What is a "Help Mete?"

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Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to be a pastor’s wife. I had an experience when I was six years old and I asked Jesus to be my Lord… ruler…king…boss… He was and is everything that matters to me. I gave my life to Him. I knew that He loved me more than anything in the world. I was safe with him.

I have always wanted others to know this love and safety. The only way I perceived to be able to do or accomplish this growing up was to become a pastor’s wife. I figured that way, at least I’d have a voice.

Things were different back then… I’m talking about in the 80’s. We all know things were different in the church world and even in the corporate world as far as it goes for women, right?

I heard one thing, that women could preach or do things in the church, but I saw something else. Even still today, I see mostly the same thing. Change is being made….slowly.

Another thing I perceived when I was growing up is that the pastor of the church is THE one who can teach and do these things. These are things that a little girl who wanted nothing more than to teach and help people to follow Jesus, saw. So, seeing things that way, the only way to do what I knew I was going to do was to marry a pastor, right?

Sure, I had seen women missionaries that were’t married…. but the ones I had seen were all very strange people. I thought about that path, but the women I had seen were all super weird, plus I didn’t want to live life alone. Being single wasn’t what I wanted, but I guess that’s another topic.

I grew up in Hong Kong and in Hong Kong many families hire “helpers.” These are those who are hired by individuals to clean the house, do the ironing, errands… you know, all the daily going-on’s of a home. You might use the word, “maid.” I pictured a “Help mete” as a maid or the one who takes care of the husband, kids, and house. (Not that it’s a bad thing, I’m totally not saying that.)

But I did figure, I marry a pastor and be the good “housewife” like I’m supposed to. Then I would be able to help people. I would be happy enough to do my God-given “job,” as long as I could help people to know Jesus.

This kind of thinking, wherever it came from (no blame on anyone), developed over many, many years in a little girl who sincerely loved God and wanted the world to know God. (And as you know, thinking that has been engrained for so long, is not easy to undo.)

My husband read a book a few years ago, that started him on a study of the these words, “Help mete.” He began to study these words and tell me everything he learned. I don’t take much without having some sort of proof for myself, plus the things he was telling me was so totally opposite to what I had thought for so many years that I began to study this word for myself.

I’ve always found it odd that churches have so many women (at least half, but usually more than half) and yet, the only real ministry opportunities are in a “housewife” sort of capacity. (I am a housewife, so I’m not knocking “housewife” at all.) But seriously, we are used in the nursery, with kids ministry, to clean the church, to do the admin work etc… not a whole lot of any of the teaching. And when we do teach or preach, it’s reserved to teaching to only women and preaching on Mother’s Day.

Take a look at Genesis 2:18 with me. It’s the first place this word is used. Different translations will use different words. NIV says, “helper.”

What God was creating when He created a “helper” for Adam (man-kind), is so much more than a housewife. I talked about this in “Don’t Go it Alone” blog. God knew what man-kind was going to go through even before there was one person on this earth. How many generations has this world had already? He knew each and every instance that was going to take place, and He knew all the people that would ever exist and He said,”It’s not good for man-kind to be alone.”

He said, “I will make a suitable “helper” for him.” This is the first time this word is used in the Bible. This word, “Ezer” is a super powerful word. After this first use, it’s used throughout the Old Testament to describe the help that God IS. This word is the picture of a “military ally”… Someone you have on your side, to help you win the war, because without this help, your chances are super slim… slim to none.

You see, when God created women, not just wives, he was creating a military ally to help man-kind, not just husbands.

Isn't that incredible!

Women have been oppressed since the beginning of time… all the way to beginning of creation. Satan, the serpent, attacked Eve’s mind, her thinking, her memory, because he was right there when God said what he said. He knew what God was creating. He knew women’s purpose. He knows that if you take out the ally, then chances of “survival” are slim to none.

And women have been attacked and oppressed, intensely since then. (Don’t equate what I’m saying to mean that the “church is oppressing women,” because I am not.) And he is not going to give in or give up.

This is an attack on all man-kind via women, on man-kind’s military ally by the devil. Do you see it? The Bible tells us that our struggle, our fight is not against “flesh and blood enemies,” but against, “spiritual forces of evil.”

Oh, friend, it is so extremely important to study and know the Word of God for yourself. Don’t take what people say or teach, no matter who they are at face value. People are fallible. We aren’t perfect and it IS possible for mistakes to happen… even by the greatest pastors and teachers.

We must study the Bible, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to understand who we are. Who we were created to be. We were created for so much more than we understand. This goes for women AND men.

God has good plans for us, so let’s put on our armor and stand!

My Prayer:

Thank you, God, for making the way for us all the way back then. For having always supplied all that we need to stand for both men and women. Thank you for your Word. Thank you that you are our help, our military ally, because without you, this life would be just too difficult to do well.

I pray for my friend that is reading this, that they would understand and know who they are, who you created them to be. That they would feel your love and the power of your Holy Spirit. That they would walk in all the plans that you have for them and live amazing courageous and victorious lives. And when it’s all said and done, they will still be standing.

Thank you that you are the God who sees us and loves us.

Amen!

PS If you want what I’m talking about… this knowing and understanding how much God loves you, read the book of John in the Bible.

If you want to give your life to God, putting yourself under his loving protection, all you have to do is say, out loud, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead and you will be saved.

When you’ve done that, I would tell you to ask God, “God I want all that you have to offer. I want all of your benefits. I want the power to live this life Shauna is talking about. I want to be baptized in your Holy Spirit. Thank you!”

Love ya,

Shauna

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