God's Plan for Women

The United States recently celebrated "Mothers Day". It is a noble thought to set aside one day a year to honor our mothers. However, it is what we should do every day. Have you ever thought where we would be without them?

Over the past several decades it seems that women have been having difficulty determining their proper place in society. When I was growing up most of the women in our rural area were homemakers. Yes there were the nurses, secretaries and grocery clerks but most were content to be keepers of the home.

Then along came the "Women's Liberation Movement" then the "Equal Rights Amendment" and then what is known as the "Feminist Movement". It seems that some women were no longer content to stay at home, cook, clean, sew, care for the children and their husbands. These wanted to be liberated from domestic duties and to be paid in money for their work.

What brought about this change? Some attribute it to "the war effort" during WWII when men were fighting and workers were needed in the factories to make the supplies for the soldiers. Personally I see that as a factor but not the biggest reason.

It is my observation that the biggest reason could be described as the movement away from God. I remember as a child when virtually no businesses were open on Sunday with the exception of the occasional gas station or restaurant. Wednesday night was church night so no school activities were scheduled. Today we have the occasional business that is closed on Sunday and school activities and every other kind happening on Wednesday night.

All of the above brings us to the scriptures. I want to suggest that the plan which God has for women is described in the following passages: Proverbs 31:10ff, Titus 2:3-5, and I Peter 3:7. There are other passages as well but these sum up very well the position and work of women in God's wisdom.

I would like to hear from you what these passages teach in regards to our subject. What role does God have for women?

How many covenants?

How many covenants? Well, I confess, it was a poorly worded question or series of questions.

There are several different covenants mentioned in the scriptures. The first was made with Noah and his seed after him. God said in Genesis 9:15 "and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. " It is then understood that this covenant would last forever. It was not with a specific group of people but with all his seed and all animals. This of course refers to God's promise not to destroy all living creatures with water again. The rainbow is the token of this covenant.

The scriptures then tell us of a covenant God made with Abram in Genesis 15:18 to give them the land from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates. This was but one of a series of covenants made with Abraham.

We then learn of what is called in scriptures "the first covenant" (Hebrews 8:7). It was given to Moses and the children of Israel on the day God led them out of the land of Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:2ff). This covenant was given to a specific people and their descendants exclusive of all others. As you may remember there were some 600,000 men who came out of Egypt as well as women and children.

It is obvious that this was not the first covenant that God made with man. It was however the first covenant made with a nation! It was the first covenant that established a nation. Therefore it can truthfully be called the "first covenant".

From the New Testament we learn that there were two covenants which God made with man. The first was at Mt. Sinai and with the children of Israel as we have just learned. The second was made with any who would follow Jesus after his death. (Hebrews 8-9).

Which is to govern our lives today? The second of course! It became binding at the death of the maker on the cross. We must understand that the second applies today and not the first. The second is different than the first. It has different terms and conditions, different pattern of worship and different rewards. We mustn't try to mix the two!

What do you think?

Covenants

In our discussion of the Sabbath, the subject of covenants came up from time to time.

It is vital to a proper understanding of the Word of God to know what the Bible says in answer to the question "How many covenants were made by God with man?" It has been suggested by some of the participants in our discussion that the "Bible is its own best interpreter". If this is indeed true, and I firmly believe it is, then we must allow it to do so. When we do it is then possible to "rightly divide the scriptures" as Paul admonished the young preacher Timothy. (II Timothy 2:15)

So put on your search lights and see how the Bible answers these questions.
1. How many covenants were made by God with man?
2. When and with whom were they made?
3. What covenant is in force today?

As always give scriptural support for your answers. Happy searching.