Man was created to rule over creation, subdue the earth and maintain the Garden of Eden (Gen 1:26-28, 2:8). Aware of his loneliness and of the size of his task, God decided to give him a helper.
Gen 2:18ff, “The LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him."… 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."”
This passage clearly shows that the very reason why the woman was created is to help the man manage and rule over the creation. That's her purpose, her divine calling. It’s only afterwards that man decided to make her a wife.
I believe that a marriage can only flourish if the husband is clear about his calling, –Adam knew his mission before the arrival of Eve- if the wife is fully fulfilling her role of a helper and if her husband allows her to do so.
I also believe that the world would be a much better place, if everywhere, men would realize that they can make it by themselves and that women were not only created for the kitchen and the children, but have been specially equipped by God to help them subdue the earth and have dominion over the creation.
Indeed, after giving the vision of the Tabernacle to Moses and asking him to build it, God told him: “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri… 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, 4 to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze…6 And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab… And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you.” (Gen 31.2-6) In other words, “You are the boss; you have the vision and give the direction; but you won’t be able to build the tabernacle, you won’t be able to fulfil your mission without these two men. They are the ones that I have anointed –especially equipped- to help you.” The woman is also especially empowered by God to carry her ‘helping’ mission out. But this is not today’s topic…
Gen 2.21ff, “So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."”
Today, I just want to encourage and exhort you with this simple fact, I just want to remind you that: what you need to fulfil your destiny, to go further or to be successful, is not far. Indeed, because the rib is part of the body, it can represent your internal resources. But if you think of the rib as something that is on the side, then it can allude to that which is beside or near you.
Adam didn’t know that the solution to his loneliness and the help that he needed to carry out his enterprise had always been in him and next to him. Likewise, when God called Moses, He didn’t give him any extraordinary tool; He simply asked him: "What is that in your hand?" And Moses answered, "A staff." (Ex 4:2) Yet, it is this very trivial staff, the staff with which he was tending his father-in-law’s flock, which became the instrument of deliverance for the Hebrews and the cause of incredible miracles.
Unfortunately, very often, too often, we are not aware of what we have or we just neglect what we have received from God. Sometimes, we spend so much time admiring and envying the gifts and talents of others that we end up despising what we have. Finally, just like the bad servants of the parables of minas and talents (Mat 25 & Luke 19) we refuse to use them.
God did nothing and does nothing by chance. The nose, voice, laughter, joy, height, family, friends, qualities, faults, city, country, church, job etc… that we have or are in, are not there by chance: they all work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. When He calls, He equips. We all have something that He has asked us to do; and since He’s not a cruel but a good and responsible Father, He has already put everything He knows we will need to succeed in us, next to us and around us. If the task has become very difficult or if you doubt whether you will ever make it, take a break and ask yourself what is it that you have in your hand? Then, cheer up: you have just found what God wants to use and will use to lift you up.
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