February 3, 2010
Then God Created a Helper
Sharon Jaynes
(In honor of Valentine's Day, Sharon's devotions will focus on marriage during the month of February.)
Today's Truth
"And the Lord God said, ‘It isn't good for man to be alone. I will make a companion for him, a helper suited to his needs'" (Genesis 2:18 TLB).
Friend To Friend
Do you remember the story of Creation recorded in Genesis? I never cease to be amazed at that marvelous beginning of the Book I have grown to love…"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Before the creation of the world, there was nothing. Try to think of…nothing. It's hard to do. Then God molded the earth in His hands, decorated the sky with the sun, moon, and stars, scattered seed of every kind in the soil, released flocks of birds into the sky, swarms of insects into the air, and schools of fish into the sea. Then, on the sixth day, God created all the creeping animals and He created man in His own image. After each masterpiece was completed, God said, "It is good." The only time God said "It is not good," was when He said, "It is not good for man to be alone."
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of man, and he brought her to the man (Genesis 2:20-22).
The New American Standard Bible says God "fashioned" Eve. He took extra special care when He created you. As a matter-of-fact, woman was God's grand finale!
Up to this point in the Genesis recording of creation, Adam had remained silent. However, when he saw the fair Eve, I imagine he said, "Whoa! Now this is good!" We don't know for sure, but we do know that his first recorded words were after laying eyes on God's magnificent gift to him. "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,' for she was taken out of man" (Genesis 2:23).
Eve was created to complete man like two pieces of a puzzle fitting together. The word complete means to fill up; that which is required to supply a deficiency; one or two mutually completing parts. While each translation of the Bible uses a different combination of words to describe Eve, they each contain the word helper. The man was not better than the woman (he was lacking without her). The woman was not better than the man (she was lacking without him). Paul wrote, "However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman" (I Corinthians 11:11). We were designed to depend on and compliment each other. The NIV commentary says this: "Just as the rib is found at the side of the man and is attached to him, even so the good wife, the rib of her husband, stands at his side to be his helper-counterpart, and her soul is bound up with his." (Kenneth L. Barker & John R. Kohlenberger, III, Zondervan NIV Commentary of Old Testament, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994), p.8.
While some may bristle at the thought of being called a mere helper, we need only to look at the pages of Scripture to see that helper is a place of great honor. The word helper that is used for woman (ezer) is derived from the Hebrew word used of God and the Holy Spirit (azar) (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1987) 478). Both mean helper - one who comes alongside to aid, assist, or rescue.
King David wrote, "O Lord, be Thou my helper" (Psalm 30:10). "The LORD is with me; he is my helper" (Psalm 118:7). Moses said of God, "My father's God was my helper; he saved me from the sword of the Pharaoh" (Exodus 18:2). In the New Testament, Jesus told the disciples that when He ascended to heaven, His Father would send them another Helper, the Holy Spirit (John 14:16). When we consider that the same word is used for "woman" we should feel honored!
Today, think about your relationship with your husband. Are you a completer or a competitor? Are you a helper or a hindrance? Determine in your heart to be all that God intended you to be as a wife to your man.
Let's Pray
Dear Lord, I am constantly amazed that You saw fit to bring me and my husband together. I admit that sometimes I am more of a hindrance to him than a helper, more of a competitor than a completer. Help me to look for ways that I can be a partner with him to complete him. I do want to be the wife that You created me to be. Help me to listen to Your still small voice when You convict me that I am not.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
What comes to mind when you read in the Bible that you were created to be a "helper?"
What are some ways that you can be a helper to your husband this week?
What are some ways that you can be his completer?
I'd love to hear your thoughts. Visit my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes and let's chat. While you're there, sign up so we can visit often!
More From The Girlfriends
Marriage can be difficult at times. If you would like to learn more about how to have the marriage you've always hoped for, see Becoming the Woman of His Dreams: Seven Qualities Every Man Longs For. for by Sharon Jaynes. In it, you'll read actual comments from men all around the world and discover what men long for.
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Originally published Wednesday, 03 February 2010.
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