The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2: 18, NIV.
Dear God, please come very close to us, as we study Your Word. We ask this in the blessed name of Jesus Christ, our LORD and Savior. Amen.
Today, we take a step backward to the days before sin entered our world. Let us look at the purpose, we believe, God had in mind, when He brought the man and the woman together. This purpose becomes evident by the description He gives to the woman, “a helper suitable for him.” When something is suitable, it is considered “right for.” It is “becoming to.” It is “appropriate.” We could say then, that God considered woman “perfect” for man, at creation. When we look at the way things turned out, are we to “double-guess” the LORD’s actions? Or, doubt His knowledge? I do not think so. We won’t question God’s decision if we acknowledge the great respect God has for His creatures. We will submit our finite, faulty, frail, ability to judge other people’s character. And we will accept the infinite, faultless, perfect, knowledge of God. He knows who people really are. We will not question His actions if we remember that a part of Who God is, means, to give His creatures, complete, freedom of choice.
When a perfect God, who cannot err, created Eve as a helper suitable for Adam, that is exactly what she was. We may differ in our opinion as individuals – as men, as well as women, regarding what the word suitable should represent. We already saw what it means. But when it comes to putting suitable into action, on a day by day basis, in the light of what God intended for man and his wife “in the beginning,” perhaps we will discover that we each have different expectations of the word. But a look at the bone from which Eve was created, should give us a clue about God’s intentions. The Bible informs us that God took a “rib” from man and created woman.
The rib cage serves as a protection for two of the most delicate and vital organs of the human body: the heart and the lungs. As a protector of his heart the woman was suitable to inspire the deepest, and most noble, thoughts in man. She could safeguard his emotions. Society has placed so many unrealistic expectations upon men, that it is no small wonder, that many of them are confused about what their role is in life. Oftentimes, they take upon themselves actions that are not worthy of their high calling. As wives, and helpers, we can help to keep them true to God’s expectations for their lives. One way to do this, is by not allowing them to belittle, or demean, or abuse, us, or our children. We can inspire them to excellence, by helping them to behave as men made in the image, and likeness, of a loving, compassionate, and merciful, God. Protecting his lungs can symbolize his physical protection. Helping him to keep good health, and encouraging him to practice good health habits. Encouraging him to eat well, to get sufficient rest, and keep doctors’ appointments, all fall into this category.
My sisters, we can be what God created us to be: helpers suitable for our husbands. We can help them to grow. We can help them to become sympathetic and kind, considerate and loving. We can encourage them to be the priests of the home, and the “house-band,” keeping their families together, in the strength, and by the grace, of God. If God called us to be helpers, He will enable us to be the very best helpers that it is possible to be!