Thu, Oct 26th - 6:24PM
Other Women in Early Genesis
Lamech was a descendant of Cain. He is the first recorded person to have two wives. This is clearly not God's desire. The two women are significant as the mothers of sons who mark the rise of an advanced civilization. Adah's ("adorned") son, Jabal was "the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock" (Gen. 4:20), and her son Jubal was the father of "all those who play the harp and flute" (Gen. 4:21). Zillah's ("shadow protected") son Tubal-Cain became an instructor of craftsmen in bronze and iron. With these three, pre-Flood society moves to become a tool making society.
We know little about their relationship with their husband or children. We do know that they were willing to live outside God's will in a polygamist situation. Despite the creature comforts suggested in their sons' achievements, these women must have had empty lives.
We are given the name "Naamah", the sister of Tubal-Cain, but most women of the era are unnamed. Adam and Eve had many daughters (Gen 5:4). Other verses mention daughters of Seth (Gen 5:7) , Enoch (Gen 5:9), Mahalalel (Gen 5:15), Jared (Gen 5:19), Methuselah (Gen. 5:6), and of another Lamech descended from Seth rather than Cain (Gen 5:28,30)
Noah's wife and daughters-in-law (like Eve) have claim to being the mothers of all, yet they aren't even named; but each of their husbands is.
As I discoverd the women in early Genesis it became clear that many women who have remained anonymnous have been important to their families, their friends and even in shaping history. We don't need historians to record our names to have a positive imact on the lives of those we meet. And like the other unnamed women of history, we might well be God's agents for changing the future ~ through our relationships and those whom we help to shape for His glory. Amen.
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Thu, Oct 26th - 5:43PM
The Woman's Letter from God
"When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke them into being. When I created man, I formed him and breathed life into his nostrils. But you, woman, I fashioned after I breathed the breath of life into man, because your nostrils are too delicate. I allowed a deep sleep to come over him so I could patiently and perfectly fashion you. Man was put to sleep so that he could not interfere with the creativity.. From one bone, I fashioned you. I chose the bone that protects man's life. I chose the rib, which protects his heart and lungs and supports him, as you are meant to do. Around this one bone, I shaped you. I modeled you. I created you perfectly and beautifully. Your characteristics are as the rib; strong, yet delicate and fragile. You provide protection for the most delicate organ in man, his heart. His heart is the center of his being. His lungs hold the breath of life. The rib cage will allow itself to be broken before it will allow damage to the heart. Support man as the rib cage supports the body. You were not taken from his feet, to be under him, nor were you taken from his head, to be above him. You were taken from his side, to stand beside him and be held close to his side. You are my perfect angel. You are my beautiful little girl. You have grown to be a splendid woman of excellence, and my eyes fill when I see the virtues in your heart. Your eyes ... don't change them. Your lips ... how lovely when they part in prayer. Your nose, so perfect in form. Your hands, so gentle to touch. I've caressed your face in your deepest sleep. I've held your heart close to mine. Of all that lives and breathes, you are most like me. Adam walked with me in the cool of the day, yet he was lonely. He could not see me or touch me. He could only feel me. So everything I wanted Adam to share and experience with me I fashioned in you; my holiness, my strength, my purity, my love, my protection and support. You are special because you are an extension of me. Man represents my image, woman my emotions.
Together, you represent the totality of the Lord."
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Mon, Oct 9th - 10:44PM
Cain's Wife
We don't know the name of Cain's wife. She is the first woman mentioned after Eve. We know her only through her relationship with Cain.
Where did Cain get his wife? I was just discussing this with my mother a few days ago. The answer is in Genesis 5:3: "After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters" Cain married one of his sisters.
This troubles some because of Moses' law that marriage between brothers and sisters is forbidden (Lev 18:9). But Moses was 1000's of years away and we must admit that the period following creation was certainly unique. Adam and Eve's children were copies of the original, gene pools had not yet mutated, and the purity of God's creation protected the first humans from the damage intermarriage would cause later on.
From scripture (Gen 4) I can conclude that Cain was already married when he killed Abel. His wife went into exile with him, for no other reason than that she was his wife. From the day that Cain was banished from Eden, his wife never saw her parents, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, or any other family member for the rest of her days on earth. What a terrible price this woman paid for the sin of her husband. I can't help but wonder if this created problems for the couple. There is no recorded dialog so I don't know; but I do know that I would have a problem if my mother could not see my children, or help in times of sickness. Did Cain's wife find strength in the Lord? Was her faith increased by hardship, like mine was? Or did she become bitter and spiteful? There's not enough information about this woman to even make a guess. No doubt though, the exile impacted this woman in many, drastic ways.
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Mon, Oct 2nd - 4:30PM
Eve (life giver) Mother of all people except Adam
The central female figure in early Genesis is Eve. I wondered what kind of person she was? What was her personal relationship with God? With her husband, her children?. What was she like herself? What can modern woman learn from her?
Eve had a relationship with God both before and after the Fall. That relationship goes back to her creation by the Lord. The Lord made it clear to Moses that Eve had been created in God's image, just as Adam had. (Gen 1:27) "So God created man in His own image in the image of God He created him; male and female, He created them". It wasn't until after Adam had named the other creatures, recognizing his own uniqueness that God "caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place" From the living tissue of Adam, God formed Eve.
Before the Fall, I imagine that life for Adam and Eve was so blissful that it would have been boring if it hadn't been perfect. Marriage without discord. Adam didn't have to work late. Eve didn't get headaches. Financial, communication, and sexual problems simply did not exist. There were no divorces, no attorneys, no broken homes, no latch-key kids, no domestic violence, no child abuse. There was no cancer, no thigh bulge, no medical insurance payments. No baggage from the past. No stress! Wow! To imagine this relationship causes me to lose focus on what I'm doing. Then up slithered Satan as his favorite serpent. He deceived Eve. She ate the forbidden fruit, and like all good wives wanted to share with her husband. Too bad he didn't follow today's slogan and "just say no". Instead, he thought it over and knowing full well what he was doing, chose to eat the forbidden fruit. And Adam blamed Eve. (Gen. 3:11,12).
Any time a person blames a spouse for something of significance there will be problems in the relationship. I can only guess what later conversations between Adam and Eve would have been like. EVE: "You never have time for me or the kids any more" ADAM: "Whose fault is that? I wouldn't be out here living by the sweat of my brow if you hadn't taken up with that serpent!" EVE: "Don't tell me about the sweat of your brow! You don't have monthly cramps. You don't suffer labor pains giving birth and you don't get up for 2AM feedings!" ADAM: "Like I said, Whose fault is that?" I'm unaware of any recorded dialog between Eve and her sons, but after the Fall the first couple produced the first dysfunctional family. Only one gereration from Eden, Cain murdered Abel. Because of the Fall all human relationships have been tainted by sin.
Eve was probably the most physically beautiful woman who ever lived. She was literally flawless, created by the hand and mind of God. But even more significant the initial relationship between Adam and Eve must have been perfect. There was no coompetition between the sexes. No sense of need to establish superiority. No conflict over whose needs should be given priority. But then came the Fall, and as we've seen, the unity of the pair was shattered. Eve blamed the serpent, Adam blamed Eve. Every one of us as women who've ever made a bad choice can sense Eve's sorrow at what her choice cost her. Her relationship with Adam was destroyed. Just imagine that you were the one who took Satan's bait. Imagine you were the one to pass sin along to your children. What a burden of guilt she must have carried! We can imagine the dashing of Eve's hopes when Cain brutally murdered Abel, and we can all imagine her grief. It takes little imagination to sense the anguish and dispair of a mother who not only loses her son, but loses him at the hand of his own brother. Remembering the whole time that she was the one who had taken the bait and urged her husband to eat.
When I look at Eve up-close, I can hardly bear to see where she began and what became of her. Yet, courageously, Eve continued on. The last mention of Eve in the Book of Genesis comes just after her third son, Seth is born. "God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel whom Cain killed" (Gen. 4:25). Eve, like other mothers who have lost children never forgot Abel, or even Cain. And she never lost hope. God is still on Eve's mind too ~ she still viewed Him as close to her, loving her and graciously giving her another son.
I believe that Eve must have forgiven herself in time. Without forgiveness, how could she have found the strength to carry on with the many burdens she had to bear? If Eve could forgive herself, then any of us can, and should forgive ourselves for what we have done. The Savior Eve yearned for has come, and no matter what we have done, faith in the Son of God will save us as well.
How strange to think that the Fall in Eden contributed to the joy we feel today at the triumph of our risen Lord. Despite the flaws we share with Eve, Christ will never leave us or forsake us.
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Name: Terri Medina
