May offend English to Spanish Art/Literary Religion Genesis & marriage

Woman is made fundamentally differently. Not only are there obvious physical differences, but she is crafted and constructed in such a way that in general she has a greater ability to show empathy and concern to those around her (though now marred by the cruelty and abuse of others). Although obviously there is great variety in any group, women are in the main more self-contained than men. It can be argued that it is easier for a woman to live singly than a man. No doubt some women long to be married and have sublimated that desire for marriage to devoted service to Christ in missionary endeavour; however the Scripture in Genesis 2 makes it very clear that Eve was made for Adam, not Adam for Eve. Genesis 39 (Potiphar’s wife) and Proverbs 5 (the strange woman) show the grave danger of overturning God’s decree. The woman’s role is primarily ***to be responsive*** rather than to initiate. Clearly there is a variety of temperament such that in particular, single women missionaries have shamed men with their courageous initiative (e.g. Mary Slessor, Amy Carmichael).