Eve was the only being of God’s creation who was not modelled from the dust of the earth. In that respect she stands alone as a symbol and a sign. But of what? Just as “a Second Adam to the fight, and to the rescue came,” so also there is a Second Eve who will overcome, rather than be overcome. There is a pattern of some beauty and significance in the female line through the Scriptures. Here it is. (Observe the correspondences between A & A’, B & B’, etc.)
A. EVE. Special creation (from the first Adam.) “Mother of all living”. Overcome
by the Serpent’sdeception. Result – Adam and Eve thrown out of Eden.
B. SARAH. Bears Isaac (“Laughter”). Given a New Name (“Princess”). Receives
her son as by resurrection.
C. REBECCA. The Bride, obedient to the call, not having seen her
husband-to-be. Comes from Abraham’s family. Isaac loves her.
D. RACHEL. Best loved by Jacob of his two wives. Dies in childbirth. Benjamin,
“Son of my right hand.”
E. RAHAB. A woman with many lovers. Recognises the God of Israel.
Has faith to save her whole family.
F. HANNAH. Upright and faithful. Barren – no child. Receives promise
through the High Priest. Gives birth to Samuel, “Sent by God”.
G. RUTH. Righteous before God. Without a husband. Instructed by Naomi.
Obtains her “kinsman redeemer” Boaz, and becomes a mother in Israel.
H. THE SHUNEMITE MAIDEN. Young woman of great natural beauty.
Loved by the Shepherd boy. Severely tested in Solomon’s court.
Remains faithful to her Shepherd. Is finally vindicated.
I. THE QUEEN of Psalm 45. “Forget your people and your father’s house.
The King will be enthralled by your beauty.”
I’ THE QUEEN OF SHEBA. She left her land to hear the wisdom
of Solomon. “The half was not told me.”
H’ ESTHER. Young woman of great natural beauty. Loved by King Ahasuerus.
Severely tested in the royal court by Haman.
Remains faithful to her God. Is finally vindicated.
G’ ELIZABETH. Righteous before God. Without a child. Instructed by Gabriel.
Obtains the “forerunner”, John the Baptist,
and becomes a mother in Israel.
F’ MARY Upright and faithful. Spinster – no husband. Receives promise through
Gabriel the Archangel. Gives birth to Jesus, Emmanuel, “God with us.”
E’ THE SAMARITAN WOMAN. A woman with many husbands. Recognises the
Messiah of Israel. Spreads the good news to all her family and friends.
D’ MARY OF BETHANY. Best loved by the Lord of the two sisters.
Anoints the Lord with the precious spikenard, symbolising His burial.
C’ BRIDE OF EPHESIANS 5. Obedient to God’s call, not having seen her Lord
and Husband-to-be. “Born again” from the Father’s family by the Holy Spirit.
B’ WOMAN OF REVELATION 12. Bears the Manchild, the Overcomers.
Each given a New Name. Raised and seated with Christ.
A’ THE SECOND EVE, THE NEW JERUSALEM. Special creation (from the
Second Adam). Becomes “Mother of us all.” Overcomes the Serpent.
Result – Satan and his angels thrown out of heaven.
THE SECOND EVE
With whom shall I dwell, says the Lord?
With whom shall I share all my glory?
Where is the Maiden of My Delight
For whom I have written this story?
To whom shall I go, says the King?
To whom shall I look with elation?
Whom shall I choose to be my Queen
And the Mother of God’s New Creation?She dwells on the earth, says the Lord,
She dwells in the Vale of Decision;
Despised and rejected and misunderstood,
But clothed with a heart of compassion.
She abandoned her home, says the King,
To worship Me out in the desert;
Poor in the spirit, with tears in her eyes,
My wings were her only true covert.She took precious seed from my hand
And cast it down into the darkness;
Her sister berated her wasteful ways,
And the rest of mankind thought it madness.
But these were the ways of her Lord,
And this was the mind of her Master
She held to the promise of Life to Come,
And equated it not with disaster.The seed in due course came alive,
And the Word of the Lord was enacted;
The Woman of Sorrows, acquainted with grief
Looked up, as her faith was perfected.
So Rebecca shall come to her Lord,
Tears of grief become tears of rejoicing,
And running to Isaac’s outstretched arms,
Darkened years shall be lost in embracing.
Written in March 1976.
