Women, especially as small girls, tend to be full of dreams of romance and beauty. We crave it and search for it. But as we age, reality hits. Real life, human relationships are not a fairy tale. Prince Charming doesn’t want to “talk” about “your relationship”. The beauty gets wrinkles and stretch marks. Affairs, pornography, trashy romance novels, bankruptcy… the list goes on and on. Sin, sickness, death, and troubles abound. We respond in a number of ways: living life in a string of romances, seeking solace in romance novels/shows/movies, bitterness, guarding our hearts, etc. We squelch down that innate desire, and even scoff at it. But we were created this way for a beautiful purpose! We were created, as women, in the image of the Almighty God. Our romantic dreams and desires will, one day soon, be completely and utterly fulfilled.
Women were created in the image of God, too (not just men). Read Genesis 1:27.
Feminine attributes derived from God. God has characteristics (revealed through Scripture) that are considered to be sometimes masculine and sometimes feminine. He is neither male nor female. He created male and female. God is a spirit. (John 4:24) Examples of some of His masculine characteristics are strength, power, decisiveness, aggressiveness, provider, ruler, leader, and warrior. Examples of some of His feminine characteristics are beauty, grace, design, tenderness, caretaker, affectionate, and loving. Now, this is not to say that a male cannot have some of these feminine characteristics, nor to say that a female cannot have some of these masculine characteristics. But generally speaking, this is the breakdown of male and female tendencies. Review these Scriptures to see some of the feminine attributes in action: Matthew 23:37, Isaiah 66:13, Hosea 11:2, Psalm 27:4
God created marriage. Genesis 2:21-25. In this passage, note how God brought the woman to the man. He didn’t just let Adam wake up and find her there. She was the finishing touch of Creation, created outside of the Creation week, and God presented her to Adam as the grand finale, much the way a proud Daddy would present his daughter to the groom after walking her down the aisle. It reminds me of how we always hide the big Christmas presents from our little boys and save them for the very end! Ephesians 5:22-33. This is a profound and popular passage concerning marriage. But the Bible is clear, marriage was intended to show the relationship between Christ and the church (all that are saved). Thus, we are called the “Bride of Christ”.
The Church is the Bride of Christ. Isaiah 54:5, Mark 2:19-20, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Revelation 19:7-9, Revelation 21:2, Revelation 21:9-11
What this means for us and what we have to look forward to! If you think back to when you were a little girl, those natural dreams and desires were strong, but they were also completely innocent. They had absolutely nothing to do with lust or sin. It was simply built into us. So when we begin to turn our romantic little girl hearts towards the Savior, we need to keep the world out of it. That reminder given, meditate on these verses:
1. Deuteronomy 24:5… This is one of my absolute favorite verses in the Bible. So many will rant and rave alleging that the Bible is misogynistic. But nothing could be further from the truth. This verse is a perfect example. I wish it were a law now! It was a law, given by God, that a man must be free at home with his wife for the first year, simply to CHEER HER UP. Beautiful example of God being the forefather of “women’s rights”. (Side note, He was also the first to allow women to be landowners Numbers 27) But upon further examination of this verse and others, I feel like this is not only a true account, but also a foreshadowing of how Christ would treat His bride. Revelation 21:2-4
2. Zephaniah 3:17… A promise of a mighty Savior (a knight in shining armor) who will rejoice in us, and there will be rest and joy and love!
3. Consider the following scenarios before reading our third Scripture passages…
Genesis 4:1- Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived. Genesis 24:67- And Issac brought her into his mother Sarah’s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death. Ruth 4:13- So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife. 1 Samuel 1:19- And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her. All of these couples were married before God. In these verses, the knews and tooks all speak of a physical union that is so much more than just physical. Isn’t that beautiful? The knew is the Hebrew word yada, which means to ascertain by seeing, observation, care, recognition. The take is the Hebrew word laquach, which means to take, accept, buy, win. These men did not only physically desire their wives, but they also intended care, commitment, and acceptance.
By contrast, consider the following: Genesis 16:4- And he (Abram) went in unto Hagar, and she conceived. Genesis 38:9- And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife (Tamar), that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. 2 Samuel 13:14- Howbeit he (Amnon) would not hearken unto her (Tamar) voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her. These instances were all pure abuse and lust, and notice how different and graphic the language is.
Now that you understand the difference, enjoy these: Jeremiah 1:5- Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee… Isaiah 43:1- But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Ezekiel 16:8-14- When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord LORD, and you became mine. Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord LORD.
Our Bridegroom has the most honorable of intentions, and our “marriage” will soon take place. Our earthly understandings of love, marriage, romance, intimacy, and beauty are severely warped thanks to our sinful natures and the culture in which we live. Nonetheless, our greatest desires will one day be fulfilled in the glorious marriage of Christ to the Church!
4. One more verse to leave you with… Revelation 22:17- And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. I believe in the last days, the bride will be unanimously asking for her Bridegroom to come rescue her!
A White Stone with a New Name 