Spare Rib
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Genesis 2:18-25
But the bible would agree. Eve’s origins are far more exalted than Adam’s. He came from dirt! She was dust twice refined as Matthew Henry, the 17th century bible scholar, would say.
And the progression of creation which climaxes in woman is very revealing. From plants, to fish and birds, to land creatures, to man… to woman. Man may be the head of creation, but woman is the crown! She is not only included in the divine image but necessary to it.
And being made from the man’s side was in fact a wonderful testimony to Eve’s equality with Adam. As Matthew Henry went on to say:
“Eve was not taken from Adam’s head that she should rule over him, nor from his feet, to be trampled under foot, but she was taken from his side that she might be his equal, from under his arm that she might be protected by him, near his heart, that he might cherish and love her.”
The background to Eve’s creation is Genesis 2:18:
The LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
Adam needs companionship and help. He needs another alongside him – his complement. More than this, he needs her because he can’t do what he’s supposed to. “Helper” means Adam is inadequate. And it’s a term that is most commonly used of God in the bible, it’s not at all intended to be diminutive.
And so a bride is created for Adam.
But the way she’s created is quite incredible. Remember that this is paradise. This is before sin and curse and death have entered the world. Nevertheless, to create a bride, Adam must go down into a death-like sleep. Great violence will be done to him. His side will be pierced. And from him will come another – his complement, his bride. Then he is raised up and brought together with her in a time of praise, singing and consummation.
This is what it takes for the man to get a bride.
And of course the whole thing is a preview of Christ and His bride, the church. Even before sin, the gospel is preached.
It is not good for The Man – Jesus – to be alone. God the Father desires the very best for His Son – a wife, a bride to share life with. But the creation of the bride will be costly. Christ must have violence done to Him. His side is pierced. He goes down into death, but rises up again new to be united to His people.
And we look forward to the consummation – the marriage feast when there will be much praise and singing.
Thank you for your work. I’m reading it as something like a daily devotion.
Thanks James. It’s kind of working like that for me too!
Wow! Stumbled across your blog tonight – thoroughly enjoying reading it! You know, I’d heard the Matthew Henry commentary before, and obviously knew that God used a rib to create Eve, but it had never struck me before that in order to get a rib, Adam’s side needed to be pierced!!!!!!!!!!!! What a perfect circle round to Christ with his pierced side – no wonder St Paul talks about Christ being the new and perfect Adam – that’s so cool!
Hi Kate, very cool isn’t it? The gospel of Jesus is on every page!
:)
A very nice and thought-provoking treatment of this Glen. Anesthesiology as an art came to my mind in the description of the deep sleep and operation. As one connected with healthcare I figured it is not a coincidence; science discovered this ancient treatment practiced by the Great Physician. Indeed, this verse about sleep was used in defense of the art, and finally accepted when used on the Queen. To wit:
“Later, Sir James Simpson advocated the use of anesthesia for obstetrics, going against religious teaching at that time. The Church regarded the pain of childbirth as a punishment justly inflicted by God. Simpson defended himself by quoting the birth of Eve as described in Genesis. However, the battle was not won until Simpson attended Queen Victoria’s birth of Prince Leopold on April 7, 1853. He asked his friend and notable anaesthetist, Dr. John Snow, to administer a chloroform anesthetic to the queen. Snow poured a small amount of chloroform onto the queen’s handkerchief and held it under her nose. The queen remained conscious but felt no pain. She became a strong advocate for obstetric anesthesia, causing a major cultural change that led to the development of modern obstetrics.”