The word “male” (Genesis 1:27), from the Hebrew word zakar, could be translated: “the remembering one. Isn’t this a strange description for the male? What is it that God wants man to remember?
God’s wants man to remember His Story (history). His instructions for life. His warnings away from death. Just as Adam passed on God’s Word to Eve, so is man to pass on God’s Word to his family today — sons, daughters, grandsons, and granddaughters. Whoa. Stop. Adam passed on God’s Word to Eve?
Based on Genesis 1:27, I used to assume that God made man and woman at the same time. That God instructed them both not to eat of the one tree. That in choosing to do so, they would know good and evil… and die. I was ignorant of God’s Word. I was guilty of reading one passage, but not another. God uses the first part of Genesis, chapter 2, to give more detail on His creation. God didn’t create man and woman at the same time — or in the same way or for the same purpose. Eve had not yet come to be when God gave the man His instructions for life and warnings against death. She learned of God’s Word from man. And, in God’s order of things, she would be privileged to help him remember it. Trust it. Use it.
One day, Satan slithered right past the man to deceive the woman. The twister of Truth knew that Adam was entrusted with the responsibility of remembering God’s Word so he flattered the woman. Put her in the role of leader. Perhaps intoxicated by this attention, she disobeyed God and doubted His Word. In doubt, she was foolishly emboldened to not only speak for God but add her own words as if they were His. Eve’s words should have been to her husband. She should have beseeched him to remember God’s Word and use it to engage the enemy. Instead, she chose to tempt man to also eat of forbidden fruit. Adam could have resisted. Turned Satan on his tail. But, failing to remember God’s Word and use it, the man was ill-equipped to cover his wife. Lead away from danger. God held man responsible because he failed to remember. To act. To engage the liar with Truth. To bring order out of chaos.
It all could have ended there. But, God’s love for His creation endures forever. He promised that another Man would come. The Man who would remember the Word and use it to cover every sinful man, woman, and child. That Man is the Word. The Word sent from the Father to be the Savior from sin. In Jesus Christ, man has new opportunity to remember the Word and use it. And woman remains privileged to help man remember.
How does she do this?
The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tear it down (Proverbs 12:1).
She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life . . . she opens her mouth with wisdom and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue . . . the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised (Proverbs 31). (Note: She deserves to be praised not because she is so amazing, but because she is not deceived by the world.*)
She is reverent in behavior, not a slanderer or slave to much wine. She teaches what is good, and so trains the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands [as to God], that the word of God may not be reviled (Titus 2:3-5).
Even if her husband doesn’t obey the Word, she may win him by her behavior when he sees her respectful and pure conduct . . . when she lets her adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious . . . likewise, her husband lives with her in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since she is an heir with him of the grace of life (1 Peter 3:1-7). (No offense here! God expresses care, not disrespect, for women because physically, women are typically smaller in size and weaker in strength which could make them vulnerable to abuse. Husbands are not to exploit their size and strength in unkind ways.*)
A husband needs a wife who will patiently help him remember God’s Word. Use it and pass it on. On this earth, there is no more powerful union — for the benefit of children. Society. A future of hope.
*With appreciation for commentaries
from The Lutheran Study Bible
Ezerwoman's Blog 
Demi Moore, Abortion & Prostitution
Posted in Biblical manhood & womanhood, Commentaries of others, Culture Shifts, Faith & Practice, Identity, Life issues, tagged abortion, Breakpoint, children, Chuck Colson, CNN, Demi Moore, feminism, Indian sex trade, Mara Hvistendahl, men, missing women, Nepalese girls, Ross Douthat, sanctity of human life, sex trade, sex traffic, sex-selection abortion, women on July 12, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Colson, in his Breakpoint commentary of July 8, noted that Moore became emotional during the broadcast. Understandably so. Slavery and bondage as a prostitute should never happen. But the problem, Colson believes, is that we are ignoring the driving force of this “inhumane traffic in innocence.”
The New York Times ran an article following the CNN documentary titled “160 Million and Counting.” It referred to the number of “missing” women in the world. Colson points out “missing” as in “disappeared,” rather, as in “never born in the first place.”
Ross Douthat, author of the Times article, reminded readers that 26 years ago the number of “missing” women was estimated by experts to be 100 million. These experts concluded, after examining skewed sex ratios in China and India, “that something terrible was happening.” Twenty year later, the estimate has grown by 60%. But those concerned about this terrible thing, Douthat notes, remain reluctant to name the cause: abortion.
Colson writes, “Citing the work of social scientist Mara Hvistendahl, Douthat points out an uncomfortable truth: what Times readers would no doubt see as ‘female empowerment’ lies behind the missing women. According to Hvistendahl, in places like India, ‘women use their increased autonomy’ to abort their daughters and ‘select for sons,’ who enhance their social status.”
Sex-selection abortion may have originated among the “affluent,” but now all women can select — or reject — their preborn child based on sexual preference.
What is the impact? Colson notes a 2008 article by two Loyola Law School professors who found that by “reducing the number of potential brides, selective abortion in India increased the demand for sex workers.” And, Colson continues, “one way that ‘demand’ is being filled is through the Nepalese girls featured in the CNN documentary. The ‘lucky’ ones are ‘smuggled and purchased from poor countries like Nepal and Bhutan to be brides for Indian men.’ The more unfortunate are sold into the Indian sex trade.”
India and China have outlawed the practice of sex-selection abortion because of the social ills and suffering. But the practice continues because, says Colson, “cultural norms are hard to overcome.”
Douthat notes that sex-selection abortion puts Western liberals “in a distinctly uncomfortable position.” Colson explains why. “They can’t deny the reality of the practice but, at the same time, their own worldview leaves them hanging in mid-air.”
“After all, they insist ‘that the unborn aren’t human beings yet, and that the right to an abortion is nearly absolute.’ ” But, continues Colson, “160 million missing women and the suffering it radiates in all directions tells you where that kind of thinking inevitably leads.”
Colson concludes, “It’s hard to imagine a better example of the poverty of modern thinking: faced with a great evil and unable to address the answer.”
Slavery and prostitution are great evils. But, the Christian worldview addresses the answer. When we value human life in the womb, we will better value and protect all human life. Including Nepalese girls.
__________
Breakpoint is published by Prison Fellowship ministries.
For further reading: “Gender Discrimination Fuels Sex Selective Abortions” (Lemoine & Tanagho, Loyola University of Chicago School of Law, 2-23-08); “160 Million and Counting” (Douthat, New York Times, 6-26-11); “It’s Raining Men” (Kim Moreland, Breakpoint blog, 5-24-11)
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