Why Eve?

Shall we chew on another snack for thought?

Why Eve? One word, INFLUENCE. It is a woman’s secret power, a tremendous gift from God – that’s how He made her.

Eve’s influence over Adam is made apparent in that when she gave him the fruit, he ate it without objection; Adam said nothing, he did not speak up.

Added to influence, Eve had an ingrained penchant for knowledge, since she did not truly hesitate at the serpent’s proposal. She was willing to partake of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. She was therefore the logical choice. She gave ear to, then acted upon the serpent’s delicious enticement.

Approaching Adam was pointless because there was a spiritual order of position that the serpent could not violate. God has always set boundaries, cosmically ordered boundaries which cannot be crossed.

For instance, God placed a boundary concerning Job,

the Lord said to Satan, “everything he has is in your power, but you must not hurt Job himself.” – Job 1:12 (GNT)

Eve, and all women after her, have within them that power of influence, its primary purpose is in being a helpmeet to the man. The Holy Spirit is The Helper, but woman is helper, so created to be a necessary support to the man, not a slave for or subordinate to him. When he embraces her role, she becomes an invaluable partner.

Silently, woman wields that power so tactfully that man is hit without seeing when the shot was fired.

God spoke the promise to Abraham, yet Sarah was able to use the power of her influence, the outcome, Isaac, Abraham’s son with Hagar, Sarah’s handmaiden.

From birth Samson was aware of where his power lay but Delilah, using her influence got him to reveal his secret.

Esther’s influence over King Xerxes saved her people from his decree of death and Ruth’s led Boaz to marry her and become her kinsman redeemer.

Please don’t get me wrong, the man is not without power, but it is completely different and for a different purpose. His power lies in being the head. He may be the head, but the woman is in no way the tail.

Adam did not exercise his headship, instead he succumbed to Eve’s influence. This still happens today; the man succumbs to the woman’s influence. Sometimes it’s for good, beneficial, and at other times for evil or wrongdoing.

Adam joined with Eve in defiance of God’s warning; his disobedience altered their situation. His relationship with God was fractured and separation was inevitable.

The “trap” worked, the price for adulthood was paid and the plan was set in motion.

 

Shelley Johnson “Why Eve?” © February 4, 2025