Woman, Her Nature and Her Mission
By Iza E. Clement
The text that contains the foundation principle of woman’s work, that presents, as it were, the first glimpse of her nature and mission as purposed by the Creator himself, is found in Gen. 2:18, and reads thus: “And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” The word “meet” is here used in a sense now almost obsolete; that is, so far as common usage is concerned. Webster says that it means “prepared, or adapted to a purpose; qualified; fit; suitable.” Reading the word suitable in the place of meet makes the statement clearer and easier to grasp, — I will make him a help suitable for him. A help suitable for him; that is, a help for her husband, in matters spiritual, material, mental, moral, and last but not least, financial. In the home, at the office, wherever a man may be called, the gentleness and tenderness of a true wife’s influence is helpful and beneficial to him. She is as much the daughter of God as man is the son of God. She was14created to walk the pathway of life with him. It is hers as well as his to bear the burden of sin. It is her privilege as well as his to rejoice in the blessings of salvation. History demonstrates that it has been her lot to share with him the fate of martyrdom; and she has met it as bravely, as unflinchingly as he. However, it is usually the tender, the quiet, the home side of life that falls to her. Her husband is out in the maddening swirl of this world, where the very atmosphere is one of commercialism; where the din of competition and the strife for gain have to a greater or less extent dulled his sense of perception for hearing the still, small voice which says, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” So God made woman a help suitable for him, and in order for her to be a suitable help for him, she must abound where he lacks. This is why her devotional nature is so much more susceptible than his. This is why her senses are so much keener, her heart tenderer, her love stronger. This is why God has endowed her with what is sometimes called the sixth sense, commonly known as intuition, but which is in reality only the ability to hear and accept the whispers of the angels. This ability is due mainly to her nature, but is strengthened by her environments. Alone in her home with the innocent babe whom she lulls to rest, she watches the drowsy flutter of the slumber-laden lids, she looks at the tiny, helpless hands, and her thoughts involuntarily rise heavenward to the Giver of all good gifts. She senses, in a measure at least, the great privileges and responsibilities that have fallen to her as the protector and light-bearer of the little life, the tiny spark of humanity that must some day buffet this dark world of sin; and she longs to have the Father of all love and life for the guardian of her child. The angels of God draw near, a silent, heartfelt prayer ascends to the throne of heaven, and she listens for the voice of the Comforter. Her spirit is subdued and softened, her heart is tender and sympathetic, readily responding to the heavenly chord. The strife and commotion of the world is shut out from her, and she is shut in with God. One night over eighteen hundred years ago, in a far Eastern city, when a murderous, howling mob was crying, “Crucify him! crucify him!” when men thronged the streets shouting themselves hoarse with clamorings for the life-blood of the Son of God, when a man had sold his Saviour for a mere pittance, when a man had condemned him to death, it was to a woman (Pilate’s wife) that the angels whispered a message in a last attempt to save the world from that awful sin, the crucifixion of its Redeemer. A wife’s intuitive sense, a woman’s keen perceptions caught the whispers of the heavenly messengers, and a suitable and timely message was despatched in haste to Pilate, “Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.” She presented no argument, she gave no reason, only a woman’s reason, but it came from the throne of the universe. And her voice, a woman’s voice, was all there was raised in defense of the Saviour that awful night. Up to Calvary woman followed him weeping. Not as Peter followed, afar off. She pushed her way through that murderous throng to the very foot of the cross. Woman strove to anoint his precious body, and woman was the first to greet him when he burst the fetters of the tomb. He honored her by commissioning her to bear to the disciples the first tidings of his resurrection. He has honored her in all ages of the world, and has placed her as a beacon-light in every avenue of life. He has chosen her, a pure, true woman, as the symbol by which to represent his church. What higher distinction could he bestow upon her merits, her virtue, her influence, and her divine calling? The church is represented as the wise virgin who went forth to meet her lord. She is represented as the bride, the Lamb’s wife. She is represented as the woman giving birth to the Son of God. She is represented as triumphant over every foe, and entering into glory with her husband, Christ, who gave his life for her. The Bible teems with the good works of woman, from Dorcas, who, in her own home, made coats for the poor and needy, to Deborah, who led the hosts of God in war, and courageous Jael, into whose hands was delivered the captain of the Midianitish bands. However, it is not on the field of worldly strife that the Deborahs and Jaels are needed to-day. It is in that limited, but mighty province, the home, where the greatest battle of the universe, the war against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places, is being waged. Home is woman’s natural and most favorable environment for the accomplishment of her work. It is there, in the exalted position of wife and mother, that her influence is most keenly and effectively felt. There never was a time in the history of this world when there was such a need of mothers, those who are mothers indeed, as there is now, when the closing struggle between the forces of good and evil, the mightiest conflict the world has ever known, is drawing speedily on in this sin-darkened earth. There is need of mothers who realize their individual accountability to God, and have the firmness, the decision, the determination of Deborah, to lead, if necessary, in the warfare against the hosts of evil. There is need of mothers who have the fearlessness and the courage of Jael, to strike the death-blow to sin in the home. There is need of mothers who have the tact, the diplomacy, the intercession and the faith of Esther, to deal with perplexing questions and prevail with the King, not of Persia, but of the whole universe. There is need of mothers who, like faithful Eunice, will cling to the promises of God, and train their sons and daughters for Christ, in spite of the influence of unbelieving husbands and relatives; mothers who have abandoned that old ivy-to-the-oak idea of casting the whole responsibility of home religion upon their husbands, or of depending upon the ministers for the salvation of their children. Home is mother’s realm. It is here that she, whether conscious of it or not, is by her influence, by every word, look, thought, and action, molding and shaping for eternity the very natures and characters of her children. When mothers realize their privileges and responsibilities, when they sense the extent and power of their influence, when they become really a suitable help for their husbands in the home, and fill the place originally intended for them by their Creator, then he will look upon the home, the finished work of redemption, as he looked upon that Edenic home, the finished work of creation, and say, “It is very good.”