I must start this post with some background. Recently, I have been encouraged to learn more about creation. You may have known me as a Christian who believes in evolution- not all evolution, but some. Wow, that sounds so contradicting as I write that out. Anyway, I also thought that the story of creation was a metaphor. An astounding piece of literature that showed God's power, but not necessarily the way the world came about. I was very very very much proven WRONG! I realized that if the story of God's creation was a metaphor, how would we be able to believe if anything else was literal or not? Was the resurrection of Jesus Christ a metaphor? I don't think so. And neither was the creation of Adam and Eve.
These individuals were very much real and alive in God's presence- NOT A METAPHOR! Understanding the realism and truth behind this story brings a whole new meaning to man and woman, and not just the fact that they were the first two people on the earth or that they could be symbolic to the beginning of humans and the Fall of mankind. Since I have this VERY important piece of information clarified, I believe I can continue with the purpose of this blog.
I'm assuming we are all familiar with the story of Adam and Eve. Adam was created first out of the dust of the ground Genesis 2:7. Later "The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper suitable for Him.'" 2:18 When no other creature on earth was suitable, God made woman from Adam's ribs and brought her to the man 2:22. Okay, let's stop here. Ladies, if you EVER think that men are the "better" gender, I am so sorry that has been put into that pretty little head of yours, because that information is WRONG. Man was made from dust. God is awesome and can make anything from essentially nothing, but He choose to make us from another human being. He is creative and knows what he is doing. He could have chosen to make us from dust too, however, this symbolizes the unification that God has created in man and wife. WE ARE EQUAL!! Also, let's talk about the word "helper." This does not mean slave, maid or any term like that (Must I go into the term submission again?). It means your husband needs to honor the Lord and you have been chosen to help him with that. I'm flattered when my husband calls me his helper or helpmate. It's a compliment. But anyway, at this very moment began the first marriage.
Good story so far, right? Yes! But it gets better. The Lord gave everything to Adam. He commanded Adam that he could eat ANYTHING in the garden except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil 2:16. God is so good that even though he basically gave the whole earth to Adam, he gave more. He gave him a helper, He gave him marriage. These were gifts from God and was created by God- NOT BY MAN! I've heard people say "You can't take an idea and say your god made it." Well, yes I can. It's in the Bible.
However, this gift is precious and sacred, the way God intended it to be. Imagine something valuable to you- an award, trophy, degree, or whatever it is- think about how hard you worked to earn it, but think about how rewarding it is to have it. Anything that is valuable or rewarding to us, had to be earned by hard work. You can't have a marriage and not work hard to maintain it and keep it alive, healthy, and strong. If anyone could earn that Super Bowl ring, then it wouldn't be worth anything. Same idea with marriage (but amplify by 1,000,000!!) and this is how you should treat marriage. In 2:24 God even says "...a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." It is not always easy to leave a comfortable life with your family to go into the unknown with a new spouse, but this is one of the first challenges God gives us as husband and wife. It is hard work, but truly rewarding. If it wasn't hard work, it wouldn't have that much value.
Overall, the story of Adam and Eve has so much more meaning than the creation of mankind. It was the first marriage, the first unification of man and woman, it challenges us, and it shows us God's love. The first 2 chapters of Genesis are amazing because we can truly see how giving our Lord is (I thought I was going to go into Chapter 3, but I think this is enough for today :P). We can see it everywhere else too, but once you are engaged or married and living a life for God, you can see how amazing the gift of marriage is, the purpose of marriage and the reward of being married, and for that, I am truly grateful.
These individuals were very much real and alive in God's presence- NOT A METAPHOR! Understanding the realism and truth behind this story brings a whole new meaning to man and woman, and not just the fact that they were the first two people on the earth or that they could be symbolic to the beginning of humans and the Fall of mankind. Since I have this VERY important piece of information clarified, I believe I can continue with the purpose of this blog.
I'm assuming we are all familiar with the story of Adam and Eve. Adam was created first out of the dust of the ground Genesis 2:7. Later "The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper suitable for Him.'" 2:18 When no other creature on earth was suitable, God made woman from Adam's ribs and brought her to the man 2:22. Okay, let's stop here. Ladies, if you EVER think that men are the "better" gender, I am so sorry that has been put into that pretty little head of yours, because that information is WRONG. Man was made from dust. God is awesome and can make anything from essentially nothing, but He choose to make us from another human being. He is creative and knows what he is doing. He could have chosen to make us from dust too, however, this symbolizes the unification that God has created in man and wife. WE ARE EQUAL!! Also, let's talk about the word "helper." This does not mean slave, maid or any term like that (Must I go into the term submission again?). It means your husband needs to honor the Lord and you have been chosen to help him with that. I'm flattered when my husband calls me his helper or helpmate. It's a compliment. But anyway, at this very moment began the first marriage.
Good story so far, right? Yes! But it gets better. The Lord gave everything to Adam. He commanded Adam that he could eat ANYTHING in the garden except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil 2:16. God is so good that even though he basically gave the whole earth to Adam, he gave more. He gave him a helper, He gave him marriage. These were gifts from God and was created by God- NOT BY MAN! I've heard people say "You can't take an idea and say your god made it." Well, yes I can. It's in the Bible.
However, this gift is precious and sacred, the way God intended it to be. Imagine something valuable to you- an award, trophy, degree, or whatever it is- think about how hard you worked to earn it, but think about how rewarding it is to have it. Anything that is valuable or rewarding to us, had to be earned by hard work. You can't have a marriage and not work hard to maintain it and keep it alive, healthy, and strong. If anyone could earn that Super Bowl ring, then it wouldn't be worth anything. Same idea with marriage (but amplify by 1,000,000!!) and this is how you should treat marriage. In 2:24 God even says "...a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." It is not always easy to leave a comfortable life with your family to go into the unknown with a new spouse, but this is one of the first challenges God gives us as husband and wife. It is hard work, but truly rewarding. If it wasn't hard work, it wouldn't have that much value.
Overall, the story of Adam and Eve has so much more meaning than the creation of mankind. It was the first marriage, the first unification of man and woman, it challenges us, and it shows us God's love. The first 2 chapters of Genesis are amazing because we can truly see how giving our Lord is (I thought I was going to go into Chapter 3, but I think this is enough for today :P). We can see it everywhere else too, but once you are engaged or married and living a life for God, you can see how amazing the gift of marriage is, the purpose of marriage and the reward of being married, and for that, I am truly grateful.