Archives - December 2008, Part 3, from www.timewithgod.blog-city.com

timewithgod.blog-city.com — December 2008

Genesis 2 -- Maybe We Men Are Not Missing JUST A Rib

God exercised His creativeness for six days.  It had to have been joyful, exhilarating work -- not toil and drudgery.  Once the job was completed to perfection, He rested.  As my commentary said, "This is not the rest that follows

God exercised His creativeness for six days.  It had to have been joyful, exhilarating work -- not toil and drudgery.  Once the job was completed to perfection, He rested.  As my commentary said, "This is not the rest that follows weariness but the rest of satisfaction and completion of a job well done."

I think this teaches us 1) that we should have definite, attainable goals in mind, and 2) that once our goals have been reached, it's important to set aside time to enjoy the results of what we have done, rather than never finishing a task or hurrying on to the next task without spending time reflecting on the satisfaction we derive from our work.

When God made Eden, it seems that this was beauty in the midst of barrenness.  God's original intent was for man to enjoy living in a perfect place while helping maintain that perfection. 

My commentary noted that the name "Lord God", (Jehovah [Yahweh] Elohim) appears for the first time here, only after man is created.  "As Elohim, God is the Creator.  As Jehovah, He is in covenant relation with man."

God's intent while marching the animals by Adam to be named seems to have been to help Adam recognize the fact that 1) no other creature on this earth could ever offer him the companionship he needed physically, and 2) to stoke the desire in him for a mate that was similar to him yet different, as he would have noticed the males and females already created in the animal world.

When Eve was created from Adam's rib, Adam called her "woman", meaning "taken out of man".  I wonder if it wasn't simply a rib that God removed .... perhaps He also took many emotional qualities, such as nurturing, that set women apart from men, and that is why men and women can find completeness in marriage.  It also gives added meaning to the term "one body".  In marriage, men and women are able to "get back" what was originally separated from them.

Father, our society has become so work-driven and hyper-sexualized that we've almost lost these original plans You had for us.  You knew from the start what was best, and any attempt to fulfill ourselves outside of Your plan will never be as satisfying.  We will only be cheating ourselves out of the best You have planned for us.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Published: Wednesday, 31 December 2008