Intro:
1. There was a conversation between God and Adam. Adam asked, "Lord why did you make Eve with such long, beautiful silky hair?" The Lord said, "So you would like her."
"Lord why did you make her so soft and shapely." The Lord said, "So you would her."
Adam said, "Lord, she is very beautiful, but why did you made her so dumb?" The Lord said, "So she would like you!"
2. We have been looking at the Home in our study - Nobody Home; Home Alone; No Place like Home; and Home on the Range. Now...
3. Home Sweet Home...equipped with a Help-Meet.
Trans: Gen. 2:18-25
I. FIRST, THE ONE WHO COMPREHENDED ADAM’S NEED FOR A HELPER. 18a
And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; - "This may be rendered "For the man to remain alone is not good for him." [A Handbook of Genesis by Reyburn and Fry].
"The meaning of "good" must be defined contextually. Within the context of creation, in which God instructs humankind to be fruitful and multiply, the man alone cannot comply. Being alone prevents the man from fulfilling the design of creation and therefore is not good." NET Bible.
One-fourth of households consists of an individual living alone. Loneliness is a struggle for some single adults, divorcees, and for those whose spouse has died It often derives from the lack of parental acceptance in childhood, lack of peer approval, and situations of loss such as the death of a spouse, divorce, retirement, or physical disability.
Sometimes we can identify with the man who went to a psychiatrist and requested the psychiatrist to give him a multiple personality. "Why do you want a multiple personality?" the psychiatrist asked. "At least I’d have someone to keep me company," was his reply.
The point is, God alone knows what is good for human beings and God alone knows what is not good for them. To enjoy "good" comes not from man’s reasoning or activity but from trusting God!
Adam needed no tree of the knowledge of good and evil, He had God and as long as He looked to God, God Himself would provide all He needed. A good example of God’s knowledge of good is seen in the creation of woman.
"Before Adam was aware of his incompleteness without a wife, God anticipated his need and planned for it. God set out to create a partner for Adam, one exactly suited to him. Adam’s wife was in the mind of God long before she was ever in the arms of Adam." [John Phillips]
Only God knows what is ultimately good for us!
Tim Quinn, "I was stumped. My old Macintosh laptop simply would not run the MacBible software anymore. Though I had worked with it for hours, nothing I did would help. My wife, wise woman that she is, had suggested that I call the owners of the software for help, but no, I knew what I was doing.
That morning, after having exhausted every last idea, I gave in and called the MacBible Corporation. After speaking to a friendly voice, I was assured that the person to whom I was being referred would know exactly what to do. I wasn’t convinced, but I called him anyway.
The name I had been given sounded familiar, and I soon learned why. The person on the other end of the line was none other than the man who wrote the MacBible software. He gave me a brief set of instructions; I took them down and hung up the phone. In minutes, my computer software program was up and running. I just had to go to the man who wrote the program."
The creator alone knows what’s best for man!
II. FURTHERMORE, THE COMPARABLE HELPER. 18
I will make him a helper comparable to him." - Lest any imagine that "helper" is a diminishing or servile term, it must be understood that (1) it is the name used to describe God as the helper of Israel (cf. Exodus 18:4; Deuteronomy 33:7; 1 Samuel 7:12).
(2) Often "helper" was used to reference God’s aid against Israel’s enemies (cf. Psalm 20:2; 121:1, 2; 124:8). (3) Moses referred to God as his "helper" who delivered him from Pharaoh (cf. Exodus 18:4).
"In the Bible God is frequently described as the "helper," the one who does for us what we cannot do for ourselves, the one who meets our needs. In this context the word seems to express the idea of an "indispensable companion." The woman would supply what the man was lacking in the design of creation." NET Bible.
Philips, "The function of the helper would be complementary to the man’s—"a helper fit for him"—literally, "like opposite him" or "according to his opposite." The woman would be a corresponding counterpart. As a counterpart she would share in his nature. Male and female were created in the image of God (cf. 1:27). And as his matching opposite, she would supply what was lacking in him.
So God declared that help was on the way from one who would be both like and unlike the man—one whose corresponding differences would make man complete for what God intended him to do. This is why the Apostle Paul would say that the man was not made for the woman "but woman for man" (1 Corinthians 11:9). The woman would make it possible for man to do what he could never do alone."
III. NEXT, MAN’S INABILITY TO COME UP WITH HIS OWN HELP-MEET. 19-20
19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him - Why this exercise? It showed Adam that he could not meet his need apart from God. No search on his own; no other created being could solve his problem...only God.
IV. FOURTHLY, GOD COMPOSING A HELP-MEET.
A. A Deep Sleep. 21a
And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; - Again why put Adam to sleep? To show that God Himself was the source of his sufficiency. He alone is able to meet our needs. (Gen.15:12-21)
B. Divine Surgery. 21b-22
and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman - This reminds me of a story:
One day, after a near eternity in the Garden of Eden, Adam calls out to God.
"Lord, I have a problem."
"What’s the problem, Adam?", God replies.
"Lord, I know You created me and have provided for me and surrounded me with this beautiful garden and all of these wonderful animals, but I’m just not happy."
"Why is that, Adam?", comes the reply from the heavens.
"Lord, I know You created this place for me, with all this lovely food and all of the beautiful animals, but I am lonely."
"Well Adam, in that case I have the perfect solution. I shall create a woman for you."
"What’s a ’woman’, Lord?"
"This woman will be the most intelligent, sensitive, caring, and beautiful creature I have ever created. She will be so intelligent that she can figure out what you want before you want it. She will be so sensitive and caring that she will know your every mood and how to make you happy. Her beauty will rival that of the heavens and earth. She will unquestioningly care for your every need and desire. She will be the perfect companion for you," replies the heavenly voice.
"Sounds great."
"But this is going to cost you, Adam."
"How much will this ’woman’ cost me Lord?", Adam replies.
"She’ll cost you an arm and a leg."
Adam ponders this for some time, with a look of deep thought and concern on his face. Finally Adam says to God, "Ehhh, what can I get for a rib?"
It is not really rib - "The most crucial passage in which ṣēlāʿ appears is, of course, the one explaining the origin of woman (Genesis 2:21f.). God created woman by taking "a rib" from Adam while he was in a very deep sleep (cf. tardēma). Conceivably this means that God took a good portion of Adam’s side, since the man considers the woman to be "bone of his bones" and flesh of his flesh (Genesis 2:21f.). This picture describes the intimacy between man and woman as they stand equal before God. Since God made the woman, she is responsible to him in worship. She is not a mere extension of man; she possesses a unique individuality in her own right. There is no indication that woman is inferior. On the other hand, since her body is made from man’s, there is a continuity between the two with the result that they can find a fulfilling relationship only in one another, but never with the same intensity in any other part of creation. Therefore woman’s origin makes it possible for a man and a woman to establish a dynamic relationship in which they become "one flesh" (cf. Genesis 2:24)." [Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament]
V. FINALLY THE COMMITMENT OF ADAM TO HIS HELP-MEET. 22b-25
A. There was the Source. 22b
and He brought her to the man - Again it was God who graciously gave her to him. "God himself, like a father of the bride, leads the woman to the man" (Von Rad).
B. There was the Acceptance. 23
And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man."
Jack Taylor, "It would be most difficult to capture the impact and import of that statement in English. That it was no causal, scientific observation is safely assumed. It was the spontaneous, God-directed response of a heart of love in man toward a woman...
Adam was saying, "I receive you, accept you as you are. You are a gift from God’s hand, perfect in your presence, and perfecting in your influence on me. You are mine." Adam had a will, and with that will he could respond to God, and with that will he could respond to this new creature before him.
He willed to receive her, to accept her. In doing so he released her to become everything God designed her to be...The principle, simple stated, goes like this - Reception brings release and fulfillment; Rejection brings bondage and limitation."
The best gift you can give your spouse is Acceptance!
woman - Eve came from Adam and was created for Adam.
"8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man." 1 Corinthians 11:8-9
"11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15 Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control." 1 Timothy 2:11-15 (NKJV)
The liberated woman of our day seeks to erase this order, one observed, "Chairperson, has replaced chairman, but if you notice its Chairperson, it still ends in son; Suppose they use the word female, but the male is still there; How about ladies, notice the lad in it; Maybe just call them humans - oh what a bitter pill! Not matter what you call the woman the man is till there! Well, call us Madam, oh no, were right back to Adam!"
C. There would be Severance. 24a
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother - this is a future tense. Swindoll, "The cord must be cut with the parents. To leave father and mother means to break the parent-child bond. To sever the tight, emotionally dependent strings that once provided security, protection, financial assistance and physical need with the parents, is God’s design.
D. There was to be Permanence. 24b
and be joined to his wife, - joined means "to stick, to adhere to firmly" It is like being super glued! We are stuck with our spouse - I tell my wife if she leaves me, I’m going with her...
Henry Ford, the one who created the Model T, was asked for the formula of a successful marriage. He said, "The same formula used in making a successful car - stick to one model."
E. There was an Alliance. 24c
and they shall become one flesh.
1. Sexual Unity. 1 Cor. 6:16-18; 7:4-5
Sex in marriage is important!
Reminds me of the little girl who asked her Grandma how old she was. She said, "Darling, when your my age, you don’t tell people your age." Later the little girl found her Grandmothers purse and took out her drivers license. He said to her self, "Wow! Grannie is 76 years old, and got an F in sex!"
2. Soul Unity - mentally, emotionally, and volitional...
Leupold, Becoming one flesh involves the complete identification of one personality with the other, in a community of interests and pursuits, a union consummated in intercourse."
F. They was Innocence.
25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not
ashamed - it is only after they sinned that they knew they were naked and became ashamed. Before the fall their relationship was open, transparent, nothing hidden, and no secrets.
Swindoll, "The Hebrew term translated "naked" suggests the idea of "laid bare," emphasizing totally and completely naked. The idea from the original construction is that they had no hidden areas, no hang-ups, no embarrassment, and no fears. There was total transparency, the complete absence of self-consciousness.
In the next chapter, sin entered into their lives and Adam and Eve immediately covered up. Why cover up? Because for the first time mankind became self-conscious. Up to that point each was so totally involved in [God] and the other person, that it never even dawned on them that they were naked."
Nothing so damages our relationship with God and each other as self-centered living.
Con:
1. Home Sweet Home - nothing is more important to the well-being of this Nation as healthy homes! That is why Satan is trying to undermine the home with homosexual perversion!
2. Family is important - Barbara Bush said, "At the end of your life you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. But you will regret time that you did not spend with husband, friend, child, or a parent. Our success in this society depends on not what happens in the White House, but what happens inside your house."
A tornado ripped through Will County, Illinois, a man sitting by a pile of lumber, which use to be his house. A reporter asked him if he was angry that he had lost everything he owned.
He said, "No, I just thank God that I have my family. Nothing else is really that important."
Johnny Palmer Jr.
StrkugglingThruScriptures.ning.com
