June 9, 1999
FAMILY BIBLE SERIES:
Creation of humanity
demonstrates God's love
___Genesis 2:4-25
___By Susan Pigott
___Logsdon School of Theology, Abilene
___Genesis 2:4-25 depicts God's creation of humanity. The account focuses first on the creation of the male (Gen. 2:7), stating that the Lord God formed the man (Heb. 'adam) out of the dust of the earth ('adamah). This is just one of many word plays or puns which occur throughout Genesis 2-3.
___God planted a garden to provide a perfect environment for the man to work the land and take care of it. God's original design was for work to be good and pleasing for the man. It was only after the humans sinned (Genesis 3:6) that their original tasks became more difficult (see Genesis 3:16-19).
___In Genesis 2:18, God declared for the first time something was "not good" in creation:the man was alone. To remedy this situation, God would create a "helper suitable" for the man. "Helper" is a word used throughout the Old Testament to indicate someone who has strength another lacks. For instance, God often is called our helper (see Exodus 18:4; Psalm 33:20 etc.) Thus, the term does not imply that the helper would be the man's servant, just as God is not our servant. Rather, she would be a strength to the man as they fulfilled God's command to subdue the earth together. The term "suitable" in Hebrew literally means "like opposite him." In other words, the woman was created to be the man's perfect counterpart--the female of the species.
___Surprisingly, God did not immediately create the woman. Instead, the animals were formed out of the ground ('a damah), just as the man had been. God apparently wanted the man to recognize for himself that no animal was an acceptable counterpart for him. Then, God created the woman. She alone in creation was unique. Instead of being created out of dirt, she was created out of flesh and bone. When the man saw her he exclaimed, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,'(Heb. 'ishsh a) for she was taken out of man ('ish)" (Genesis 2:23). Notice the man did not name the woman 'ishsh a (she is not given her name, "Eve," until Genesis 3:20). Rather, by designating her 'ishsh a, the man joyfully recognized that, unlike the animals, she truly was his counterpart--woman out of man. The two humans were perfect complements, created for companionship and intimacy with each other and with God.
___God's original design was for humans to live in perfect relationship with each other, their environment and their Creator. But, as all of us know, sin mars relationships. None of us live in an idyllic setting like Eden. Instead, many people live in conflict with others (even members of their own families), hate their jobs and hide from their Creator. But the beauty of the gospel is the hope of new creation and the restoration of damaged relationships (1 Corinthians 5:17-21). In Christ, God's original design can be realized once again through obedient discipleship and sacrificial love for others.
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