Monday Devo
Scripture Reading:
Genesis 2
18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” 19 So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. 20 He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him.
21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.
23 “At last!” the man exclaimed.
“This one is bone from my bone,
and flesh from my flesh!
She will be called ‘woman,’
because she was taken from ‘man.’ ”
18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” 19 So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. 20 He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him.
21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.
23 “At last!” the man exclaimed.
“This one is bone from my bone,
and flesh from my flesh!
She will be called ‘woman,’
because she was taken from ‘man.’ ”
Commentary from the ESV Study Bible:
2:18 Not good is a jarring contrast to 1:31; clearly, the situation here has not yet arrived to “very good.” I will make him can also be translated “I will make for him,” which explains Paul’s statement in 1 Cor. 11:9. In order to find the man a helper fit for him, God brings to him all the livestock, birds, and beasts of the field. None of these, however, proves to be “fit for” the man. “Helper” (Hb. ‘ezer) is one who supplies strength in the area that is lacking in “the helped.” The term does not imply that the helper is either stronger or weaker than the one helped. “Fit for him” or “matching him” is not the same as “like him”: a wife is not her husband’s clone but complements him.
2:20 The man gave names. By naming the animals, the man demonstrates his authority over all the other creatures. Adam.
2:20 The man gave names. By naming the animals, the man demonstrates his authority over all the other creatures. Adam.
Study Questions:
- In story of creation, every time God made something, he responded with, "This is good!" Until, that is, it came to Adam. He said it was NOT good that man was alone. From the very beginning of time, God designed men to need women in this life, and visa versa. This also speaks to our need for community. Even the most introverted among us need time with people we know and love. Do you have godly community in your life on a consistent basis? If you have ever been in prolonged periods of isolation, what were its effects on you? How can you make sure you don't find yourself there again?
- On Sunday, Clayton first discussed the NATURE of partnership in marriage. Genesis 2 talks about God creating woman to be a helper that was suitable for him. The original Hebrew of this text doesn't refer to their status. Rather, they are BOTH helpers. A good, made-up word for this would be "counterpartnerment". Man and woman are counterparts, partners and they compliment each other. In a marriage relationship this means you NEED each other. Not independent or dependent, but INTERDEPENDENT. Do you ever tend to only focus on those differences between you and your spouse that annoy you? How often do you appreciate those differences and acknowledge your need for them? Talk about some of those differences and how, though they might be annoying, you actually need them to balance you.
Pray:
- That you would seek to be in community.
- That you would learn to appreciate the differences between you and your spouse.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
6. Is the Bible God’s word? Jesus proved He is God by rising from the dead and said the Old Testament was God’s word and gave authority to the Apostles to write the words of the New Testament under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that all the words of the Bible are God’s Word.
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
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