Scripture:
Genesis 2:18-25 NKJV
[18] And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.” [19] Out of the ground, the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. [20] So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and every beast of the field. But for Adam, there was not found a helper comparable to him. [21] And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept, and He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh in its place. [22] Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. [23] And Adam 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.” [24] Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. [25] And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Observation:
I was just thinking about this passage of scripture. After getting married a few short months ago. I don’t seem to write about marriage much, and maybe it’s because I don’t feel like I have enough experience in it. But what I do know is what the Bible tells me, and here in Genesis, we see where GOD says it’s not good for man to be alone. HE has made us to be in community. In fact, HE HIMSELF is in. Even if HE had made nothing, there was always the Holy Spirit and the Son. So when HE said it’s not good for man to be alone, it was because we were created in HIS image. So what did GOD do when HE noticed that Adam was alone? Well, HE went to making animals and bringing them to Adam for names. Saying I (GOD) will make for him (Adam) a helper. With all the animals that the LORD made out of the dust from the ground and brought to Adam, no suitable helper was found. I think the keyword in verse 18 of Genesis chapter 2 is comparable. This word means to be equivalent or equal to… or similar, the word similar means almost the same but slightly different. So here is what has happened in GOD’S quest to find Adam a helper. HE created all the animals that walk the earth yet found nothing that was equivalent or equal. So HE placed Adam into a deep sleep and took a part of him. But it wasn’t just any part it was a rib. The part of him that seems to help protect the inner workings of him. The part that covered his vital organs, such as the heart and lungs. To be absolutely honest, that was no mistake. GOD knew exactly what HE was doing. After taking this vital part of Adam, the LORD closed up the whole and made a woman. I could only imagine how beautiful she was. I mean, GOD’S creations always are. I’m sure HE made the best-looking one for me. But I’m sure Eve was pretty stunning as well. Bringing her to Adam. The response HE got was exactly what HE was looking for. This is a part of me. It’s bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. I will call her woman. I believe verse 24 is very valuable. Of course, it is verse 25 as well, but focusing on verse 24, we see some instructions that should not be missed, but oftentimes, they shall leave their mother and father and cleave to one another. The man and the woman create a union with each other. They make a covenant to each other. Saying you are a part of me, and I am a part of you. I won’t do anything without considering you in the process. They become one person. Leaving all other outside influences such as family. But here is the deal that’s where verse 25 comes into play. Let’s. Look at what it says, ” and they were both naked the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Application:
My disclaimer on all this is that I have not been married long. But I believe GOD has brought me the wife that I need. The wife that is a vital part of who I am. Relationships are something I have struggled with, and I’m going to be honest. To be honest, I have been the blame for a lot of the downfall of them. Always wanting things my way. Or not listening to my helper. Thinking I know best. Listen, GOD knows exactly what HE is doing. If you are married and reading this, I want you to think about the keyword used in the first verse chosen this morning, “Comparable,” similar to the differences between my wife and I are there for a reason. GOD placed them there. She sees the world a little bit differently than I do, and honestly, that’s a good thing. She helps me navigate through it with a total perspective, not a partial perspective. Men and women are created differently for a reason, and I’m going to go to something that I say all the time, but it’s because I believe it to be true. My wife is graceful, and I am truthful. I tend to spit the truth out when she is looking at it from a graceful heart. TRUTH + GRACE = LOVE. We are made different. I can’t make her see things my way, and she can’t make me see things her way, but as we come together and form one perspective, we get to see the whole picture. Yes, I believe that men are built to be the spiritual leaders of their homes, but what exactly does that mean, and why do we have to always tie the word lead with the word rule? GOD rules our home it is my job to lead us to HIM in all circumstances. What HE says goes. But if I’m not leading us to HIM, then the leader becomes the ruler, and that pits me out of position. When Jesus was in the upper room, HE gave us an example of what it looks like to lead. Taking off HIS outer garments, girding HIMSELF with a towel, and washing his disciple’s feet. What I see there is service. Jesus served HIS students to lead them. Now, this is where I have messed up in the past, and I reserve the right to be wrong here, but I feel like if husbands would seek to serve rather than be served things would probably be a lot different. My approach to my wife has been different than in the past. I seek to serve rather than expect her to serve me as the man of the house. I take it upon myself to do what I can for her. But I want to get to the main part of this SOAP because I’m running out of time. “They were naked and were not ashamed.” If there is one person we should be able to show everything about us to, it’s our spouse. GOD made us to be naked in front of HIM and in front of our spouse. All the stuff that no one else knows they should have full access to. But not in a malicious way. We should be able to expose who we are to the one who is a part of us and not have any judgment, but receive the help needed to navigate through life. Life is hard. It’s just not easy alone. Having someone who is equivalent and equal to you to walk through it with is valuable. Someone you can tell everything about you and know they won’t use it against you is priceless, and GOD knew it.
Prayer:
Father, we know your plan is perfect, and you know exactly what you are doing. You have given those who are married a blessing from heaven. A life shared with an equivalent similar person to a broaden their perspective. We want to see things through your eyes. We want your father to rule our homes, Father. All we ask is that we lead them to you. Help us to see you as the very center of what holds this all together l. Help us to live naked in front of our spouse. Nothing hidden, nothing to be ashamed of, nothing that we feel like we can’t say. You have created the perfect person for us to spend our lives with and placed them next to us. What a blessing that is, thank you. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen