The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I WILL MAKE A HELPER SUITABLE FOR HIM.” (Gen. 2:18) [I will make a ‘neged’ for him; a front, a part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate, one of the same nature and the same rank; a help near him, one to cohabit with him, and to be always at hand; a help before him, one that he should look upon with pleasure and delight!] “…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 the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh.” (Gen. 2:20-21) [Eve’s being made after Adam, and out of him, puts an honor upon woman, as the glory of the man. If man is the head, she is the crown, a crown to her husband, the crown of the visible creation. The man was dust refined, but the woman was dust double-refined. If we graciously rest in God; God will graciously work for us and work all for good!] “Then the LORD God made a WOMAN from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “THIS IS NOW BONE OF MY BONES AND FLESH OF MY FLESH; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” (Gen. 2:22-23) [The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, BUT OUT OF HIS SIDE TO BE EQUAL WITH HIM, under his arm to be sheltered, and near his heart to be much-loved!] “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and THEY BECOME ONE FLESH.” (Gen. 2:24) [Adam was a figure of Christ who was to come; for out of the side of Christ, the second Adam, his wife ‘the church’ was fashioned, when he slept the sleep, the deep sleep, of death upon the cross, that is when his side was opened, and there came out blood and water, blood to purchase his church and water to purify it to himself!] “Husbands, love your wives, JUST AS CHRIST LOVED THE CHURCH AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR HER TO MAKE her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery–but I AM TALKING ABOUT CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.” (Eph. 5:25-27, 31-32)
Be blessed as you praise The Lord, knowing that JESUS WILL PRESENT HER TO HIMSELF AS A RADIANT CHURCH, WITHOUT STAIN OR WRINKLE OR ANY OTHER BLEMISH, BUT HOLY AND BLAMELESS!
-Bill Stockham