Marvin L. Weir
Honorable marriage is almost as old as the world. On day six God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Gen. 1:26-27). There are many lessons we can learn from studying this first marriage.
The Intent! “And Jehovah God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him” (Gen. 2:18). The Creator knew that man did not need to be without someone to understand and respond to him. Animals could not fill this void. God also knew Adam and Eve needed to “be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth” (Gen. 1:28). He then created male and female in a distinct way that would enable them to obey His command.
The Creation! “And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof: and the rib, which Jehovah God had taken from the man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man” (Gen. 2:21-22). Those pushing the abomination of homosexuality upon the world today ignore the fact that the Creator made a woman for man! Did God know what He was doing? Absolutely! The God-given pattern for marriage is forever set forth. Eve was the workmanship of God and His gift to the man created in His Own image.
The Sleep! “And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof” (Gen. 2:21). Sleep is the figure of death. While Adam was in this state, the Father brought forth from him a helper after his own likeness.
This sleep (death) also fell upon God’s Son, the second Adam. It is interesting to note that from the first Adam God took a rib to accomplish His purpose. It would, however, require the blood of the second Adam (Christ) to purchase the Lord’s church. Just as the first Adam arose from his sleep, the second Adam, Christ, did the same as the grave could not hold Him. As the angel said to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary upon arriving at the sepulchre, “He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay” (Matt. 28:6). Because of this truth, the faithful in Christ have this promise: “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him” (1 Thess. 4:14).
The Presentation! God brought Eve to Adam (Gen. 2:22). The Creator brought Eve to Adam to share his love and enjoy his fellowship. Eve was to be a joy and comfort and source of help to her husband. She would also be a partaker of the blessings that God had poured out upon Adam. As man and wife, they were complete and competent to accomplish God’s will. It is impossible for a man and a man or a woman and a woman to accomplish God’s purpose and plan to “be fruitful” and “replenish the earth” (Gen. 1:28). Enough said!
God has also presented the second Adam, Christ, to the world. The Father sent His only begotten Son (John 3:16) to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10). It required the Lord’s death for us (Rom. 5:8). Those who obey and keep His commandments (Heb. 5:9; John 14:15) will be saved and inherit eternal life.
The Acceptance! Adam said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh …” (Gen. 2:23). Adam had no thought of refusing the gift that God had given him. Eve was now a part of his life – they were “one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). Neither Adam nor Eve questioned or doubted their sex or their role as husband and wife.
Jesus pleads with people to come to Him today on His terms: “Come unto me, all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). The Savior promises that the one who comes to Him will not be cast out (John 6:37). Coffman comments on this verse, saying:
one must believe and come to Jesus in order to be saved. Coming to Jesus is equivalent to entering his kingdom; and entering that requires one to be born of water and of the spirit (John 3:5). Coming to Jesus therefore means being born again. No subjective experience whatever can be substituted for the new birth. “Coming” is something that a man does, not something that he thinks, believes, or feels.
Adam accepted the wife that God prepared for him. He did not argue, fuss, or make some excuse as to why what God prepared was lacking and needed improvement. Will you accept the salvation that God has prepared for you? You cannot do so by rejecting Christ and His Word! The Lord makes very clear this truth: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
The Result! Regarding Adam: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Gen. 2:24).
Regarding Christ: Every relationship that hinders us from worshipping and serving Him must be severed. “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me” (Matt. 10:37-38). One not willing to “deny self” (Matt. 16:24) and others cannot cleave to and follow the Master. May we wisely choose to accept the plan, purpose, and will of God!
