Page 53 - Family Life Student Textbook

Study Section 10: The Wife is be a Helper to her Husband

10.1 Connect

Our culture tells us that women need liberation. They need to be free to run their own lives without
a husband telling them what to do. Did you know that one of the consequences of sin for the woman
was that her husband would rule over her? Actually, when Eve was created, God told Adam that He
was making a “help-mate” for him. She was going to assume some role as his helper.

If the roles of the husband are to love his wife and to be a servant leader to his wife, what has God defined
as the marital roles of the wife? There is a lot of discussion today in our culture about the roles of a wife.
Feminism is trying to change how women relate to marriage. Some would say the women's roles in marriage
are just tradition, but what does God say? Let’s find out…

10.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to explain that God specified the roles of the wife in marriage and has
communicated His design in the Bible.

2. The student should be able to explain how God designed the wife to be a helper to her husband
and how she is to fulfill this design.

10.3 The wife is to be a helper to her husband.
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Genesis 2:18 “The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a
helper suitable for him.”

Genesis 2:20 “So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the
wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found.”

Genesis 1:27–28 “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created
them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be
fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea
and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

What does it mean to be a helper? It means one who assists to bring something the other person needs.

Psalm 70:5 “But as for me, I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my
help and my deliverer; LORD, do not delay.”

A helper is one who encourages and gives courage when needed.

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will
strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

6 (Credit for much of the material in this lesson is given to Dr. Bruce Wilkinson
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