Gracious giver of life, enrich the life and needs of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
First things first! Today is the 32nd anniversary of our marriage. It was at 2 p.m. on a Saturday that Nellie Rosales became Nellie Valverde, and for that I am very thankful and blessed. Not bad considering the short dating time she and I spent. We knew that we clicked and that God had intended us for each other. So, Happy Anniversary Nellie! (Yes, I've already told her in person, but she does read this!).
I thought it would be fun and a blessing to look at some key Bible verses during these next few weeks. This being my anniversary I thought one from Genesis would be appropriate: From Genesis 2: 18 Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." 19 So out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; 22 and the rib which the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, "This at last is 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 leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.
Most couples that come in for premartial counseling will hear my mini-version of what should be a sermon on this passage. But fear not, this is not a sermon. It is the biblical foundation for what is the basic unit of worship, instruction, love, training, etc., the family. It comes from an ancient source but it holds true even today; some concepts and comments you may not agree with, but prayerfully consider the meaning and message to us today. The Genesis writer says God made us all, male and female in chapter one. As we take a closer look at creation in this chapter, we see God's hand involved in our creation. Then God addresses the basic human need we have for companionship. The writer says that God wanted a "helper" for the man. The true meaning of this word has been debated since that day. The true word as close as we can get it in King James English is helpmeet. But you wonder what in the word is a "helpmeet?" Most have said it is somewhere between partner and helper and companion. That makes it more clear right? It was not seen as a subordinate role so much as it was one who made life more bearable and survivable if two were involved in the everyday challenges of life. I'll let you and yours "discuss" this at your leisure. The story moves next to humor. God thought it would be a hoot to bring all other creatures to see which among all the man would choose as a suitable helpmeet. None fit the bill so God moves to cosmic surgery and creates from the man's own rib a woman. Here the man gets poetic, "Here at last is bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh!" The man wasn't dumb, he knew from whence this woman came and it blessed him. And in this festive mood and in the mood he was still in from having named all the animals, he says, "She shall be called woman, because she was taken from man." The Hebrew has "ish" which is man, and "ishah" which is woman. The connection is permanent as far as the man is concerned. There is that connection between those in love that says from that protective part of my anatomy has come this one to protect and bless my very life.
The writer then says in case you're wondering that's why we have marriage in verse 24:Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh. The writer understand that this new relationship is now between a husband and wife and the very intimate nature of marriage that makes two into one. This is the very blueprint of what can be a wonderful structure. With God's blessing and our invitation to God to be among us and bless us, wonderful and permanent structures can be built.
PRAYER: God of families, bless all marriages today. Bless them with love, compassion, understanding and all that they need. We ask this in Christ Jesus' precious name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
