12. Of the man. This is a reference to the origin of woman, taken from the side of man to be his helper, his companion, his equal (see Gen. 2:18, 21, 22). Before the fatal departure from obedience to God’s requirements, which resulted in the degradation of the whole earth, it was the plan of God that woman should be on a complete equality with man, but sin made necessary a change in that plan, and woman was placed in subordination to man (see Gen. 3:16; PP 46, 58, 59).
By the woman. The first man, Adam, came into being by a direct act of creation on the part of God, in which woman played no part, but every subsequent male human being has been dependent upon a woman for his entrance into the world. God has chosen to use this method for the reproduction of the race. That fact ought to cause men to regard with awe and reverence the process of human reproduction, in which both man and woman are used by God to bring into existence another being upon whom the Lord may lavish His affection, and who may have the opportunity to qualify to be numbered among those who receive the gift of eternal life (see Gen. 1:28; 9:1, 7; John 3:16; 1 John 5:11; 2 Tim. 4:8).
Of God. Everything in the universe was created and planned by God and exists for His pleasure (see Isa. 43:7; Rev. 4:11). Sin has interfered with God’s original plan, and man has lost the beauty and perfection of form and character that he received at his creation (see Gen. 1:26, 27; PP 64, 65). The plan of salvation seeks to restore man to his original perfection (Micah 4:8; PP 68). Knowing that God’s hand is over all, and that He is working out His purpose in the world, both men and women should repress any tendency to give way to an expression of complaint or dissatisfaction with the way God has arranged matters. Woman, recognizing the guiding hand of God, and acknowledging His wisdom and love, will be content with the position assigned her by God. In return, man will humbly confess that the present imperfect condition of things on earth is the result of sin, and will not assume any pose of false superiority. Both will understand that God is the source of all things, of the existence of woman from man, and man through woman. Such intelligent and willing acceptance of God’s ordained plan will help husband and wife to attain to that ideal of an indissoluble union that is illustrated by the union of Christ and the church (see Gen. 2:24; Eph. 5:22, 33).