Posted on Tue, Apr 21, 2009
God offered Adam a companion he could not reject, one who was both naturally and divinely a part of him; he gave him a partner in whom he was supremely satisfied. God presented “him with Eve, whom he made from him-Adam.” So Adam loved Eve because she was flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone. He loved her because he loved himself. The two were one flesh.
This week, and in the month of May, we will teach on marriage in all our weekday and Sunday services. We believe that as we search his word, we will find something special with which to mould our lives into God’s desirable pattern for us, regardless of our current marital status. I crave your patience with me as we launch into these weeklong studies.
In proceeding, I want to highlight a few points about this great institution on which we will base our studies. First, we will see that in marriage, the initiative came from God himself when he saw that Adam had a need that he could not meet on his own. Adam needed a suitable helper. “But for Adam no suitable helper was found.” So God moved in love and independently provided for his need.
God knows how and when he can meet the needs of those who faithfully love and serve him. We must take a clue from Adam. He was busy minding the business of God unaware that God already know his need. Even he did not ask that the needs be met, God proceeded and presented him with “the love of his life”. “The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." In so doing, God enunciated a rule that he always will provide for our needs. He knows them better than we do. So in marriage as in all other needs, God says: “…do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' Or may be, "Who should I marry". Your heavenly Father knows what you need and he is more than able to address those needs.
Another important point we will consider is: Why did God make Eve from Adam’s rib and why it was in Adam only that God could find a suitable helper for Adam. Unlike Adam that God created from the dust of the earth, God made Eve out of Adam’s rib. God offered Adam a companion he could not reject, one who was both naturally and divinely a part of him; he gave him a partner in whom he was supremely satisfied. God presented “him with Eve, whom he made from him-Adam.” So Adam loved Eve because she was flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone. He loved her because he loved himself. No sane person ever hated him/herself. So Adam and Eve though, obviously, two people, were one flesh.
The apostle Paul referred to this creative power of God in marriage and concluded that it is expected that a man should love his wife, and nourish and cherish her because his wife was made out of him “After all, no one ever hated his own body, but feeds and cares for it”. And the woman must ensure that she "reverence" her husband. He is her head, not only by nature but by the ordinance of God.
Finally, we will see that in marriage, God gives a very clear picture of an ideal relationship of the believer with him. The marriage that is wholly successful and overwhelmingly peaceful is a result of a deepening relationship with God who initiates it and who will continually work to show in it a pattern of his love, care, forgiveness and mercy. God has designed marriage as a holy union and loaded it with beauty, love, joy, purity, and fulfillment.
Scriptures: Genesis 2:18-25, Ephesians 5:22-33, Matthew 6:31-32, Romans 5:14, I
Corinthians 15:45
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