Why, oh Y, do we still persist in thinking that all godliness resides primarily in the Y chromosome? Why do we still read Pauline letters, regarding women in ministry, through the eyes of Greco-Roman thinking, instead of the Hebraic understanding of the faith? Why do we continue to think that God made only the male in His image and likeness? Do we think the crown of creation, the woman, was an afterthought? Why do we continue to teach female suppression and male dominance to the detriment of our sisters in Messiah? Why are we following the teachings of Islam, instead of the instructions of Torah, when it comes to gender equality in the Body of Messiah? When will the Two become One/Echad?

For in union with the Messiah, you are all children of God through this trusting faithfulness;  because as many of you as were immersed into the Messiah have clothed yourselves with the Messiah, in whom there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor freeman, neither male nor female; for in union with the Messiah Yeshua, you are all one.  Also, if you belong to the Messiah, you are seed of Avraham and heirs according to the promise. (Gal. 3:26-29)

In Jewish understanding, mankind – both the male and female – were created at the same time, out of the dust of the earth. They were joined together as one unit, as the image of Adonai. Only when Adam could not find a helpmeet suitable, an ezer kenegdo – helper opposite him, did Adonai cause him to sleep and create a bride from his side.

Yahweh split the side of the man open, to reveal the womb man, or woman, from within.  Genesis 2:22-24 state, “And the man said: ‘This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.’   Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh.

We mistranslate the word as “rib” in English when we denote the place where woman came out of the man. In actuality, the Hebrew word tsela is more accurately translated as a “side chamber”, as related to the temple chambers, rather than a piece of cartilage. More than just a “rib” bone came from the side of the man, flesh also. Because Adonai produced the woman, out of the man, from a revered place, as a chamber in the temple, should we not give honor to the more precious vessel, rather than degrade her to a place of subservience to the patriarchal manipulation order of things?

The Bride of Messiah was also created from the splitting of Yeshuah’s side. She is the Queen of Proverbs 31, whom the King shall seek. She is the one who will rule and reign alongside her Bridegroom in the Kingdom to Come. One day the Y chromosome beings in the Kingdom of God will know their identity as the X factor.

Can we not see the significance of the female image of God? It is the X Factor in the days to come. The days of Ruchamah are at hand. The days of the tender mercy of God, coming forth from the seat of compassion, the God imaged womb of His being.  This Good News message will be proclaimed and it will transform this earth, and bring about the return of Messiah. One day soon, He will return to Zion in compassion (racham). Let us taste of this sweetness by letting the Voice of Ruchamah be heard in the midst of the congregation.

Let the Lion of Judah arise, with His Bride by His side to rule and reign over the Kingdoms of the earth. 

Psalm 102:13   Thou shalt arise, and have mercy [racham] upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

Psalm 119:77   Let thy tender mercies [racham] come unto me, that I may live: for thy Torah is my delight.

Zechariah 1:16   Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies [rachimim]: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.