Men, Women, and the Fall – What Really Changed?

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Have you ever stopped to consider the intentional design of God when He created Adam and Eve? What strengths did He give them in order to help them thrive in their roles?

The continuation of the subject of Biblical womanhood zooms in on the creation of the man and the woman. We learn in Genesis 2:15, 18-24 that there were some differences in God’s purpose for Adam and Eve.

1.  God created the man first and put him in the garden before Eve was created.

2.  God gave the man the authority to name the animals.

3.  God created the woman after the man and literally from the man’s rib.

4.  The man names the woman.

5.  God charged the man to “work” and “keep” the garden. His name, Adam, refers to the ground from which he was formed – in Hebrew, “Adamah.”

6.  God made the woman as a “helper fit” for the man. Her name, “woman,” refers to the “man” from which she was made.

7.  The man and the woman correspond to one another, such that in marriage they form a unity; “one flesh.” 

What we see here in Genesis 2 is that while the man and woman need each other to jointly fulfill God’s mandate, they seem to be created with distinct strengths. In verse 15, the man works the ground and “keeps” or guards God’s dwelling place. This leans toward exercising dominion. But he can’t fulfill the command to be fruitful and multiply alone. He needs the woman as his helper. It’s no wonder he names her Eve or “Life-giver,” in chapter 3, because she plays a special role in bringing about life. 

Men and women function best when they don’t try to duplicate each other, but instead highlight in each other the unique qualities that make for mutual enrichment.

Think about a cup and saucer, made by the Noritake China Company, and how it portrays the uniqueness of God’s creation of men and women…

• The saucer is the supporter for the cup.  But the cup holds the precious substance.  
• The saucer is a protector – it keeps you from burning your hand by giving you a place to set your hot cup.
• It also protects the table from the heat or spills.  
• Both are beautiful.  
• Both were created by a Designer.  
• Both are needed and useful. 
• Each has unique strengths and design to help fulfill their purpose.

But then Genesis 3 tells us of the tragic fall of man into sin. God had told them not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Eve took a bite and gave some to Adam. Humanity was then plunged into sin and were separated from a holy God.

After they sinned, we don’t see new gender roles, but a distortion of the previous roles. Now those God-given distinctions would be more difficult. They wouldn’t come as natural. It is the consequence of sin.

Just because our roles don’t “feel natural” doesn’t mean we cave in to them. By the power of the Spirit of God, we can lean in to His directives and put the Gospel on display!

Genesis 3:15 told them that from Eve’s offspring would come an offspring Who will conquer the serpent! Death has entered the world, but a child is coming who will deal sin and death a fatal blow!

Be encouraged today and trust the wonderful hand of your Creator to enable you to fulfill His purposes in your unique and wonderful design!

This lesson will be continued next Wednesday. There is much more content on the RefreshHer podcast.

Has this raised any questions in your mind regarding our design or our roles?