The Secret of the Veil:
The origin of the woman- A Divine Design
Part 1
By Rabbi David Taylor
davidlovesisrael@gmail.com
copyright 2012
Preface:
Let me first start this study
off by saying that there has been much confusion in regard to women and the
Torah. Many people have preached for
centuries that women have no place in the Divine design and have somehow
exempted themselves from honor. That
somehow they are either the lowest of the created world or that they are above
man. And because of these types of
humilities and exaltations, that are not in line with Scripture, we have
division and much fighting among men and women.
Men debasing women in an ungodly fashion and then women also exalting
themselves in an ungodly fashion has never been righteous nor even
correct. We must seek the Scriptures and
realign ourselves with the Creator.
What I am not saying needs to
be expressed here also. First, I am not
saying that women have an exalted position above men and have authority over
men as the world states. Second, and at
the same time as the first statement, I am not saying that men dominate women
or should do so as the church often times states. There is a place of honor G-d gives to the woman
and this must be understood by both men and women. When we see what G-d see's and act within
what He establishes, then we will have harmony and unity among men and
women. When we act like the world and
have views about men and women in regard to the world, then we act
worldly. We deny women what G-d gave
them. We also can exalt women to a place
that goes against creation as well.
So all I ask as your Rabbi,
is that you be fair and complete the study before making any preconceived
judgments about the topic at hand. Be
willing to challenge what you may think that you already know about Adam and
Eve. Be open to making any adjustments
in your views and what you have previously believed. It might just change your life.
Rabbi David Taylor
davidlovesisrael@gmail.com
Lesson 1
G-d's Creation:
Good and Very Good, No sin or
lawlessness, Defined Roles,
The Bible says that “In the
beginning, G-d created the heavens and the Earth”. B'Resheet /Genesis 1:1. And with that statement of undeniable
creation we have Adonai's authority established with it. Elohim (G-d), is the Creator and what He made
in the Creation.
From reading
B'Resheet/Genesis 1:1, if Elohim is the Maker of All things and He commands us
to heed and follow Him, what should all of Creation be doing?
Should what was created
then Submit to G-d or resist Him?
From B'Resheet/Genesis
1:4, 1:10, 1:12. 1:18, 1:21, 1:25, what do these passages say about His
Creation there?
Now look at
B'Resheet/Genesis 1:31. What was
different about how G-d declared His creation to be at that time?
The initial place we call the
Garden of Eden and all of the Universe as well was called good by G-d who had
made it and that creation was also called very good. The Hebrew word for “Good” is טוב (Tov).
“#2896 tove
From H2895;
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in
the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or
good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or
women), also as an adverb (well): - beautiful, best, better, bountiful,
cheerful, at ease, X fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed,
-lier, liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh
(best), loving, merry, X most, pleasant, + pleaseth, pleasure, precious,
prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well ([-favoured]).”
Here we see clearly that the
Creation was not bad nor was it flawed.
It was perfect and innocent because Elohim had made it that way. This includes Man and Woman and the
Angels. All of these were initially
“good” and “very good”.
It is not our goal
here in this study to explore all of the Creative steps and processes that
Adonai went through to make the heavens and the Earth. Nor was it Moshe's goal to elaborate on every
creative aspect. But please note that
Adonai is G-d and that He was the One who made all the things and creatures in
the universe good and very good. And as a
result of this established fact and the obvious conclusion that He was able to
do so, we can conclude that Adonai alone should be worshiped and obeyed. And the Creation when it was “good” and “very
good” did hearken to and did obey the Almighty who had made it.
Turn to 1 Yochanan/1 John
3:4. What is Sin and how is it defined
there?
What is transgressed when
we are lawless?
Are we then obeying the
Creator when we are like this?
The word in our English
Bibles known as “Law” (νόμος (nomos)in the Greek),
is really the proper noun and title of a compilation of commands, statues,
ordinances and judgments called The Torah in Hebrew, ( תּורה ). When any creation of Adonai sins and
transgresses against what G-d says, that created one who does so then denies
all that the Almighty commands him or her whether in one point or in
totality. He or she then goes against
the “Law” or better said, The Torah. They become lawless and transgress what
was commanded them.
Was there sin initially in
the Creation of Adonai?
We know that sin and
lawlessness was not in the original creation and plan of G-d because G-d called
what He had made “Good” and “Very Good”.
If you look at the rest of
the Creation Account in the Scriptures you will see that “angelic beings” were
also created. These “heavenly beings”
were angelic and not human. Angels like
man, did not create themselves. G-d made
all of the angelic beings. As with
mankind, so angels had to submit to the Creator's authority and did so. We have a verse in B'Resheet/Genesis 2:1 that
tells us “Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the hosts of them, were
finished”. The word “hosts” may refer to
angels or messengers. Some say however
that angels may have been previously created prior to the Genesis account. No one knows for sure which ones may have
been previous to Genesis 2. We cannot
deny this possibility by making assumptions either for against this theory. But regardless of your viewpoint, “hosts” may
indeed be speaking of Angels being created as of B'Resheet/ Genesis 2.
In all of Genesis/
B'Resheet Chapter 2, did G-d state that the Angels had sinned or had been
lawless?
So were Angels created as
sinners and evil messengers? Were they
rebellious as far as we can see in chapter 1-2?
How about mankind? Were they
created as sinners?
Who created Man from
B'Resheet / Genesis 2:7 and how was he formed?
Was Eve, (Chavvah), created at the same time as Man?
When was she created? See
B'Resheet/ Genesis 2:21-22.
Why was she created at the
time she was from verse 20? Weren't the
animals sufficient for Adam?
In 2:22 who presented
Woman to the Man?
Did Adam ever ask Adonai
for a woman or another companion?
We see clearly that it was
Adonai, our Creator who saw Adam's need. Adam was alone and that his solitude
was not good from B'Resheet 2:18. It
says in the Scriptures “It isn't good that the person (Man), should be
alone”. So all of creation was good and
very good, but what was not good? Man
being alone. So the Father saw this
fact and created a woman to be a helpmeet and a companion for the Man
Adam. It would be the Creator who would
present the woman to the Man.
The Man was not the one to
look for or search for a companion as we have many men doing today. But it would be Adonai who would do the
“finding and the Searching” for Adam. Of
course we know that Eve was created by G-d after Adam's need and that she was
not hiding nor needed to be discovered.
She was intended and created and was presented to the Man at the perfect
time. Man spent many days and years
possibly naming all of the animals and realizing his need for a woman. At the correct time, G-d gave man his helper
and friend.
I want you to see some truths
here. G-d created a woman and only a
woman to fulfill Adam's need for help and companionship. None of the rest of Creation could satisfy
that need. Woman was unique and very
special. Out of all of the hundreds, if
not thousands of creatures, there was not one creation of G-d that could be
like the woman for Adam. Nothing else,
not even angelic beings would suffice.
Notice the position in creation that the woman holds! She alone was fashioned by Adonai to fulfill
Adam's needs on Earth.
Notice too that in all of the
Scriptures, there is never once a mention or illusion to a female angel. Not even an angel who had special abilities
and beauty could be called or made into a woman. Only Eve would fulfill that role. Women are the most special of all of G-d's
creations! None other in all the
universe is like her. The Bible never
refers to any other creature as it does the woman. Her worth is far above any treasure. She is unique in every way.
Next I want for you to see
that Adam walked with the Father in the cool of the day. Read B'Resheet / Genesis 3:8. The Father walked among His Creation and
fellowshipped with them daily. Adam was
no exception to this pleasure. Can you
imagine this!? And even though Adam had
this pleasure previous to the Woman's arrival, G-d knew that Adam needed a
helper that was suited for him and comparable to him. Now this is not to say that a woman will
replace the Almighty and the fellowship man has with Him. Not at all.
But still, see the truth here. A
woman is necessary even in a Utopian garden walking with G-d. The Garden was perfect and was “very
good”. But at the same time, it was “not
good that man should be alone”.
Ladies, you have worth to the
man and in G-d's creation. Adonai knows
that man is lacking without you. He saw
that a woman was a vital part of man's existence. So shouldn't you see yourself in that same
light and understanding? It is not good
for the man to be alone. So you have the
ultimate distinction of being the sole companion. Especially made and fashioned to help,
comfort and be there for mankind. Now
this is aside from the obvious pro creative facts. And women are honored by G-d in that way as
well. Women are essential for happiness,
beauty, companionship and the continuance of the whole human race! No other created being has that place of
authority and honor.
Men, we need to see that G-d
created a woman for us and it is essential that we depend upon her. We too must cherish her as Messiah loves the
Congregation. She has worth and value
and position before Adonai and we best be sure that we honor the Eve's in our
lives. To deny your Wife, Mother or
Sister honor as a woman is a great sin.
For with our debasing of her, we deny the very honor that the Almighty
gave her! We shame the Creator as we rob
from her the place of creative exaltation.
And we also deny ourselves as men the help that G-d intended for
us. So to be in solitude away from your
bone of bones and flesh of your flesh, to be divided, is to make your life “not
good”. We reverse the very reason why
G-d brought Eve to Adam. We go against
all of Creation and disrupt the Divine Order.
What a great tragedy it is
for women to not see their place in the Garden and with man. Also what a great lapse in judgment for a man
to overlook a woman's worth. We must see
the woman as a person who has value far above rubies. Anything less is to deny the Creator and His
purpose for woman. At this point some of
you may need to put this study down and repent of all the years that you have
debased and put down that blessing you married.
Now a note to our single
friends. You may not have your Adam or
your Eve yet so to speak. But one day
you will in G-d's Divine plan and timing.
Start praying for your future mate.
Lift them up in prayer and pray for them as if they already existed in
your life. Make changes now where needed
to be the mate that they will one day require.
Be the person of G-d that you must be now. Become that person who is a help mate for
your future Husband. Men become a man
like Adam who walked with G-d in the Garden in the cool of the day. It is far easier now to be the man or woman
of Adonai that you should be, than to try and regain that after you have been
married. You have the wonderful
opportunity to become all that you should become. G-d and His Word can mold you and transform
you prior to your future marriage.
An Exercise
What was the order of
Creation?
Using the Scriptures, and
the Creation account, number in order the creation of man and woman and
animals. Use numbers 1-3.
Animals __
Woman __
Man __
Place the Bible references
next to each of your numbered answers above.
Who established this
order? B'Resheet / Genesis 1:1
Why did Adonai make women
last in this short list above if she has a place of honor?
So does that mean that
women are less than the animals? They
were last in this list.
Read B'Resheet / Genesis
2:18. Why were the animals created
before Eve (Chavvah)?
Nothing was comparable to the
Woman Eve for Adam and this had to be proven to him by G-d. How would Adam know that there was
nothing found that was comparable to him unless he looked and searched all of
the animal kingdom first? It was only
after Adam named all of the animal kingdom that he realized that he needed much
more. This creative order exalts the woman.
We see clearly from the
Scripture that the creative order does NOT mean that women are less than
animals. Some false religions teach that
a woman is less than an animal based upon this passage. What a falsehood and again a denial of a
woman's position! The animals were
created first so that Adam would see clearly that there was nothing in all of
the living creatures that compares to Eve (Chavvah). A woman is vastly unique and this order of
creation exalts a woman. It was never
meant to debase her. We need to deny any
group or teaching that debases a woman below the status of an animal. G-d never taught this nor does the Word agree
with false teaching that humiliates a Lady.
Again, I speak to the men
taking this study. Brothers we must see
that a woman has an exalted place among the living. She and she alone is the only suitable
companion for man. Animals cannot love,
talk, help or nurture. They cannot bear
your children and they can never be bone of your bone and one with you. Despite the cat food and dog food
commercials, animals are not your companions.
Women are made specifically for man by Adonai and then especially
presented to the man by Him. Many of us need to repent for the way we have
failed to see that G-d has exalted the Eve's in our lives. Why not go and hug your Wife and tell her how
much you have learned at this point from the Scriptures? Single men, change your ways and repent of
any false doctrines you may have been taught as boys. Dad's rear your daughters with high esteem. Teach them what you have learned in this
study. Have your daughters and sons take
this study when they are old enough. If
we return to the Scriptures and what they teach, then we will have happy and
fulfilled families and marriages. The
Torah way in the Scriptures will change the world. It is up to us to apply them.
Women are under appreciated
in our culture and in the Church or Synagogues.
We must take a good hard look at the creative process and reasons behind
why G-d did what He did in the Garden and when He did that process. When we do this kind of study, we will be
more ready to love our Wives and honor our Daughters and Sisters among us. We will also honor our Mothers and thus
fulfill part of the commandment in Torah.
Now let me speak to the
Ladies in more detail. Girls, you need
to see how the Father has created you and where in that creative process and
order you were made. You have worth and
you must see that Adonai has placed you in a very special place in a man's
life. Many of you have been raped and
defamed by abuse. Many have been tricked
by people telling you that you are less than even an animal. My Sisters, you must open your eyes and allow
the truth of who you are to sink deeply down into your Nefesh (inner
beings). Let the truth set you free from
self-criticism and guilt. Let the Light
shine upon the darkness that was thrown upon you! Deny the lies and false doctrines. You are a “present” and a “gift” given by G-d
to a specific man and also all of mankind.
A woman is “Beauty
Personified”. Everything that G-d made
was “Very Good”. This included
women. Chavvah, Eve, was “good” as a
creation because Adonai made her that way in the beginning. He then presented that “good creation” and
“help meet” to the man for Adam's good.
Everything that Adonai made was beautiful. Women you must see this and deny the lies you
believe about yourself! To debase
yourself is a great sin. For in that you
defame what G-d has made. You belittle
the glory given to Eve as the “Mother of all the Living”. If a woman see's who she is in the Creation,
then she will begin to see her own beauty and viability. She will have inner respect and know who she
really is. She will know her worth and
act based upon that humble knowledge.
Read Genesis/ B'Resheet 1
again. Notice how the entire Universe
was beautiful. We all love nature and
the beauty of the outdoors. We stand in
awe of the Universe as we see the stars and all of the heavens. Their visage is breathtaking! We stand in awe and wonder how G-d made it
all that lovely?
Read B'Resheet / Genesis
2:23. What was Adam's reaction to
Chavvah's, Eve's, beauty and who she was?
What do you suppose that he was thinking when he saw her? Go ahead and let your imagination go wild.
Write your thoughts below.
How was Chavvah (Eve),
created? Was she made from the dust of
the ground like Adam was fashioned? See
B'Resheet / Genesis 2:21-22.
Did G-d name the
woman? Who did?
Adam declared that this new
creation was to be called a woman. G-d
did not do this. It was the Man who
named her and declared what she was.
Why? She was taken out of man and
from the man. She was an intimate part
of Adam. An actual part of Adam's
body. She was “Bone of his bones and
flesh of his flesh”. This tells us that
a woman is not independent nor exclusive from a man. So we see that from the beginning, there was
a close relation and association that existed between the man and the woman
physically. She too was an intimate part
of his DNA and his structure. Oneness
from creation and by Divine fashion. So
many people think that sex is the main way that a woman and man are one. They are indeed one flesh by intimacy, but
notice that Adonai also meshes the very core of man's Genes and cells with the
woman's. Adam and Eve were one even
before sex was initiated between them.
Some call this “Chemistry”. Not a
bad way of thinking of it. Could it be
that we still have this “Chemistry” between us?
Could it be that G-d has a chemical bond of sorts between the man and
the woman? You do not have your man's
genes nor do you have hers, but the term “Chemistry” is now much more
interesting as we study that first man and woman. And may I say that the “Chemistry” may in
fact be divine if and only if we allow G-d to present our mate to us.
My single friends we need to
let the Almighty bring us our mates. We
must go about and do what G-d has given us to do. We must work and so until G-d causes us to
rest. Then when we awake, G-d presents
us with the greatest of all gifts! Stop
seeking and stop fretting. Wait upon the
L-rd and allow Him to present you with the perfect match. The Father has the perfect time and the
perfect place designed for the two of you and one day that design will come to
be. You can trust Him. The trouble comes when we seek for our “help
meet”. The problems arise when we do
what is right in our own eyes.
I have heard so many dominant
women today state that “they don't need men” or “A woman could survive well
enough without a man in her life”. These
are true statements in that you can easily live alone or by yourself. Anyone could live on an island but it is not
the ideal situation. Women can and do
this kind of solitary living everyday in our culture. We all know that very well. But the core of these independent and self
proclaimed woman's rights declarations of today are making a very misguided
assumption. Some of these bold ladies
are really saying that some women believe that they are independent and
exclusive of man. Woman's rights
advocates who are over board state that they will not agree with G-d and the
Divine Design. As if Adonai never took
the woman from Adam's side. Some women
deny their Scriptural origin and essential association by DNA and by
chemistry. That somehow G-d made a woman
from the dust of the Earth just as He did Adam and separate from Adam. This exclusive type of thought soon turns to
rebellion against men and the G-d who created them. This kind of rebellion does not honor a woman
but debases her. It debases the woman
because in these kinds of independent declarations, a woman scraps her
uniqueness via the rib and excludes Eve as especially presented to the man as a
help mate. A woman's purpose and mission
in the Creation is destroyed by pride.
Women like this will often refuse to be a help. They reject the fulfilled life that G-d
designs. They hinder mankind instead of
being a help to them.
We each have a vital role to
play in one another's lives. Adonai
fashioned the woman from the side using the rib. By the way, men and women have the same
number of ribs. There is a teaching that
there is one less rib in men than women.
Medically this has been proven to be a myth. Take my word for it, men are not missing a
rib nor is there an extra rib in the woman's ribcage. Men and women both are today fashioned by the
Divine design of procreation and sex.
Read B'Resheet/Genesis
1:26-31.
In verse 26-27 whose image
were both men and women created in?
Does that make men and
women the same? How so?
Read 1 Corinthians
13. G-d is love 1 John tells us. So what attributes of G-d are found in 1
Corinthians 13. Us the phrase “ G-d
is...” before each of the terms for love.
Notice how G-d is indeed defined in this passage.
Men and women both can
love. This is just one of many examples
in the Bible in regard to the attributes of G-d. But it illustrates well how men and women can
both be like G-d and possess the tributes of love. We are both created in G-d's likeness. Thus if G-d is love and these are the
attributes of love, then men and women can be loving and imitate G-d. This is one way that men and women are alike.
Now read Galatians
6:22-23. Make a list of the fruit of the
Ruach (Spirit) below:
Notice how men and women can
be alike in many ways. A man as well as
a woman could be gentle, kind as well as
all of the other attributes listed in Galatians. We could do this for dozens of passages where
men and women are identical in character and their G-d given attributes. Yet
notice that physically as well as in the order of creation there remains a
distinction. A distinction of purpose
and a distinction in roles. Roles and
duties established by the Creator at the time of creation. Places of honor and authority. Remember, no one is like the woman. She alone has a place of distinction in G-d's
divine order. A man could never do what
she can do. She is unique and
special. Yet a woman can have the same
godly character qualities that a man does and vice versa. The Scriptures that we just studied in 1
Corinthians as well as in Galatians prove that fact well. Uniqueness does not equate to inferiority. Being unique demands a knowledge and proper
understanding of how we are Biblically different. With that knowledge and understanding we then
compliment one another where we are diverse.
We also build one another up as we reinforce our Biblical similarities.
How are we different? Be real and truthful. There are differences. Recall the creative order we studied. Who was created first? Adam or Chavvah?
How does the creative
order factor in to the headship of the man?
Read 1 Corinthians 11:3.
Write down the creative
order that Paul declares in that passage.
How does the creative
order influence the roles of a man and a woman?
How does the creative order
in the Garden effect the way men and women in marriage interact? Even though they are the same in character
and by nature, there remains a distinction based upon the chronological events in
the Creation. Man was created first and
then the woman was created. That order
does Biblically factor in when it comes to our interactions as man and wife. Someone must take the lead and be responsible
for the union of the family. G-d chose
the man to be the head and established that fact by creating him first. Even as G-d is the head and was prior to man,
so man must follow suite and imitate G-d as the head of the Wife. But notice from our study of 1 Corinthians 13
and love that a man should and must be the loving leader. For love is the great attribute of
Adonai. If man is to copy G-d and lead
as He does then a man must love His wife.
The Wife also should love her G-d appointed leader as the head. That requires a full and total adherence to
what love is and what love does. For
when we lead our homes as G-d leads the World, then we are like Him and the
home becomes a wonderful place and the marriage becomes divine. A man who is a dictator and fails to love is
not like G-d at all.
This view of the creative
headship may not be popular or what you have been brought up with, but it
remains the mainstay as a design by G-d.
And as the Creator, G-d has the right as everyone's head to establish
leadership. To reject G-d's headship in your home is to reject G-d's headship
in the entire world. You cannot follow
the L-rd and be rebellious against what He has instituted in the creation
process. Nor can you agree with G-d as a
leader if you do not do so duplicating the attributes of the Father as you
lead.
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