It is not good that man should be alone

(Genesis 2:18). This section gives a more detailed version of the creation of Adam and Eva on day six (1:27). Adam is made first, and God brings the animals to him to name.  But “for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.” Then God performs the first operation taking a rib from Adam,  and forming Eve (verses 21, 22). Adam must have seen the male and female animals, and was God wanting to help Adam see his need of Eve?  From Matthew Henry's commentary “woman was made of a rib,  out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.”

Paul often gets short shrift for what the Lord inspires him to write! But the most controversial of these passages is preceded by the command for mutual submission, the husband submitting to the wife,  and the wife submitting to the husband, both in the fear of God (Ephesians 5:21). And the whole passage is summed up by the admonition for the husband to love the wife,  and the wife to respect her husband (verse  33). It's not that the wife need not love her husband, nor for the husband to respect his wife. But I know from my own life that I feel undermined by lack of respect, and perhaps respect is what a man needs most,  and what women need most is love!

Let's not pretend,  in this fallen world,  that man has lived up to the command to love the woman as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her  (Ephesians 5:25), nor that there's no disrespect for the man. But note in the command there's no requirement for these things be deserved! The spirit of the age deems masculinity to be toxic in and of itself. In a little known verse Paul tells “neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:11).  It's called interdependence, each surrendering what is necessary for the  good of the relationship. “In the Lord,” we're intended to be different!


Clearly there were,  and are,  many changes needing to be made. A hundred years ago women didn't even have the vote! That and  many other changes needed,  and still need,  to be made. But we need to take the plank out of our own eye before we climb on board with this or any other movement for change  (Luke 6:42). Perhaps the biggest plank that needs to be removed,  is the plank of bitterness and resentment, that so often follow inequality and abuse. They don't make for peace,  and when these elements are not removed,  the movements inventively go too far (Hebrews 12:15). Far too often,  the oppressed become the oppressor!

Lord Jesus, I have the sense that if we really saw and understood the picture You paint in Your Word about our relationships, we would run to embrace it.  And our marriages,  and in fact all Christian relationships would be very,  very different. From the Ephesians passage it's clear  Christian marriage is intended to be a living parable of You and the Church. We have failed miserably Lord, I have! We ask Your forgiveness and for grace to move towards doing our part in bringing the Kingdom to earth in these areas in Your precious Name Amen