Adam-3: God’s Plan for the Family-Part A

Let me tell you not every marriage starts out perfectly – but every marriage has a chance with God. But not all start out well.

I’m reminded of the man and wife who were in bed at night. The wife was startled because she heard some whimpering about 2:00 am. She looked and her husband was sitting up and staring at the wall, with tears flowing down his face. Very concerned she asked her husband, “What’s wrong honey?” He said “ Do you remember how I gave you that kiss out on your porch that night when we thought your parents were in bed.” She said with a soft tone, YES, do you remember what your dad did that night, he got out the shotgun and pointed it at me and said son, you better marry her or you are going to jail for the next 20 years. She said, of course, but what’s wrong honey. The husband said, I’d be getting out of jail today!”

Genesis 2:18-25

In our study today, as we are looking at Adam and the creation we are going to see some things that God thought were important for us to know, did you know that Adam lived for 930 years. Out of all of those years that he lived; there is no doubt he made many grand accomplishments. He was the first engineer, the first doctor, the first fishermen, the first lumberjack, the first Navigator, the first astrologists, we already mentioned some other things he was last week.

So what did God think important enough to share with us about this first great man?

Adam: God’s Perfect Plan for the Family

Notice that God starts out by stating a need man had.

Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

The perfect plan for the family involved:

I. GOD’S PLAN FOR COMPLETION

God’s plan is grand and perfect for the family, in this foundational book for so many things, Genesis shows us how God created a man and women to create the institution of the Family.

A. There is a breaking of ties

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother...

Cultures are different around this world, even in the United States depending on race, ethnicity, social class, region, there vast differences in family styles.

Sometimes people live with their parents longer than others might because financial restraints of the children or because of health concerns of the parents or their financial needs.

But one thing is so, whether out of necessity you live with your parents or you live far away from them, the Bible teaches that there must be a leaving of them.

Mark 10:7 KJV

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

Your allegiance, your priority no longer belongs to your parents, but to your spouse.

Your honor of course still goes to them, your love no doubt, but you are to leave them and their authority in your life and cleave to your spouse.

B. There is a bond of oneness

Genesis 2:24 b ...and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

I have said this before, when I visit my aunts on father’s side that they have asked me, “Are you two best friends?” I would say “of course” did God mean for us to be anything else.

When you were married you became one flesh physically and emotionally. Physical is the easy part, the emotional bond grows over time.

But there should be a oneness, where you are a team, and you decide that your affection belongs only to that one as life goes on. They are first in your love other than God.

C. There is a beginning adventure

Listen you cannot say that the days of Adam and Eve were perfect and as they say “a rose garden” but they were an adventure.

The marriage life is one of bliss and one of challenges and will be until the day you depart from this earth. But the whole way - as we walk with God and we are led by the Spirit of God - it will definitely be an adventure. God can use you both to accomplish something for His glory and His kingdom. Who knows what God will lead you to do.

1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Look at Ephesians chapter 5, there we will look at a few verses that will hopefully be a blessing to you.

D. There is a beautiful picture

Ephesians 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

1. There should be love

The husband has a special command here. Is it that the husband should not love her husband? Of course she should and does - but it is a special admonition to the husband because of his selfishness and his often bitterness toward her.

Colossians 3:19 KJV

Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

2. There should be submission and reverence

The Bible says a lot about submission, even in marriage, between both partners, there should be submission, but for the glory of God the wife is to submit to the authority of her husband to picture the church’s relationship to Christ.

If we are not careful we will give a false picture of who God is to those we are around.

Colossians 3:18 KJV

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

3. These things picture Christ and his church

Ephesians 5:21-33

The Bible calls the church the Bride of Christ

Christ loved the church, and the church was to submit to Christ

So the husband is to love his wife beyond measure

The women is to submit to her husband and the children are to be submissive to the parents, and have a proper relationship with the father and the mother and they are to model the right relationship before their children.

The Husband represents God in the home, the wife, the church, and in like manner, the children represent church members.

God’s love to the church in the person of Jesus Christ is immeasurable. So the church should be completely submissive to Christ. And the church members should have a proper relationship with both the church and the Lord.

That husband and wife relationship - that parent children/child relationship matters. Because children get a proper view of who God is in relationship to the church through their parents.

A lot of family problems are directly relatable to the relationship with the church.

If people have a bad relationship with their Father, they often struggle in their relationship with God. If they have a problem with their mother, they struggle in their relationship with the church.

When husbands don’t love their wives, and wives don’t sumbit to their husbands, there is a corrupt model for the children. Husbands/fathers that are selfish and do not care for their wives cause the wive whose desire is to be to her husband, to find her identity in the children and often spoils them or lives for them.

This relates to churches today and why they often are a bad model. Instead of submitting to and seeking to glorify and honor God - churches today are submissive to the members seeking to do those things which are pleasing to the children rather that God.

The perfect plan for the family included:

II. God’s Plan of Companionship

Not only do a husband and wife complete one another, they also provide each other tremendous companionship

Remember, God said that it is not good that man should dwell alone; he has an innate need of fellowship. He has a need of fellowship with God, but he also has a need of fellowship with man.

There are lots of areas where companionship is needed in humankind.

A. During depths of despair

Romans 12:15b weep with them that weep.

1 Corinthians 12:26 KJV

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

Galatians 6:2 KJV

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

B. During days of delight

Romans 12:15a Rejoice with them that do rejoice,

1 Corinthians 12:26 KJV

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

Turn to Eccl 4:9 with me.

C. During detours into difficulty

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 27:17 KJV

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Look at Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 KJV

Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

God’s plan is right, affective, and as important today as it ever was. He set up the first family in such a way to propagate man on earth. As man is corrupted, so is marriage, so is church.

But you and I can be a light house in this generation still.