May 3 I Tuesday

1 Kings 14-15

Luke 22:31-46

“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 2:22

We will immediately notice from the opening verse of this devotion that the first woman was made in a manner different than the first man. Adam was formed from the dust of the earth, while Eve was made from a rib that God took from Adam after putting him into a deep sleep. Some will debate that this suggests an inequality between the sexes, but there is actually an important reason for why God created them differently.

      Rather than making two separate individuals from the dust, creating Eve from Adam’s rib demonstrates their unity. They are one flesh, but two separate genders. Upon seeing Eve for the first time, Adam immediately states, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’, for she was taken out of man” (Genesis 2:23). He recognizes that Eve is a part of him and fulfills the need for relationship God created in him.

      God then says, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). A doctrine of biblical marriage holds that marriage is a reunion of male and female into one flesh; two equal parts of one whole took place in the Garden of Eden. As one flesh, they make new life, and form a family which becomes the building block of society. These new lives will be united to another person and become another unit, which carries through from generation to generation. 

      Some argue the fact that Eve was created to be a “helper” (Genesis 2:18) suggests a subordinate position for women, but the word “helper” used here is very much misunderstood. In the Old Testament, “helper” is used about six times when referring to God. Deuteronomy 33:29 says, “[The LORD] is your shield and helper.” Psalm 27:9 goes, “You have been my helper.” Psalm 118:7 says, “The LORD is with me; He is my helper.” God, being our helper, does not put Him in a subordinate role. Helper is actually a very high word that speaks of the indispensability of God to human beings and the indispensability and interdependence of one to another.

      Since man and woman are equally made in the image of God, it is not surprising that the marriage relationship is reflected through the Trinity. The relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is one of perfect indispensability and interdependence. They are each a helper, one to another, a perfect unity of three in one, and provide a wonderful—though infinitely more complex—picture of the intimate relationship of man and woman made one and living together in union with God. 

Prayer: God in Heaven, thank You for demonstrating perfect indispensability and interdependence through the Trinity. Teach me how I can be a helper to my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.