CREATION OF MAN, WOMAN AND MARRIAGE WAS GOD’S MASTERPIECE

Genesis 2 tells this marvellous story of God’s creation ‘ex nihilo’ ( out of nothing ).

Man was required to till the ground, for there had been no rain, rather a mist went up from the earth. (v5,6) ‘ The Lord God planted a garden eastwards in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.

The Lord God formed man out of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.’( v7) Man was made of rugged material, dust, that is from the metallic elements that make up inorganic chemistry. This is confirmed because half of all the available elements are found when the body has decayed. Man is constituted from rough stuff, which explains much of his insensitive behaviour. Christ makes man more responsive. .This heightens the gap between man and woman. Later we shall examine the nature of womanhood as the Lord God created her.

The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.’ ( v 9) The ‘tree of life’ in the middle of the garden spoke of our Lord Jesus Christ, Whose perfect right is to occupy the central stage in God’s universe. Revelation 22 confirms this truth ‘for the tree of life was in the middle of the street and on either side of the river, bearing 12 fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month.’ In their innocence, Adam and Eve they had access to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but God warned them never to touch it’s fruit. ‘For in the day you eat the fruit of it, you shall surely die’ was a clear, unmistakable warning to them and every creature.’

Are you surprised at the next statement, where The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for man to be alone: I will make him a helper comparable to him, ‘ ( v 18) Only an all-wise God could conclude that man desperately needed a mate as his lover alongside. The following verses show that the whole animal or bird kingdoms could not supply the vital need of the first Adam. So God decreed and eliminated the abominable sin of bestiality.

In my medical practice, I have observed the soul-destroying effect of this practice.

The further act of creation followed ‘ where 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.’ Adam was privileged to name the birds and beasts – and that name stood. ( v19) Zoology and Ornithology were born in the Garden of Eden.

Verse 20 repeated the naming process of all cattle, the birds of the air and every beast of the field. Observe that in the creation account, there was no evolving from one species to another. Godly scientists confirm this. Adam noticed the lion and lioness, stallion and mare, ram and ewe, boar and sow, the bird of Paradise and its partner, the lyre bird and dazzling display of feathers to attract its partner, the mighty eagle and the female.

‘ I am alone’ insisted in his thoughts during the naming operation.

‘But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him’. (v20) God knew.

In all surgery anaesthesia is essential. ‘The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept.' Each anaesthetist watches over the entire patient during surgery, reporting the patient’s condition to the surgeon. Adam was in God’s eternal hands.

Now the surgeon operated, ‘He took one of his ribs , and closed up the flesh in its place.’ ( v21) All healing is from the Lord, whose name is Jehovah Rapha, meaning the eternal God heals you. God leaves no scar. Nor does the loss of a rib affect the children to be born, for the genetic pattern of 12 ribs on each side was unaltered.

‘Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man, he made into a woman.’( v22)

Why then did our God choose a rib? It is supple, flexing with every breath each few seconds. Womanhood is flexible in her hormonal state, adapts to all changes of pregnancy and nursing ; she adjusts to needs of the infant, the child, the teenager, the demands of her husband; she is hospitable even with unexpected guests, and resources must be measured. Proverbs 31 tells why Martin Luther called his beloved Kitty’my rib’

Moreover, the rib has cartilage which makes it springy, nerve fibres which make a sporting bump sensitive, blood vessels to nourish it, and blood-forming tissue for red and white cells. Reproduction of blood cells points to a woman’s reproductive nature.

Matthew Henry, bible commentator of 300 years ago, told why god chose the rib for the formation of woman. It is closer to his heart to love her; near his side to protect her; not from his foot to downtread her; nor from his head to browbeat her. Beautiful!

‘He brought her to man’ reminds us that God created womanhood in His unique manner; and then introduced her to man. She would be compatible, for God had chosen her. She would be responsive to his loving overtures, for the Lord said, ‘He would make him a helper, comparable to him. Marriage is secure when God’s order is preserved. Our present chaotic state of marriages, even among believers, is due to a departure from these eternal principles. Tell your children and grand children that God answers prayer and will bring Eve to Adam in their own experience. Wait for Him to work.

Adam said, ‘this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, for she was taken out of Man’. ( v23) The union of Adam and Eve was holy for God designed it. He perfected the oneness of a godly marriage, using the bones of Adam and his flesh ( taken out of him ) as his very nature, ensuring that Eve would be comparable with him. If husband and wife follow God’s eternal truth entering into a holy marriage oneness, then they will be compatible. Teach this powerful truth.

‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.’ ( v24 ) Where parents follow this principle, and gently ‘take their hands off ‘ their beloved children after marriage, trusting God to keep them close at heart, the Lord will beautify the new relationship. Some dear Asian friends adjust as they see their children plan for their own home, stifling deep ancestral views of sustaining the early family tie, even after marriage.

‘They shall become one flesh’ ( v34) expresses the complete spiritual, psychological and physical oneness in the marriage bond. No other relationship approaches this unity.

A non-christian marriage defies God’s original purpose, and threatens the integrity of the union. Many Christians of mature years show increasing likeness to each other expressed in every area of life; thinking the same; praying similarly; sharing convictions; understanding when tears of joy or sorrow come. One flesh!

Husbands and wives are not ashamed in each other’s presence. Genesis 3:25 tells it clearly,’ And they were both naked, the man and his wife and they were not ashamed’.

Why should they be? They were clothed with heavenly glory, known as the Shekinah . It covered them perfectly with holy, radiant, and heavenly beauty. God had designed their sexual oneness to bless them, enrich their lives and remind them of their unsurpassed unity. No intruder had robbed them of sexual wonder and bliss . Nor had any contender sought to woo them from each other. They were God’s highest creation.

Harrold would appreciate your comments on this chapter. www.cobweb.com.au/~hgsteward/