A Woman Standing On Her Watchtower

A Study on Eve’s battle for her home

The first draft of this publication was inspired by the Lord during my meditation on His word on March 5, 2023. I initially planned to publish it in June 2024 but took time to make some revisions. I received confirmation of this message when Bro. Gbile Akanni preached on a related theme during the 2024 Couples Retreat. I pray you will be blessed as you read this.

Habakkuk 2:1 I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guard post. There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how he will answer my complaint.

In biblical history, Eve emerges as a woman standing firmly on her watchtower, vigilant and faithful in the face of challenges. In the book of Genesis, her story unveils profound lessons on enduring faith, obedience, and standing for the truth.

The Burden and Promise
After the disobedience of Adam and his wife, God’s punishment was on the couple and the serpent (the devil). Yet, Eve bore the burden of being separated from the serpent, for God had promised to put enmity between her (including other Christian women) and the devil, between the seed of the devil and her seed—an allusion to the ultimate victory accomplished by Jesus on the cross (Genesis 3:15).

Genesis 3:15 (ESV): “I will put enmity between you (the devil) and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Bearing at heart that this offspring is also at risk of being struck down by the Devil, she braced herself for warfare. This burden, undertaken with reverence to God, set the stage for Eve’s pivotal role in the divine plan.

“Thou, therefore, endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangles himself with the affairs of [this] life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” – 2 Timothy 2:3-4

Soldier of Christ
Drawing from 2 Timothy 2:3-4, Eve is exemplified as a soldier of Jesus Christ, enduring hardships, and refraining from entanglements with the devil again and worldly distractions after the fall. While the modern world may present alternative paths, Eve’s steadfastness reminds women to remain devoted to their primary roles and avoid distractions that hinder this service to God.

Woman, you might be discouraged watching other women pursuing a career neglecting this primary role, but, you must endure hardness as a good soldier of Christ so that you might please God who has enlisted you to be a soldier. NOTE: I am not saying having a career path is bad but it must not replace this primary role.

Steps to Standing on the Watch
Eve’s journey provides clear steps for women to stand firm:

1. SUBMISSION TO HER HUSBAND:
   The first step in winning this spiritual battle is for Eve to submit to her husband, as this is her service to the Lord (Eph 5:22). After she obeyed the Devil and ate the forbidden fruit, her affection was drawn toward the Devil, who lured her through the cares and pleasures of the world. Yet, in His mercy, God established enmity between her and the serpent, redirecting her affection back to her husband to help her submit to him.
   In the New Testament, through Christ, her primary affection is first directed to God and then to her husband. I implore you, wives, to submit to your husbands; otherwise, you may fall prey to many false prophets sent by the serpent to lead your heart astray, just as he did with Eve. These voices can come subtly to beguile you.

2 Timothy 3:5-8 “They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people. These are the kind of people who smooth-talk themselves into the homes of unstable and needy women and take advantage of them; women who, depressed by their sinfulness, take up with every new religious fad that calls itself “truth.” They get exploited every time and need help to learn. These men are like those old Egyptian frauds Jannes and Jambres, who challenged Moses. They were rejected from the faith, twisted in their thinking, defying truth itself.” –

2. FORGIVENESS
After God’s curse due to their disobedience, Adam named his wife Eve, signifying that she WAS the mother of all living. This name change implied that, before their fall, she brought forth ideas and visions full of life, but now she was spiritually dead.
By naming her Eve, Adam separated her identity from what God originally called them, emphasizing a disconnect in their unity as one flesh under God (Genesis 3:20). Although they were still married and under the same roof, it was as if Adam was saying, “You are doing your thing, and I am doing mine; we no longer plan together.” This action removed her from the shared inheritance and responsibilities that belonged to both of them.
This marked Adam’s last pronouncement (his final voice) over their home. It seems the only significant interaction he maintained was for conjugal relations.

Are you a woman facing such neglect in your marriage?

Here is what God says to you:

“Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth”. For the LORD has called you Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, Like a youthful wife when you were refused,” Says your God. Isa 54: 4, 6

God has been a witness between you and your husband.

3. HER NEW ROLE- STANDING ON HER WATCH: Not buried in her loss, she arose to preserve a righteous generation to God through her husband, one that would ultimately reveal the seed of the woman—Jesus.
Probably, Adam related to his wife primarily for conjugal purposes and did not harness the other help role the wife carried. Also, we don’t see him actively engaging in the nurturing and guidance of their children. Once Eve was impregnated, the scriptures do not mention Adam’s spiritual travail in the word of God and prayer or what God had prepared for their sons; instead, it was Eve who articulated the mind of God regarding their children. Perhaps Adam viewed the children as little more than the serpent’s seed, overwhelmed by sin.

Woman, here is what God says about you:

Wife, remember the name God gave you and His design for you when He formed you as a suitable helper for your husband—a woman. Your husband also called you by this name, “woman,” before the fall (Genesis 2:22-23). Even if he no longer sees your worth beyond a conjugal relationship, you can still fulfil your role as a suitable helpmeet by preserving the seed of Christ in your children. Do not be discouraged by any derogatory names he may call you now (NB: THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR ANY HUSBAND TO DO THIS). Instead, continue to pray for him, trusting that God can work in his heart and restore the love and respect you deserve.

Even if it seems like all your husband’s desires is a conjugal (sexual) relationship without fully appreciating you, woman, please continue to give yourself to him. Remember that Eve opened herself to her husband in intimacy, and through this, the promise of redemption and spiritual blessing came upon the church from generation to generation. They fulfilled God’s mandate to fill and dominate the earth. Imagine if Eve had closed herself off—perhaps the course of humanity could have taken a darker turn, and the devil might have introduced bestiality to Adam, even as early as Genesis chapter 4. God can work greater things through your faithfulness, so do not grow weary.

4. THE VOICE:
In Genesis chapter 2, we see that the man held the voice of authority in his home, calling his wife “woman,” the same name that God had given her. However, in Genesis chapter 3, the woman became the dominant voice, leading to a spiritual falling away from God’s plan. When the man had the opportunity to seek God’s mercy, his response (voice) was to blame both the woman and God, which resulted in a curse. The last voice of the man in his home was to break oneness with his wife by naming her “Eve” at the end of chapter 3.
In Genesis 4, while Adam was spiritually voiceless (read the article ‘In the house of Zacharias‘ https://www.musingonthebible.org/in-the-house-of-zacharias/), Eve did not take control of the home; instead, she voiced God’s promise in her place of travail. Her voice served as a beacon of God’s purpose and plan for future generations. This chapter was marked by warfare until God’s purpose was restored, leading to a revival in the home.
The Bible highlights at least three occasions where Eve submitted to her husband, which granted her a voice: she submitted her body for conjugal relations three times, resulting in the births of Cain, Abel, and Seth. Each submission not only fulfilled her role as a wife but also contributed to the continuation of God’s plan through her lineage.

5. THE WARFARE AND THE PROMISE (From my perspective): While pregnant, Eve arose upon her watch and fought a good warfare. She understood that this seed from her husband was already the seed of the serpent. The devil would be particularly attentive to Cain, as only the firstborn son can be used for redemption, just like Jesus, the firstborn of every creation. Yet, Eve did not waver in her prayers. She travailed in prayer like the woman described in Revelation 12:1-17, until she overcame and received a promise from God: “I, the Lord, will give you this child.”

1 Corinthians 7:14 (ESV): “For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.”

Out of the pain of childbearing, she declared her breakthrough, proclaiming God’s promise, “I have gotten a man from the Lord.” This proclamation symbolized her faith that the devil and sin would not rule over Cain. She did not dominate the voice in her home but viewed the child as a gift from God, likely continuing her travail until he grew to know the Lord. Aware of the battle for her child, Eve resolved to lift her heart to the Lord in prayer.
It is important to recognize that Cain was raised to identify God’s voice, attend the “Church,” learn to raise an altar and offer sacrifices to God. At that point, sin had not yet possessed his life, but it was relentlessly pursuing his soul, as indicated when God warned Cain that sin “crouches at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Genesis 4:6-7: “Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.'”

Cain’s Deviation
One gradual deviation in Cain’s devotion to God may have occurred when he followed in his father’s footsteps as a tiller of the ground. This spiritual metaphor suggests that he cultivated the flesh and walked according to human nature, living for worldly pursuits and gains. After God cursed him and he left His presence, he continued his work and built a city.

What God described regarding the work of Abel and Cain transcended mere occupations; it reflected their lives. God, through the Apostle John (1 John 3:12), spoke of Cain’s works as evil, representing worldly pursuits—all rooted in the cursed ground— while Abel’s work as a shepherd of sheep and not any other cattle was righteous; symbolizing Christ, the Good Shepherd. Cain’s offering, derived from the cursed ground, was rejected because it embodied his worldly life and pursuits.

6. EVE’S REVELATION OF THE TRUTH AND WARNING TO GENERATIONS

When Cain killed his brother, he tried to bury the evidence, committing the act in secret, so much so that God had to ask him about Abel’s whereabouts, even though nothing is hidden from God. Cain’s evasive reply, “I know not,” reveals his attempt to cover up the truth. Although God knew all things, the evidence He presented was Abel’s blood crying out from the ground. If Cain could deny responsibility before God, it is even more unlikely that he confessed to his parents.

Harbouring hateful thoughts against your brother or sister makes you a murderer at heart, and this darkness can manifest physically if left unchecked.

Eve eventually learned that Cain had killed his brother. How did she know? It was likely revealed to her by the Lord. She did not remain silent—she became a voice of warning to future generations. The documentation of this act in Scripture serves as a lasting reminder of the devil’s strategy, highlighting the partial fulfillment of the prophecy in Genesis 3:15. We witness the enmity between the seed of the serpent (Cain) and the prefigured seed of the woman (Abel). This story calls us to recognize the subtle tactics of the enemy against God’s children and reminds us to stay vigilant, guarding our hearts.

Genesis 4 vs 25 (NIV): “Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” –

Eve’s revelation of the truth about Abel’s murder emphasizes her courage to stand for righteousness. Her message, documented in Genesis 4:25, warns against the deceitful ways of derailed brethren, like Cain, who deviate from righteousness to harm the anointed. hese individuals, like Cain, may appear as friends but have the concealed intent to destroy, much like the old prophet who lured the young prophet to his demise (Read this article https://www.musingonthebible.org/gleanings-from-1-kings-13-part-1/ https://www.musingonthebible.org/gleanings-from-1-kings-13-part-2/). The story serves as a reminder of the ongoing enmity between the devil’s seed (the flesh) and those who follow Christ, prefigured by Abel, Seth, other Christians.

Christ also faced this same enmity in His time, contending with the Pharisees and Sadducees, whom He called a generation of vipers (Matt 3:7; 12:34). Though outwardly religious, they harbored evil within.

The cost of following the Lord:
The cost of following the Lord is clearly exemplified in Eve’s unwavering commitment to righteousness. She was not silent in her days; she exposed the evil committed by Cain, declaring, “…whom Cain killed,” just as John the Baptist and Jesus openly rebuked the Pharisees.

She probably never minded if she did not have access to her grandchildren from Cain’s lineage for standing for the truth. She was content to speak this truth to her generation and those to come, leaving behind worldly gains—Cain’s city, wealth, and prosperity. Eve did not hesitate to expose the perversion of righteousness in her time, setting an example for us to stand for God, expose what Cain represents in our lives, and deal with it at the Cross (Read Hiding the Blood of Redemption).

As Isaiah 54:4,6 encourages, we should not fear or feel ashamed:
“Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth. For the LORD has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused,” says your God.

Jacob, too, voiced judgment in his final days regarding the cruelty and violence of his sons, Simeon and Levi, distancing his soul from their assembly:

“Simeon and Levi are brothers [equally headstrong, deceitful, vindictive, and cruel]; Their swords are weapons of violence and revenge.
“O my soul, do not come into their secret council; Let not my glory (honour) be united with their assembly [for I knew nothing of their plot];” – Genesis 49:5-6.

7. STANDING FOR THE TRUTH

Oh, woman! Do not hide evil in your bosom, even if your husband or child does so. Trust in the Lord to strengthen you and protect your home from becoming a place of deceit under the enemy’s influence.

As Job reflects:

“If I have covered my transgressions as Adam,
By hiding my iniquity in my bosom,
Because I feared the great multitude,
And dreaded the contempt of families
So that I kept silence
And did not go out of the door.”
—Job 31:33-34 (NKJV)

Do not be discouraged when you feel forsaken by your husband or family. Be faithful to God in the role He has given you as a helper, even when it feels unnoticed or unappreciated. Your submission is ultimately an act of service to God, and in due time, He will arise to reward you, saving both your family and future generations. Keep standing for the truth, trusting that God’s justice and restoration will prevail.

8. EVE’S FINAL BATTLE: A REPLACEMENT SON

Genesis 4:25-26: And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

Eve’s submission to her husband, even amidst the turmoil caused by the loss of Abel and the fall of Cain, was ultimately her service to God. Her faithfulness pleased God, and He blessed her womb again. In this moment of restoration, it wasn’t just another child born to Adam, but as Eve declared, God appointed to her, not her husband, another seed, Seth, a replacement son for Abel, who will continue from where Abel stopped in the purpose of God (Read: Seth the ‘nameless man’: A key condition for Revival – Musing on the Bible).
This divine appointment signified God’s call for Eve to stand as a woman who will ultimately fulfill His plan; preserve a seed that will bruise the seed of the serpent fulfilling the prophecy in Genesis 3:15.

Unlike Abel, Seth was able to transfer the truth of God to the next generation. Through his son Enos, men began to call upon the name of the Lord, recognizing their identity as sons of God. This signifies a revival of true worship, a legacy Seth carried from the righteousness of Abel’s offering, which had foreshadowed the sacrifice of Christ—the ultimate sacrifice that would bruise the serpent’s head.

Eve recognized that this blessing came directly from the Lord, and it is likely that she lived long enough to witness the revival that occurred during the days of Enos, her grandson. Her faith and perseverance ensured the continuation of a righteous generation.

9 GOING BEHIND THE SCENE

Genesis 4 reveals how Eve, despite the challenges of a fractured family, played a pivotal role in fulfilling God’s purpose of multiplying a righteous seed upon the earth. She was instrumental in announcing and nurturing God’s plan for her home and future generations.
Though her name is absent from the genealogies in Genesis 5, her silent labor speaks volumes. She was a wise woman who built her home on the foundation of faith and righteousness.

Proverbs 14:1
A wise woman builds her house, while a foolish woman tears hers down by her own efforts LB

Through her steadfastness, a new generation was restored and preserved—a generation that would eventually bring forth the Messiah, the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy.

Eve’s legacy, though often overshadowed, was one of perseverance and dedication to God’s will. She raised not only Seth but also grandchildren who followed in the ways of the Lord. Her final act was one of quiet, enduring faith—a woman who saw God’s promises unfold, even after the heartbreak and devastation that marked the earlier years of her motherhood. The curtain falls, and Eve’s role in the grand story of redemption is solidified, her impact stretching far beyond her own lifetime.

Her poem might have resonated like this:

In the smallest spaces in my home and the body of Christ, I’ll find my place, if Thou, O God, art glorified.
Let Thy greatness shine, let mine decrease,
That in all things, Thy glory may increase.

(Culled from the hymn: Father, I Know That All My Life)

Her imprint also echoes a call for women not to remain silent in the face of evil. Regardless of family neglect or societal pressures, standing for the truth is paramount. Her example encourages women to submit to their husbands, be faithful stewards, teaching their children to love, honour, and respect their fathers.
echoes