Last time in commemoration of International Women’s day, I wrote a tribute for the woman (you can find it here).
Yesterday was Mother’s day, and I intend at this time to write in honor of the day. There are several women the Scriptures put forward as examples of Motherhood. However, I intend to deal with the principal truth of motherhood. So today, we go back to Genesis to get the principal picture of motherhood.
And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
Genesis 3:20 (KJV)
Adam called her Eve, not because she would be, but because she was the mother of all Living. It is worthy of our attention that as at then, she was yet to have a child or children. So ever before she had a child, her child bearing status notwithstanding, Adam named her ‘Eve’ because she was the mother of all living. (This is also important for the men, but that will be for another day and time.)
The word ‘Eve’ means life-giver. No pressure there. So imagine this, every time Adam said “Eve, good morning”, he was saying, “Lifegiver, good morning”. We are together if that sounds like idol worship to you – but it wasn’t regarded as blasphemy.
So what are we saying?
First, we are saying that when a woman assumes her ‘Eve’ calling, she, in that space, channels a dimension of God. Physically, childbearing is proof of that reality. One of the mysteries of the childbearing process is that a woman, by just being a woman, has all she needs to conceive and bear a child. Her body on its own accord makes the necessary changes and adjustments required to make the budding life in her safe and comfortable. It’s not surprising then that verses like this exist:
There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.
Exodus 23:26 (KJV)
A woman was designed to give and carry life. It’s custom-made. She is built to give life, and this is not limited to biological processes.
Second, the ‘Eve’ calling of the woman speaks of her capacity to give life to things around her. There is a joke that goes; when the mother is happy, everyone is happy and when a mother is unhappy, nobody will be happy. Think of our homes, and the range of expressions of the woman of the house to keep things ticking and alive. It is almost as though she has superpowers. Maybe she does. It’s because she is a life-giver.
I am not speaking of or condoning the over-exertion of women on the home front brought on by the irresponsibility of the men. I find that this life-giving dimension of the woman to the home is a tributary of the nature of God into the home, which ought to be expressed in the same manner that the man ought to also be a tributary of God to the home.
Third, the life-giver dimension of the woman extends to ideas, concepts, vision, business, and so on. Tell a woman something – an idea, a vision, whatever really – and watch her flesh it out, make sense of it, and build it up.
This is a fact that is supported by studies. It’s been found that businesses that were financed with loans taken by women generally did better and had the loan paid within the allotted time as compared to male recipients (who generally defaulted). In this sense, she can also impart life into dead or dying things. This is also seen when a woman encourages a man. There is something about the effect it has. It can build up faith and confidence.
These things I have mentioned are not dependent on age, race, level of education and so on. They are general modifiers. Truthfully, not all women in practice express the life-giver dimension. Some women are destructive, vindictive, assassins of vision and dream, gold diggers with sense of entitlement. Some others simply don’t care.
However, I believe that this life-giver expression is something that a woman can ‘learn’ if she so desires. She already has the making and tools required. With some training, shaping, and sharpening by God’s grace, she will express Eve.
A woman in the hands of God then becomes a veritable conduit not only for natural life but for just about anything that God decides to call to life. Because in her He has a vessel that will not only can carry it, but nurture and see to its birthing forth.
Happy Mother’s Day to every woman who has discovered and is discovering the ‘Eve’ in her.
In Plain Sight 