1. Introduction
Mankind came from the dust of the earth and there is humility or lowliness that is associated with dust. See 1 Kings 6:1-2. This was a word from God about Baasha about his lowly beginning and now elevated to King. There is a humble beginning that people can forget as they become proud and forget their physical creation. God had breathed into mankind’s nostrils to make him special and unique and in the image of God. This makes mankind different from the animal kingdom. It was the work of the Holy Spirit that makes mankind a spiritual being. The flesh alone makes us like the animal kingdom. See Psalm 73:21, 22. For animals it is about meeting the fleshy appetite. It seems likely that Adam and Eve at this time were indwelt by the Holy Spirit similar to Christians today. When sin entered there would become a need to be born again by the Holy Spirit. See John 20:22. Jesus breathed on them like creation day six for them to receive the Holy Spirit. What was lost was being restored.
2. The Garden of Eden
The land of Eden is well watered by four rivers. They are similar to ones today. Many have tried to plot where the original Garden of Eden was, but the flood will have changed everything. There are trees and there is only one prohibition on taking the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam and Eve were given a choice. They had the ability to reason and make a choice. It was necessary for them to be free to be given the choice to exercise their freedom. God gave them the opportunity, even if their choice led them away from Him. God wants our obedience to be a choice. We are not to be robots who follow set programming. We choose to be with our husbands and wives. It is the same with our relationship with God.
3. The Man and Woman
The man was created first, but it was not good for him to be alone. Everything had been good up to this point. He had all the animals and perhaps he could converse with them. E.g. Speaking snake and Eve not freaked out. God has been creating by speaking and it happens. In the case of Adam, God does something different. He takes a part of Adam and creates a woman whom Adam recognises of the same essence.
4. Marriage
The woman was created to be a helper for the man. Helper – “The one who comes alongside”. A similar term for the work of the Holy Spirit. She would supply what the man would now need. She was not to be the leader. No animal could be this helper as none were found to be fit. The woman was to be a perfect fit – suitable. We should not put pressure on woman to be something they are not. Within marriage there is a connectiveness that enables them to struggle and work together. The struggle is because of sin because this is not God’s original design. Marriage comes first and then sin enters and Adam throws Eve under the bus.
The authority of the Father and Mother is separated when their child marries. It creates a new family unit. The child needs to be his own man. You do not have to leave them geographically such as another country. Sometimes it may be necessary. You need to leave the support of you parents and support yourself. The man is to leave, cleave and weave! There is to be monogamy between the man and his wife. You choose to be faithful. This coming together means they become “one flesh” in the eyes of God. It is a description of intimacy. We share with our spouse on several levels what we don’t share with others. The lack of intimacy can impact on a marriage. We get busy or we get lazy about it. God created marriage to be enjoyed. It can be a misery because of sin. If there is order in the home, then there is peace. If the man is not the head in the Church, then there is disorder. The example is the Church needs to be the same in the home. It is necessary based on creation. God has chosen the man to lead and the woman to help. It is to be the same in the Church and the home. It is just for this life; it is not for eternity. Marriage does not continue into eternity. See Matthew 22:30. You are free to remarry if your spouse dies when on Earth. See Galatians 3:28. The distinction between male and female when it come to salvation. No matter our race, status, or sex, we all stand on the same footing in Christ.
We have no right to define what marriage is as it was God who created it in the first place. It has been redefined by the world, but this is rebellion against God’s ideal. Only marriage between a man and woman is recognised by God. See Hebrews 13:4.
Categories: Genesis
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