“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27
We were created in the image of God. Male and female, equal but different. Each gender was given a unique capacity to represent the glory of God. But, what exactly does it mean to be an image bearer and how does that flesh out in daily life?
In Genesis 2:18, God saw it was not good for man to be alone and determined to make a “helper suitable” for him, or in the original Hebrew an “ezer-kenegdo”. As a female image bearer, a woman’s core calling is as an ezer, or essential counterpart. However, the idea that woman was created as a helper has taken on a negative connotation over the years, one that denotes weakness or inferiority. Yet, the word ezer (pronounced Eh’-zair) is far from a weak word. It is used twenty-one times in Old Testament Scripture: twice in the creation story, three times as a military term, and sixteen times God refers to himself as our Ezer.
A woman, as an ezer, reflects God as an Ezer, as someone who comes alongside, nurtures, and lends strength. Being an ezer is the core of who a woman is. It is not a role she plays, nor is it defined by her season of life. On the contrary, because it is who a woman is, it translates across all roles and seasons of life as mother, daughter, employee, employer, mentor, grandmother, single, widow, or empty-nester.
Being an ezer is not what a woman does, but who she is created to be. It is her God-given design, thereby reflecting the image and glory of God in uniquely feminine ways.
Over the last two years, Grace Church has worked to develop a common language surrounding the core callings and core temptations of women and what it means to be a feminine image bearer. We hope to equip women by presenting them with a common language through exploring Biblical perspectives. Our goal throughout this 8-week study is to seek clarity and freedom regarding the essential components of biblical femininity.
- The study begins with a kick-off the week of September 12; there will be three kick-offs nights that week for you to choose from, two Downtown and one at Pelham, all beginning at 6:30.
- The following week (September 20 and 21), we will begin the 8-week study, where we will learn about Ezer and the concepts of our core calling and capacities in community.
Visit the website to register.