15:45 NAS). The Church will be the mother! "He who believes in Me…From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38). So when the Bride is "ready" and complete, believers—overcomers both female and male—will offer the humanity their first real trial of life!

Revelation 22:17

"And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost." NAS

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