Adam and Eve

May 6, 2022 (Friday)

 

Did you know that creation was not perfect, in the flawless sense? When God created, He left one sizable gap that needed to be filled. Starting on the third day of creation, we read, "And God saw that it was good." [Genesis 1:10c, 18c, 21c, 25c ESV] On the sixth day, we read, "And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good." [Genesis 1:31a ESV]

 

Genesis 2:18 tells us, "Then the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." [ESV] I do not believe that woman was an afterthought or a correction. If we back track to Genesis 1:27 we find, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." [ESV] For humanity to reflect the image of God, we were created male and female. Another way to understand this is to see that both males and females carry the image of God.

 

However, God needed to prove a point to Adam. By implication, to humanity in general. God brought all the livestock, birds, and wild animals to Adam to name. We then read this point, "But a helper perfect for him was nowhere to be found." [Genesis 2:20b CEB] One way I read this is that Adam (or a man) by himself is helpless. (Maybe a joke... or not)

 

God then performs surgery on Adam. We now read, "So the Lord God put the human into a deep and heavy sleep, and took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh over it." [Genesis 2:21 CEB] The rib is traditionally understood to mean: "She was not made out of his head to surpass him, nor from his feet to be trampled on, but from his side to be equal to him, and near his heart to be dear to him." [Unknown]

 

Not to be a spoil sport, but this is the only time this word is translated as "rib." [Ellicott] Literally, it means side. I am not advocating that Adam was originally created as both male and female and then split at a later time. I believe the text emphasizes the significance of the woman. (Side note: There is some debatable evidence that the actual bone was removed from another place.)

 

The story of Adam and Eve's first meeting demonstrates the "love at first sight" that movies peddle. Adam’s reaction: "This one finally is bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh. She will be called a woman because from a man she was taken." [Genesis 2:23 CEB] In Eve, Adam has discovered someone unique in all creation. He is attracted to her and recognizes her flesh and bone.

 

The next verse explains the foundation of marriage: "This is the reason that a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife, and they become one flesh." [Genesis 2:24 CEB] There is a bit of humor in the verse when we see the man so smitten as to leave his family to be (hold fast [ESV], joined [NLT], united [NIV], you get the idea) with his wife. It is in this institute we call marriage that the two are able to "become one flesh."

 

When Adam sinned, the image of God in humanity was damaged. When Adam sinned, the perfect bond of love was damaged. When Adam sinned, God’s design for humanity was damaged. This began the conflict between the sexes and has led to many of our cultural wars, perversions, and horrific abuses.