She shall be called 'Ishshah'

What is a woman?

I want to introduce to you a professor in psychologist and sexologist, this professor’s research was on human sexual behaviour and gender.

He was a professor at John Hopkins University and his research helped a coined the terms gender role and sexual orientation.

This professor’s name is John Money and this man did an experiment on a boy to convince him that he was a girl.

In 22 August 1965, identical twins were born in Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada. When the boys reached the age of 6 months, there was an issue that was related to their male parts and circumcision was recommended for the boys.

The doctor performing the circumcision used an unconventional method of electrocauterisation, this experiment would change the life of David for the rest of his life. The doctor botched the procedure and burned David’s private parts beyond surgical repair.

The parents were concerned for David’s future that they took him to John Hopkins Hospital to see John Money in 1967, David would be 2 years old, and this psychologist who had a reputation in the field of sexual development and gender identity thought that it was a good idea to change the gender of David because. What is a woman but a role created by society

So, for the 12 years, David was given estrogen to develop breast, he also had sex reassignment surgery. He and his brother continued to meet with John Money who, as it was told by their autobiography, forced to perform sexual rehearsals by John and even strip naked and forced to inspect each other’s genitalia.

When David turned 14 years old, he was told the truth about his forced transition and decided to become a man again. I would suspect it would have been a difficult discussion between the parents and David.

Sadly, this whole situation doesn’t have a happy ending, David’s twin brother, Brian, would overdose on antidepressant drugs in 2002, and in 2004 David would commit suicide.

John Money when he was informed about David’s death, was said that he was mortified by the case, Money would later pass away 2 years later and his research would be the foundation of ‘gender identity’ and ‘gender fluidity’ that is impacting today’s society.

It is noted that even though in the scientific community, Money’s research was considered a success, however, there are those in the scientific community that consider his actions unethical, traumatic to childhood therapy and concealing evidence relating the transition.

So, what is a woman?

But if you were to ask someone 20 years from now, “what is a woman?” what do you think they would say?

Now, if you go to the streets today and ask the same question, the response would be confusing, you will get something along the lines of ‘someone who identifies as a woman’, but that doesn’t explain what a woman is, it is like saying ‘what is a car’, and the response would be ‘something that identifies as a car’. Which doesn’t explain much.

We’re living in a world where what you feel is the truth regardless of the facts and evidence. We’re living in a world based on emotions.

And what I am saying will get me into trouble with some progressive, but I am not here to be politically correct, I am here to preach the Word for God’s Word is truth, and to say other wise will contradict with my conscience in God’s Word and I can’t deny the Spirit of Truth.

So, what is a woman? More particularly, what is a mother according to the Bible?

The Ishshah!

First things first, let’s get back to the beginning, all the way at the time of creation.

Now God is almost finished with creation, God only has a few more things to take care of before He can complete His creative work.

Now, up until now, God had created everything from the shinning stars, moon, sun, to the vast oceans and expanse of land. He created all the living creatures that live in the waters, land and air, God then made His masterpiece and that was man, but that masterpiece was not complete because in all that was good, there was one thing that was not good.

Just making sure you got that? We all know the creation story, we understand that when God created everything, it was good or very good.

Yet, there is one part of creation where it was not good.

Genesis 2:18 NLT

18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

Creation was not complete, man was alone and that was not good for God, think about it, did God forget about women? When God created man, did He run out of time to create woman? How many husbands when they’re out and about forget about their wives?

God didn’t forget about the woman, of course, however Scripture isn’t clear as to why God did not create Eve as the same time as Adam, it could be that there needed to be a bond between Adam and God first before Eve was brought into the world. Maybe, Adam had to see the need for a companion that is just like him?

Either way, once Eve was created, creation was almost complete as the Sabbath was to mark the completion of creation, but God created the most precious and beautiful gift.

Genesis 2:23 NKJV

23 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”

The word woman here in Hebrew is ‘Ishshah’, which pretty much defines anything relating to a female, it also defines a cowardly man as a derogatory. Adam completes his job in naming God’s wonderful creation with the final bir of creation that completes him.

There’s a popular misconception regarding the word woman in Old English, it was said that the word originally used to mean womb-man, ‘man’ in Old English used to mean person and such it would have meant womb person.

For man in Hebrew is ‘Ish’, which defines anything related to a male, but some specific definition from this word are: those of high rank, farmer, man of God, and can also mean servant.

What's interesting is that after they sinned, Adam then gives the woman another name, in Genesis 3:20 “20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.”

Here Eve is to learn a big lesson on motherhood, she didn’t have a midwife to help her through her term in pregnancy, she did have God and the angels, and she did the best she could despite being the first of her kind to give birth to the human species.

All this could have been avoided if she had heeded the voice of God, of course, Adam must take the responsibility of his action which caused the downfall of humanity, but as my favourite author writes:

Patriarchs and Prophets Chapter 3—The Temptation and Fall

Eve had been perfectly happy by her husband’s side in her Eden home; but, like restless modern Eves, she was flattered with the hope of entering a higher sphere than that which God had assigned her. In attempting to rise above her original position, she fell far below it. A similar result will be reached by all who are unwilling to take up cheerfully their life duties in accordance with God’s plan. In their efforts to reach positions for which He has not fitted them, many are leaving vacant the place where they might be a blessing. In their desire for a higher sphere, many have sacrificed true womanly dignity and nobility of character, and have left undone the very work that Heaven appointed them.

This isn’t to say that woman aren’t allowed to work, but rather God has ordained men and women to take up the duty of your role to do His will, and that role could be working and sharing the gospel, that could be being a parent and sharing the gospel, that could be being a carer and sharing the gospel.

Regardless, your unique role as a mother is significant and essential in bringing up the next generation of Christians, but to vacate from your responsibility as a godly mother has its repercussions on your children and their spiritual growth.

Just like Eve’s small mistake in eating a fruit, has great consequences on the future generations, one mistake we make as a parent can have disastrous consequences as well.

This is why we need to be vigilant as parents and fulfill the role that the Lord has ordained.

What was it that a Jesus said about leading children astray?

Matthew 18:6 NKJV

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

Some examples of mothers

Now we can go to Proverbs 31:10-31 and talk about the ideals of a virtuous woman/mother. We don’t have enough time to go through the list but I do recommend all women have a read and meditate on those verses.

However, let me give you an example of two mothers and the choices they made that had good and bad outcomes.

The bad outcome

Jesus reminds us, in Luke 17:32 “Remember Lot’s wife.”

Though, much of the blame falls on Lot in delaying the escape out of Sodom, Lot’s wife on the other hand as an adult woman and mother should have considered the lives of her children and her families welfare.

But the mother was concerned for the treasured wealth left behind in the sinful city as it fell into destruction that she rebelled against God desired for earthly possessions than her own life.

Her decision allowed no maternal support and advice for her two daughters who then committed an unspeakable sin and resulted in the creation of two nations that contended and tormented God’s people.

Again, Lot is also at fault here as well, but Jesus does tell us to remember Lot’s wife.

And so mothers, as well as all women, let us be reminded of Lot’s wife and the choices she made, they are a matter of life and death for you and for the next generation. How will you be a better role model to them?

The good outcome

Now there are plenty of mothers in the Bible that have displayed a godly character, but one mother stands out to me and her name is Naomi, the mother-in-law of Ruth.

Now Naomi had two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, and they were married to Moabite women, funny enough, Moabites are the descendants of Lot.

Mahlon and Chilion die for unknown reasons, and the two widows have the choice to remain with their mother-in-law or return and be married again to someone else. Orpah one of the widows returns whereas Ruth remains with Naomi.

Through the care and instructions of Naomi, Ruth meets with Boaz who is a relative of her late husband and she is redeemed as part of the family through her marriage to Boaz.

You see Naomi could have forced Ruth to go back home and forget about her, Naomi has lost everything why does she need Ruth an extra baggage and burden.

But Naomi’s motherly love and care for her daughter-in-law showed that even if she lost everything she didn’t lose her character. She loved Ruth as her own.

Eventually, Ruth would be truly blessed to her faithfulness to her mother-in-law as she would be the great grand mother of a king David and through her would also come the Saviour.

Become the woman and mother for God

When God created Eve, she was to be a companion and helper to Adam, she was to be the mother that would inspire her children to a Holy and loving God.

Going back to the story of David, what would have happened if the parents trusted in the Lord rather than an experiment on gender. Her children could possibly be living now? We can’t know that but I know one thing, they would have had a better outcome!

Mothers are a wonderful and beautiful gift from God, but your role as a mother or mother figure has a lot of responsibilities tied to it, but you are not alone. God is always with you and He truly cares for you.

Most of these mothers in scripture encourage the mothers here and now to Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”

What values, teachings, or evidences that you bring to your children about the God you serve?

Proverbs 14:1–2 NKJV

The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands. He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.

Which are you? The one that builds up your children for eternity? Or the one that pulls your children to damnation?

You have a choice mothers and mother figures, the action you make each day will be seen by the children who in turn will encourage others to do the same.

Will you build up godly children but reflecting and living a godly life? Will you fear the Lord and walk in uprightness?

Will you remember Lot’s wife?