Marriage - In the Presence of God - Genesis 1 and 2 - May 2, 2010

Bible Study – Marriage – In the Presence of God – May 2, 2010

This begins a new series on marriage. Our new study is entitled “I (Still) Do.”

Our scripture today is Genesis 1:26-28a; 2:7, 15-22.

During the month of May we will study selected scriptures dealing with various aspects of marriage.

GOD holds marriage very sacred. Most little girls long for their wedding day. Weddings are a joyous occasion. I heard Tony Campollo, Eastern College Sociology Professor, say that every marriage gives the opportunity for love. When males are attracted to females, many times it is lust. Lust can turn to love but don’t confuse lust with love. Marriage is just the beginning of forming and building a lifelong loving relationship. Building a loving relationship is by working together through the good times and the not so good times. Through the years, relationships either go deeper or fall apart. Is your mate your very best friend? If not he/she should be.

Communication with each other is vital. Working together, sharing, trusting and building a relationship of unity with each other and GOD through CHRIST. Marriage is tough, especially when children come along. Men, you must realize that your bride will shift her attention from you to the child. She will still love you but you will not be the center of attention.

When couples marry today, you often hear in their wedding vows that they will remain together as long as they love each other. Here again, I think couples confuse the emotion of that first romance with love. Males and females often want to maintain that feeling but it is not going to last. However, during the romance period that is where building a solid relationship is important. Trying to maintain the desire for romance often leads to an affair. Some may say, “I have lost that feeling.” This is one of Satan’s strategies to lead a person into adultery and often into a lifelong search for the ideal marriage partner.

On the wedding day of her daughter, someone said to the mother, “Your daughter seems to be marrying a fine young man.” She answered, “Well at least he will do for her first husband.” Young married couples need the support of their parents, in-laws, friends and each other.

Later in life, mid-life crisis can raise its head in either the lives of the male or female. This can cause a person to seek changes in his/her life such as a new car, new job or new career or something different such as a new relationship. If you have such feelings, reveal them to your spouse and seek Christian counseling. Spouses if your spouse tells you they are having such feelings. Pay attention. The two of you can work through mid-life crisis with help. This is often not an easy time for either spouse.
My wife and I have been married for 51 years. I hate to say this but I was raised during the period when the wife did everything. She washed, ironed, cooked, cleaned house, worked outside the home, birthed children, cared for the children, took care of her husband and the list goes on. I am very ashamed of my attitude and failure to support my wife around the house in the early years of our marriage. House work was not for men. The men who helped their wives were “Hen pecked.” No red blooded male wanted to be “hen pecked” when I came along. Thank the good LORD that notion has changed in most of our society. Although it still exists in some areas. I say, “Men be real men and help your wife. Love them, cherish them and never lay a hand on them in any abusive way. You can defend yourself but do not be the aggressor except to love them and hug them.”

I know things have changed and the male helps the female, which is great. Our two (2) sons and two (2) sons-in-laws do a great job in being fathers and helpmates. I am very proud of them as well as our two (2) daughters and our daughter-in-law.
Being married for 51 years, means we have experienced a great deal in our married life. It has been going through the difficult times that resulted in our love growing deeper.

As stated earlier no man or woman should ever abuse his/her spouse or children. If you are in an abusive situation get help. If the abusive spouse can get wise counsel and control himself or herself then there may be an opportunity for a good marriage. But I have little patience with abuse.

GOD intended for man and woman to be one in the bond of love through the miracle of marriage.

Let’s read Genesis 1:26-28a:

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth,[11] Syr reads sky, and over every animal of the land and the creatures that crawl[12] Lit scurry on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it.

Notice “US” in verse 26. “US” referred to the Trinity of GOD – GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON and GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT. The Hebrew word used for GOD was Elohim in Genesis Chapter one which is plural and embraces the concept of the Trinity. The Trinity was present when man was formed. Man was formed in their image. I think physically and Spiritually - The trinity of mankind - Body - Soul and Spirit.

The Hebrew word for “man” is “ish” which can be translated Adam. The word can also be used to refer to “man” or “mankind.” When it refers to “mankind” it includes male and female.

In verse 26 “man” refers to “mankind” because of the use of the word “they”. “They” will rule but I think the use of the word “man” denotes order to confirm that GOD first formed the male. HE formed Adam using common materials, dust of the earth, which HE had created. When the word “created” is used, it means creating something out of nothing and only GOD can do that. GOD took the material HE created to form man.

Then GOD gave this formed earth material HIS life and Adam became a living, functioning human. GOD breathed life into man’s body and man became a living human. The body without breath is dead and the life giving spirit escapes. Since the fall of Adam and Eve, death came into earth. That is why CHRIST had to come to earth, as a human, to redeem all who will accept HIM as SAVIOR from sin and death.
GOD made woman by taking a body part from Adam. GOD did not make Eve by forming her using more earth materials. HE took a body part from Adam which HE had already breathed the breath of life into. If GOD had formed the female separately, there would have to be a male SAVIOR and a female SAVIOR. GOD’S intent was the male and female to become one or brought back into unity through marriage. HE intended for the couple to rule over HIS creation which included the things living on earth and managing earth’s resources. HE intended for them to reproduce and multiply as the result of their union as one. GOD began the life of mankind with one breath of life into one formed body of clay.

Since the original sin mankind has been separated from an intimate loving relationship with GOD. CHRIST broke that barrier and opens the way to GOD through HIM for all who will accept HIS passion. Through the miracle of rebirth in the spirit of mankind, CHRIST restores all Christians back to unity with GOD through HIM. Once restored, then Christians can begin rebuilding their relationship with GOD through CHRIST. It is an awesome journey.

In verse 27, we learn that GOD created mankind or both male and female in HIS own image. GOD’S crowning creation was male and female to represent HIM upon earth and to rule earth, care for earth, bring earth under their control and reproduce. Woman’s existence is the result of man’s existence which was GOD’S intent because of the unity of one in spirit. Man and woman are to function as one and in harmony with each other. Woman is man’s help mate, who comes along side of man to complete man and to provide the female perspective on matters. GOD never intended for woman to be the slave of man or man to be the slave of woman.

Genesis Chapters one and two seem to be somewhat redundant. Chapter two gives some details that Chapter one does not.

Let’s read Genesis 2:7, 15-20:

7 Then the Lord God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.
15 The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden,[16] Gn 3:1–2 17 but you must not eat[17] Lit eat from it from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”[18] Gn 3:5 18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is like him.”[19] Pr 31:11–12 19 So the Lord God formed out of the ground each wild animal and each bird of the sky, and brought each to the man to see what he would call it. And whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all the livestock, to the birds of the sky, and to every wild animal; but for the man[20] Or for Adam no helper was found who was like him.

In Genesis Chapter Two the Hebrew word for GOD was Yahweh, which is the personal, covenant name for GOD. It denotes HIS commitment to mankind and HIS covenant relationship mankind. In essence, it is GOD'S commitment never to abandon mankind and especially those who accept HIS SON JESUS.

GOD formed man using dust which HE created. The word used for formed means to fashion or shape as a potter would sculpture clay. The formation of man was a hands-on expression of love for the product HE was creating with HIS own hands. GOD created life by breathing life into the nostrils of Adam. Adam was made first. The original scripture implies that man was “gradually formed” expressing that GOD was more intimately involved with the details of formation of man. GOD could have spoken Adam into existence but GOD wanted to be personally involved. GOD wanted the formation of man to be perfect in all aspects as GOD is perfect. When man was formed to GOD’S satisfaction, HE came face-to-face with HIS creation and breathed HIS life into man. Man became a living being ignited by power, love and Spirit of GOD.

There is a clear distinction between the formation of man and animals. It seems that the formation of animals was quicker using the materials HE had created.
GOD placed Adam in the Garden of Eden and gave him specific instructions for managing the garden. GOD asked Adam to name all the animals HE had formed. GOD gave him specific instructions about what to do and what not to do. GOD did not make man a robot but gave him freedom of choice. GOD placed many trees in the garden which had delicious edible fruit. GOD placed two (2) trees in the garden. One tree was to give life and the other tree would result in death. The only tree which GOD Adam or Eve not to eat the fruit of was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which would result in death.

The animals GOD formed could not give Adam the level of comfort or companionship that he needed. GOD saw that Adam needed someone with whom he could interact to accomplish GOD’S will and purpose. So GOD decided that Adam needed a help mate who was like him. One who would have the same values and be compatible with him to obediently serve GOD with the freewill to choose.

Let’s read Genesis 2:21-22:

21 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. 22 Then the Lord God made the rib He had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man.[21] 1 Co 11:8,12

GOD used a body part from Adam to make woman. HE did not use the head to imply that she would rule man or the feet to imply that she would be walked upon by man. Instead, HE selected a part from the side of man to imply that she would come along beside the man to make him complete and as an equal.

GOD formed Adam but HE made woman from Adam’s body part. This reveals the mystery of marriage. GOD’S intent was for man and woman to be separate until a time when they will be reunited as one through the bond of love and marriage. GOD separated them by taking part of Adam to make Eve. Through the miracle of marriage the two became one. The two became one for the purpose of achieving GOD’S plan and purpose – such as to manage the affairs of earth, its animal inhabitants, resources and to reproduce. It is clear that GOD intended for marriage to be between one man and one woman because HE tells them to be fruitful and multiply.

The marriage relationship is a reflection of GOD’S desire for a relationship with HIS crowning creation, man and woman. Just as HIS vision for husband and wife is to cleave to one another in a bond of boundless, unselfish love, HE wants us to cleave to HIM out of a pure heart of love for HIM. HE desires fellowship, harmony, respect and unity. GOD has used the marriage relationship to show the extent of HIS love for HIS children. The book of Hosea is a classic example of the extent GOD will go to not sever the covenant relationship HE has with HIS children, individually or collectively as a group or nation, through CHRIST. Once we accept HIM as our SAVIOR, HE clings to us even when we turn our backs on HIM. Never forget that. HE always welcomes HIS children back into an intimate relationship with HIM no matter what we may have done.

Since, we have focused on marriage, some single folks may ask, “If everyone is to be married, where is my spouse?” The real answer lies with GOD but the Apostle Paul may give us a clue in 1 Corinthian 7:8-9:

A Word to the Unmarried

8 I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them if they remain as I am (Not married – However it is believed that Paul was married at one time because he was a Pharisee.). 9 But if they do not have self-control, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with desire.

In essence Paul was saying it is better to be single and serve the LORD than to be married and have to share your time with another. But if you burn with desire it is better to marry. Paul seems to imply that not being married is a gift from GOD but not every Christian has this gift.