And God Put Enmity Between Satan and the Woman

by Rosana Golez

Woe-man! Could this be a revealing statement regarding the dismal plight of a large number of God's female creations? When sin came through Adam and Eve, resulting in depravity for humanity, woman's role and function as man's helper/co-manager (Gen. 1:27-28) was often reduced to helper/slave. This is most starkly true for the throng of oppressed women inhabiting the 10/40 Window.

The 10/40 Window is the region that extends from West Africa across Asia, between 10 degrees north latitude to 40 degrees north latitude. It is a rectangular-shaped region hosting the vast majority of the unreached Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist people groups. Satan's efforts to steal, kill and destroy (Jn. 10:10) are especially intense across this region where the gospel witness is lacking. It is no wonder that it is also in the 10/40 Window where women suffer the most from satanic abuses.

Why Women Need Empowerment
The empowerment of women is not to strengthen them against patriarchal structures, households, governments, and religions, but to restore women to the place God gave them. Before the fall of mankind, women were empowered. When Adam first saw Eve, he said in joyful astonishment, "this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh" (Gen. 2: 23). He was describing the ideal of God. She was to be Adam's lifelong partner. There would be cooperation between them.

The examples of oppression of women about which you will read in this issue are the result of the fall of mankind. One of the results of original sin is that God put a distinct enmity between Satan and women (Gen. 3:15). Satan has been diligent ever since, trying to make women's lives miserable. One of the ways he does this is to have women and men compete for power rather than cooperate for a common goal as God intended. One of the curses many women have faced after the fall is that they have a desire for their husbands, but their husbands will rule over them (see Gen. 3:16-17). Instead of lovingly and justly leading their wives, men often abuse their power by lording over them. Just as the adversary used a woman to subvert the authority given by God to Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:1-7), many men today are being used by Satan to oppress women.

The Contrast Between the Life of the Noble Woman of Proverbs & that of "Window" Women
Prov. 31 provides an example of a talented, godly woman who is empowered to reach her potential as a person created in His image. In broad strokes, the noble wife is learned (v. 26) and enterprising (vs. 12-30). She manages and increases wealth as a realtor by buying fields and developing vineyards (v. 16). Moreover, she engages in other business ventures as trader, maker, and merchandiser (vs. 18, 24). Hers is a firm hand, warmly and effectively tending to the well-being and upkeep of her family (vs. 14-15; 19, 27) making her the priceless jewel of her husband (v. 10). Her children call her blessed (v. 28). She wears garments of strength and dignity (v. 25a). This noble woman exudes the essence of the woman inside of her; fear of the Lord (v. 30b), wisdom (v. 26), benevolence to the poor and needy (v. 20) and justice to her servants (v. 15c). Hers are the praises of the city (v. 30b). Her faith, home, social milieu, and God-given gifts and intrinsic female qualities make it possible for her to successfully do many tasks (v. 31), excellently (v. 29) and joyfully (v. 25b). Indeed, the noble woman mirrors what God has purposed women to be.

In grim contrast, the women of the 10/40 Window are being held back by poverty, oppression, lack of education, selective abortion, war, prostitution, disease, false religion, rape, spousal abuse, and political and social discrimination. Prevailing religious worldviews in the 10/40 Window are marred with sin against God's purpose for women. According to traditional Hindu belief, women cannot attain salvation except by being reborn as a man. In some cases, a wife is supposed to worship her husband and even die on his funeral pyre (see day 2). The Koran allows for spousal abuse when it says, "…as from those you fear disobedience, admonish them (wives) … beat them." A Confucianist saying contradicts Prov. 31: "A woman without a talent makes a good one." A Buddhist proverb says, "She is born a woman because she committed a thousand sins in the previous world."

Historically, efforts to raise a woman's standards apart from Christ have been short-lived. For instance, in the 7th century Arabian Peninsula, women were treated as chattel to be captured as war booty. Then came the Islamic religion and the Koran, which gave women rights to education, satisfaction in marriage, property ownership, and inheritance. Originally, Islam was a boon to women. It did not take long for Koranic interpretations and local customs to change Islam from a boon to a bane. Women were soon given second class citizenship. With all its faults, communist China in the 1950s and 60s lessened the gender disparities in education. But 20 years later the commitment to gender equality decreased, and the situation is no better today.

Women and Work
In many cultures, disparity in access to education have consigned women to household chores and ignorance. Highly unfair labor practices push women into informal, low paying and unregulated jobs. Much of their work goes unpaid; according to the United Nations, the global unpaid work they do amounts to US $11 trillion a year mostly in the 10/40 Window.

Responding to a promise of better life, many women from the former Soviet bloc, Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa have been tricked into prostitution. Raped, beaten, and broken, these girls and women are the commodities of traffickers raking in seven billion dollars a year worldwide.

According to community development specialists, women's unhindered access to education and jobs is the key to economic growth in the 10/40 Window and beyond. Women's advocacy groups are making headway in these areas. While both development and advocacy groups are helpful, there needs to be a spiritual dimension that only God can fulfill. Empowerment of women is ultimately within the framework of God's restoration of humankind (male and female) to His own image and in fellowship with Him. God's work of restoration is a work of the Holy Spirit as the prophet Joel foretold in Joel 2:28-29 and came to pass in Acts 2:17-b,c;18 "In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh...both men and women." Christward women's movements should be pursued in the context of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the advancement of the kingdom of God.

The Call to Reach Out to the Women of the 10/40 Window
It is high time for more missionary women to go to the women of the 10/40 Window and help them find strength and hope to live up to God's plan for their lives. May the church arise and support God's glorious plan for redemption and restoration for women.

Pray that members of the body of Christ may take the power of the gospel to the multitudes of hurting and perishing women in the 10/40 Window so they may experience the abundant life that Jesus promised in Jn. 10:10.

(Rosana Golez is a GPD writer from the Philippines. She has four children and a loving husband.)