'Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"'
Genesis 3:1
Have you ever wondered why the serpent went to Eve and not Adam? Have you ever heard of women being described as weaker vessels? Does the fact that it was the woman who fell into transgression first make you feel that we are inferior in any way, not strong enough to resist temptation?
The weaker vessel analogy comes from 1 Peter 3:7 in which it says 'Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honour to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.'
Does the weaker vessel analogy mean that as women we have a constitutional sensitivity whereby we feel deeper and have stronger emotions or is it referring to our positional vulnerability as a subordinated gender. In any case it is clear that the devil likes to take pleasure in whispering in our ears and telling us lies. Satan does not want us to obey God's mandate to us, for the women who do follow God's plan for their lives are of great threat to the devil.
Lie number 1...You're a genetic victim
It is all too easy to blame our genetic make-up these days. My house is a mess and I can't multi-task but I can't help it, it's in my genes. I can't control my children, I just can't be authoritative but I can't help it, it's in my genes. My hormones are going crazy (it often happens once a month) so I am tetchy and impatient with my family but I can't help it, it's in my genes. These are genuine things some women say and believe.
Lie number 2...You're a circumstantial victim
Ever been tempted to blame your circumstances for your actions? My house is far too small and there is no where to keep all my possessions so that's why it looks messy. I never had a motherly figure in my life to teach me how to be one so that's why I leave my children to run riot. I can't get up on time in the morning because I was never shown how to. Ever heard any of these?
Lie number 3...You're a marital victim
What about blaming your husband for why you don't fulfil the role as his helpmeet? My husband does not encourage me or say nice things about my cooking so why should I bother. My husband doesn't help with the household chores so why should I do it all. How can I submit to my husband when he is insensitive to my needs? I have to have a husband to be happy. Yes this is sounding familiar!
Lie number 4...You're a maternal victim
Why should I waste my life on wiping snotty noses? I am a highly educated woman so why can I not pursue my own ambitions, kids will be fine in day care and my husband can run the house for a bit. I'm not cut out for motherhood, there's just too much to do, I'm not maternal enough. Yes these are the lies that some women believe.
The devil is trying to lure us away from our God given roles. But we need to protect ourselves from these lies. We must remember that whether we are young or old, whether married or unmarried, whether we are mothers or not the devil is in our ears hissing and whispering these lies to us. So how can we defend ourselves. Well grab those bibles and read dear women. Fill our hearts and minds with truth from the scripture so that we are prepared for the devil's attack.
Scripture says this:
'But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus'
Philippians 3:13-14
'She does him (her husband) good and not evil all the days of her life'
Proverbs 31:12
'I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am...And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus'
Philippians 4:11, 19
We need to forget what has gone before, the lies, the disappoint, that which holds us from claiming our role to subdue and rule on this earth with conviction. We must look to our households and see what good we can do and not seek to tear it down. Let us be women who are trusted by our husbands and the children have a reason to rise up and bless their mothers. And if you are going through a season where you feel there is no purpose in what you do, or you are tired with the persistent call of duties in the home, or if you feel alone and neglected, take heart dear woman, God sees and God knows, do as Paul did and learn to be content even in these circumstances and the promise of scripture will prove true for you, that God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
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