Bible Study - Culture (5) - When Marriage is Questioned - Genesis 2:18-25 - February 10, 2019

Bible Study – Culture (5) – When Marriage is Questioned – February 10, 2019

This lesson five (5) in our series entitled “Engaging Culture in an Ever-Changing World.”

Our focus scripture is Genesis 2:18-25.

Marriage is between one man and one woman for life.

Matthew 19:4-6: (JESUS was speaking and teaching. This is the addition)

4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’

5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?

6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” 

Clearly it was and is for humans to be male and female. GOD’S plan was for the human species to reproduce. In order to populate the earth with humans GOD placed within both the male and female a strong attraction for each other. In Genesis 1:26-28:

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Who was GOD talking to when HE said “Let US make mankind in Our image?” It is generally accepted that “US” is GOD The Father, GOD The SON and GOD The Holy Spirit or The Holy Trinity.

The trinity of a person is “body, soul and spirit.”

Let’s read Genesis 2:4-17:

4 These are the records of the heavens and the earth, concerning their creation at the time that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.

The Hebrew word for “made” carries the idea of concept, whereas the Hebrew word for “formed” carries the idea of the concept being brought to reality.

In Ephesians 1:4 we read “4 For he (GOD) chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love.” GOD chose every person to be holy and blameless before the creation of the world. GOD’S concept was for all to recognize HIM, honor and respect HIM but based upon each person’s freedom to choose.

Back to Genesis 2:5-8:

5 No shrub of the field had yet [grown] on the land, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not made it rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground.

6 But water would come out of the ground and water the entire surface of the land.

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.

8 The Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there He placed the man He had formed.

At the ideal moment, when earth’s environment could sustain mankind, GOD “formed” man using the dust from the ground. GOD personally “formed” HIS concept for mankind into a living being. The Hebrew name for man carries the idea of “man, mankind, human being.” Once GOD “formed” HIS concept of man, HE breathed life into HIS created being which formed the base for mankind. Man is the only one GOD breathed “the breath of life into and man became a living being.”

I think of the “Garden of Eden” much like an incubator. GOD’S concept had to be placed in an ideal environment to go to a sustainable completion or perfection to fully function upon earth. Yes, GOD is GOD and HE could have opted to just make it happen or to allow it to happen on a time scale. When we consider mankind that includes both male and female. GOD fashioned mankind to include both male and female.

9 The Lord God caused to grow out of the ground every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the midst of the garden, as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

10 A river went out from Eden to water the garden. From there it divided and became the source of four rivers.

11 The name of the first is Pishon, which encircles the entire land of the Havilah, where there is gold.

12 Gold from that land is pure; bdellium and onyx are also there.

13 The name of the second river is Gihon, which encircles the entire land of Cush.

14 The name of the third river is the Tigris, which flows to the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

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,

17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die."

Notice, the progression of the development of earth and its ability to sustain life; especially human life. There was an orderly progression. GOD formed man at the right instant for man (Adam) to live and function upon earth. GOD placed the man HE created into the Garden of Eden to work it and be responsible for what went on in the Garden. GOD gave man specific instructions e.g. "You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die."

Woman had not been formed at this time.

Let’s read on -----

Let’s read Genesis 2:18-20:

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 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 no helper was found who was like him.

GOD formed animal life – livestock, birds, wild animals, etc. After GOD formed each wild animal and each bird, GOD brought it to Adam to name it. When GOD completed making the animal kingdom all was according to GOD’S plan. GOD saw that Adam needed the perfect soulmate. HE did not take different dust but instead HE took a body part from Adam to make the perfect mate for him.

Some speculate that GOD used Adam’s naming of the animals to expose him to the fact that animals had a mate - male and female. Adam came face to face with reality that he did not have a separate female counterpart. So, GOD took action to make the perfect mate for Adam. GOD fashioned Adam’s body part carefully and meticulously into the perfect match for Adam. 

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.

This is very interesting. GOD did not start over by using another batch of dust from the ground to make woman. This to me underscores the intimacy and connectivity GOD envisioned for man and woman. Instead of using another batch of dust, GOD took a body part called a rib from man (Adam) to make woman (Eve). To “make” carries the idea of careful, thoughtful design.

Why do you think GOD did not start over using fresh dust to make woman? GOD had made man in the image of GOD and “breathed the breath of life into Adam.” Adam was made perfect to live and function upon GOD’S new creation called earth. There was separation between the human world and the animal world. The vegetative and the animal worlds could support life upon earth including humans. When something functions like you designed it, why change.  

GOD used a body part taken from Adam such that the two parts would need to come together in unity to become one as The Holy Trinity is One.

GOD created one woman for Adam, not a harem. GOD’S intent was clear, they were to reproduce.

Let’s read Genesis 2:23-25:

23 And the man said: This one, at last, is bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called woman, for she was taken from man.

Notice, Adam immediately acknowledged the sameness when he first saw the woman GOD had made just for him e.g. bone and flesh.

I understand that the original text carries descriptive language such, when Adam first saw the woman GOD had made for him, his first words were “WOW! this is the most beautiful creation I have ever seen. This is what I have been looking for!” Adam had seen animal life, both male and female, now he saw that there was a perfect female counterpart for him.

GOD did not take a body part from Adam’s head giving the impression that Eve would reign over him. GOD did not take a body part from his feet to give the impression that Adam could walk on her or lord over her. But HE took the body part from the side of Adam so he would know that GOD’S intent was for her to an equal; a helpmate who walked by his side.

24 This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh.

Bible scholars believe that verse 24 was an editorial comment because Adam and Eve did not have a mother and father. But in essence, GOD as man’s creator, was the parent of both Adam and Eve. GOD released them to live and function upon planet earth according to HIS plan and purpose. HE made them with the freedom to choose. GOD instructed them to reproduce. GOD told Adam not to eat the fruit from the “Tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Since Adam was responsible for what went on in the Garden of Eden, he did not prevent Eve from taking a bite of the forbidden fruit. When we read of the account, it seems that Adam was by her side when she took a bite and then offered it to Adam. That is when the veil was lifted and they realized they were “naked.” But at this stage of the existence they were sinless, naked and “felt no shame.”

25 Both the man and his wife were naked, yet felt no shame.

When a person places his or faith in JESUS, he or she is cleansed of all sin – past, present and future – he or she is made righteous before GOD and are no longer naked but covered by the blood of JESUS.

If you have never asked JESUS to forgive you for your sins you can do so now. Ask JESUS to forgive you for your sins believing that HE died upon the cross and by giving HIS sinless life for you paid in full the penalty for all of your sin. In doing so, you have been born into GOD’S Family and have become a son or daughter of GOD through faith in JESUS. GOD is now your Father and you have direct and immediate access to HIM. If you once asked JESUS into your heart but have not been living for HIM, HE still loves you. Confess that you have not been living for HIM and you are sorry and ask HIM to forgive you and to restore your relationship with HIM. Guess what? HE welcomes you back. HE never moved from you. HE has been waiting for you to return to fellowship with HIM. Blessings!!!