Let’s begin with what happened during the fall of mankind. In the beginning, Adam and Eve were equal. But it was Eve who was deceived first and she led Adam also into sin. “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6)
Eve was the leader in this act, because she ate the forbidden fruit first and gave it to Adam. As punishment for being a bad leader, God said to the woman:
“I will greatly multiply
Your pain in childbirth,
In pain you will bring forth children;
Yet your desire will be for your husband,
And he will rule over you.” (Genesis 3:16)
Ever since then, in general, men have taken leadership instead of women. While the punishment of death came through sin, the punishment of being ruled by men (or one’s father, brother, or husband) also came. This came about because Eve, the first woman, did not lead well. So the leadership was given to men.
This is why throughout the Bible, there are references to men being the rightful rulers. This is why a nation is considered weak if it is ruled by children or women (Isaiah 3:12).
Regarding physical strength, it is generally agreed today that women are usually physically weaker than men. So even though women can be soldiers, men in general can be better soldiers because of their natural gift of strength.
Please don’t be offended and read on, because God’s plan for women is actually quite beautiful.
It is not true that women cannot fight. In the Bible, there is a formidable woman named Jael who is celebrated as a warrior who saved Israel. Sisera, a commander of the army of Canaanites (Israel’s enemy), escaped during battle and came to Jael’s tent.
“Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, ‘Turn aside, my master, turn aside to me! Do not be afraid.’ And he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug. He said to her, ‘Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.’ So she opened a bottle of milk and gave him a drink; then she covered him. He said to her, ‘Stand in the doorway of the tent, and it shall be if anyone comes and inquires of you, and says, “Is there anyone here?” that you shall say, “No.” ’ But Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and seized a hammer in her hand, and went secretly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went through into the ground; for he was sound asleep and exhausted. So he died.” (Judges 4:18-21)
Then Deborah, a wise woman judge who was leading Israel at the time, sang a song that paid tribute to Jael:
“Most blessed of women is Jael,
The wife of Heber the Kenite;
Most blessed is she of women in the tent.” (Judges 5:24)
In these events, God especially honored these two women – for brains, courage, and brawn. Deborah was a judge of Israel (a judge at the time was a leader who made major decisions for the people).
“Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. She used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment.” (Judges 4:4-5)
Deborah was a spiritual leader and wise judge. Jael was strong, courageous, and cunning. Together, they helped Israel defeat their enemies.
But there are many more celebrated women of the Bible. They include women prophetesses like Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), Anna (Luke 2:36-38), and four daughters of Philip (Acts 21:8-9). You can read about Ruth and Naomi, and Queen Esther. See also Mary Magdalene and her sister Martha (Luke 7:36-48, Luke 8:1-3, Luke 10:38-42, John 11:1-46, John 20:1-18), Mary the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:26-56, Luke 2:33-35, John 19:25-27), Priscilla, a leader of a church (Acts 18:2-3, Acts 18:24-26, Romans 16:3-5), and Tabitha (Acts 9:36-43).
The Bible encourages women to own property and do business. Proverbs 31 describes a model woman.
“She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.” (Proverbs 31:16)
“She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.” (Proverbs 31:24-25)
The Bible encourages women to also be physically strong:
“She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.” (Proverbs 31:17)
And to be wise:
“She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” (Proverbs 31:26)
Most importantly:
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.” (Proverbs 31:30-31)
A woman’s good relationship with God will bring her great honor, and the fruit of her labor will be praised by all. The honored woman is hardly a damsel in distress. But she works hard and makes great gains.
Women are not weak or pathetic. But God shows that in our submission to God and to others, we will have great honor.
Jesus said the following:
“Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” (Matthew 23:12)
“You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45)
The rulers and leaders of this world exercise authority over people and rule over them. But in the kingdom of heaven, the opposite is true. Whoever wishes to be great should be a servant and slave to all. Whoever submits himself or herself to serve others will be highly exalted just as Christ submitted Himself.
Submission is not a bad thing. If a person submits to others willingly, it is highly noble and honorable in the kingdom of God.
As women, we have a greater opportunity to learn submission than men. Instead of thinking of this as weakness (which is what the world thinks), we have the opportunity to be strong and Christ-like. Take this as opportunity to learn to serve God and others instead of taking offense. See this as a blessing in disguise.
Just as Jesus submitted Himself in obedience and is highly exalted with a name above all names, so all women who humble themselves in Christ will also be highly exalted.
Dear sister, I hope you are not offended by these words. “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)
It is courageous, noble, and honorable to do so.
Finally, discipline lasts for a short time, but God’s blessings last forever. We always need to remember that God’s blessings last forever, even though currently many men rule over women because of original sin. But God’s original intent is always that He is not partial to any and that all are equal before Him.
“For there is no partiality with God.” (Romans 2:11)
“…The same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him…” (Romans 10:12)
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
As for the rewards in the kingdom of heaven, it is the servants who will be great. It is those who submit to others who will be highly exalted.
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)