8. CO-Workers – In The Beginning Series
“The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Genesis 2:18 NIV
Laura Secord is one of my Canadian heroines. Laura was born in the United States to a family that never lost their British roots. Eventually her family moved to Canada. When the war of 1812 broke out between the United States and Britain, Canada was caught in the middle. When the love of her life James didn’t come home after the battle at Queenston was over, Laura traveled dangerous territory to find out what happened to him. She searched through living and dead bodies, eventually finding him shot in the shoulder and wounded at the knee. This 5’4” little woman carried her husband home from the battlefield on her back. Laura then nursed James to health but he remained crippled from his injuries. A year later she was forced to host American soldiers as they lived in occupied land. When Laura overheard battle plans to ambush the British armies she devised a plan and traveled 20 miles on foot to warn the Canadian Lieutenant of the impending attack. Arriving with bloodied feet, Laura shared what she heard. This information led to a triumph over the enemy. In everything, Laura was the perfect co-worker to her husband James and Lieutenant FitzGibbon.1
Genesis 2:18 is a verse that often is read with a connotation that the woman as a “helper” holds an inferior, subordinate position to the man. The definition of this Hebrew word “Ezer” has been translated in our English Bibles as “suitable helper”, “helpmeet” or “helpmate, his like”2. In a paper I wrote for a Bible College course, just a couple years ago (wink-wink, nudge-nudge), I discussed how the Hebrew word for helper is defined as “equal to” or “corresponding to”3. Throughout scripture it’s explained how the marriage relationship is to be a mirror of the relationship in the trinity; where all are equal and one, but fulfill different roles. It’s clear that, In The Beginning God designed men and women to be co-workers; tending His garden, ruling in dominion over all things. Ezer used in this verse is also used in other scriptures to depict the helper as a military aid. Most times this word Ezer is used when God the Father calls himself the “helper” of Israel that helps Israel win military battles. In Psalm 89:19 Ezer is used to describe God’s help to David in battle. It says God gave help to one who is “mighty” or a “warrior”4. God is calling us to be “Warrior Women” and I think Laura Secord is an incredible example of this!
Understanding the truth of this scripture dispels the notion that women are the weak, feeble, inferior, subordinate “helper” as often explained. So get out there girls and be the ‘Warrior Women’ God designed you to be; not above, not below, but a suitable co-worker for the men in your world!
Prayer
Father…I thank You for placing such value on my life. Help me to work together with the men(women) in my life as you have designed for me to do. Let me work in unity and love so I can reflect Your purposes to this world. Help me not to diminish who I am or who others are, but to be the warrior woman(man) you’ve called me to be. In Jesus Name…Amen
1 https://www.uppercanadahistory.ca/1812/18127.html
https://www.uppercanadahistory.ca/1812/18127.html
https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/laura-secord
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_1812
2 NIV/KJV/Darby Tanslation
3 Erickson,Millard J. Christian Theology. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1987, p.546.
4 KJV/NIV-NLT