Beautifully Surrendered: God's Heart for His DaughtersSample

Read: Genesis 2:18–24

SOAP***: Genesis 2:18; Genesis 2:22–23

The Lᴏʀᴅ God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion for him who corresponds to him.”

Then the Lᴏʀᴅ God made a woman from the part he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This one at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”

Into the text

Women were designed on purpose, for a purpose. God created women because He knew that the world would be lacking without their contribution to the world. As we read the creation story in Genesis, God calls everything He created “good.” However, in His wisdom and love, God declared that something about His creation was not good: “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18).

God gave all of His creatures the directive to be fruitful and multiply. Without a proper partner, the man could not fulfill the role God gave to him. As the man named the animals, he found that none were like him. He needed a companion like him, a companion whose form and nature matched his, a companion who would reflect and compliment him.

Only the woman, also made in God’s image, could work with the man to fulfill God’s purpose for humanity.

The woman, Eve as she is later named, was created to be a companion to the man. The Hebrew word translated in Genesis 2:18 as “companion” is ezer, a term used frequently to describe God. God is a companion for His people. He is the ezer who meets our needs, doing what we cannot do for ourselves for His people. The woman was created to be an indispensable companion, an ezer for the man. God’s divine purpose for the woman was good. She was created to supply what was lacking in the man, the same way he supplied what was lacking in her. The woman filled a great need in creation, and women continue to fill an incredible need in our world.

Just like Eve, you are created for a purpose greater than yourself. You are needed. You are cherished. You are loved. Without women’s unique gifts and contributions, our world would not be the same. When you feel you are not enough, remember the way God has included you in His incredible plan for the world.

As we begin our study together, reading through stories of our sisters in faith, let’s ask God to reveal to us His heart for His daughters. God created the woman with a purpose, and He has created each woman since with a purpose. He does not make mistakes. Each woman God created is seen by Him and loved by Him. Throughout our study, we will discover God’s heart for His daughters and what it means to live life beautifully surrendered to Him.

***As we study the Bible, we use the SOAP Bible Study Method. The acronym stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer.

1. Scripture. Write out the verses at least one time. Slow down and copy the passage from the text, focusing on what you are writing. Writing it more than once is always helpful.

2. Observation. Take time to observe the passage. What do you see in the verses you're reading? Who is the intended audience? To whom is the writer speaking? What cultural factors are at play? Are any words or themes repeated? What literary devices are being used?

3. Application. After carefully observing what is happening in the passage, determine the central message or truth of the passage. How can you apply this truth to your life?

4. Prayer. Pray God's Word back to Him. If He has revealed something to you during this time, pray about it. Confess any sin God has revealed. Pray through the truth of the passage.