Genesis 2:18-24 (NRSV)
Read Genesis 2:18-24 on biblegateway.com
Verse 18Then the Lord God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner." Verse 19So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal 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. Verse 20The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner.
Verse 21So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. Verse 22And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Verse 23Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken." Verse 24Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Devotion
Maybe God has a sense of humor. Man stands alone after all is created. So God sends to Man all the birds and creatures to find a fitting partner. After trying them all on, Man still stands – alone. God sends man into a sound slumber. Taking a rib, God creates Woman. When Man awakes he has a proper partner – this calls for a song!
Marriage, we are told, begins here. Is God joking again? No. We may turn marriage into a joke, a sham and, through our sin, create so much of the pain in our world. But that isn’t God’s intention. We are to be in relationship with another who suits us. Who fits us could be one of many people. Saying “I do” ends the search, the try-outs, the trying on. Now we live “as one flesh.” Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Lord God, we give you thanks for partners and for marriage. Help those who are single find a fitting partner. Empower couples everywhere with your grace to live out the promises they have made. Give to all couples the joy of your presence in their lives as they strive to live as one flesh. Amen.