Women and men have twelve pairs of ribs, even though God took one from Adam to form Eve. God didn’t need a rib to create but chose to make her part of him.
So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him’… Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. Genesis 2:18,22
Adam was a marvelous creation of bone, flesh, seeing, thinking, observing, working, creating. The only part of creation where God took something he created in Adam to form another person was the making of a woman, the gift of a suitable helper. The scripture says, “God brought her to Adam.” After naming the animals and birds, seeing a woman standing in front of him must have caused an adrenalin rush. God said, “everything is good!. Adam chimed in! Living together in the garden that God had made must have been more than fabulous and fulfilling. They were in paradise!
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez, Unsplash
SUITABLE
Suitable is from the Hebrew word, “neged” (neh’-ghed), which means, “ in front of, in sight of, opposite to” (Strong’s 5048). It also indicates this “suitable” person is conspicuous, vigorous, a leader, effective, to stand boldly out, explain, praise, expound, expose, plainly profess, report, tell, utter. This uneventful word, “suitable” doesn’t possess a lot of class in itself, but when you look at the meaning God gave the woman, that changes everything! She was equal to him, opposite of him, able to help, a companion, one who would speak up and advise, and face the joys and sorrows of life together and complete each other. Each one had a mind to think, a heart to feel, and a spirit that would live forever.
It gets better. Look at the word helper!
HELPER
Too often, the thought of a helper is someone less than the other, such as an unskilled worker who helps a skilled one. Or, one who is less in status or education than the one being helped. Often a woman’s role has been related to a subservient role to the man. Not so in God’s created order. A woman is a helper, but so is God.
- God – The word “helper” (the Hebrew is “ezer,” a help, helper), it is the same word used of God 66 times in Scripture. This “ezer” (pronounced “ay-zer”) speaks of God’s strength, power, and protection, help, and being a rescuer.
- Eliezer – The name of the son of Moses was called Eliezer (my God is helper – “Eli – my God; Ezer – helper). “My father’s God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of Pharoah.” Exodus 18:4 Here the word “helper” references God.
- Ebenezer – The prophet Samuel raised a stone monument, the Stone of Help because the Lord had helped them win a victory over their enemies (1 Samuel 7:12).
- The Holy Spirit, described by Jesus as a “helper.” And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. John 14:16, 17
- The people proclaimed God, their help in ages past. God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
The Holy Spirit, co-equal with God, is our advocate, advisor, counselor, paraklētos (called to one’s aid) as an intercessor, consoler, comforter, helper, who pleads another’s cause before a judge, counsel for the defense, legal assistant, giving evidence that stands up in court. This is the Helper, the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians gives the command to follow God’s example (Ephesians 5:1). and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us This same chapter gives instructions for Christian households. The husband and the wife are to, Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:2,
Jesus, in the very nature God, is our chief example of submitting. Although Jesus is co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, he came to earth and made himself nothing and took on the very nature of a servant. He humbled himself and was obedient to death on the cross to pay for our sins, even when we didn’t deserve that kind of love (Philippians 2:5-8).
COMPLETION
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18
Wives are to be as the picture of the church submitting to Christ, and husbands are to be like Jesus in giving himself up for her (wife) like Jesus did. That is the ideal picture of why God used Adam’s rib to make Eve, each significantly completing the other. Not that each one was not complete in himself or herself with unique and varied gifts and talents, but that each was made to be the crown of the other, equal and a fitting companion.
Ephesians gives the picture of pure love – Jesus giving his life for the church. We are to follow God’s example and walk in love. Jesus loved us and gave himself up for us. As a household of faith, we are called to follow God’s standard of love, submitting to the other because we love and respect the Lord (Ephesians 5:21-23).
- Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
- Wife – submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.
- Husband – love your wife, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
God’s gracious and compassionate love is revealed by creating a man and a woman as one flesh – “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh,” the closest companion possible, equal, partner, lover, and friend.
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. Ephesians 5:31-33
God created both man and woman in the image of God. Jesus is equal to the Father but chose to submit to the Father and become our Savior. The Holy Spirit is equal to the Father and to Jesus, yet the Holy Spirit points us to Jesus and is our Helper — with us and in us (John 14:16). The Three-in-One exhibit no rivalry, competition, or inferiority but are co-equal and fully God, working together to accomplish God’s will and plan. Marriage between a man and a woman is to model that kind of love.
God’s creation from Adam’s rib brought forth a suitable helper who was equal, opposite to, and together they became one flesh.
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