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Men need women (Gen 2:18-25).
Prayer
Our Father in Heaven, as we praise you for a new day of life, and thank you for your word which gives life to our souls, we ask you that you would plant your word deep in our hearts as we read and study now. Please make it to take root within us, and bear fruit in our lives. Please make our feet walk in your commands, and turn our eyes from worthless things. Let your truth be our delight, more precious than silver, sweeter than honey. Teach us to love your statutes, and to live them with joy for your glory. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Reading
Genesis 2:18-25.
“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 19. Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24. Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”
Meditation
The woman was not only from the man, not only equal in dignity, but she was also made to be like the man. She was suitable for him, a fitting helper, designed to complement him. She didn’t have wings like a bird or claws like a cat, she wasn’t some foreign creature. She was, in many ways, just like him. She could think, speak, and reason. She had hands and feet, legs and arms. She felt emotion. Her face was like his (only it was beautiful!). This is what Genesis 2:18 means when God says he would make a helper fit for him. The word means suitable — someone who corresponded to him.
Man couldn’t talk with his dog. He couldn’t share his life with the animals. But he could talk with the woman. He could relate to her and share himself with her because she was like him. And that is exactly what he needed: someone made in the image of God, someone he could know and love. So God made the woman, his perfect complement in every way. And again, we should notice that God did not create men and women to compete with one another. He created them to complement one another, to suit one another. She was made for the man, and she was made like the man.
This is very important for us to realise – the woman gave companionship to the man. Genesis 2:18 begins with these words: "It is not good for the man to be alone." When Adam was in the garden by himself, he was not complete. He could not fulfill his calling. So when we say the woman was created for the man, we do not mean she was just an added bonus to his life. She was not a convenient extra thrown into the picture. She was essential.
Be doers of the word….
I want to write, for a moment, directly to those of my readers who are women in the household of God. Women of the church, you are essential. You are not meaningless or purposeless. You have a calling from God on your life. He made you as women for a reason. And now let me say this — something that applies to all of us, but in this context applies first to women. Ladies, hear this: you are not here for yourself. God did not make you for you. He also did not make men for themselves. If there is one thing we should have begun to understand by now in this series of studies, it is this: God made us all, men and women, for Christ. As one preacher put it: “He for God, and she for God through him.”
And ladies, to apply this more particularly, God made you for men. That is his design. Yes, men love to spend time with other men. They need fathers and brothers and strong male friendships. But there is a fundamental need in the heart of a man that only a woman can meet. Speaking again to the women: only you can meet that need.
This applies first and foremost in the context of marriage. It applies most directly to wives. Wives, your husband needs you. He cannot get by without you. Have you ever thought about that? As you walk in wisdom and godliness, you are an indispensable help to your husband. God gave you to him for the specific purpose of helping him. And husbands, we need our wives. We neglect them to our own hurt. She is flesh of our flesh.
Now I know not everyone reading this is married. So how does this truth apply to the unmarried?
First, if you are single, consider marriage seriously. Do not simply assume it is not for you. Be open to it. Be prayerful about the possibility of marriage. Especially to the men I say: consider pursuing marriage. Prepare yourself for it. Be marriageable — become the kind of person who would make a godly husband or wife. Even if you do not marry, growing in that kind of character will be a blessing to others.
Maybe you are someone who wants to marry but have not yet found a spouse. If that is you, let me say this: remember, this is in God’s timing. Lay your desires before him. Cast your cares on the Lord, for he cares for you. Be proactive, especially men. And also pursue contentment. That is so important. Do not turn the desire for a spouse into an idol.
And for all of us, whether married or single, we must keep the bigger picture in mind. Marriage is the shadow; Christ is the reality. Marriage, as it now exists, will one day give way to the eternal wedding between Christ and His church. In that light, we remember that whether married or single, we each have a far greater calling — to be devoted to Christ. Masculinity is Christ-centered. Femininity is Christ-centered. So if you are married, glorify and serve Christ in your marriage. And if you are single, glorify and serve Christ with all your heart.
Prayer of Confession & Consecration
Merciful Father, we confess that we have often we resisted your design, seeking independence where you have called us to love and serve one another. We have treated your order lightly, neglecting the beauty of our roles and the gift of complementarity between the sexes in your creation. Forgive us for our pride, our selfishness, and for every way we have twisted your purpose to fit our desires. Cleanse us, O Lord, and renew in us a heart that rejoices in your wisdom. Teach us to walk humbly in the places you have assigned, to honor one another in love, and to reflect the glory of Christ in our homes and in our lives. Strengthen men to lead with humility, to serve with courage, and to love as Christ loves the church; strengthen women to build with wisdom, to nurture their families with grace, and to walk in the beauty of holiness as women of God. Make us faithful stewards of your truth, obedient to your Word, and eager to live for your name. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Get full access to Old things New. at rcbhpastor.substack.com/subscribe
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By Reformed devotions from all of scripture.Prayer
Our Father in Heaven, as we praise you for a new day of life, and thank you for your word which gives life to our souls, we ask you that you would plant your word deep in our hearts as we read and study now. Please make it to take root within us, and bear fruit in our lives. Please make our feet walk in your commands, and turn our eyes from worthless things. Let your truth be our delight, more precious than silver, sweeter than honey. Teach us to love your statutes, and to live them with joy for your glory. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Reading
Genesis 2:18-25.
“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 19. Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. 21. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” 24. Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”
Meditation
The woman was not only from the man, not only equal in dignity, but she was also made to be like the man. She was suitable for him, a fitting helper, designed to complement him. She didn’t have wings like a bird or claws like a cat, she wasn’t some foreign creature. She was, in many ways, just like him. She could think, speak, and reason. She had hands and feet, legs and arms. She felt emotion. Her face was like his (only it was beautiful!). This is what Genesis 2:18 means when God says he would make a helper fit for him. The word means suitable — someone who corresponded to him.
Man couldn’t talk with his dog. He couldn’t share his life with the animals. But he could talk with the woman. He could relate to her and share himself with her because she was like him. And that is exactly what he needed: someone made in the image of God, someone he could know and love. So God made the woman, his perfect complement in every way. And again, we should notice that God did not create men and women to compete with one another. He created them to complement one another, to suit one another. She was made for the man, and she was made like the man.
This is very important for us to realise – the woman gave companionship to the man. Genesis 2:18 begins with these words: "It is not good for the man to be alone." When Adam was in the garden by himself, he was not complete. He could not fulfill his calling. So when we say the woman was created for the man, we do not mean she was just an added bonus to his life. She was not a convenient extra thrown into the picture. She was essential.
Be doers of the word….
I want to write, for a moment, directly to those of my readers who are women in the household of God. Women of the church, you are essential. You are not meaningless or purposeless. You have a calling from God on your life. He made you as women for a reason. And now let me say this — something that applies to all of us, but in this context applies first to women. Ladies, hear this: you are not here for yourself. God did not make you for you. He also did not make men for themselves. If there is one thing we should have begun to understand by now in this series of studies, it is this: God made us all, men and women, for Christ. As one preacher put it: “He for God, and she for God through him.”
And ladies, to apply this more particularly, God made you for men. That is his design. Yes, men love to spend time with other men. They need fathers and brothers and strong male friendships. But there is a fundamental need in the heart of a man that only a woman can meet. Speaking again to the women: only you can meet that need.
This applies first and foremost in the context of marriage. It applies most directly to wives. Wives, your husband needs you. He cannot get by without you. Have you ever thought about that? As you walk in wisdom and godliness, you are an indispensable help to your husband. God gave you to him for the specific purpose of helping him. And husbands, we need our wives. We neglect them to our own hurt. She is flesh of our flesh.
Now I know not everyone reading this is married. So how does this truth apply to the unmarried?
First, if you are single, consider marriage seriously. Do not simply assume it is not for you. Be open to it. Be prayerful about the possibility of marriage. Especially to the men I say: consider pursuing marriage. Prepare yourself for it. Be marriageable — become the kind of person who would make a godly husband or wife. Even if you do not marry, growing in that kind of character will be a blessing to others.
Maybe you are someone who wants to marry but have not yet found a spouse. If that is you, let me say this: remember, this is in God’s timing. Lay your desires before him. Cast your cares on the Lord, for he cares for you. Be proactive, especially men. And also pursue contentment. That is so important. Do not turn the desire for a spouse into an idol.
And for all of us, whether married or single, we must keep the bigger picture in mind. Marriage is the shadow; Christ is the reality. Marriage, as it now exists, will one day give way to the eternal wedding between Christ and His church. In that light, we remember that whether married or single, we each have a far greater calling — to be devoted to Christ. Masculinity is Christ-centered. Femininity is Christ-centered. So if you are married, glorify and serve Christ in your marriage. And if you are single, glorify and serve Christ with all your heart.
Prayer of Confession & Consecration
Merciful Father, we confess that we have often we resisted your design, seeking independence where you have called us to love and serve one another. We have treated your order lightly, neglecting the beauty of our roles and the gift of complementarity between the sexes in your creation. Forgive us for our pride, our selfishness, and for every way we have twisted your purpose to fit our desires. Cleanse us, O Lord, and renew in us a heart that rejoices in your wisdom. Teach us to walk humbly in the places you have assigned, to honor one another in love, and to reflect the glory of Christ in our homes and in our lives. Strengthen men to lead with humility, to serve with courage, and to love as Christ loves the church; strengthen women to build with wisdom, to nurture their families with grace, and to walk in the beauty of holiness as women of God. Make us faithful stewards of your truth, obedient to your Word, and eager to live for your name. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Get full access to Old things New. at rcbhpastor.substack.com/subscribe