My journey today starts in Genesis 1:1-2:25. This, my dear friends, is the story of creation. If you haven't read it, I encourage you to stop what you are doing and catch up on some reading. (If you click the verse, it will take you to the good stuff.)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...
He also created everything in between.
- Day 1: He separated light from darkness.
- Day 2: He separated the sky from the earth.
- Day 3: He separated the water from the land, and he grew all of the vegetation.
- Day 4: He placed the stars in the sky with the moon and the sun.
- Day 5: He filled the waters and the skies with life.
- Day 6: He created land animals and MAN! He looked over all He had made and saw that is was good :)
- Day 7: He rested.
Before we go on, let us just take a second and think about that. In one day, God was able to complete one extraordinary thing after another. Now, I know as humans we may try to justify that one day may be a warped concept of time, but if we accept the Word as it is. That one day is 24 hours.... WOW! I can barely complete a small set of chores in a day, and He can create life of all kinds in 24 hours. I'd say we can stop there at proof of his All Mighty Power, just saying...
Enough with the side rant, back to the text. In v.28 we see the very first command God gives his people:
"Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground."
In just this verse, we as humans created in the image of God are given two responsibilities: to be fruitful (ie. procreate more people to grow a population of believers to worship and praise our Lord)AND to reign over the earth with dominion over all other living things.
Umm Thank you!? Where does one even begin to show appreciation for such a monumental blessing of literally everything God has created being given to us as people?? Well to be frank, the answer is in the same verse. Be fruitful and multiply. We serve a selfish God who wants to be praised for His glory - don't we all want that? And how does he tell us to do that? Have a family and build a body of believers who live to serve Him. Sounds easy enough right ;)
Moving on, we come to one of my favorite parts of the story... Eve!
God said. "It is not good for man to be alone. I will make him a helper who is just right for him" 2:18
Ahh, do I have so much to say here. I may or may not quote this verse to my husband on a very regular basis in an effort to keep at the forefront of his mind how much he needs me. Hehehe. But seriously, God saw man alone was not good, and if we look at society we can see the very same thing. Young men are wayward to say the least before they are married, but once a man finds the woman he is to marry he usually changes his ways for the better. Am I right? And God told us this was the formula in the beginning so really it is no surprise.
God said He would make a helper - (n.) One who, or that which, helps, aids, assists, or relieves; as, a lay helper in a parish. He does not say He would make a servant, a door mat, a slave, a punching bag, or any other misconstrued definition of what a woman is to a man. No, he says helper, a teammate, a partner in crime, an advocate, a comforter, a life partner.
How do I know this is what he means? I am so glad you asked.
If we keep reading verse 2: 21-23, we learn that God made woman from Adam's rib - not from his head to Lord over him and not from his feet to be trampled on - from his rib, next to his heart, to be loved at his side. Cue sentimental moment.
This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united as one. v.24
I feel like this last bit is easily skipped over and taken for granted, so we are going to take a moment to appreciate the meaning here. God is saying that a man is to leave his family (ie. cut the umbilical cord) and join his wife in unity as one. The reason I say this is easily taken for granted is because how many times do you hear of conflict's between a woman and her MIL?? Umm.. ALL THE TIME is the answer that you are looking for. For one reason or another there is conflict and strife between these two parties, but what it comes down to is this >>>
Husbands, you must honor your wife in unity. She is your life mate. It is no longer your mother!! You do NOT go running to mommy when you have a problem, especially a problem with your wife! You are to turn to your wife when you need help or support. You are to resolve your marital conflicts with your wife.
MILs, you must let your baby boy go. I know you worry, that is your son, who could blame you. But you must let him go and have faith in the Lord's plan for him. He has chosen a bride, and whether you like her or not, you must respect his choice. You must respect her in her God given role. You may come along side, but you may not step in the middle.
Wives, you MUST live as a Godly wife. No easy feat, I know, but it is your job to fill the role. You must be the wife that your husband can come to and that your MIL has faith in. Your job is quite possibly the hardest of all because you have two people (three if you count your FIL) looking to you to make the right choice. Or not. But remember, YOU CAN DO IT!! If your turn to the Lord, and lean not on your own understanding, but on Him to be your guide, you can fill the role of wife that you have been called to fill.
Have Faith!
That's all for now :) See you next time in the New Testament.
