Genesis 2:15-25
Read Genesis 2:15-25
Helpful Background Information:
Genesis 1-2 displays God’s original design for all of mankind. In Genesis 1, we see God create the heavens and the earth in seven days. On day six, God created mankind - his greatest creation - and called it “very good” (Genesis 1:26-31). We see here that God created mankind in His image, that he created them to represent God’s rule by ruling over the rest of creation, that they were created male and female, and that their duty was to fill the earth and subdue it by their work.
Starting with Genesis 2:4-25, we see Adam and Eve in Eden. This section zooms in on God’s sixth day of creation, where we see the specifics of how Adam and Eve were created. Adam was formed by God from the dust of the ground, and God breathed into his nostrils to make him alive. God then put him in the garden to work it and watch over it. Despite this, God’s creative work was not finished, as “it is not good for the man to be alone, I will make a helper corresponding to him.” God then formed Eve out of a rib from Adam while he slept, and brought her to Adam - and he received Eve with much rejoicing.
It is here in verse 24 that Moses, the author of Genesis, interjects to make commentary on this profound event. “This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh.” So much theology is packed up in this one little verse! Marriage, pre-dating sin, is the foundational building block of human society, found across all times and cultures. It is created by God for the enjoyment and betterment of human beings - and because it is created by God, humans have no right to distort it, fundamentally change it, or sin within the parameters of it.
Marriage is a covenant, as seen by the words “leave” and “cleaving/bonding” - it is a new independent covenant that is separate from and takes priority over previous familial relationships. It involves only one man and one woman - anything else is by definition not marriage. In marriage, the man and woman show the full beauty and scope of the image of God, and enable them to fulfill the creational mandate of “be fruitful and multiply.” The husband and wife become one emotionally, spiritually, financially, socially, and in every other way.
Reflection Questions:
How does understanding marriage as a covenant (not just a flippant agreement or feeling) affect how you view the commitment of marriage and love?
If you’re married, how does this passage encourage or challenge you in your relationship?
If you’re not married, consider what God said in Genesis 2:18, “It is not good for the man to be alone.”. How does this statement reflect God’s heart for relationships, and what does it reveal about the importance of community in your life?