From One to One

From One to One

Genesis 2: ²¹ And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. ²² Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.

²³ And Adam said:

“This is now bone of my bones
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man.”

²⁴ Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

²⁵ And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

 

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Permanence is what I think of when I read this passage. When GOD made Adam, HE fashioned his ribcage with twenty-four ribs. To get that rib, GOD had to surgically remove it, so HE put Adam into a deep sleep. HE then closed up the flesh as if nothing happened.

 

My Observations:

• GOD planned a special creation for man and woman.
• GOD may have also planned multiple races when HE made humans.
• GOD used the material that was created from HIS breath to create woman.

 

All of the beasts, insects and creeping things were made from the earth. So was Adam. But the woman was created special. Equally intelligent, yet different in anatomy. GOD made a wife for Adam. Now he had someone “comparable” to him. A helper.

 

I can’t help thinking that Moses interjects with an observation. An out of place statement leads me to believe that Moses had an “aha” moment as if to say, “Oh, that’s why a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and they become one flesh.” Because GOD had one bone to make a second person, but they would be able to join together sexually, as well as work together in harmony, tending to the garden and naming the animals.

 

There was perfect harmony when the woman was made. Both were naked and shame was unknown. No disease. No problems. Just GOD, man and woman.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD give Moses the quote from Adam?
• Have you ever dreamed of a time when there was perfect harmony?
• What does harmony amongst humans and GOD look like to you?

 

Mapped Out

Mapped Out

Genesis 2: ¹⁰ Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. ¹¹ The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. ¹² And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. ¹³ The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. ¹⁴ The name of the third river is Hiddekel it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.

 

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Names of areas and rivers is the first thing I noticed. The great river that supplied four other rivers, had a purpose of watering the garden “in” Eden. GOD showed Moses the four rivers and told him the names. HE also showed him gold and precious stones.

 

My Observations:

• GOD made the rivers gentle enough to water the garden without destroying it.
• GOD made the rivers shallow enough for humans to walk in them without pain or fear of drowning.
• GOD made the great river flow from the area called Eden which provided life to the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

 

Every area was made as a gift for humans. Gentle rivers, beautiful trees, different landscapes, all provided a variety of experiences for humans. GOD was pleased to provide variety and shared precious stones with humans. The area was now complete. It was ready for humans to enjoy!

 

Challenge

• Why do you think it was important for GOD to show Moses the lay of the land?
• Have you ever traveled to other areas and seen different landscapes, trees, lakes and rivers?
• Do you look forward to GOD providing you with peace and tranquility someday?

Humans Day 6

Humans Day 6

Genesis 1: ²⁴ Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind”; and it was so. ²⁵ And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

 

²⁶ Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁷ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ²⁸ Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

 

²⁹ And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. ³⁰ Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. ³¹ Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

 

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Five rotations of the earth had now taken place. GOD had created water, light, day, night, outer space, stars, sky, air, vegetation, dry land, minerals, birds and fish. Dry land was now ready for inhabitants. GOD used the earth to create animals, insects and useful bacteria. BUT GOD said something special when it came to humanity. “Let US make man in  OUR image.” HE created male and female.

 

My Observations:

• GOD prepared everything to give it to humans.
• GOD created animals, insects and every creeping thing from the earth.
• GOD created humans, male and female, in HIS likeness and afterwards, looked at “everything” HE made and “indeed it was very good.”

 

Perfect peace had been created. HE created humans with harmony. It was perfect! HE had a relationship with HIS creation and had provided plenty to eat and plenty to do. GOD was excited about HIS creation and gave humans dominion over all HE made in the six days.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses that HE HIS creation was  “very good?”
• Can you hear the excitement GOD had to make HIS creation?
• Have you considered that when you were made, GOD said “very good” about you?

Women Leaders Needed

Women Leaders Needed

1 Corinthians 14: ³³ because God does not want us to be in disorder but in harmony and peace.

As in all the churches of God's people, ³⁴ the women should keep quiet in the meetings. They are not allowed to speak; as the Jewish Law says, they must not be in charge. ³⁵ If they want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home. It is a disgraceful thing for a woman to speak in a church meeting.

 

³⁶ Or could it be that the word of God came from you? Or are you the only ones to whom it came? ³⁷ If anyone supposes he is God's messenger or has a spiritual gift, he must realize that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. ³⁸ But if he does not pay attention to this, pay no attention to him.

 

³⁹ So then, my friends, set your heart on proclaiming God's message, but do not forbid the speaking in strange tongues. ⁴⁰ Everything must be done in a proper and orderly way.

 

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Ugh! Another tough message from Paul! When I first glanced at the message I dreaded the thought of addressing the statement because I was taking it out of context. I mean, I can only imagine my wife dreading hearing any words that would place her in an unheard state. We are working through hearing each other to this day, as all marriages should. But Paul raises a doozie!

 

• At first glance it looks like women are not valued.
• At first glance it looks like women can never say a word.
• At first glance it looks like women would cause disgrace.

 

My Observations

Again, I have to return to the curse of GOD when Adam took down all humans in Genesis 3. GOD made a hierarchy that showed sin caused disharmony between HIM and HIS creation. GOD also added pain and struggle in this curse. Nothing exciting happens in a curse. But what does the curse have to do with women speaking in church gatherings?

 

I wish I had the letter or letters written to Paul. I mean, Paul’s reference seems to be focused on married women, not all women. He seemed to be addressing an issue written to him versus bashing women. I don’t know is my answer. Here is what I believe.

 

• I believe GOD made man and woman to live in harmony.
• I believe GOD wants man and woman to have peace.
• I believe GOD wants HIS message proclaimed by every human, man and woman.

 

In this chapter, being heard “is” the problem. Not everyone can rush the stage with a message and not everyone can speak in strange tongues without full understanding. All must have the desire to spread GOD’s message of love and sometimes be silent and use restraint as the example.

 

Women leaders are needed more and more as men have not brought the harmony and peace GOD is seeking. Women who can proclaim GOD’s message while bringing in harmony and peace are desperately needed these days. Both my grandmothers and my mother, mother-in-law, wife, sister, sisters-in-law, aunts, cousins and daughter have been and should be icons of harmony and peace pertaining to proclaiming GOD’s message. I have learned a lot from them as do many.

 

Challenge

• What are your observations about harmony and peace in this chapter, not just the passage?
• What do you think about women speaking and leading in the gathering of people?
• What suggestions do you have for seeking the “harmony and peace” GOD is looking for?