SAVING THE WORLD-SAVING THE FAMILY

THE HEARTBEAT OF MARRIAGE (GENESIS 2:18-25)

I. GOD COULD HAVE CREATED A MATE FOR ADAM WHEN HE WAS

CREATED.

A. But God wanted Adam (and Eve too) to observe something:

1. Their similarities.

2. Their deep need for each other.

B. They are similar and do similar things, but also have complementary roles like in singing.

II. YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THESE SIX POINTS ARE BASICALLY SYNONYMS.

III. IN THIS PASSAGE RECOGNIZE GOD AS THE CREATOR OF MARRIAGE.

A. So follow His plan and pattern for marriage and fulfillment will be attained.

IV. COMPANIONSHIP - (2:18).

A. An initial observation.

1. It is not good for man to be alone.

a. First time during creation week was this pronouncement made.

2. Why it is not good for a man to be alone:

a. Companionship is intrinsic with a man.

b. A man needs a woman to support him.

c. A man needs a woman to understand him.

B. The meaning of “a help meet.”

1. Margin “answering to.”

a. Not meaning simply doing everything he says.

b. Comparable, compatible, able to meet the needs of the

other, whereas animals are not capable.

2. They are designed to improve each other - which is what companionship does.

a. Prov. 27:17

b. 1 Pet. 3:7 - “joint-heirs of the grace of life.”

3. She is a help.

a. She must render herself a helper.

b. He must nurture, train, cherish, etc., her as a helper.

V. BEST FRIEND - (2:19,20).

A. Is a dog really man’s best friend?

1. Is a dolphin actually close to man’s intelligence?

2. Is a monkey truly closely related to a man?

3. Is there any animal that even comes close to being a suitable companion?

B. Only woman is a true friend.

1. Hearing God state v. 18 must have impressed Adam.

2. God was allowing Adam to observe for himself the insufficiency of animals.

3. So he would appreciate the friendship of Eve.

4. He named them with appropriate names realizing they were not compatible to him. Not one did he name “woman.”

VI. RESPECT - (2:21,22).

A. Woman was taken out of man (1 Cor. 11:7-12).

1. Therefore she should respect him, for she is a part of him.

a. If she degrades him, she degrades herself.

b. If she thinks that he is not worthy of her respect, then she is only reflecting upon herself.

2. Similarly he should respect her, for again she is a part of him.

a. When he builds her up it is not a disgraceful or embarrassing thing.

b. By respecting his wife he builds a happy relationship.

c. Eph. 5:28,29

B. With respect for each other it is a joy to be in each other’s presence.

1. Do you not avoid people who are disrespectful toward you? 

2. Recognizing she has a deep part in man. 

3. By seeing her as an extension of himself, he respects her.              C. She was made (built) from his rib. 

1. N. B. Hardeman’s (former president of Freed-Hardeman College) thoughts below: 

THE BEGINNING OF MARRIAGE 

“When the Spirit of God brooded over the garden of Eden, it was observed that the fowls of the air and the beasts of the field had each its respective mate, but that man for whom all else was created was left alone. Thus as a hermit he sighed until woman smiled upon him. 

Out of the dust of the earth man was created. He was akin to the hard rocks and the strong fibers of the trees, able to suffer and endure. When it was no longer good that he should be alone, woman, the sweetest, dearest, and best of all creation was wrought into existence. She was not made from man’s head to be his ruler, nor from his heel, to be trampled under his foot, but from his side, that she might be loved and protected by him. She was then as pure as the lily un-kissed by the morning sun, as beautiful as the full-blown rose, as modest as the daisy of the field or the drooping violet, as sweet as the pink, all covered with dew, as graceful as the fern, and as trusting as the clinging vine.” 

2. God could have created her like He did Adam. 

3. God took the time to cause Adam to sleep, opened his flesh, took out a rib, closed flesh, etc. 

4. Adam gave of himself; there was literally a part of him in her (when work or give for something we say “a part of me is in...”). 

D. God brought her to the man. 

1. Mt. 19:6b. 

2. Prov. 19:14. 

3. Prov. 18:22. 

4. Therefore respect each other. 

a. Rejection is not against each other, but God (1 Thess. 4:8). 

b. How do you feel when someone rejects your gift? 

VII. UNITY - (2:23).

A. She is an equal human being.

1. Thus Gal. 3:28.

2. She is not a slave whose only concern is her husband.

3. She has many, if not all, of the same needs as her husband and he must meet them.

B. Adam recognized her similarities.

1. He had observed the animals and even named them, but something was missing.

2. He named her, showing his recognition of her similarities.

3. “This is now...”

VIII. CLEAVING - (2:24).

A. A man leaves his parents.

1. He takes on his own responsibility and parents must let go.

2. He does not forsake them.

B. He cleaves to his wife.

1. He clings to her as if he never wants to lose her.

2. How do they cling to each other?

a. By building companionship, being best friends, being

respectful, maintaining unity, determining to cleave, not being ashamed.

b. By being careful to please each other (1 Cor. 7:33,34) ,i.e.,

think about it.

c. By giving each other a high priority.

3. It would seem that this is natural, for they do it before marriage.

C. They become one flesh.

1. A by-product of this is their children.

2. They become as one person:

a. Goals, joys, heartaches, money, possessions, everything

that was separate now becomes united.

3. Technically a man and a woman become one flesh when married,

but in spirit they become one flesh when they cleave to one another.

a. Some remain married, knowing divorce is wrong, but they

are miserable.

b. Though not divorced they are still wrong if not cleaving.

IX. UNASHAMED - (2:25).

A. The state of nakedness between husband and wife is God-created!

It is man who has perverted it by displaying it publicly.

2. They were ashamed after sinning.

B. They were not ashamed to be with each other.

1. They knew that each was the gift from God.

2. Not only should there be no shame in private, but when with each other in public should be unashamed.

3. When spouse is not present with you and your friends, do not beashamed of him/her.

Conclusion:

I. NOW IT WAS “VERY GOOD” (Gen. 1:31).

II. NO PROVISIONS FOR DIVORCE.

III. THIS IS THE HEARTBEAT OF MARRIAGE”.

A. Being a description and explanation of the beginning it had to be the center, the philosophy of marriage.

B. Gain a new appreciation for your spouse which is what God did for Adam.