And They Lived Happily... For a While

Romans 1:18–19 HCSB

For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them.

A Biblical Worldview informs Christians how to think about what is going on in our culture. One of the ways it does this is let us in on what is happening in the minds of unbelievers. Since an unbeliever is in rebellion against worshipping the One who has created them, they must suppress the truth. Modern efforts to redefine marriage, sexuality, gender ultimately have to discount the entire Bible as just a flawed book written by men, or reinterpret every single passage that deals with the subject.

Genesis 2:20–25 HCSB

The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the sky, and to every wild animal; but for the man no helper was found as his complement. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to come over the man, and he slept. God took one of his ribs and closed the flesh at that place. Then the LORD God made the rib He had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man. And the man said: This one, at last, is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called “woman,” for she was taken from man. This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh. Both the man and his wife were naked, yet felt no shame.

The Creation of the First Woman

Remember, the impetus of this story is that man was lonely. Verse 20 says that after Adam had looked at and named the animals God paraded by, there was no helper comparable to him. Another way of saying this is that there was no counterpart to Adam. (Later on the when God gave Moses the law it would condemn both beastiality and homosexuality. I believe these prohibitions are anticipated in there statement that there was no counterpart to man.... Adam... and that would include another Adam, or another man.)

Jehovah- Adonai causes a deep sleep. This is the same single word in Genesis 15 when God put Abraham to sleep and made a covenant with him. It is the same word used to describe Saul when David had the chance to kill him, but instead took some stuff from him while he slept. They Bible says God caused a deep sleep to fall on Saul and his soldiers.

God took a rib, or a side from Adam to make Eve (She is not called this until chapter 3, but her name would mean mother of all living.)

I heard one black preacher say there is no way Adam was a black man, because no black man is going to give up a rib.

Often in weddings the preacher will say God did not take from Adam's front side to be lorded over by woman, nor did he take from Adam's back side so he could lord over his wife, but from his SIDE, so they would complete each other in life's journey.

Genesis 2:20–22 HCSB

The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the sky, and to every wild animal; but for the man no helper was found as his complement. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to come over the man, and he slept. God took one of his ribs and closed the flesh at that place. Then the LORD God made the rib He had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man.

The Introduction of the First Woman

God made Adam. God demonstrated to Adam that no one and nothing else could be his complement, his counter-part. God caused Adam to sleep. God took Adam's rib. God made woman. God brought her to Adam. This beautiful companionship was God's answer to the incompleteness, the loneliness of man.

Genesis 2:22 HCSB

Then the LORD God made the rib He had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man.

The Response to the First Woman

Different translations put the emphasis or word order a little differently, but it is correct to see the word "now" from the KJV or NKJV as "at last" or finally, etc.

Eve was seen as "bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh." She's different but the same.

I often tease that when Adam saw her he said "Whoa, Man!!!!" That's not really true, but there is a play on words here: at the beginning of the verse is ADAM=Man, but at the end of the verse is a different word ISH=man. Adam said this one will be called Ishah, ISHAH=Woman, for she was taken from Ish.

Genesis 2:23 HCSB

And the man said: This one, at last, is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called “woman,” for she was taken from man.

Our Pattern from the First Couple

Leave, Cleave, Weave

Leave- Story of lady who called dad wanting to come home... he told her "You are home."

Cleave... Bond. When Jesus was asked by the pharisees about the marriage covenant and marriage bond, he combined Genesis 1.27 (created male and female) and Genesis 2.24 I hear people say "back in those days people didn't get divorces." I understand what they are saying in some circumstances, but no-fault divorce has not been a friend of civilized society. By the way, statistically speaking, if you divorce from your first mate, it is MORE likely that you will divorce the next time. If you are single and looking to get married, choose wisely, and pray for guidance and wisdom. If you are married, WORK HARD TO STAY IN IT. If you have divorced and remarried, you need to know this. WORK HARD to stay in it. Why is this so important? (more important than a parent-child bond etc)

Weave. Become one. Malachi says that when God made us alive with His breath He was looking for godly offspring. Then he commands us not to act treacherously toward the wife of our youth.

By the way if you jump from sexual relationship to sexual relationship to sexual relationship, you are violating the principle of the two becoming one, and you will never find fulfillment in those relationship.

When a couple becomes one flesh, then for whatever reason, undo it, it is never easy. It's not easy for at least one spouse, usually both. It's not easy for the children, even if they are grown. It's not easy for their friends who love both parties but end up feeling like they had to choose, or that one spouse or the other chose. Its not easy for a faith family. Part of our body is hurting. Part of our body ends up leaving.

One last thing about this: If you are using the "It's wrong to divorce" on your spouse as a reason to run around or be abusive, or absentee... .you need to repent. If you are running around on your spouse, abusing your spouse, and basically abandoning them... you are not a victim. Quit picking and choosing what verses to quote. Remember that Paul would use these same verses in the context of a man loving His wife as Christ loved the Church. (Ephesians 5)

This last phrase should not be overlooked. Before sin took hold of their lives, their marriage relationship was bare, naked, and without shame. They did not shame each other. They were innocent toward one another. They were "safe people" for one another. Nothing hidden. No secrets. I believe this should be the goal of ever couple. Safety. Security. Bare. Naked. No shame. No shaming. Question: Are you a safe person for your spouse. Or do you shame them? Do you put them down or build them up? I've even heard people make fun of the way their spouses look physically! What does that say about you? You chose to marry them,

We are in the Christmas season. So let me add one last point of consideration: In Genesis 3 Adam and Eve sin, and the mankind falls into sin. God already had a plan in place to redeem them from their own lineage in the person of Jesus. He came. He lived perfectly. He died and rose again to pay for sin and make a right relationship with God possible.

Genesis 2:24–25 HCSB

This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh. Both the man and his wife were naked, yet felt no shame.