And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
Genesis 2:18
One of the principles of creation is that each living thing can reproduce itself upon the earth. This is true of both plants and animals, even down to the most minuscule microbe. Yet, when God evaluated His work in creating man He pronounced it not good, not because the creation itself was substandard, but because the man was alone. The word “alone” speaks to the social nature of man. This is true of animals of every kind as well. They form flocks and herds of like kind and among themselves they procreate. Adam was not able to do this because, while there was an almost infinite variety of animals upon the earth, there were none like Him.
The text makes clear that the creation of man was unique. While the rest of creation was spoken into existence, God carefully formed the man from the elements of the earth from which he would derive his sustenance, and over which he would serve as God’s regent. The man needed a mate, someone like himself, equal and worthy of his respect. The NKJV uses the word “comparable.” Other versions use words like, fit for, suitable, and just right. But the one that strikes me as the best translation of this word is from the New English Translation – one who corresponds to him. A literal translation might be “in front of,” or “facing.” It is the idea that this new person would be just like Adam, one of his kind, and yet different, one who corresponds to him, one who could join him in his regency and in procreation. Adam recognized himself in the woman immediately and named her after himself – “woman,” a man with a womb. She was perfect for him. One of the notes in the NKJV Study Bible is worth sharing:
In his close study of the living things that God paraded before him, Adam did not find a helper comparable to him. He needed a companion just like him, not a servant or an aide (see v. 18); but another life like himself—with intelligence, personality, ethical and moral sensitivity, and spirituality. Yet the only living things that Adam found were some fascinating animals!
Genesis 2:20
As we all know, sin changed everything. The relationship that was intended to be the greatest blessing we humans could ever have short of our relationship with God has become, though often exhilarating and filled with excitement, fulfillment, and joy, nevertheless often difficult at best and destructive at worst. One of the complicated tasks set before us as Christians is, with the help of God, to bring as much as possible of this ideal relationship into our marriages and gender interaction.
My prayer for you today
that you will, with God’s help, do all to restore the sacred and fulfilling nature of marriage
or any male and female relationships.