Today we’ll answer the question, “What does God really think about women?” Culture often says biblical Christianity demeans, diminishes women - but is that true? For some churches, it is.

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The biblical answer is clear: God loves women and from the beginning has worked to bless them. John 10:10

• John 10:10 (NLT) The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
• This reflects God’s heart for humanity in Gen 1-2. We’ll see that today.
• But look at how the thief (Satan) is working against this plan - and he’s also been doing that from the beginning! We’ll see that today in Gen 3. 
• But a lot of people think that the Bible lowers and denigrates women. This is what you would expect from an ancient document, reflecting ancient societal norms. For example:
• Ancient Sumerian proverb (circa 2100 BC): "Woman is a pitfall, a hole, a ditch," "Woman is a sharp iron dagger that cuts a man's throat." 
• Plato in  "Timaeus" (circa 360 BC): "And if a man lived well... and according to his appointed lot... they will make him a man again in his next incarnation... but if he lived a cowardly and unrighteous life... they make him a woman."
• Aristotle in "Politics" (circa 330 BC): "The male is by nature superior, and the female inferior; and the one rules, and the other is ruled."
• We’re going to see today that from the opening chapter of the Bible, God starts with the opposite statement. That’s incredible if you think about it. God’s purpose from the beginning was to give women a rich and satisfying life. 
• The word for this is “blessing”, and we’re going to break it into two parts…

Equality

God’s first blessing was equality: he created women and men in God’s image, making them equal in dignity and worth. 

• Many people mistakenly believe the Bible teaches that women are less valuable than men.
• Toxic masculinity example?
• Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us....” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
• What “Imago Dei” means (Pursuit L3): This means we are like God in certain ways, such as mentally (we have the capacity to think and create), relationally (we were designed to be in relationship with others) and spiritually (there’s a part of us that lives forever). Imago Dei is also a reference to humanity’s responsibility to “reign” and represent God to the rest of creation.
• That applies to all of us: male and female. But not animals. We are different from the rest of creation. Imago Dei sets us apart. People matter to God - men and women alike.
• In fact, over and over the Bible elevates women (shocking for ancient literature): 
• Women heroes: Esther, Deborah, Naomi, Rahab, Hannah, Abigail, and more… 
• NT: Mary, Anna, Mary Magdalene, Martha, Priscilla, Lydia, Phoebe…
• Women were the first witness to the resurrection and were given the important task of proclaiming the good news to the disciples.
• Property rights: In general, inheritance passed through male descendants. Sons inherited land, money, and other assets from their fathers. This system was designed to keep property within the paternal family line and ensure the economic stability of families. But consider the daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers 27): 
• Numbers 27:4 (NLT) 4 “Why should the name of our father disappear from his clan just because he had no sons? Give us property along with the rest of our relatives.”
• God not only granted their request for land, but he commanded Moses to make it part of the law for all of Israel - daughters would have inheritance rights!?
• So, God’s first blessing was equality: he created women and men in God’s image, making them equal in dignity and worth. 

Differentiation

God’s second blessing was differentiation: he created women different from men on purpose so they could complement each other. Part of this blessing is the calling on men to be servant leaders to women.

God’s original vision for woman and man was partnership and harmony. He created an environment in which they were meant to thrive together. 

• The picture was harmonious in Gen 1. Here’s a summary:
• God created Adam and the animals and it was good, but something was missing.
• God created Eve and commissioned Adam and Eve to:
• Reproduce: Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth
• Govern: reign over creation
• Enjoy: eat food God would had provided 
• Honeymoon! Now everything was “very good”
• My own life: good as a bachelor, but so much better with Tracy
• Jerry Maguire: “You complete me”
• But Gen 2 goes back and gives more detail to the Gen 1 account. Interesting:
• An emphasis on God’s provision, preparing the environment for humans
• Then we see this sequence: 
• God made Adam. Genesis 2:7 (NLT) 7 Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.
• God put Adam in the Garden. (provision and purpose) Genesis 2:15 (NLT) 15 The LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.
• God gave Adam a command. Genesis 2:16-17 (NLT) 16 But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
• Then God created Eve.
• Here’s the takeaway: 
• Godly men submit to God and then lovingly lead. This is part of the blessing of differentiation.
• God made men to actively engage with God and others. 
• Today’s lie: church is for women

Trans: Here’s what happens when men fail to stay engaged: God’s blessing gives way to a curse. Let’s look at it…

Curse (Hostility)

Genesis 3:1 (NLT) The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

• Note: The very first thing the enemy does in the world: assaults God’s pattern (men submit, then lovingly lead)
• (John Piper clip from Manhood and Womanhood before Sin

Genesis 3:6 (NLT) 6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.

• Have you noticed this before:
• Man was there! He was passive, failed to step in
• She ate first, then gave it to him. 

Here’s the result, the curse of sin:

Genesis 3:16 (NLT) Then he said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.”

• Notice the curse vs the blessing
• Blessing: be fruitful and multiply
• Curse: it will be painful
• Blessing: govern together, two become one (harmonious)
• Curse: hostility
• You will want to control your husband
• The sense here is 
• He will rule over you
• The sense here is 
• Women and men were both broken because of the fall. 
• These days it’s a lot easier to talk about toxic masculinity than it is to talk about toxic femininity. But (sorry moms) women are just as broken as men. 

Point: Blessings come when men submit to God and speak the truth. Curses come when men shrink back and fail to lead.

• Adam and Eve sinned when they believed a lie and elevated their desires above God’s command. The result was a curse: instead of harmony, now there would be hostility between the sexes.
• Men, do you want to give a gift to your wives and kids on Mother’s Day? Get serious about your relationship with God. Speak up. Step up. Lead.

Trans: Here’s the good news - this curse doesn’t have the final word. God had a plan even in Genesis to deal with this hostility between women and men.

Close

Through Jesus, the curse is reversed and we are free to return to God’s original plan to bless women (and men). 

Here’s the good news, hinted at in the previous verse:

Genesis 3:15 (NLT) 15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.

• Hostility runs deeper than man vs woman. It’s good vs. evil
• And good will win out. That’s what this verse is saying.
• It’s talking about Jesus, what he would do. (Gospel)
• He would be born of a woman
• Satan would strike his heel (crucifixion)
• Jesus would strike his head (resurrection)
• Then the hostility could end

So, What Does God Really Think About Women? 

• God loves women and from the beginning has worked to bless them. John 10:10
• He ultimately did it through Jesus:

Galatians 3:26-28 (NLT) 26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.